mformoviesandmore I watched this because it was made by the old boy from Old Boy. I had also recently seen Memories of Murder and thought I was on a winning streak of enjoyable Korean movies.Strike three - I'm out.I can see what they were trying to do, and the story is familiar of people from opposite sides making bonds that break.My main problem is that I found that I couldn't care less about any of the characters. The acting ranged from fair to appalling. The female non-Korean Korean inspector was probably the worst.The story was nothing magical and there are no surprises for anyone over the age of 21 as all of the elements have been done before.I suppose I was also disappointed after hearing so many good reviews - my expectations were set so high they had further to fall.My advice is that if you enjoyed the other movies I mentioned, and Olboy more so than memories, then save yourself and move on to another choice.

park0725 This is one of my favorite movies despite some flaws.First, I'd like to point out for those who've watched this film after realizing it was made by the same director, Chan-wook Park (Oldboy). Please keep in mind this is one of his first films. Before this film Park was basically an unknown. You can tell that it is a low budget film. This explains the bad acting on part of the English speaking actors.Second, you must understand the background for this movie. This film is loosely based on a true incident near the border. If you think this film was 'unbelievable,' I'd like to point out that it is merely improbable, but not impossible. While the North and South Korea are still technically at war, it has been over 50 years since the war broke out. Public opinion has been changing, but even so this film was extremely controversial because it portrayed North Koreans as human beings instead of the enemy. This movie touches on an extremely sensitive subject - perhaps akin to a Jordanian-Israelite friendship story. The point of the movie is that even during war, there is always a sliver of humanity (Like the film Joyeux Noel).Third, this film is NOT homo-erotic. Many things considered 'gay' in other countries do not equate to the same things in other countries. It doesn't make Koreans any more or less homophobic as say, in the US, but there is a different definition of what is considered gay. In Korea male bonding is considered very important. Many friends consider each other as close as brothers. This is completely normal in Korean society. In fact, Lee's role as the only female cast was chosen to 'balance out' all the male relationships. While I do not agree with this decision, I am extremely glad there weren't any needless love scenes so common in movies.I urge people to understand the context of this film before watching for maximum enjoyment. The premise is incredible, the directing is good, but unfortunately the acting of foreigners and the choice of Lee prevents me from giving this film a perfect 10. Yes, it was a little melodramatic, but you should expect that from most Asian cinema. Many Asian countries have experienced extreme violence in their own land in the 20th century. 8.5/10

rcp02 This movie is much less about the solving of a crime than it is about the difficulty of one people living apart by an absurd accident of history. It is not a whodunit, it is a story of human friendship above rules and almost fanatical enmity. Al characters portrayed are equally human, even up to the completely one-sided South Korean general who thinks the only good commie is a dead one. This movie is a metaphor for both Korea's today, seeking to come closer to each but prepared to slit each others throat in a split second just the same. At the same time the practical difficulties in making friends across such a divide show that not only can the difficulties of two countries be accurately conveyed into the behavior of just four people, it also shows how vice-versa the actions of both Korea's, which inevitably lead to great drama, is at the same time a metaphor for the small tragedy that unfolds in the joint security area. Highly recommended, if only for the last shot of the film which is almost literally a snapshot of the entire bond of friendship portrayed in the film, even beyond borders.

Schwenkstar Chan-wook Park's most politically-charged film tackles the very volatile tension that exists between the North and South Koreans. This could have easily been propagandistic in nature, with this South Korean film portraying the Northerners as mere caricatures of Communistic ideals, but instead the film happily sidesteps this and portrays both the North Koreans and South Koreans as kinsmen.In the beginning of the picture, both sides have a skewed view of one another, seeing each through the lens of their political temperament - the border between the two thus is interpreted as a wall that filters and jades each one's perspective. However, once that that wall is finally crossed, the two sides realize that no wall really exists, and they begin to see each other as human beings - The soldiers first call one another "enemies", but soon they are calling one another "brothers".The characters are richly drawn and dynamic to reflect this - each are humans, with their own unique demeanor, and that their national identity is nothing more than a facade. While the soldiers are alone, away from their government infrastructures, both sides cling to one another in fellowship as they find themselves all the same. Only when the absent governmental element is reintroduced are the soldiers forced to revert back behind their facades, and tragedy results.A powerfully moving and keenly intelligent analysis of the confusing political situation between the two opposing governmental systems. Despite being slightly marred by a few lapses into melodrama and overstatement, that can not take away from its piercing effectiveness.The highest recommendation possible.