The Battle: Roar to Victory

First things first: the Japanese are portrayed as quite the evil people here. You may have an issue with how evil they are (supposed to be). Remember overall this is a movie. In many war movies enemies are shown as evil - to a degree where you may question their humanity.

So if you swallow that (suspend your disbelief), there is a war movie here that is quite violent and quite tension filled from start to finish. Also there are some degrees and some shades of grey in certain characters at least. Not the best Korean war movie, but the effort, the effects, the stunts and the acting are all rock solid to say the least.

Tedious. Another big budget movie overflowing with nationalist, anti-Japanese pride. Japanese are portrayed as one dimensional, evil caricatures.

Lovely cinematography, sets and costumes but I think it could have been a little shorter than 2hours 15 minutes. Lots of testosterone fuelled violence and tension. Nothing graphic except for a couple of fake heads rolling on the ground. No nudity.

I think this is possible because of grand locations. 'The Battle of Bong-o dong' is the story about the land being stolen. It repays with the most glorious and most Korean landscape it can offer. The last scene where Korean armies appear one by one, all united for one purpose overwhelms me because of its scale. The bird-eye shots of each soldier in rough and rugged mountains and gorges made me speechless. A director of cinematography, a director of art, a director of action, and especially one who's in charge of finding and scouting locations deserve commendation. These vivid, energetic, dynamic, and powerful action complements some faults in the story development, which happens rarely for me. Magnificently, tragically, and poignantly beautiful.

This is a violent and graphic movie about Koreans fighting against the occupation by Japanese and features atrocities committed by them. The action is well directed. There is a feel good inglorious heroism vibe. Some slow parts but don't give up. The last third has some terrific chases on mountains and epic battles.

It is strange how people criticise and doubt the veracity of movies about Japanese atrocities but movies about WW2 atrocities in Europe by Germans are often universally praised. There are only a few movies about Nanjing and a fewer about the Occupation of Korea. More need to be made and watched by a wider audience lest people forget. Kudos to the Japanese actors who portrayed their own countrymen as villains.

What price freedom? Its an individual as much as a collective question. That's the context "The Battle: Roar to Victory" resides within.

This is an unambiguously patriotic film but its clearly defined reason to be, put it head and shoulders, above films that talk about patriotism but fail to explain its purpose.

In this instance, its the Japanese Empires imperial ambitions. Invading Korea and as this film shows, brutally subjugating its people. An historically accurate representation of, at times, harsh policies, that continued into WWII where often forced Korean recruits, were used, essentially, as canon fodder.

This film is, unsurprisingly, not an easy watch. Its visceral at times and that bloodiness extends to civilians, as well as those who have taken up arms. What it does demonstrate emphatically, is why these people fight and what they are fighting for. Of course, what is asked, is how much are they as individuals and a group, willing to sacrifice?

Military action is non stop, frenetic, brutal, interspersed with moments of deeply felt emotion and courage. Cinematic's are remarkable, bringing the battle scenes, that define this film, to life. I found it at times a mesmerising watch that drew me in and held me till the closing credits.

Another film for South Korea to be proud of. 9/10 from me.