JSA: Joint Security Area

The decision to structure the film largely around the investigator doesn't really pay off (really, she's superfluous), but every minute the soldiers are onscreen is riveting. Humanist to the point where it's nearly apolitical (though not quite), it's a warm, sad reminder of the tragedy of dehumanization.

JSA is a bizarro world political "what if" pitting the military and cultural clash of South Korea and North Korea together. Even though there's not much plausibility in the story it still sets up an intriguing mystery and runs with it. Unfortunately there's piss poor English language acting in this by what looks like part time Euro porn actors but overall it's a solid drama with an insightful look at the conflicted emotions between two "brother" countries forced to stand off against each other.

A beautiful story of friendship disguised as a DMZ thriller. Some rough edges which is to be expected considering SK cinema was still finding its footing relatively speaking. The film it's most similar to is A Few Good Men oddly enough. Lee Byung-Hun and Song Kang-ho are both excellent and there are clear flashes of the style that Park Chan-wook would go on to refine to perfection later in his career. Chop out all the English dialogue and trim the framing device and you've got a masterpiece.

The English-speaking parts were cringe-inducing, and I found myself feeling like I wasn't quite following the story for a while. Then the flashbacks started, and I was sold. One of the most touching films I've ever seen--the more they showed of the friendship, the more heart-breaking it became to watch--and definitive proof that Chan-wook Park has amazing ideas and endless talent. Instant favourite.

This is an absolutely great film, albeit hampered by some truly awful English language acting. The scenario is not very likely, but unless that bugs you for some reason, you are going to enjoy this. The feel and atmosphere of the film are fantastic, from the shimmering, breezy tall grass of the DMZ at night to the likable and hilarious banter between the four friends, and the film certainly packs a blunt and abrupt emotional punch. Highly recommended.

There's just something immensely satisfying about seeing North and South Korean border guards goof off together. Everything about their story is either great or painful (in that good, drama-film way). It's just a shame that the parts about the neutral investigator are rather forgettable. Kang-ho Song is awesome as usual.

It's been said, but the part with the woman investigator, and the elements in English, are cheap ways to engage a foreign audience in a domestic drama. That out of the way, the soldiers' predicaments are legendary in their simplicity and empathy. Kang-ho Song acts brilliantly as a North Korean soldier who thankfully shows a truly human face with more than one dimension.

The movie description is ridiculous ("Apocalypse Now" of the Korean War...). But otherwise an intriguing setting and story. I must say, this is another great Korean film.

"....the 'Apocalypse Now' of the Korean War" ahahahahaha :|

A touching, but ultimately tragic tale about the beauty of friendship and conflicting loyalties within the film's grand theme of the futility of war. JSA has a message and gets it across very clearly without ever becoming preachy. It's left up to the viewer to decide who, if anyone, was good or bad but all can agree that war becomes an unnatural and illogical abomination when given a human face.

The first quarter of the movie feels rather muddled and was hard to get into, but once I started to follow where things were going it got progressively better. By the end you really feel for these characters and everything falls very well into place. Park's visual style isn't as refined as in later films but there are some moments where he comes through with really nice shots.

its ok

A tense, endearing, yet ultimately tragic reminder that those on either side of the front lines in a conflict have more in common with each other than they do with the generals and politicians driving the conflict. Good narrative structure at establishing the main conflict though the investigation is rather flat. The swedish side character is a muppet with a baffling accent.

This one starts off a little rocky, with some very-poorly-dubbed English scenes and a lot of jarring back-and-forth flashbacks with a cast of characters you've not really figured out yet. But once it hits its stride, it's a powerful film about friendship and betrayal, and, surprisingly, has minimal politics. (Fav scene: the last few seconds of the film.)

The English-language sections are a bit jarring, but putting those aside, this is a very well-told story, with some beautiful shots. Although it is revealed very early on who survives and dies in the initial skirmish, the story only very gradually reveals the how and why of the film's focal event, which maintains tension throughout. The story has a hint of Romeo and Juliet, but does not feel derivative or stale.

This is an ok Korean crime drama, with a plot containing some twists and turns. Not entirely enthralling but interesting enough. It's ok, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others.

compelling, poignant, and quite funny. i found aspects of the actual "story-telling" vs. advancing the plot to be unnecessary.

