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I felt this movie was awesome.People described it as the experience faced by highscoolers during the military regime days of south Korea but for me it was different.It seemed like a well sketched out story spiced up with some really good and brutally realistic martial art seqences.The transformation undergone by every character is depicted realistically.It is a story of friendship,first love,betrayal and revenge.And the final scene on the roof with nanchakus tops it all...a brilliantly realistic close combat scene...you can watch the entire movie just for that one scene.Excellent performances throughout."spirit of jeet kune do" is a winner all the way.

P.S. By the way am i the only non-korean seeing and reviewing all of the great south korean films like taegukgi,marathon,failan etc.I would be happy if this movie gets a broader international release,at least to American audiences.

"The Spirit of Jeet Kune Do" is a misnomer for the title of this movie. When I saw that and watched the movie, I was expecting to see a martial arts movie all about Jeet Kune Do.

The actual translation of the title, I later learned, is "Maljuk Street's High School." And that's what this movie is all about actually. It's about a high school student's experiences at a high school. It's not a military school, by the way.

I thought the movie had a good story line and great acting. I especially enjoyed the lead's and "Hamburger's" acting, very well done. The cinematography was good as well, and the fight scenes were realistic and well choreographed.

People not experienced with Korean movies and dramas will note the "weak" ending in this movie. But I've come to find that almost all Korean movies and dramas do not have as impactful an ending as American movie-goers are used to seeing. Perhaps it's a cultural thing.

Either way, I really enjoyed this movie. It's also a great periodic film, in my opinion. If you want a look into what Korean high schools were like from WWII up until recently in the late eighties, then this movie will give you an insightful look. Non-Koreans may be believe that this movie exaggerates many aspects of high school life, but it doesn't at all. My father (born and graduated high school from Korea) loves the movie, and thinks it portrayed some high school experiences very accurately.

This movie reminded me a little of highschool actually... well almost anyways. I'm having a hard time figuring out if this movie was suppose to be a love story or a martial arts movie.

The story is about a boy who idols Bruce Lee, he ends up going to military school and gets himself into trouble here and there, but also meets a girl he really likes who rides the same bus. Long story short he goes through the teenage years. Girls, dancing, fights, friends and school. I would've probably enjoyed the movie more if the subtitles were properly timed though... One thing that a liked in particular were the fight scenes. I don't know about everyone else, but I get a little tired of our western movies where the hero beats up a hundred people by himself. Good story, good action, and nice music. 7.5/10

First i must say this movie is a very good movie for many reasons.Actually it reminds me of my high school days not so long ago(the strict disciplined boys' school,prefects,uniforms,short hair,physical punishment,fights,evening tutorial classes,uncertainty of future,deprivation of female contact ;)) The similarities are more because the story is set in the time period when south Korea was still developing as a country. I think its a universal issue because the students, as young adults are crushed by the pressure for survival, the uncertainty of their future and the cut throat competition for higher education and success.I think they are more common in developing countries.

And for action i must say that they have done a fantastic job.The last fight scene was a work of art(a realistic poem in motion plus the blood and the dirt). who said the hero must win without a scratch?(the last man standing wins)

A great movie with balanced combination of martial arts, love and teenage psychological elements. Most of the scenes are brilliantly executed!