This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Memorable, crazy movie

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is the third KOrean war movie that I have watched in a short while, two other being Brotherhood Of War and The Front Line, but these were about Korean War, and this new one is about a bigger time span, from 1930's and to 1948, and it follows the fate of two marathon runners, one Korean and one Japanese, being involved into the horror of WWII and all in different front fields - in China, Russia and France. I need not to retell the huge epic story, I just want to admit that the film is a great winner, with correct depictions of various nations, and moments, and yeah, they all speak languages correct, I am Russian and was very pleased to hear correct Russian speech throughout. THe video effects are excellent here, and yeah, despite several goofs and incorrect details, such as Soviet army actions in Mongolia, the movie is a good and very deep serious treat and leaves much to be thinking about. Recommended to all history buffs

Sorry for bad English.The movie director, of course, is good at shooting epic, bombastic, spectacular and ambitious movie. I like Korean movies - they work hard on making good movies with reasonable budget.But for anyone interested in the history of that time... to be short: half of the movie, I did not know whether to laugh or to cry.By movie story line it looks like that where the Koreans, there is a military defeat: 1. The main character took in the Japanese army - and the Japanese got big issues on Khalkhin. 2. They joined Soviet army - and Germans almost reach Moscow. 3. When Germans captured the main character - Soviet began counterattack. 4. Finally, the main character finds himself in the Wehrmacht in Normandy just before the Allied landings...I haven't seen such harsh Red Army in overseas movies before, thanks! ;-)For whom this movie has been made? Koreans in this movie - stupid, cowardly, slightly cruel. Japanese - very stupid, suicidal and wildly violent. Soviets? Ice demons of hell and Vigil chaos. Germans? (Honestly could not watch the whole movie, but I can assume that meticulously cruel)PS I am going to slight a couple of prisoners Asians because I got into fuss while writing this review... (Don't take my review seriously because if you take this movie seriously you may take seriously my comments too). I will this movie to my collection.

CAUTION : this movie contain extreme gore, violence and blood.There are like 4000 dead during the movie.This movie essentially shows the cruelty of war, from the Japanese, Korean and Russian view.This is a beautiful story where two soldiers of different nationalities meet during war.This is a dramatic movie : the action scenes are not to enjoy, but to cry to.It's a great journey of two friends who meet each other at several moments of the war, fighting for different countries each time.

I would start by comparing it to My Way. But I give you two reasons why this movie is better.1. It's not about two brothers, but about two rivals, coming from two very different nations, brought closer by the love for sport.2. Their journey seems to be more like a rite of passage.Let me tell you this. The psychological study of the characters reminded me in one episode of their journey of The Way Back. But My Way represents a step further. As the two main characters start off by being rival children, become mortal enemies and the brother-like friends, some of their friend become enemies. It reminds me of the equilibrium between Yin and Yang. It's constantly changing, fluid, but the two must always complete one another.This dynamism is present throughout the film and makes you so drawn to it, that you never seem to notice the passing of the time.All in all, it's truly magnificent.Arguably (one of) the best war movie ever.