War of the Arrows (2011) User Reviews

Manchu are not Chinese

[baiyaan · 8/10 · 24 May 2012]

This is a stylish and sleek movie that is unduly criticized by many, especially those from other Asian countries as can be seen among other reviews here.

Most do not seem to understand the main point of this movie because they do not know the historical background this movie was set against and consequently they just think this is a ripoff of Hollywood.

The time ... the 17th century. Korea just repelled the Japanese invasion with Ming China's aid which alternated between being an ally and being racist tormentors of the Korean populace.

Manchu(Jurchens) were a nation of fierce warriors from the north, or they thought of themselves that way at least. They had been under the Chinese yoke and just threw it off. They are eventually to invade China proper and to rule over Chinese for the next 300 years. If you saw Last Emperor you will understand this historical setting.

An important thing to remember here is that they were NOT Chinese. Their hatred of Chinese was immense, almost pathological.(and the reason that they invaded Korea was precisely that the Korean court acted like a vassal of Ming China.) This contrasts very sharply with today's Manchu who think of themselves as Chinese.

Just 40 years prior to this event there was the infamous Japanese invasion of Korea and Ming China sent a force to aid Koreans. But this force came from Liatung base, the primary function of which was to suppress Jurchens and Mongols.

Even though that war ended in the victory for Korea and China this created a power vacuum in Manchuria as Ming China no longer controlled the region effectively. This is how the Jurchens(Manchu) rose to power. They were burning with hatred of Chinese for their condescending and racist treatments of their people.

The Korean King who was the crown prince at the time of the Japanese invasion ascended to the throne in the early 17th century. And because of his war time experience he was a practical man and saw the newly arising Manchu as a force to reckon with. He tried to be neutral between Ming China and Manchu.

However he was deposed by a group of Korean nobility and they tried to justify their coup with a more pro china stance. This is how Manchu invaded Korea twice and the second one was more catastrophic as shown in this movie.

So this movie is about the anger of the Korean masses felt toward the effete and effeminate Korean nobility class who were incredibly more loyal to Chinese than to their own people. It is about a war that could have been avoided if the Korean King at the time(generally regarded as the weakest and the most effeminate king in the history of Korea) and the nobility could back their word with action or had a more practical sense.

The Korean government did not help their people, actually did not even want to as long as they could hold onto their power, so the people had to help themselves against all odds. This is the basic premise of this film.

Anyway for those who are not interested in Korean or East Asian history... Manchu are not Chinese and the language they spoke in the movie was not Chinese.(In fact it was the Manchu language which is now dead. It was recreated from the Korean records of the Manchu language. The movie creator deserves some credit for this.)

If you can free yourself from this common misconception that Manchu were just a type of Chinese people you are already half-way there. Manchu were no more Chinese than Mongols are.

One Of The Best Action Films Out Of Asia In A Long Time

[cadillac20 · 8/10 · 24 February 2012]

War of the Arrows is not your typical action film. Certainly, much about it is typical. The lone hero, avenging his nation which has been taken over by some other hostile nation, sets out on a journey to rescue his kidnapped sister. In the process, he becomes a hero of the people. Yes, we've seen this before. But where this film truly shines is in it's inspired choice of focus: that of the bow and arrow. This is particularly interesting because archery is something that takes great skill. So, seeing an action film that takes on this weapon as focus is interesting in and of itself. But the film actually succeeds where it might otherwise fail.

As stated before, the film is fairly typical. It takes place during the Second Invasion of Manchu, when China invaded Korea in the early 1600's. The focus is on Nam-Yi, a skilled archer who, along with his sister Ja-In, must flee to a friend of their father's when he is killed. We spend a good deal of time in the beginning of the film seeing these two characters as children and then when they are young adults, but it's mostly somewhat interesting drama that does a decent job of setting up the story. The real meat of the film kicks off in the second hour when Ja-In is kidnapped and Nam-Yi must go after her. Once this part of the story gets underway, the action gets underway with it, and it's pretty damn impressive.

