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This film is based off Kyokushin Karate founder Masutatsu Oyama (or as he's referred to in this film his Korean name Choi Bae-dal) Although on the back cover it claims it's based off the real-life it does craftily use the word 're-telling' as in pretty much saying it's mostly fiction. To find out what's real and what's not you'd need to speak with someone who knows a lot about Kyokushin Karate, which unfortunately I do not. Masutatsu Oyama took on all challenges and was never defeated, the only human to ever defeat 300 black belts in three days and he fought bulls. This sounds an interesting enough story, yet obviously someone felt it needed that bit more for some reason.
The film begins showing what will be the final scene "I am afraid of fighting, I am afraid of being beaten and losing. But I am more afraid of surviving as a cripple than dying in a fight."
We are then taken back to 1939 in the Japanese colony of Seoul. Where Choi Bae-dal first gets the ambition to be a fighter pilot for the Japanese army. Rush forward to 1942, where
he has made his way to Japan. We soon see him tied up with other Koreans refusing to do the Kamikaze. Bae-dal is almost beaten to death by the General Kato. It then shoots to after the war, we see Bae-dal and his friend Chun-bae are left with nothing. He compares his courage to his old country (South Korea) as being left in ruins despite being liberated.
This soon leads up to where he meets his old master Beom-su who saves him from the Yakuza. Choi Bae-dal asks for him to show him how to fight. During all this there's this kind of pointless bit where Bae-dal becomes a hero saving Japanese woman from the 'evil' American soldiers (who in the film are described as "Worse than the police and the Yakuza"). The only point of this I feel is to set up the meeting of the 'love interest' Yoko and to give a bit of action to the fight junkies who might be getting a bit bored by now.
Bae-dal's world is then rocked by tragedy. So after an excellent fight scene brawl with the Yakuza he retreats into the mountains where he conditions his body in the most sadistic ways. (Think of the scene in Rocky in which he is punching the meat and running, then you get the idea what this is like). He returns from the Mountains ready to take on any challenger. I'll leave it at that not to spoil it, though I'm pretty sure you can guess what happens.
What I liked about this film is firstly the fights, it shows Choi Bae-dal at the beginning as only human, which I liked and even after he'd been in the mountains, they showed his fights as being quick and brutal. I felt that the fights were quite realistic looking you could almost feel ever kick and chop. Another thing I liked is to be able see a martial arts film where Karate is the focus, as someone who practices karate myself it was great to see moves being used that I practice weekly.
What I disliked was how long the film dragged. This could easily have been 1 hour and 30 minutes, yet it was full of filler. Another thing I disliked was the constant propaganda; there was a lot of hate on the Japanese, which is understandable as it's just after the war. However stuff like the Japanese Martial Arts Association plotting to kill the Korean was a bit much and I felt it ruined the film a little.
---Scenes to look out for--- The brawl with the Yakuza in the rain Training in the mountains First fight from coming down from the mountains (complete with drums and solid kicks to the leg - ouch!) Fight with the Judo expert The Final Fight
---Chapter Select--- You can choose to watch the film from 16 points. Including a few of the fight scenes.
---Extras--- The extras are not really that worth noting first there's the 'Action Diary of a Martial Arts Director' talking about the making of the film. I never like stuff like these things cause I feel they ruin the fantasy of the film. Then there is the usual 'Cast and Crew Interviews' which rather than being one long dragging sequence, is split into four - Director Yang Yoon-ho, Yang Dongguem (Choi Bae-Dal), (Yoko), Masaya Kato (Kato). Followed by a 'Music Video' which is a song accompanied by loads of clips from the film. Then there is the usual trailer, which is usual on all films DVDs. Followed by other releases, which are basically other films released off 'Optimum'. It includes trailers for 'Azumi', Azumi 2', 'Arahan', 'The Doll Master' and 'Sky High'
Running Time: 121 minutes approx Certificate: 15
The film is shot in Korean and Japanese, with no English dub available, so sorry if you can't stand subtitles.
Recommended if you like martial arts films.
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Great review. I haven't even heard of this. It sounds interesting though. I can't decide whether I'd like it or not haha. What do you think? Keep smiling, Alastair :o)
kitty17 26.02.2006 13:50
Great review, seen a trailer for this recently and thought I'd give it a go, Ellie.
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Feb 25th, 2006
(Jun 23rd, 2007)
very helpful by (100%):
