I've never written a movie review before so this will be my first one. I guess this movie had that much influence on me. ;) I always say how war movies are not my favourite genre and how they are too hard to digest. That being said I have to say that there are some war movies which are definitely worth seeing and this one is one of them. Actually this one is probably the best war movie ever made and no American or any other movie could get close to this one. And I say that with some real facts. It started out like so many other movies, a short clip of the present and then a long flashback. And then it blew me away with its depiction of war and all of its complexities. There are many elements of 'Taegukgi' that elevate the film from the status of standard war film to a message of hope set against the backdrop of war. The film's scope is grand, dealing with the far more intimate themes of family, brotherhood, and personal responsibility. At its core, 'Taegukgi' is the story of two brothers, a strikingly poignant analogy for the entire North Korea / South Korea dilemma. While the battlefield choreography is as frenetic as it is harrowing, it never takes the film's center: this picture is founded on relationships – the human perspective to the world outside – and it never falters. Instead of focusing on history, Kang Je-Gyu crafts every scene to highlight the thoughts, actions, and emotions of the participants of history, and, for that, 'Taegukgi' deserves countless praises. The film also spares no effort in showing us the ability of bullets, knives and bombs to turn human beings into squishy piles of gore. Cinematography is amazing and the camera work in most of the moments seems to be a documentary, so realistic it is. It's full of death, terrible events, sadness, tears, fears, full of strongest emotions that war brings and you're kinda expecting all that. But still your heart is tearing apart and breaking into million pieces. The ending of the film won't come as much of a surprise, since it's basically foretold at the start with a scene set in the present day. The exact details might be a little unexpected though. And although you're kinda expecting that one too, still you cry and ocean, no two oceans of tears, honestly my head ached from all the tears I had. It takes to much off your heart and soul to watch this, no doubt. As for actors who start in this movie, just these two names are enough and you'll know it has to be some masterpiece: Won Bin and Jang Dong-gun. They are perfect for playing in tragic, dark and serious movies, they already proved it (one in My Way, the other one in Man From Nowhere, they played in the best Korean movies separately and now together in one which was even better than those two :P). Won Bin as a younger brother who was weak with his health was really grandiose, from at first sight weak boy, he turns to be so strong and brave and ready to fight for his own beliefs against everyone even against his own brother. He was constantly on the side of innocents and he hated war and killing more than anything else and it's shown very detailed on his face, his gestures, his expressions how he struggled and was disgusted by all the horrors of the war. Jang Dong-gun as Jin-tae was magnificent, he was a shine and glory of this terribly harsh movie. I can't remember when some character made me cry so much and feel so much pain, it was too painful to see him talking to his brother, there was one scene when he's saying to Jin-seok how he was dream and hope of their family, how he's not regretting giving up school and shining shoes for him, how they sacrificed so much to make it possible for him to study, that one scene has graved into my heart like one of the most powerful scene ever shown in movies. You could literally feel his endless love for his little brother and that exact moment was when I cried my heart and soul out. In the further happenings it was very painful and hard but also very realistic and amazing to see how director forces Jin-tae to explore his own budding evil, how he turned mad and furious full of everlasting rage towards everything and this journey is not without its own relative scars. Once a man has crossed over and embraced wartime madness, can he ever truly find a way out? Maybe it was too much and maybe he went too far to accept that madness, and for us maybe too unbelievable but it was still a small thing and wasn't enough to put a shadow on this movie. But it was also necessary to bring the aspect of brotherhood full circle, to have these two unique men face their darkest hour, and to make one final statement on the role that family inevitably plays in every man's life. The music was really perfect and so fitting, how slowly started to be louder and louder and more powerful with some bigger scenes going on. It really added more emotions and feelings. This movie makes you feel like you're on the battlefield with these soldiers, with these two brothers and sharing their destiny. It's harsh realism only heightens the emotion. It is undoubtedly a masterpiece and I truly can't see anyone not being affected by this movie. Just remember to keep the tissues close by for this one cause you're gong to need it , like the whole box of them. Superb, grandiose, glorious piece of art and undeniably the best Korean movie ever made. How it's possible this movie hasn't been nominated to the Oscar? Well it's probably cause its high quality goes way beyond that. There's no way I could give some score lower than 10. And 10 it is.