La Bataille de Jangsari

Entertaining War movie which for a nice change highlighted heroes from a non western country

Main characters were very engaging and the battle scenes were well done

I admit it, I wanted to watch this movie only for George Eads. I like a lot of war movies, though, and this was no different. Apart from learning of a battle I did not know about, I liked how they handled the characterization. The protagonists are kids, and it shows. They are young, they are scared, and they are desperate to survive. The actors make a really good job at delivering emotions and overall the battle is basically a background to the show of very human emotions. Watching it in two different languages (Korean and English), I thought I may get distracted a lot and get bored. I did not, because of what I said above. I wish this movie may have bren shown in Italian theaters, but I guess it's not overly famous. A pity, I say.

The Korean scenes are very gripping, and makes you feel how desperate the soldiers are. The English scenes unfortunately add nothing to the film, but in fact distracts from the main story and decreases tension of the film.

It's not the out of this world, the best movie war-themed ever. But clearly, it has more sentimental aspect that conveyed better than some movies with this kind. Not many battle or shoot killing scenes that you may have expected and rather it focus on the narrative of the protagonists which for me it's quite enough to gained my empathy towards them. It's cinematography was far from good whereas some scenes appeared so artificial and some scenes like where George and Megan had conversations were totally unnecessary. but I can still enjoy the whole experience watching this. Not forget to mention how the actors were well acted and conveyed their emotion well that I immersed into them instantly. And the story showed how the system is merciless towards the weak and the sacrifice of the soldiers are worth to remember.

There's a real sense of tragedy and loss inherent in Korean made war films. Like their Russian counterparts, they don't glorify war but show it for what it is, the senseless and wasteful loss of mostly, young life.

Battle of Jangsari is no exception. Its genuinely hard watching bright, young, hopeful lives, wiped away by the efficient industrialised ugliness, of modern warfare. What is also to this films credit is its treatment of soldiers on both sides of the conflict, as human beings. Ordinary people, afraid to die, who only want to return home to their parents and loved ones.

The acting is, in short, mostly excellent, the cinematography outstanding and the approach to telling the story of these young people heartfelt, honest and reverential.

10/10 from me.