The choreography and cinematography following the battles between arrow slinging warriors is fantastic. There were moments when I had to rewind and play the scene again just to get a second look. This isn't out of poor filmmaking, but because some of the scenes are so damn cool, you want to see them again. And luckily, these scenes are rapid fire and a plenty. From the chases through the woods to a ravine shoot out to the final stand off, you barely have a moment to catch your breath. Although you realize that these men aren't actually as skilled as they come off, there are moments when you're none the less amazed at what's being shown.

Of course, this action would mean nothing if it weren't surrounded by at least competent filmmaking, but there is great skill displayed here. Our actors never feel unnatural, even if the acting isn't to rave about, and the cinematography is fantastic. This film would not work at all if the camera work was shotty, and thankfully it's not. You can savor each moment of fantastic action in calculated, collected shots that take the time to slow down when necessary and catch you by surprise when necessary. Suffice to say, all of this creates one fantastic action film, one of the best I have seen from Asia in quite some time.

If you're a fan of Asian action films, you owe it to yourself to give War of the Arrows a try. It's completely worth the time, even running over two hours. You won't be disappointed.

Excellent historical action flick

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 10 August 2012]

WAR OF THE ARROWS is an excellent historical action flick with a twist: almost all of the action sequences are centred around bowmen facing off. Now, I've always loved archery when it's depicted in films, so I was delighted to read the premise and watch the trailer for this movie. For me, there's something intrinsically exciting about the look and the skill that goes into wielding a bow efficiently; I'd much rather watch a shoot-out staged with bows and arrows than guns. WAR OF THE ARROWS turns out to be just the film for me.

As usual for the Asian historical epic genre of recent years, the film looks great. Director Han-min Kim crafts a great-looking movie that ably matches the finesse of other recent Korean movies known for their style and substance. The cast are fine, giving their all in emotive turns without ever openly overacting. And the action scenes blow you away time and again.

Okay, I'll admit that the first half-hour is a little shaky. The set-up, although exciting, is followed by a slightly dull "get to know the leads" type scenario which drags a lot. Once the plot begins proper, though, it doesn't let up. There are twists and turns galore, plenty of moments of high drama, and then in the second half of the movie things turn into a virtual re-run of the Mel Gibson epic APOCALYPTO. Think a pared-down narrative, small-scale action – one versus a group – and suspense going through the roof. Yes, it's that good, and even some slightly dodgy CGI doesn't let it down. If only ROBIN HOOD, another recent film about a forest-dwelling archery champion, could have been this good!

An exciting Korean movie which triumphs with its fast paced action sequences

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 31 March 2012]

The very mention of arrows in a movie makes us think of Legolas. You know, that dude in The Lord of the Rings trilogy? The elf with straight silky golden locks who never misses when he shoots his unlimited supply of arrows? While Orlando Bloom has made quite an impression with that suave character, the arrow shooting men in this Korean production are a different breed altogether. They are rough, ragged and, well, to put it simply, manly.

Set during the second Manchu invasion of Korea, the manliest one of them all in this movie has to be the protagonist played by Park Hae Il, who goes against the Qing Dynasty to save his younger sister. He also happens to be the best archer in Korea, but because his father was killed as a traitor, one can imagine how limited his future in the country is. One unfortunate follows another, when his younger sister is abducted during her wedding ceremony. Thus begins the quest to save her sister and her husband from the Qing army. In the process, countless arrows are shot, and as you'd expect from a revenge movie, there will be lots of blood.

Director Kim Han Min's work was the second highest grossing movie in Korea last year, and it is not difficult to see why. The fast paced epic action movie boasts of exhilarating sequences which will keep you at the edge of your seats. While you may wonder how a war of arrows can possibly be exciting, you will be thrilled by the perfect execution and choreography of the battle scenes (beat that, Legolas!). The action comes at you fast and furious, and even though there aren't many hand to hand combat, the long distance fighting is heart stopping and riveting.

The story may be based on a period of Korean history which we aren't very familiar with, but the filmmakers make sure it doesn't alienate foreign viewers. Essentially, it is a story about heroism, justice and revenge – universal themes which anyone can identify with. This creates a win win situation: Box office success both at home and in foreign lands.

