Search - Tae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 3/28/2023...

If you like foreign war movies, then this is for you!

Ronald S. (Tony)
Reviewed on 2/2/2011...

This is the first time I had seen this movie and thought it was very good with a real interesting, but also very sad story. Once I went on the languages and changed it to english without sub-titles, viewing was enjoyable.

0 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Bonnie S. (BonnieS) from HEDGESVILLE, WV
Reviewed on 12/18/2007...

A painful, but beautifully performed story of the Korean War, without the Americans. It is the tale of two brothers, one strong, outgoing, but uneducated, the other a shy intellectual as they are brought close, then divided by the conflict. Reminiscent of the American Civil war with brother fighting brother, killing neighbor, it is tragic, heart-wrenching. You can't ever forget it. I recommend you watch it with subtitles rather than dubbed.

A great war film. Definitely worth seeing.

Jaewoo Kim | Santa Monica, CA | 10/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"War films are very personal and always subjective. Naturally, Americans will have more interest in watching films about Americans fighting in a war. That doesn't mean, however, that foreign war films such as this don't offer a perspective that Americans can't identify with. This is a great war movie by any standards. Although Koreans will undoubtedly find this movie most compelling, it also offers much to other nationalities and cultures.

In addition to vicious and realistic battle sequences, this movie, perhaps unintentionally, provides deep insights into the core Korean values of family and education. The movie is about two brothers. The older brother willingly sacrifices himself (both economic opportunities and his own life) for the sake of his younger brother. The older brother is most proud of his younger brother's accomplishments in school, where he is an excellent student. Towards the end of the movie, the last lines are about going to school and finishing education even when Korea has been decimated and people have nothing left to eat or roofs over their head.

One oversight of this movie is it leaves no mention of the heroic American sacrifices in the Korean war. Over 36,000 Americans gave their lives in that horrible and brutal war. 137,000 South Korean soldiers also gave their lives. I felt the American involvement and sacrifices deserved at least a few lines of recognition and respect. But this movie was created when George W Bush, who was the most hated man in the world, was the US President.

This movie will leave you in tears. The music is very touching and so right for this film. The production budget for this film rivaled many Hollywood films and was highest in Korean cinematic history. This movie easily falls into one of all time best Korean films."