Hanbando (2006) User Reviews

So fictional yet so realistic

[TaylorYee94 · 6/10 · 4 October 2020]

To the die-hard haters of this movie. This is political fiction, of course. Don't get so worked up over this movie, using the word nationalist and extremist. It is fairly accurate portrayal of Korean history and politics. Conservative party is often called 'grassroot traitor' and criticized for supporting the interest of Japan over Korea. I could not understand their theory and political action in the past, but I realized that they just feel inferiority, self-pity, self-defeat with antiquated idea accumulated and assimilated over the course of history during Japanese Colonialism after watching this movie. As a Korean, I'm just glad to see that young Koreans overcome this self-defeat and rather lead the world trend now.

The movie itself is not a masterpiece and is specifically intended for the audience in Korea. The story can be nationalistic, but it does not have leap of logic, either. I like the fact that the current political situation overlaps with the history and sad fate of Jo-seon Dynasty. The phrase 'the history reflects the future' is actualized in this movie. Each character is strong and unique, and all actors perfectly bring their roles to the screen. You cannot take points off from the acting.

Overall, average movie but it does not deserve this kind of criticism.

A wishful thinking with good intention.

[vatalian · 1/10 · 18 July 2006]

(this comment might contain a bit of spoiler regarding the movie's overall atmosphere and content)

First of all, the director's too busy glorifying Korea. Some history contents (eg. the death of Myungsunghwanghu) were modified to vilify Japan more than necessary, when the country is already being blamed for claiming ownership over Dokdo. Next thing I hated was the language. Actors talked in a really cheesy way; nobody in real life would talk like that. Then there are these Japanese politicians talking only in Korean, fluently. Korean actors took the Japanese politician parts, so I could understand. Not a lot of Japanese actors would participate in a movie that attacks Japan. Yet, the Japanese soldiers in the movie spoke in only in Japanese. This weird contradiction led to the movie's lack of reality. Plus, all the major events happened based on luck, or at the last minute: a classic cliché. I hate to disrespect Korean movies as I am Korean, but this movie isn't something I would praise since I am also a sane being with two working eyes.

The jokes were terrible.

The director did a better job in Silmido (way better).

for die-hard Korean nationalists only

[dmuel · 2/10 · 3 April 2007]

Hanbando is a Korean nationalist fantasy involving a search for the missing national Seal Of Korea, a Japanese conspiracy to renew its colonial control of Korea, and patriots and traitors battling over the destiny of the Korean nation. If this sounds nail-biting, believe me it ain't. At 147 minutes (2hrs. 27 min), it is overlong by at least 50%. There is a seemingly endless series of discussions over the plight of Korea which are agonizingly tedious to sit through. Several scenes which go back and forth from the present to Korea of the 19th Century are, of course, intended to show the still unresolved situation in Korea, with Japan as the still-threatening arch enemy. An underlying theme throughout the film is the supposed effort of the world's major powers, including the U.S., Japan, China and Russia to hold Korea back and to thwart Korean unification. For all this political content, this is an extremely boring film.

Another Korean ode to nationalism.

[tero-huttunen-1 · 1/10 · 12 October 2006]

Many of the Korean movies I've seen lately seem to take this same nationalistic stand where Japan is pictured as extremely evil, always pressuring, conquering and violating Korea. I don't know what the exact situation in South Korea is at the moment, but judging from these movies, nationalism seems to be pretty much in demand.

As for the movie, mediocre would be my word of choice. Not bad, but nothing really worth watching for. The events have rather dragging pace, most of the actors are plausible, music suits the movie well and action looks good. The plot is weakest point of the movie, being unconvincing at best, it focuses on Korea digging up their Emperial history and rising to resist Japan after all the cruelty they have suffered from their behalf. Certainly not best that Korean movie industry has to offer.

Some problems, but overall a good movie

[goongdo · 7/10 · 28 July 2006]

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.

All these reviewers don't really understand Korean history except few here.

[xelnanga · 9/10 · 31 May 2007]

Wow. I can't believe some of these reviews. Of course if you watch a dubbed version of a Korean movie, the acting's going to look and sound cheesy as hell.

The movie features a lot of very interesting sides of history that has never been revealed before.

Yes as someone has mentioned before, Queen Min was brutally raped before death. Japan in entirety did the same to Korea for about 35 years. How can you say that Japan was not the villain? They took Korean women, destroyed businesses, families and forced the Koreans to work under their boots.

This movie I did see some typos, but those are minors. These are some of the top Korean actors and apparently for those who think this was horrible acting, you will never understand. It's like reading poems by Pushkin in English. If you don't know Russian, Pushkin's poetry will sound very bad to you. But only those who know and truly understand Russian can comprehend and understand its beauty. I can say the same thing here. If you understand Korean and Korean history throughly, then you will truly know what a masterpiece this movie is.

And to all those who think that this movie is a nationalistic-hungry movie, whose director is out there to just "praise" about Korea, you are wrong. Korea was exploited by the Japanese and at the moment in the world, they are trying to hide most of it.

Shinzo Abe, the current Japanese Minister Official refuses to acknowledge for comfort women and apologize for what has happened in Korea... This is unacceptable.

Excellent movie

[dannyboy1026 · 9/10 · 11 October 2006]

Softening up is vilifying? When Myungsunghwanghu was killed, she had her breasts sliced off and Japanese soldiers raped her dead body. In this movie all the Japanese samurais did were stab her six times, which I admit is gory, but is less gruesome than the truth. Ask any Korean adult that remembers history class and they will likely repeat this. The reason the portrayal was softened up was to make it viewable for a somewhat larger audience.

The movie has great acting, although I must admit there are some English typos and grammatical errors. (causion, disappear). The only real cheesy sounding actor is Cha Tae Hyun. The president is portrayed perfectly, and several of the turn-arounds (the President actually ordered himself to be incapacitated to see who was Chin-il-pa ish - in favor of the Japanese).

I love this movie because the director seems to bring a totally possible (theoretically) situation to life. Excellent, excellent, excellent.

My Reaction To Hanbando: The Korean Penninsula (1)

[kdoublehs · 9/10 · 7 November 2006]

THE END OF IDEOLOGY AND THE COLD WAR had awakened the dormant nation in line with the international security system restructuring. Whither the Korean Penninsula?, KEY POINTS: 1) The application of the old empire rules out the possible chance of the rescuing the nation state; 2) The role of players in the historical context no longer dominates the scenario of the games; 3) The consequences of political controversies should not extend to diplomatic disputes in any form of questions; 4) The method of finding resolution must lie not in the one of escape but in the one of prevention; 5) Assassinations must be the last resort to the mutual consent and cooperation, CONCLUSION: The unity of two conflicting parties obligates them to the harmony of different views and channels in the matter of urgency and importance, due to the nature of the humanity. Nevertheless, the same mistakes will not be tolerated in one stroke of the game. THE LAUNCH OF NORTH Korea MISSILES stroke the international community on Wednesday. What was the meaning of North Korea's leader Kim Jung Il for his action? Another exuberant irrationality or an incomprehensible manifestation of his political ambition? Among many conspiracy theories and analysis from parties of negotiation, the best scenario for now is that North Korea should discontinue its attempts to its brinkmanship strategies and policymaking for more effective resolution of the security crisis.