Musa (무사 -2001)

Starring:
Woo-sung Jung ... Yeo-sol
Sung-kee Ahn ... Jin-lib
Jin-mo Ju ... Choi Jung
Ziyi Zhang ... Princess Bu-yong (as Zhang Ziyi)
Yong-woo Park ... Ju-myeong
Jeong-hak Park ... Ga-nam
Hye-jin Yu ... Du-chung
Seok-yong Jeong ... Ha-il
Du-il Lee ... Ji-san
Yeong-mok Han ... Dan-saeng
Jae-ho Song
Hae-jin Yu
Rongguang Yu ... Rambulhua, Yuan General

In 1375, China was in a state of chaos because of fighting between the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. The korea dynasty, one of Korea's ancient kingdoms, sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave as envoys to make peace with the new Chinese government, Ming. However, this delegation was accused of spying and sent in exile to a remote desert. On the way, they were attacked by Yuan troops who killed all the Ming soldiers, leaving only korea warriors. The head envoy General CHOI Jung of the Royal Guard decides by himself that they must return to korea. Vice Envoy LEE Ji-hun dies from the strain of the march, and tension builds between LEE's bodyguard slave Yeosol and CHOI Jung.

After overcoming countless obstacles, the Korea warriors arrive at a peddler's inn in the middle of the desert and run into Yuan cavalry who have kidnapped Ming's princess Buyong. CHOI Jung falls in love with Buyong the moment he sees her. Meanwhile, Yeosol arrives later, dragging vice envoy LEE Ji-hun's body. He cuts off the head of a gypsy who spits on the dead body. Yuan general Rambulhwa sees Yeosol decapitate the gypsy with one strike. Princess Furong also looks on from her wagon. Yeosol is eventually taken captive by the Yuan cavalry. CHOI Jung picks up a note from Buyong written in her blood that says 'Help', and he decides to rescue her so that they can get a boat bound for Korea. CHOI Jung's aide Ganam and a warrior from the Commoner's Army, Jinlip, oppose the idea, saying it would be futile. However, they end up proceeding with the rescue with Jinlip shooting the first arrow. Buyong is rescued, but only at the expense of many korea warriors' lives.

Princess Furong and the Korea warriors, whose destination is Nanjing (the old southern capital of China), arrive at the Yellow River Valley where they find all the ferry boats burnt by Yuan soldiers. There they run into a group of Han tribe refugees. Furong feels empathy for her people and promises to give the warriors a boat to Korea if they take the refugees to the coast next to Mud Castle. They arrive at Mud Castle after even more trials, only to find the castle in ruins and no Ming soldiers. By this time, the Yuan soldiers have caught up with them and the Korea travelers become increasingly nervous. The underlying conflict between CHOI Jung and Yeosol over princess Buyong also deepens. Now they must choose. Give up princess Buyong or fight to the death together. The moment of truth approaches Can they return to Korea safely?

This was a pretty good movie. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I guess more dramatic would be the interpretive word. The copy I saw lots of blank areas for subs so a lot of translation was missed but the idea was still there.

I was a little irritated with the Princess. I had to agree with the guys to drop her off with the Yuan army and leave for Korea. But no.....General Choi Jung believed that saving her was more beneficial for them seeing as she promised them a boat if they got her to the "mud castle". Eeeergh!

Then we have Yeosol. I really loved his character. He was awesome with the lance! Totally cool choreograpy! But damn what is it with the Princess. She was all nice in the beginning but then her "niceness" was getting them all killed! Then she got all hoity-toity! Yeah, should have just fed her to the Yuan army. The whole movie would have ended quickly but then there would have been less dead people!

Then I cried when a particular member of the envoy was killed. I won't say who as to not ruin the movie for everyone else. But that was such a sad moment that I was all weepy. Then from that point on.....I was waiting for the guillotine to drop. I knew this had a sad ending but I wasn't sure how it would go down.

Now on a good note...even though his character was a little messed up was...Ju Jin Mo was so damn hot in period clothing. Oooh-la-la! And speaking of eyecandy, yo!............Jeong Woo Seong was looking all fine with the long, straight black hair. Kind of reminded me of another particular Korean in the Duelist! I've seen other JWS movies but this one he looked totally the best!!

