September 20, 2004
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TAEGUKGI
So I finally got around to seeing "Taegukgi" this past weekend after reading all the hype from people on Xanga. Although I can see why many compared it to a Korean "Saving Private Ryan", the movie had a pretty profound effect on me. No, I didn't start bawling in the movie, although it seemed like every female in the theater was (which btw was ALL Koreans).
Unlike most war movies where there's a side that you're supposed to root for, this movie just showed you what I thought was an unbiased and raw look at what it was like during the Korean War. Maybe it's because I'm Korean but it was hard for me to take a side while watching Koreans (North and South) killing each other, especially since most didn't even know WHY they were fighting
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Although the idea of brother fighting brother isn't something new, I never had a problem rooting for the "good guys" in Civil War movies. (Maybe it's because the Civil War was mostly white people killing each other and I didn't really connect with any of them.
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Another thought that came to mind while watching the movie was that my parents actually grew up in that time. It's amazing how times have changed and I think if the youth of today understood the conditions their parents grew up in, they'd realize how good they have it today.
What's sad is that with all the progress in technology in today's modern world, something so primal and barbaric as WAR still exists. Maybe Arnold was right in "Terminator 2" when he said that it's in man's nature to destroy ourselves.
Maybe so, but I hope that before my parents die, they can see a unified Korea again
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Comments (24)
didn't you think it was fucked up when the older bro turned his back on a childhood friend although he'd known him for years and tried to explain that he was captured and taken by the north?
where is this movie playing?
geez i still havent seen this movie yet. and about your parents seeing a unified korea again? i would like to see that too hehe
i still haven't seen the movie.
i saw the movie, i liked it. some koreans critisize the movie for being sympathetic to the north, but i thought i was less of a war/political movie and more of a bond of brotherhood and the lengths one goes to save one another, regardless of the consequences.
War is unavoidable as long as there are differences in opinion... which is unavoidable as long as we possess the ability to think freely.
The only way war can be eliminated is if everyone turns into mindless robots.
awesome movie dude. i thought the daughter of the old man in the present day was HOT!
kinda looked like hyori!
good movie
the theater for me was also ALL Koreans...except me...haha...i usually feel fine when among asians, and tho there were a couple of nonasians (ie: solo black dude & a couple of white ppl), i felt kinda out of place...makes me wonder if anyone knew i was chinese...probably not...hehe
why is it that man always feel that death is justifiable?
how much longer do you think they'll playing this movie? i'm thinking of going down again this weekend to watch the damn movie so i know what you guys are talking about!
one of my great uncles in korea got lucky enough to be picked in the monthly lottery to visit his relatives in north korea, and he got to see his cousin that he hadn't seen since the war. unfortunately, his other relatives opted NOT to come, and his cousin was completely brain washed and all she talked about was how great kim jong il was, and how she loved north korea. he said it was really sad and disappointing, he even commented that all the north korean relatives that came were all dressed in a uniform fashion, as if the n. korean govt had them dress that way.
haha.. that was cute.
thanks, tuesday.
haven't seen you lately.. hope youre taking care of yourself =)
humanness shown through the atrocities of war. Sigh... yeah, don't we all strive to see a unified korea...
I saw it this weekend too. I was in the theater full of Koreans as well! Bawling my eyes out like the other women too. Yah, it's crazy war is still going on to this day.
oh yah, I wore "the white skirt." I think he was scared shitless to touch me again.
i thought about that movie yesterday and for some reason i thought i was thinking about a hollywood film... i was like god which movie did two brothers fight together at first? memory goes with age... sigh...
did u get the tv yet?
haha... good one... dork. =) so where is this movie playing? me wanna see it ...
no hate me please.... can't we all just get along?
im kinda feelin your friend friday tho.. can you tell him to call me up and show me around town?
see now... that's just plain mean... did i not try and keep the peace? HUH?! don't make me hurt you man... i'll keel you.
you cant be tues and fri! HAH~
**tear?**
Saw it last nite.. it was soooo good! I only watch korean movies once in a while so i wasn't expecting much and went in thinking "okay, i'm watching this to show support as a korean.." but wow, i was completely blown away at how compelling this movie was. Omg.. i wish that everyone of all races and cultures will see this.
war isn't so primal anymore. it's more diplomatic and technological these days. it would be nice to get rid of the north korean problem
Comments are closed.