Movie spotlight
Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield
Set in the 7th century AD during the Korean peninsula's division into three perpetually warring kingdoms, Once Upon A Time In A Battlefield focuses on the Shilla's king Kim Choon-chu efforts to conquer his rivals: Koguryo and Baekche. To achieve this goal, he allies with mainland China's Tang empire, the superpower of the era, and together the two polities plan to attack first the weakest Baekche at its main fortress of Hwangsanbul, guarding the only easy access to the mountainous interior. But the fortress commander General Kye Baek (Park Joong-hoon) will be resisting to the end...This comedy relays on clash between ancient time and modern language combined with irony and distance to the war.
Insights
Plot Summary
In the chaotic midst of the Joseon Dynasty's early days, a hapless soldier named Yeong-sil finds himself separated from his unit during a fierce battle. He accidentally stumbles upon a critical military document that could change the course of the war. Now, Yeong-sil and his equally inept companions must embark on a perilous journey to deliver the document to their commander, all while evading enemy forces and dealing with their own incompetence.
Critical Reception
Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield was a significant box office success in South Korea, praised for its unique blend of slapstick comedy and historical setting. Critics and audiences alike lauded its ability to find humor in the grim realities of war, though some noted its reliance on rather broad comedic tropes.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its hilarious portrayal of incompetent soldiers in a historical war setting.
Appreciated for successfully blending comedy with action and historical drama.
Noted for its creative and entertaining plot, despite some reliance on slapstick.
Google audience: Audience reception in Korea was overwhelmingly positive, with many finding the film to be a laugh-out-loud comedy that offered a fresh take on historical war films. The characters' antics and the unpredictable plot were frequently highlighted as sources of enjoyment.
Fun Fact
The film was a massive commercial success in South Korea, becoming one of the highest-grossing domestic films of 2003 and proving that a historical setting could be a fertile ground for broad comedy.
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