Hijack 1971

Inspired by the Korean Air F27 hijacking unfold on the 23 january 1971, the movie defenitely keep a tension during most of the acts.

The casting is on the spot and the performances are quite good.

However, as specified at the beginning of the movie, this is freely inspired by the event and lots of sequences are made only for dramatic purposes. The problem with that is the numerous irrational reactions of the passengers wich will probably make you wonder why people are reacting like that.

But the real major problem of this movie, in my opinion, and I noticed that this is often the case with movies produce by Sony, is the CGI.

All the planes shots looks way to fake, especially when you have in mind the Top Gun Maverick shots in mind. I saw more realistic videos from people who play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 maxout in 8K with mods.

Not an awful movie, but could have been way better.

The film is immersive and exhilarating, and I was able to witness the feelings of the side characters, which is really rare. It's one of the best Korean movies I've ever seen. It's brilliantly executed, and the fact that it's based on a genuine tale astounded me.

It's one of those very, very rare movies where you sympathize and understand everyone's point of view in what they do, despite whether what they do is good or bad; even the villain (the killer), you can understand his point of view and the reasons for what he does (you can identify a little via his bad past, but you hate the results intensely); they don't focus only on the hero's backstory, which is great.

This is also dramatic and hits close to home; expect to experience the characters' pain as well.

What to say other than this is a solid movie with a solid plot and solid CGI and solid acting. However, for a Korean film, I thought it fell short in comparison to some of the greats. I mean, not every movie would be great, but Koreans are exceptional with the balance of comedy and tragedy. Many Korean movies really move the emotions, having you laugh in tears in the beginning and sobbing uncontrollably in the end.

The reason a lot of Korean films are losing their strength is because they're trying too hard to copy Hollywood. This film would be one of those and so the story seems generic and the dialogues just move the story along without making any real impact. As such the movie doesn't leave much of an impression.

I think a better writer could've made this movie great by going back to what they do best, comedy and tragedy.

6/10.

How 'Hijack 1971' builds the tension is freaking crazy. It is gradual and follows a step-by-step manual, and it makes sure that each step is impactful enough. I don't think I've watched this quality of action sequences happening in planes in Korean movies. The CGI effect is satisfactory as well. There are some weaknesses, but they are not about technology itself, but how the director uses it is too outdated. Slow motion right after the bomb exploded is just too cliche and even cringy. Also, there are some tear-jerking soap opera moments that hinders the focus of the audience because the director intends to focus not only on action but also on the story of each character. Even so, I get the intention, and I'm glad that 'Hijack 1971' is not about CGI pew-pew. Because of that story, the movie brings more reality and thus tension and thrill in the end.

Hijack 1971 is a tightly executed thriller based on a real-life hijacking, told with sharp focus and simmering tension. While the setup is familiar, the film avoids melodrama and unnecessary flash, delivering a suspenseful narrative within the claustrophobic setting of a plane. Its controlled pacing and stripped-down style build to a strong emotional payoff. A fine example of economical storytelling, Hijack 1971 stands out as one of the more effective and disciplined thrillers in recent Korean cinema.