Jaemitneun yeonghwa

While this movie definitely references and parodies Korean films, I disagree that a knowledge of Korean cinema is required to enjoy it. While some jokes may go over the average Western viewer's head, the majority are gags in the Mel Brooks style. They transcend cultural boundaries because the humor comes from them being just completely absurd or ridiculous.

It must be said that sometimes this film gets a little lowbrow. One gross-out scene around the one hour mark nearly made me turn around and storm out of the room, but I stuck with it and was quite glad I did- the hilarious chase/shootout later on was well worth it.

I should note that, if this film hasn't got a release in your region yet, you'd better import it, because it's not likely to get one in the near future. The plot, or what passes for it, involves terrorists trying to disrupt the World Cup using liquid explosives disguised as bottled water. That was funny when I saw this film in early August 2006, but a few weeks later authorities thwarted a real-life plot with a similar methodology, so it might be awhile before anyone wants to take a chance on being called insensitive by releasing this. So, if you want to see this movie, check the import stores.

If you want to enjoy this movie you have to already know some other korean movies, since this is a parodie on them. Knowing a bit about Koreas History with Japan and the two Koreas in general might be helpful as well.

In this movie some japanese Terrorists try to ruin the world-cup (hosted by Japan and South Korea) by blowing up the South Korean President, the Japanese Prime Minister and the Chairman of North Korea.

The main story is taken from "Shiri", but there are a lot of scenes out of "My sassy girl", "Peppermint Candy", "Beat", "Joint Security Area", "Ditto", "Nowhere to hide", "Friend", "Volcano High", "Attack at the gas station" and many more...

Most of the parodies hit very well.

If you do not know many korean movies the rate is maybe 4/10, but if you know them I'd rate this movie 8/10 !

And by the way: those korean movies are good movies, so go out an watch them ;)