davidstone28

Surprisingly good coming of age movie about a young adult / teenager in military school in South Korea, and the bullying, unrequited love, parental pressures etc that has to deal with. The movie gradually hooks you in - the characters are endearing and believable - and its surprisingly touching. There are some Blue Lee elements in it but isn't a "kung fu" movie. Although the film is set in Korea, its crosses cultures very easily - this could easily be a school in the US for example. If you want an intelligent, touching, coming of age movie with characters that you can relate to, and well as some occasional action to crank up the tension, this is well worth watching. 8/10

Thought it was a very good film. The main leads - Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley and women who plays his wife were all excellent. Connelly plays the 'bird with the broken wing' character to perfection', Kingsley, the 'proud high flyer fallen on hard times' role exceptionally well. The fact that different layers to the main characters get revealed as the film progress adds depth to their characters. Difficult to categorise the film - sort of a drama / thriller with heavy emotional themes layered on top. Unbelievably emotionally wrought and tense at times. Very clever parallel plots and fasciniating seeing how the moral conundrum at the heart of the film eventually pans out. Probably not one for the masses but quality film making nonetheless.

Dances with Wolves...but with Samurai. Cruise does Costner and Dances with Wolves but this time with Samurai. The plot is almost exactly the same. Nice photography and battle sequences are very realistic but this film loses so much impact for its lack of originality and is a touch too 'Hollywoodish' with an unncessarily and amateurish narration at the start and finish. Not a bad film, nor a particulary good one either. Above average 7/10