Arahan ( Arahan jangpung daejakjeon /아라한 - 장풍대작전 -2004)

Starring:
Seung-beom Ryu - Sang-hwan
So-yi Yoon - Wi-jin
Sung-kee Ahn - Ja-woon
Doo-hong Jung - Heuk-woon
Ju-sang Yun - Mu-woon
Ha-ryong Lim
Kil-Kang Ahn

A naive yet passionate Sang-hwan becomes a downtown policeman to help the good and punish the bad. But when it comes to gang crime, he is nothing but a coward. One day he gets discovered by a martial arts master and his training to unleash the true power within him begins. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Evil, Black Cloud, is set loose. Now Sang-hwan, who possesses the absolute power, becomes ‘ the one’ who must save the world.



Okay first off......I really enjoyed this film. It was funny at the right moments and the action was really quite good. I loved the idea of Tao and the fact that we all have Chi that could for some change our lives. Imagine that you had undiscovered Chi in your body and when learned, you are able to accomplish things that you would never have imagined.

This was an ingenious plot. A great idea for a movie. Hero and Heroine save the world in a modern day setting. This movie is great for the whole family and worth watching again and again. I loved the moral values set in. (Yeah, okay....I like something with a learning value quotient. So sue me.)

May 18 (화려한 휴가, Hwa-ryo-han Hyoo-ga-2007)

Starring:
Sung-kee Ahn - Heung-su Park
Sang-jyung Kim - Min-woo Kang
Jun-gi Lee - Jin-woo Kang
Yu-won Lee - Shin-ae Park
Jae-ho Song - Priest
Won-sang Park
In-gi Jeong
Eol Lee
Cheol-min Park

Having lost his parents at a young age, Min-woo takes care of his younger brother Jin-woo much like a father would. He harbors a secret crush on Shin-ae, a nurse he meets at a church gathering, and persuades her to go on a date with him to the movies. But not long after the film begins, they hear the sound of sirens and are rushed out of the theater. Outside they find chaos in the streets : Tear gas dances wildly and soldiers mobilized for crowd control have taken to violent beatings. Bewildered and enraged, the citizens form a militia, determined to protect the ones they love - and Min-woo finds himself in the middle of it all.

Sad but true:

May 17, 1980
After the Coup d'état of December Twelfth (1979) in Seoul, ROK Army Lieutenant General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of Security Command, declared martial law on May 17, 1980 to suppress student demonstrations around the country. The next day, students in Gwangju protested at the gate of Chonnam National University against the closing of the university, when armed forces blocking the university responded with violent means. After the incident, students moved into the downtown area, where they were joined by the citizens of the city. The growing crowd was met by the use of force, including gunfire, that caused some fatalities.

May 20, 1980
As the news of the fatalities spread, on May 20, protesters burned down the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation local station which, under effective government control, portrayed the protests as hooligans led by Communist agents. By May 21, some 300,000 people had joined the protest against the General's power; weapons depots and police stations were looted of their weapons and the civil militias, known as the Citizen Army, beat back the armed forces, killing several soldiers.

With all routes and communications leading in and out of the city blocked by armed forces, a civilian body was formed to maintain order and conduct negotiations with the government. Although order was well maintained, a number of negotiations to resolve the situation failed to achieve any results.

May 27, 1980
On May 27, airborne and army troops from five divisions were inserted and defeated the civil militias in the downtown area in only 90 minutes.　


I'm telling you right now, I didn't expect to sob as much as I did during this movie. It's heavy on emotion, national pride, love, brotherhood, friendship, and faith.

I hope that my two sons will be as close as Min-woo and Jin-woo were in this movie. The bond was intense. The scenes were bloody and loving.

I only thought you would only see this in America. But to see this, and for it to happen in 1980 was just insane. At that time, I was blanketed in the security of believing in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and that Rick Springfield was god. To think, I don't want to think about it, it's just unbelievable.

I guess at that time, the Communist scare was hidden in the shadows and for the government to lose control on this one town....it stinks. I can only hope that, not just S. Koreans, but the world at that time learned something. I'm saddened.......and I weep for those who died for that cause.

Okay, tears are forming again. I feel my chest tightening.....sobs are about to escape.

Lee Jun Ki