The 122 minute production, being an action flick, does not provide many emotionally engaging moments. Not that we are complaining though, because for most of the movie, you see the protagonist either chasing his sister's kidnappers, or the bad guys chasing him. There are invasions, battles, confrontations and quarrels. The set pieces are impressive, and there is quite a bit of decent use of computer graphics to enhance the storytelling.

The ensemble cast does a nice job of portraying the anguish and tension felt by the characters during this war of arrows. Park manages to exude a respectable charm with his predictably written character, while the fragile looking Moon Chae Won plays his sister in distress with grace and elegance. The two actors took home the Best Actor and Best New Actress at the 2011 Daejong Film Awards, an established award presented by Korea's Ministry of Culture and Information. The film also took home the accolades for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects.

This undeniably enjoyable popcorn production packs just the right amount of punch and pizazz to engage and entertain for a good two hours at the movies

Very very good.

[Phanatic77 · 10/10 · 13 October 2011]

I'll make it short and sweet. This is an excellent movie. Beautifully shot, acted, directed and scored.

Make no mistake, it is violent and has a certain amount of gore. The action is obviously heavily stylized, but done so to appear more real as opposed to the likes of 300 or even Gladiator. It never glorifies violence, and the movie makes sure that the audience sees this through its commentary. That said, if you like action movies with a historical flair, then this one is definitely for you. And when I say action, I mean relentless, ongoing and very much in your face action. Once it starts, it just keeps on going and keeps you on edge for the ride. And what's surprising is that the movie still allows for character exposition; something South-Korean cinema is revered for and should be proud of (in case they aren't). There are some nods to Hollywood stylizing here, and of course, influences are inevitable, but make no mistake, this is not a Hollywood rip-off or carbon copy of any kind. While there are similarities in certain scenes and aspect of this movie to Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, it is only on the surface level. The intent is completely different.

Get your popcorn, you pop and your M&M's and enjoy the ride.

Pure entertainment!

[paulclaassen · 7/10 · 14 November 2019]

Another exciting action adventure from Korea! The impressive opening scene set the standard for what was to follow.

The action scenes are stunningly fast-paced with nail-biting suspense. The visuals, cinematography and photography are awesome. The film takes us on an action-packed thrill ride that never ceases to amaze. This was pure adrenaline pumping entertainment from beginning to end. Fantastic!

For someone who is not a big fan of this genre this was excellent. Best movie like this since Hero. A must see. I say A.

[cosmo_tiger · 9/10 · 1 February 2012]

"You're now Ja-in's father, you must take care of your sister until you die." After getting into an argument with his sisters fiancé Nam-Yi leaves his village before her wedding. When he returns he is told of the attack and kidnapping of his sister and sets out with his bow to get her back and exact revenge. As many of you may know I have never really been a big fan of these epic martial arts type movies. There have been a few I liked but not many. This one may be the best one I have seen since "Hero". This movie grabs you from the opening scene and is action packed and keeps you interested the entire time. The story and action are very well done and there is not a dull moment in this at all. There are some very brutal scenes in this but it's not over the top at all and it helps the story. For fans of this genre this is a must see. For those like me who can go either way this is still a movie that is very much worth watching. Overall, one of the best of this genre I have seen. I give it an A.

War of the arrows in 17th century South Korea when the Manchurians invade

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 27 October 2015]

Released in 2011, "War of the Arrows" is set during the second Manchu invasion of Korea where Korean Nam Yi, an expert archer, pursues the Manchurians to save his younger sister Ja-In, who was dragged off by the invaders.

The tone is akin to 2006' "Apocalypto" and, while the plots are similar, the protagonist in "War of the Arrows" is the hunter rather than the escapee; not to mention his loved ones have been captured by the enemy and torn from their homes, not hidden somewhere near their village. Imagine the excellent TV series "Vikings," but with way more action and set in 17th century Korea.

This is a top-of-the-line adventure/action flick with awesome forest cinematography, superb costuming, effective score, convincing acting and consistent thrills. All you have to do is persevere through the first half hour and then it's non-stop-thrills from there. There are some flaws, like the villagers being wholly surprised by the Manchurian attack to the point of obliviously performing their regular activities to the very moment the horsemen strike by the sword; even a wedding ceremony is completely surprised. Why sure! The chasm sequence is also weak because the warriors wouldn't be able to successfully jump across unless it was 20' wide or less, but it looks much wider. Then there's the lame tiger CGI. Despite these negatives, this is an eminent adventure/action flick.