My biggest nitpick is that the first ~20 minutes sets up a compelling murder mystery and then the rest of the film pretty much forgets that it was ever a mystery. Otherwise, Park captures the essence of war as not a struggle between north and south, but between people and the abstract faceless sides they fight for.

Cool anti-war fantasy, taking place in one of the planet's most politically awkward locations.

hikayenin kurulumu, görsel dil, biçim, performanslar ve sarf edilen cümlelerle baştan sonra harika bir iş.

Really cool movie.

Simpler than his other films Most affecting ending Very realistic, pessimistic resolution

(2nd viewing)

One of those rare films that are both thrilling, sweet and thought-provoking.

Nice

The centrepiece is really heartfelt, moving and gripping in which the four folks put aside their differences and become good friends. Very humanist stuff. Unfortunately either side of this great centrepiece is all a bit shabby. The investigation just makes the movie feel bogged down and unnecessarily complex when what you have at the heart of it is a beautifully simple little story, the English speaking acting is awful and Park's style is a bit rough around the edges.

Seriously, where is Park chan wooks bad film? Where did he screw up? JSA is just an amazing film about friendship. The directing is beautiful, the acting very good and the script and story are awesome. He did it again.

It's like two movies -- one great film, concerning the budding friendship between soldiers from the two countries. And then one excruciatingly bad film, with TERRIBLE actors, set in the "present". I just couldn't reconcile how good the former was, with the awfulness of the latter.

I was quite pleased with the story of the incident and the events leading up to it. Park's approach to relations between the two nations is very humanist with warm performances from the four characters involved. What didn't work well at all was the framing structure. The investigation scenes are the most clichéd and perfunctory. Also, they go away for a long time in the middle, and it's a bit disorienting when they return. But it's not a large detriment to the film, which in general is engaging.

I feel like I would have liked this movie more if it were 100% piecing together the mystery, or 100% a heartwarming/heartbreaking tale of friendship across the DMZ. I understand why they jumped back and forth, and it worked quite well, but I felt that there was some more potential there.

Plenty of potential in this rather ridiculous story about enemy soldiers becoming secret friends. The film struggled to find a consistent tone, flitting between serious drama and farce with no logic or predictability. Although it occasionally touched on something quite real, human and touching, the characters could have been written a lot better and some of the acting was atrocious. My primary memory will be of how silly and unprofessional it was at times - a shame given the effort involved.

Heavy with emotion and a sort of regret, not the film you'd expect about the two Koreas.

Great movie. The relationship between the north and south korean soldiers is funny, real, and overwhelming.

An interesting attempt at telling a moving story about people and the artificial barriers between them. Park Chan-wook's style is evident throughout, with some hyper-stylised, dramatically powerful shots. However, as many have mentioned, the investigation, particularly the English language acting, is pretty poor. First act: mediocre thriller set-up. Second act: brilliant character drama. Third act: Very good, brutal thriller conclusion. Certainly worth your time.

A very well made, emotional film that really shows that no matter what the circumstances, friendships can be forged out of anywhere. The end picture scene really had me choked up for a bit.

Oh, I can't say enough about this one. Totally a tear-jerker, like most Korean movies. Better acting and plot than almost any American movie in the past 10 years. A must-see for people who want to know what it's like to live on either side of Korea.

The special effects are made-for-TV quality in many parts, the English acting is atrocious, and the story is needlessly complicated at first -- perhaps because we're introduce to it through actors whose grasp on the English language is lacking. Then, as we get to the meat of the movie, it gets much, much better. A lot of Asian films get needlessly remade, but JSA would benefit.

Intense and gripping tale of soldiers on either side of the North/South Korean border who become unlikely friends. Strong writing, violent action, and weighty emotional impact highlight this excellent flick.

Pretty good, but I wasn't overly impressed. Smart direction and great music though.

...yeah...basically, Korea kicks ass. Chan=wook is one of the greatest filmmakers alive, and I have never seen a Korean film that wasn't amazing. I'm proud to say I'm (part) Korean.

Another great Chan-wook Park film. Emotionally powerful, beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, compelling mystery story, etc.