IMDb RATING
7.3/10
7.4K
YOUR RATING
A drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.A drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.A drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.
- Awards
- 18 wins & 23 nominations total
Choi Min
- Antiaircraft Army officer
- (as Choi Min-sung)
Ha Soo-ho
- 3rd Platoon
- (as Su-ho Ha)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Great acting ,sets and costumes.One of the best war films I have seen for a while ,the story is also really good .
THE FRONT LINE is a typical addition to the recent wave of South Korean war movies that strive to explore new avenues on a very famous theatre of war. The last two I saw were WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL and 71 INTO THE FIRE; the former was a politically intriguing exploration of the nature of conflict itself, while the latter was a flag-waving crowd-pleaser.
THE FRONT LINE falls somewhere between the two, refusing to demonise opponents while at the same time providing plenty of gritty war action. The earth-flying battle sequences are by far the highlight of this film as the screen is transformed into a nightmarish and barren landscape of blown-up hillsides, dingy trenches and muddy holes in the ground. This is real warfare, post-SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, throwing you into the thick of realistic action and making you feel like you're fighting at the side of the protagonists.
It's a pleasure to report that the non-battle storyline is every bit as watchable as the scenes taking place on the battlefield. As in the earlier BROTHERHOOD, much of the plot revolves around the developing relationship between two characters whom the war transforms in different ways: one becomes battle-weary and resigned, the other slightly unhinged and with a real killer instinct. It's a poignant, carefully-drawn relationship and one that sustains the running time admirably. Okay, so some of the sub-plots openly copy those of earlier movies (the whole sniper thing in particular) but that doesn't detract from what is a very good recent war movie.
THE FRONT LINE falls somewhere between the two, refusing to demonise opponents while at the same time providing plenty of gritty war action. The earth-flying battle sequences are by far the highlight of this film as the screen is transformed into a nightmarish and barren landscape of blown-up hillsides, dingy trenches and muddy holes in the ground. This is real warfare, post-SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, throwing you into the thick of realistic action and making you feel like you're fighting at the side of the protagonists.
It's a pleasure to report that the non-battle storyline is every bit as watchable as the scenes taking place on the battlefield. As in the earlier BROTHERHOOD, much of the plot revolves around the developing relationship between two characters whom the war transforms in different ways: one becomes battle-weary and resigned, the other slightly unhinged and with a real killer instinct. It's a poignant, carefully-drawn relationship and one that sustains the running time admirably. Okay, so some of the sub-plots openly copy those of earlier movies (the whole sniper thing in particular) but that doesn't detract from what is a very good recent war movie.
Beautiful, without an equal.
The acting, superb. The story, breathtaking. The action, astonishing. The screen writing, unparalleled.
This movie left a deep impression on me. I recommend watching it if you haven't, you'll find yourself going through a roller coaster of emotions, clinching to your chair/couch without being able to leave.
The story is not for the weak-hearted as you see war in it's most true form, the emotions from both sides as the fighting comes to a close. The relationship between enemies, comrades, friends. In the end, making men cry, young & old.
(Blue-ray is recommended if you want to truly see the most subtle touches, I could not view it any other way)
The acting, superb. The story, breathtaking. The action, astonishing. The screen writing, unparalleled.
This movie left a deep impression on me. I recommend watching it if you haven't, you'll find yourself going through a roller coaster of emotions, clinching to your chair/couch without being able to leave.
The story is not for the weak-hearted as you see war in it's most true form, the emotions from both sides as the fighting comes to a close. The relationship between enemies, comrades, friends. In the end, making men cry, young & old.
(Blue-ray is recommended if you want to truly see the most subtle touches, I could not view it any other way)
"He said our enemy wasn't commies, but the war itself." Toward the end of Korean War Lieutenant Kang Eun-Pyo is sent to investigate a murder on the front lines. He reaches the area called Aerok Hill where the fighting is most intense. Soon after the truth is reveled a cease fire is signed and the two sides rejoice. But the war is far from over. This war movie interested me more then most of the recent ones. The main reason is that my grandfather served in the Korean War and there hasn't been a lot of movies made about that war. I was interested to see the stuff he refused to tell me about. After watching this I can see why. The movie is a Korean movie so the entire movie deals with a platoon of South Korean soldiers and their struggles. I have said before that for better or worse every war movie since it's release is compared to "Saving Private Ryan", and I never thought a movie could top that one. This is as close as I've seen and in some ways may be better. This is far and away better then "Letters From Iwo Jima" but like both of those movies you are so involved with the characters it is no longer a movie of nameless faces dying but people you feel a connection with. This movie makes you feel all kinds of emotions but the last half hour will make you feel things you never knew you could. Another example of how much power a movie has when it's done right. I highly recommend this movie. Overall, one of, if not the best war movie I have ever seen. I give it an A.
First review here on IMDb so I'll keep it short.
This movie is fresh in my mind as I can literally see the credits fading on the other portion of the screen.
This is a great, superbly acted movie about the horrors and futility of war. There really are no "villains" just different shades of grey, as both side is portrayed as just as guilty as the other.
It shows both sides of the war and how they are both fighting for control a small piece of land and at the same time continuously asking the question of "why?"
There are some moments of camaraderie between the two different sides as well, so it isn't all just blood and guts, yet it is more gruesome than Hollywood films.
In summary, if you want to see a good war film aside from the usual Hollywood remakes and rehashes then this one is a good one.
This movie is fresh in my mind as I can literally see the credits fading on the other portion of the screen.
This is a great, superbly acted movie about the horrors and futility of war. There really are no "villains" just different shades of grey, as both side is portrayed as just as guilty as the other.
It shows both sides of the war and how they are both fighting for control a small piece of land and at the same time continuously asking the question of "why?"
There are some moments of camaraderie between the two different sides as well, so it isn't all just blood and guts, yet it is more gruesome than Hollywood films.
In summary, if you want to see a good war film aside from the usual Hollywood remakes and rehashes then this one is a good one.
Did you know
- TriviaSouth Korea's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards 2012.
- GoofsThe American F-51 Mustang fighter-bombers seem to have Normandy-style invasion stripes on their wings and bodies. These markings had long been dropped since the end of the Second World War.
- How long is The Front Line?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,018
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,188
- Jan 22, 2012
- Gross worldwide
- $20,629,645
- Runtime2 hours 13 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content