Unless you speak Korean you'll have to click on the English audio or subtitles on the DVD.

The film runs 128 minutes and was shot in South Korea.

GRADE: B+

471th Review: Multiaward Winning And Well-Deserved

[intelearts · 10/10 · 26 December 2011]

War of the Arrows is not your typical set battle piece - it is a superbly realised take on the classical idea of one man, a true hero in skill and virtue, being chased by a band of elite archers.

The story of a brother looking to rescue his sister and her husband from invaders is well-handled. The last two-thirds of War of the Arrows is simply outstanding - here we have thrilling film with snipers - but snipers who use bow and arrows rather than guns - who give chase to each other - and what a chase!

In addition, above and beyond excellent production values, the acting is a class-above this genre. Even though this is clearly an action film, there is character development, virtue as well as virtuosity, and this reviewer for one was totally lost in the film in a way that no amount of special effects or set wire fights alone can produce - it is simply a thrilling film.

This is a film that does transcend its genre and is clearly one of the better films of the year, bar none.

Above average

[dreamgoat28 · 6/10 · 25 December 2011]

Phanatic did a great review on this movie that's why I decided to give a go at it. Even though for me the rating of stars were low because, how the movie I felt was rushed and not a whole lot of explanation in the movie. It was solely survival and escape type of movie. I watched Mel Gibson's Apocalypto and this was nothing like it. Like Phanatic said in the beginning it's on the surface but it's not what the movie is about. Just because you see someone getting murder the same way doesn't mean it's a knock off. It's a lot different a whole different movie. This is also not a Hollywood film, the way they portray death is sad there is know joy in it even for your enemy. One thing I like in this movie is their emotions that you can clearly see in this film. When their in battle you can see their fear, desperation and panic. And to overcome this shows what a true hero is, it makes you feel like this can easily be me and what will I do, would I have done the same? This is where all my stars go for characters and the actors that played in the film. I just felt something was missing in the story and not fully explained. Oh, yea one thing tons of action but none of that special effects flying through the air type of things. This thing is real battle scenes that trained people can do.

Great societal commentary in a decent thriller

[joe42181 · 9/10 · 23 March 2012]

First, it is a decent thriller, but not great. And, I agree with other reviewers that it does contain clichés and borrowed elements from different movies. However, this is not a knock against the writer/director, Han-min Kim, because nothing is new under the sun. Quentin Tarantino is a master of using clichés and borrowed elements into his own, for example. (Although, Kim might not have meant to borrow conscientiously as Tarantino). Regardless, the movie's pace, character developments, and great visual make this a pleasure to watch. I'd give 7 or 8 just for the movie.

I hope many of you get to see the director's cut, because a great societal commentary could be missed if those deleted scenes are not shown. The studio apparently envisioned more of a popcorn blockbuster with faster pace and shorter runtime, or they didn't want to shove the morality pill against moviegoer's throat. Nevertheless the societal commentary was brave and well thought out. This embedded element make this a solid 9.

Let me explain for those who didn't get to watch the director's cut. Nam-yi and Ja-in live near border between China and Korea. Korean government has set a harsh law to curb migration: whoever crosses a river to China regardless of reasons can never be back. Modern-day North Korean government has that rule now. North Korean refugees when captured in China are sent back to North Korea to have them tortured in concentration camps and/or killed. Even families and relatives (even grandchildren) can be punished. Thus, those who escape to China are stuck there and live in fear. An escaped North Korean in China, who are an epitome of a refugee, has never been granted a refugee status. Only escape route is going into an embassy or go through the desert to Mongolia. Sadly, many are captured and killed in trying to do so. The tragic thing is that South Korean government, even though they recognize every North Korean as its citizen as stated in its Constitution, do not try to get these North Korean refugees out of China.

In the movie, Nam-Yi and Ja-in are also stuck as shown in a deleted scene. They are not allowed back by their own countrymen. Chinese military are after them. Only a hero raised up to face its fears brought its loved ones back home. I hope South Korean government faces its fear of economic power of China and put up a fight to get its rightful citizens their refugee status and their ticket home.

