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Date Posted: 13/01/2010 12:53:21
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Kill The Shogun Review
April 1904 – the brutal takeover of Korea by the Japanese has the Korean army struggling to keep the country together. But when they lose their lead and are faced with the might of the Japanese military, the real battle begins. Tormented and held captive in a makeshift military prison, the Koreans fight an incredible martial arts battle for their honor. Leading them is one soldier, Han, who keeps the sprit and the strength of his country alive, surviving to see it free once again.
That’s how the back of one of the DVD editions sketches the historical background of Kill The Shogun (and it’s a lot better than the other DVD edition which claims that the action takes place in the 16th century and has a 16th century samurai on the cover! Tsk, tsk, watch the movie before you sell it). Kill The Shogun has not much to do with killing shoguns, but all the more with hitting and kicking evil Japanese imperial minions. It is an old school classic directed by D. Young Lee (famous action director Lee Duyong who according to many mainstream film critics never fulfilled his potential: I beg to differ!) with not-so-successful South Korean singer/actor turned very successful Hong Kong action star James Nam (Nam Seok-Hun is his Korean name) kicking butt, Hwang Jang Lee in a small role (two actually, apparently they ran out of extra’s at the end), David Kang (Kang Dae-Heui) also smashing heads and lots and lots of nicely choreographed (nothing shocking though) fight scenes in which the outnumbered Koreans kick Japanese ass. The plot? Oh, you’ve seen that one before- several times in fact. Invasion, surrender, resistance of the brave few, torture, treason and lots of punching, kicking and walking into a wall to commit suicide. Yes, walking into a wall to commit suicide. No, I didn’t get this either and as far as I know, it’s not a Korean cultural thing. But there you have it, walking into a wall to commit suicide. It sure looks nicer and tidier than slicing open your abdomen, but it lacks some of its drama and the message that says: “Hey, pay attention, this is a grand gesture being performed here.”
There are a few things worth mentioning except for the movie’s generic fun value: evil Japanese Imperial Army officers with 70s hairdo and aviator sun glasses, dramatic(ally bad) music, bad Japanese kempeitai dude in Gestapo coat and Gestapo glasses aided by bad Japanese kempeitai dude in white suit, shaven skull and wrestler’s mustache and the following conversation between the Japanese überbaddie and his underling when the former swallows a goldfish alive:
Do you like the natural method in which I eat sashimi?
Oh yes, your method has the advantage of being organic.
I am afraid that actual goldfish were harmed during the shooting of this movie and can only hope this scene was shot in one take. Nuff said. Despite the poor goldfish, I have to say that I was entertained.
A 10th degree Dan in Tae Kwan Do, Hapkido, Tang Soo Do, and Hwa Rang Do, Master Lee is a one man army against an army! Left for dead by the Korean mafia, Master Lee is hell bent on getting even with those who dared tangle with him!
Edited on 13/01/2010 12:54:46 by mortimer. Edited 2 times
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