Joint Security Area - JSA details
| Format: | 15 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Yeong-Ae Lee, Song Kang-ho, Ha-Kyun Shin, Tae-Woo Kim |
| Director: | Park Chan-Wook |
| Genres: | Action/Adventure, Drama - Crime, Thriller - General, Crime, World Cinema - Italian |
| Studio: | PALISADES TARTAN |
| Collections: | Awesome Asian Films, Battlefield Films, Editor's Picks, Must-see Korean Films, Political Thrillers, Top Korean Films, Wars & Warriors |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Joint Security Area - JSA |
15 Feature | |
Joint Security Area - JSA - Bonus Features |
15 Bonus |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 48 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 30 Jul 2002 |
| Main languages: | Korean |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
Essentially the thoughts of a south korean...
By Gandhi from UK , 04 Jun 2005[Highly rated reviewer]
...and what he sees as a country divided and provoked by an outside force in this political thriller with a tightly woven story.
The synopsis gives the premise as shown at laid out at the start of the film, but quickly you see there is allot more to it than that. Right from the beginning we are very aware that those being investigated are hiding something. Its a mostly static situation that reveals itself over time via scenes showing what the investigator thinks happened so far, those involved said has happened... and later those involved remembering what really happened.
Much like the likes of director Park Chan-Wook's later work it is very slickly done (but better edited than Old Boy), scenes flow into each other well, whether they be in a different location or time from one another. And whilst there is certainly a strong sense of sentimentality and even romanticisation for a good part of the film, reality is always at the forefront... not everything ends like one might want it to, inspite the ending (an ambiguous one at that) does leave one with a good feeling inside.
A slight letdown in this film has to be the acting, not of those being investigated (who play the biggest parts) but rather the investigators, consisting of an English speaking peace keeping force that vows to remain neutral. Having said that Ha-kyun Shin's acting does pick up when she speaks Korean, which I'm thankful for because she plays the fifth most prominent character and is very much representative of the rest of the world.
Overall this has been the best Park Chan-Wook I have seen so far and just goes to show why he is one of the most prominent Korean directors that have made Korean cinema so very fashionable in recent years.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(42)Deeply moving
By Sesh (8 reviews) , 21 Apr 2013A very deeply moving movie. When viewed emphatically, it conveys the deep confusion and the disgust at the divided Korea. The struggle to remain loyal to their nations and yet seemingly helpless when asked to treat their fellow countrymen from across the otherside as an enemy, and the struggle to protect their ideals in the face of politics....excellent movie. What touched me is the story spun around the confusion when camaraderie goes wrong and causes death amongst an otherwise friendly context....the first scene wherein the Sargent hands the red little cloth when everything was good and the same scene when it was all over -very moving.- Was this review helpful to you?
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whenyou don't know what's right - you obey!
By a customer , 13 Apr 2013This is a deeply moving tale about the dilemmas that face the whole human race - power struggles, obedience in the face of madness, human the stupidity of war but the underlying story is one of the truth of humanity trying to make itself known in a world gone completely mad- Was this review helpful to you?
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BRILLIANT impressive acting
By Flossytreadwell (21 reviews) , 28 Mar 2013BRILLIANT The part where they're idiot dancing... priceless. I can't say I understand why it ended the way it did. Perhaps the whole divide culture & volatile threat hanging between them is just too much pressure for a soldier & this was depicted in Lee's actions.- Was this review helpful to you?
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J.S.A - Chan-Wooks the Man!
By Gorester (1 review) , 10 Nov 2012Simple method of communicating the bigger picture. A largely democratic viewpoint if the complex relationship between North and South Korea.
If you enjoyed any of Chan-Wooks other works, then you will be able to indulge in this familiar style.
While it is certainly not boasting the swagger of Old Boy, or the darkness and depth of other contemporary features such as The Man from Nowhere or The Chaser, if you are into your Asian cinema, please give it a watch. It will rest you with you for days afterwards and get you looking up the current political climate!- Was this review helpful to you?
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brill movie
By a customer , 23 Apr 2012i wont go into any depth or spoilers but this movie is worth a watch to anyone interested in korea- Was this review helpful to you?
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