Overall, I liked it. There are things about it that could have been better thought out and some that had inaccuracy, but once I suspended my belief, it was quite enjoyable.
The premise that Japan would start a war with Korea over the opening of the railroad at Dorasan and possible N/S reunification was a bit far-fetched, but I guess as good of an excuse as any to use (it worked into the plot pretty well). That Japan forged the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty using a fake state seal and that the real stamp was hidden has been argued for years, so there is some validity for that being used in the movie.
The assassination of Queen Min was a mixture of fact and fantasy in the movie. Reports from that time are that Japanese, dressed up as Korean soldiers, along with some disgruntled Korean soldiers, took the Taewongun (King Kojong's father) to the palace at 3 a.m. on the night in question. When confronted by the palace guards, the Japanese/Korean soldiers attacked, easily overtaking the defenders. In the movie, the Japanese were clearly dressed as Japanese; although it is possible some really may have been dressed that way, I tend to doubt it, as Japan wanted it to look like the work of Koreans alone. Also, how the queen died (as reported by witnesses) and how it was depicted in the movie are at odds. Witnesses report she hid in bushes outside the palace, was stabbed several times, and while still alive was violated, wrapped in a blanket, and set on fire. In the movie, she defiantly confronted the Japanese and died fairly quickly from several sword stabs and slashes. The choice for the actress to play the queen was good--the queen was a tough young lady and the actress played it well. However, Kojong, by many accounts, was not such a strong person (which is why the queen had so much control); the actor played him as fairly tough and determined.
Having Ahn Sung-kee in the role of the president was pretty good (he played the part before in another movie, so he seemed confident). There were some other actors playing historical parts that were typecast (but done pretty well).
Again, overall I thought it was an entertaining movie. I'll give it 7/10.
The premise that Japan would start a war with Korea over the opening of the railroad at Dorasan and possible N/S reunification was a bit far-fetched, but I guess as good of an excuse as any to use (it worked into the plot pretty well). That Japan forged the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty using a fake state seal and that the real stamp was hidden has been argued for years, so there is some validity for that being used in the movie.
The assassination of Queen Min was a mixture of fact and fantasy in the movie. Reports from that time are that Japanese, dressed up as Korean soldiers, along with some disgruntled Korean soldiers, took the Taewongun (King Kojong's father) to the palace at 3 a.m. on the night in question. When confronted by the palace guards, the Japanese/Korean soldiers attacked, easily overtaking the defenders. In the movie, the Japanese were clearly dressed as Japanese; although it is possible some really may have been dressed that way, I tend to doubt it, as Japan wanted it to look like the work of Koreans alone. Also, how the queen died (as reported by witnesses) and how it was depicted in the movie are at odds. Witnesses report she hid in bushes outside the palace, was stabbed several times, and while still alive was violated, wrapped in a blanket, and set on fire. In the movie, she defiantly confronted the Japanese and died fairly quickly from several sword stabs and slashes. The choice for the actress to play the queen was good--the queen was a tough young lady and the actress played it well. However, Kojong, by many accounts, was not such a strong person (which is why the queen had so much control); the actor played him as fairly tough and determined.
Having Ahn Sung-kee in the role of the president was pretty good (he played the part before in another movie, so he seemed confident). There were some other actors playing historical parts that were typecast (but done pretty well).
Again, overall I thought it was an entertaining movie. I'll give it 7/10.