Last scene includes, Nam-Yi wanting to go to Seoul and give his sister, Ja-in, pretty shoes. He deserves to have that dream of going home and enjoy its prosperity, because he and his sister belongs in Seoul. That's where their home is.

Now, the fight comes to us. China wants to use North Korea as a strategic buffer between Western allies of South Korea and Japan. North Korean government needs China to survive and keep their people bottled up, because North Korea and China sees the refugees as a precursor to the reunification as was in Germany. This is the frontier of the greatest injustice of our generation. It is time for them to pay for the horrific crimes against humanity. We may sit quietly. Or, we may wake up and be aware of the most evil government in the face of the earth today: North Korea and its biggest enabler, China.

Apocalypto right?

[chilaili · 7/10 · 22 January 2020]

I can't be the only one who saw parallels with 2006's Apocalypto. Which doesn't make this movie bad - I actually much preferred it.

Gun fights, but like with arrows

[Gambitt · 5/10 · 24 June 2012]

War of the Arrows is a somewhat mediocre entry into the swollen ranks of Asian action-adventure war epics. In Arrows, a disgraced Korean archer must rescue his sister and brother in law from ruthless invaders from the North. The odds are ugly, and he may have to go Braveheart to prevail.

Arrows is entertaining, but shamelessly cliché, never bothering to try to explain or apologize for its over the top melodrama. For example, early on in the movie, Manchurian raiders burst in and begin slaughtering villagers left and right. And yet throughout the prolonged attack, most townsfolk are shown still engaged in their day to day business apparently oblivious to the massive army of horsemen stampeding through their town until the very moment they get chopped down. Even the main characters at a wedding, who are depicted as perceiving the attack relatively early on, are still standing around like Christmas trees by the time the enemies actually reach them.

And the battles, at least in the first half, are laughably one sided. During the village ambush, the raiders trample every single feeble Korean warrior in their path. The casualties appear to pile up at about a 20 to 1 ratio. Yet later, during an insurrection, those same pathetic Koreans (now unarmed and in a weakened state) are apparently invincible while the Manchurians drop like stormtroopers.

The arrow duels are entertaining (but still not all that original). The skirmishes have the feel of a John Woo gun fight. I almost expected the characters to stand off at four feet, each gripping a loaded bow in either hand.

One thing I did particularly like was the costume design. In particular, the elite squad of Manchurian death hounds looked fantastic. They appeared to be a mash-up of shao-lin, samurai, ninja, archers-- somehow it all worked and ended up being one of the more memorable aspects of the film.

Good action but little else

[sunraider · 6/10 · 18 May 2012]

War of the Arrows is a story about a young man in hot pursuit of a marauding Manchurian army that has captured and enslaved his sister and her groom on their wedding day in 15th century Korea. Wayward though the young man may be, he's a savant with the bow and arrow and he puts his deadly skills to use as he relentlessly pursues the attackers.

Although it doesn't involve the gun battles typically associated with the genre, this film is really more war movie than action flick. The film rarely deviates from the harried cat-and-mouse game between the marauders and the ostensible hero and could mistakenly be seen as taking place in real time. Therein lies one of the film's problems. The chase sequences and flurry of arrows piercing the air are relentless and absorb nearly all the film's running time, leaving little room for plot or character development. This film is all style over substance: it's barbarian Manchurians (the baddies) vs. salt-of-the-earth Koreans (the goodies).

We know the Manchurians are the baddies not just because they throw Korean babies down wells but because they're the cool ones, with their brass-studded leather coats, shaved heads or razor-edged mohawks, and general exhibition of badassery. They are lead by a playboy prince who prefers to spend his time ravishing newly captured women in a garish mobile bordello; he leaves the details and actual fighting to his uber-macho uncles and the elite squad of warriors they personally command. But little else is known about them. Is their attack part of an all-out invasion of the Korean peninsula or a quick raid across the border for booty? Why is the pampered prince, who appears to have no military role, even there? Certain early scenes suggest the possibility of a strained relationship between the young prince and his all-warrior business uncles, but it's never explored. There are no strategy sessions between the prince and his commanders or among the uncles and their elite warriors that might flesh out the characters.

