Once Upon A Time In High School Reviews

Then i got high...

Anyone expecting a high kicking tribute to the late Bruce Lee may find the battles with inner demons, friendship and the academic year something of an oddity, but the truth is O.U.T.H.S shares more in comman with coming of age dramas then anything else. Though the film trailer would suggest otherwise.

But don't be put off because this is an enjoyable movie with great performances and a lot of heart.

For fight fans of course there is the occasional scuffle, well choreographed scuffles at that, but O.U.T.H.S. has a different agenda and succeeds on its own terms.

Not the knock out you might be tuning in for, but pretty darn good all the same.

slow, slow, slow, slow, BANG

A beautiful, fantastic film. It's quiet, romantic and subtle. Moving along like a student through school.

Then in the last 5 minutes you're knocked over. Anyone who hasn't loved this film hasn't watched it all.

It's an exceptional Korean take on every brat pack movie ever made. It really is quite wonderful.

once upon a time - fantastic!

I saw the trailer for this ages ago and then forgot all about it. I finally got to see it and regret the time lost. This is simply a brilliant film, more so if you spent your teen years in the seventies. This film contains some of the best and most realistic fight scenes I've seen in a film. It captures the world wide mania that youngsters (at the time)had for Bruce Lee, BUT, that is not what the film is about. Condusive to the plot yes, but the film is about growing up and moving on. The special features hint at a follow-on film with the same characters 3 years on. I can't wait!!!!!

Excellent

A brilliant coming of age film were a young man comes to terms with love and life. Not what I expected but very compeling and moving.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Great Film!

I love this film! I bought it about a year ago without knowing anything really about it and was bowled over by how marvellous it was. A wonderful high school take on Korean life in the 70s its pure entertainment from start to finish. Oh yeah, and as Im a woman I can say with all certainty that Sang Woo Kwon is an absolutely gorgeous man which doesnt hurt one bit! Highly recommended but please be aware that as it is Korean it is subtitled....ENJOY!

Spirit of Bruce Lee

The alternative title for this movie is Spirit of Jeet Kune Do and from the opening credits, where our main characters are engrossed in Bruce Lee's performance in Fist of Fury you would be forgiven for thinking this would be an action packed teen movie - a more down to earth Volcano High.

What this movie is though is much more of a drama than anything else. It is more like another Korean movie - the excellent Friend aka Chin goo than Volcano High.

Set in 1978 it follows a group of friends as they fall in love and overcome their personal problems and high school gang rivalry to the backdrop of their love of Bruce Lee.

I suppose the 'spirit' of Jeet Kune Do comes in the form of how it inspires our hero later in the film and forms a common bond between the friends in this movie.

The fights, few and far between are none the less realistically scrappy and mostly well done. The story is what takes focus here though, and luckily its pretty well done.

Korean High School Drama

Surprisingly mature Korean drama about fitting in at a new school where it is common for beatings to be handed out by the teachers or even other students. Two friends fall for the same girl, and you know that this is not going to have a happy ending. Teenagers have the same emotions the world over, but different cultures make for different ways to act upon them. This is entertaining and engrosing, with some violent fights thrown in that actually enhance the story rather than just serve as 'action' sequences.

Boring....

Sorry, its not often I write a bad review, but this one sucks big time. I switched off after 30 minutes.

Cool,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I Love this movie............................................. ...

a thought provoking film

I've been on an exploration of Korean film and I rented this based on other people's recommendations.

I enjoyed the film because it was realistic and not sentimental in the least. I was surprised by the lack of sentimentality and the way the character's lives were not painted in an overly sympathetic way.

The brutality of school and one boy's life just trying to through survive it is the main theme of the film. It is darkly humorous and the acting is superb.

My only gripe is that I wanted to walk away with a more uplifting feeling. I applaud the director's vision and the film is definitely worthy to be seen but be prepared as this is not your usual fluffy popcorn fodder.