As for the Koreans, little time is spent preparing us for the mayhem that ensues. At the onset, the hero is a teenager who barely escapes his family's destruction with only his little sister and his father's prized bow and arrows in tow. Flash forward thirteen years and the hero is a wayward fellow with mean archery skills who reluctantly allows his sister's marriage to their benefactor's son to proceed. The relationship between and among these characters is barely explored. There are no tender scenes between brother and sister or the betrothed that make us yearn for reunification after separation and much bloodshed. Ironically, one of the film's best sequences involves the pampered prince attempting to have his way with the pretty sister. Her feistiness and the fact that she speaks his language intrigue him. He likens seducing her to tanning a tiger's hide, as her roughness will become supple under his handiwork. The brief battle of wills between these two characters, and the mild sexual tension elicited, provide a much-needed break from the pure action-oriented sequences that predominate. Unfortunately, the prince is killed-off far too soon and the rescue of the girl half-way through the film leaves the finale somewhat anti-climatic. The final confrontation may be dramatic by virtue of the manner in which the arrow battle is executed but, emotionally, it falls flat.

The failure to adequately develop the plot isn't the only flaw with this movie. While the cast is for the most part good, the lead male is woefully miscast. Aside from possessing superior archery skills, there's little to distinguish the hero from the other household staff who are caught up in the mayhem. Quite simply, he lacks the charisma and screen presence to carry this film, which is propelled almost exclusively by the baddies. They possess the macho physicality and exhibit the serious badass 'tude required for their roles. Although the story compels me to feel something for the hero, I found myself far more interested in the invaders. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but was left emotionally flat-lined at the end because of its flaws.

Excellent

[xolani-nene · 9/10 · 28 March 2012]

I have been on the Korean/Asians movies tip these days and the reason is simple it is hard to find a solid and an interesting movie in Hollywood, you see in a way they are doing remakes and even buying movies that are done in other countries to do them in Hollywood style. Well as a movie fanatic I found my getaway in foreign movies and man was I not entertained. This is one of the best movies of 2011 in Korea (Korean is making its mark in Movie industry) and it boasts with Four Awards The film won four awards in 48th Daejong Awards to Best Actor for Park Hae-il and Best New Actress for Moon Chae-won.) The film is about an archer who risks his life to save his sister from slavery under Prince Dorgan's rule. Other reviews have likened it to Apocalypto but this is nothing like it and Apocalypto doesn't even come close to it and I will tell you why… War of the Arrows is not your typical set battle piece it shows emotions you can see their fear, desperation and panic for example the way they portray death is sad, there is no joy in it even for your enemy, while Apocalypto showed victims and victimization this shows sacrifice and dedication and staying true to your promise no matter the situation. While Apocalypto was on Native Americans and doesn't make you relate to the whole ordeal this one makes you wonder what you could have done faced with the same situation. While Apocalypto showed blood thirsty humans turned to beasts kind of thing for their benefit this one is the survival of the fittest. The common thing in them is obviously the gore and violence. Taking this into consideration I find this one a winner. It is fast paced and will have you glued to your screen from the beginning till the end and what makes it a masterpiece is that the stunts are real it doesn't use you CGI except on the tigers scene which I will excuse as getting the real tiger could have dumbed it down a bit… Overall this is a masterpiece and worth your time

Alright but over-hyped Korean movie

[KineticSeoul · 6/10 · 16 January 2012]

Maybe it's because I had a very high expectation for this movie since it did really well at box office in Korea. This movie even won awards from what I heard which got me hyped even more. But after watching it, it was disappointing. It's far from being a bad movie but because I had such high expectations for it that it made the movie more less than what it probably is when I watched it. This movie sort of reminded me of a animated movie called "Sword of the Stranger" and not because the intro music is the same but the direction seemed similar as well. Which isn't a bad thing considering that was a fun animated movie. The story is basically this, after the father of a family is branded as a traitor and killed off the brother and sister that managed to escape. And grow up after reaching there father's friend household and this happens in the very beginning of the movie and doesn't really play a crucial part in the story. When the real story starts is when the manchu invade Korea for the second time during 1636. And the brother's sister gets kidnapped during her wedding along with the soon to be husband. And the older brother who is a amazing archer goes on a rescue mission to save her. Yep, the story is pretty simple and that is basically what it is. Bunch of chase sequences and fighting sequences while trying to get from A to B than to C. Moon Chae Won is pretty as always and does a great job playing the feminine and yet brave character but the simple story that could have been written by anyone sort makes this movie lacking. Especially for a movie that did so well and won awards. The real star of this movie is the arrows, it's what really drives this movie. The arrows in this movie is what builds the action, desperation and tension. They did a great job when it came to the arrow sequences. Overall it's a good watch but nothing special.

6.4/10

A Masterpiece

[kashikomarimasu · 10/10 · 1 March 2012]

What a great film. better than anything Hollywood is churning out. I watched it a few days ago and have been thinking about it ever since, a sign of a good film. The story is simple with limited characters and not too much speaking. So you don't have to spend all your time reading subtitles. The cinematography is excellent with clever use of the camera. The acting is of a high level. The lead actor is very cool and although I watch a few Korean films (They have become very good in recent years, as has their anime.), I have never seen him before. The only part I felt let it down was the CGI tiger. Still that's a small criticism of what is a very fine film. If you get the chance, watch it. You won't be disappointed.

Neither as engaging or creative as it needed to be

[bob the moo · 29 September 2012]

I was in South Korea recently and was chatting with colleagues there about the films I had seen from their country – a rather humbling experience since I knew so few. Anyway, this film came up since it had recently been very successful and, after some internet searching, I found the English title. I was only able to get hold of an American dubbed version of the film, although I was keen to see the film on the recommendation of my colleague. The film is a thriller set during the invasion of Korea by the Manchurian, archer Nam Yi sets out to rescue his sister Ja In, who has been kidnapped by the invaders.

The plot sets up a chase featuring a lone bowman against a small unit also trying to stop him from his rescue and it offers the potential for plenty of excitement. Indeed this is what it seems to be focused on because the film has little room for anything but forward motion in regards the chase and the arrow action. Unfortunately this aspect of the film is nowhere near strong enough to make it be as much of the film as it is. Running to over two hours, the film doesn't provide as much plotting or character as I would have liked to engage me for this amount of time. The action isn't good enough to take up the slack. The nature of the delivery suggested some arrow-fu style action would be on the cards but it is rarely up to scratch. Occasionally there are tense moments which are well-delivered, but otherwise the action failed to move me. It lacked tension and thrills and really did come down to quite a lot of scenes of people running from one another; there are standoffs and individual moments which worked very well but the majority did not.

Overall The War of the Arrows didn't convince me as the blockbuster it was in its own country. The dubbing didn't help for sure, but the greater damage was the workmanlike plot being combined with action which is never as balletic or thrilling as it needed to be to carry the long running time.

Slow start, adrenaline-fueled second half

[Abdulxoxo · 7/10 · 24 December 2020]

This is a well-made action drama with good action sequences and a story focusing on two siblings. The acting is well-done, the cinematography is good, though i dislike the intentionally unsteady camera work during the foot chase scenes, but it is clearly a stylistic choice, as there are plenty of moments where the camera is steady. The film takes it time and introduced the main characters with just enough information and background story, after that the movie starts to heat up. The action sequences are darn brilliant even tho are plenty of hard-to-believe moments. There's an spectacular display of arrow play, and other mildly entertaining battle scenes. The foot chase is the highlight, it's tense and thrilling, it follows a similar story to Mel Gibson's Apocalypto but the final confrontation is quite different, and it features an amazing display of archery prowess, the POV shots of flying arrows in slow motion going back and forth in particular is breathtaking.



All in all, War of the Arrows is an entertaining action movie with simple and easy to follow story and character. A treat for action fans movies.

Bullseye!

[poe426 · 9/10 · 10 June 2014]

Back before the Big Bang that changed warfare (i.e.; the invention of the firearm- also know as "the coward's weapon of choice"), the bow and arrow were the weapons of choice- and one of the deadliest bows ever devised was the type of bow used by the Mongolians (which is bent ONE way, then bent BACK, doubling its power). In WAR OF THE ARROWS, we get a sense of what it might've been like to have used (or been shot by) just such a weapon. This is one of the best examples of how slow motion cgi can actually ENHANCE something as INTIMATE as killing with a bow and arrow- and the fx are utilized to their finest, here. The performances are all solid, and the storyline serves its purpose admirably. All around, a bullseye.

Its really war of the arrows

[partheeee · 9/10 · 28 August 2012]

Its a must watch film especially for archery fans.. Most probably this might be the best archery movie you might have ever seen.Plot is as simple as that,"Elder brother Nam Yi being regarded as traitor's son with archery inherited in his blood becomes the Saviour of his abducted younger sister Ja in during Manchu invasion of Korea.This showcases not only archery but the thriller and the exciting screenplay makes the viewers to sit at the tip of seats. Kudos to the cinematographer and director.Being a Korean periodic movie everybody would be expecting unbelievable fights but what keeps the movie in track is believable sharp archery from both protagonists and antagonists.

You can't hide from dogs like that! Have you heard of smell!

[athies · 4/10 · 19 January 2019]

A lot more setup than I expected.

Who is the giggling fool?

Why is it taking everyone so long to react?

You're gonna choke him faster.

When someone is hit by an arrow from an unseen asailant out don't look around until someone else falls. You take cover!

Vicious mouth grab into head butt.

Two dudes on the ground each bending the lone twig in their way.

That's one fact yurt up in smoke.

No idea why they are waiting for the tiger.

I hope something was lost in translation because there is no mention of why dad is a traitor? Seems everyone who crosses the river and back is a traitor because?

Good to see realistic combat scenes in a film of this genre

[peter-hickey · 9/10 · 22 July 2012]

I loved this film from start to finish. The story line was plausible, the plot was well developed and the characters were believable. The biggest bonus for me in this film is that the combat scenes/martial arts sequences were believable and realistic. So many of the recent films of this genre have had fight scenes which basically bordered on the ridiculous. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for example was basically a choreographed high wire act for much of the movie and in honest, just a tad silly! Hopefully we will see more of this type of film from this part of the world. The only thing which was a bit weak was the tiger scenes. Possibly a little more resource could have been thrown at this? The soundtrack was also interesting. It did occasionally drift into very familiar Territory, i.e. you felt you'd heard that music in a similar type of movie?

Excellent movie

[massihians · 9/10 · 18 September 2012]

I watched it once and I want to watch it again less than a month after the first serving. It is that good. The arrow shooting scenes are, as expected, spectacular. The photography is second to none and the story is well told, even though it is a tad on the simple side. Nevertheless the movie is highly recommendable. This is the story of a brother who goes against all odds to save his sister from capture by raiders coming from China. Outnumbered but not outwitted, he will prevail after a hair-raising adventure. This is an original twist to a tale because we're used to watch sniper-rifle action at long distance in the modern world. Now picture a sniper-bow action and you'll get the idea. If you liked "Red Cliff" and "The Warlords"(Both Chinese productions) you will enjoy "War of Arrows" (Korean production) and won't be disappointed.

Heroic archer battling to save his sister and his countrymen

[ihaveatimelimit · 10/10 · 23 March 2015]

War of the Arrows, also known as Arrow, the Ultimate Weapon, is set in historic South Korea. Language includes Korean and Manchu, but English subtitles are also available. Set after the Second Manchu invasion of Korea, there is a strong link to real life events. The lead actors are a brother and sister who have a strong but shaky relationship. The theme of the movie involves the invasion by the Manchurian's of Korea, who are allied with the south Chinese who the Manchurian's detest. Nam-yi, following in his father's footsteps, becomes a highly skilled archer and hunter. His skills get put to the test after his sister Ja-in gets kidnapped by the Qing army. He decides to put his life on the life to save her. What we see involves a fascinating battle between Nam-yi and the Qing soldiers, led by another ruthless and highly skilled archer. Viewers are set for a highly entertaining battle, with a great story line. Yet another fantastic movie from South Korea, who are becoming masters of story telling and film production. This film is highly recommended and would be a great way to end the day along with some hot beverage.