Good casting. Each of the actors had some charm that kept me intrigued. The cinematographers captured South Korea well, and I enjoyed looking at the scenery. There are a few scenes in particular that may turn some of the viewers off. I think it's common in South Korean movies to have scenes that stretch on longer than they should. At the last second (again), something happens to extend the scene or add suspense. Overall, I enjoyed watching this movie and would recommend it, especially if you're interested in the Gwangju Massacre.
20 Reviews
Long and frustrating
champetudo4 April 2018
Promising start but....
nmak-139831 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The movie covers the lives of Korean people who lost loved ones in the Gwangju massacre. Promising start and built up to the finale. But the supposedly climactic ending was dragged out too long and I found that disappointing.
Hard-hitting Korean thriller stems from a controversial episode in that country's recent history
Leofwine_draca26 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
26 YEARS is another hard-hitting South Korean thriller, based around the infamous Gwangju massacre of 1980 which was Korea's own Tiananmen Square incident. The title refers to the main action taking place twenty-six years after the event, where an assembled motley group of survivors and relatives of those killed in 1980 decide to get revenge on the politician responsible. As with most Korean films I've seen, this one is expertly directed and photographed, with the inventive use of animation to play out key events of the past. It's a little overlong and a little heavy on the emoting side of things - a familiar aspect of Korean cinema - but the thriller aspects are wonderfully portrayed, with some highly suspenseful set-pieces building to an elaborate, exciting climax.
Nice but draggy
timroslan25 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Nice plot, but the whole movie feels so lengthy and slow moving I had to fast forward few times (watched this on Netflix). The last part is intense. But what's the ending supposed to mean? I believe the ex-president remain in power, while those 3 people looking for revenge eventually died and all their efforts were futile. Sad, but that kind of ending is expected from korean movies
Pointless Exercise in Melodrama
auaaron18 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
If this film sought to accurately simulate the lack of satisfaction and fulfilment felt by survivors of the Gwangju incident then it has succeeded tremendously. Otherwise, this was just a poorly executed caper film with a controversial historical backdrop and numerous scenes of characters crying and monologuing for pure melodramatic reasons.
The film open with a visceral animated scene setting a gritty tone for the film, and then proceeds to go completely downhill into a half-witted caper plot involving several characters who have no real plan, connection or common objective it seems. Some want to assassinate the ex-president, some want him to apologise, in the end the outcome is as murky as the plot. Why did the gangster antagonise the villa security and put them all on high alert? Why did the chairman build the replica of the villa and never used it to rehearse any actual plan? They could have held their planning meetings in a rented office for all it was worth.
I get that Gwanju is a controversial topic and this film had to make compromises to satisfy people on both sides of the debate and not have too controversial an ending, but at that point maybe this film should just not have been made.
The film open with a visceral animated scene setting a gritty tone for the film, and then proceeds to go completely downhill into a half-witted caper plot involving several characters who have no real plan, connection or common objective it seems. Some want to assassinate the ex-president, some want him to apologise, in the end the outcome is as murky as the plot. Why did the gangster antagonise the villa security and put them all on high alert? Why did the chairman build the replica of the villa and never used it to rehearse any actual plan? They could have held their planning meetings in a rented office for all it was worth.
I get that Gwanju is a controversial topic and this film had to make compromises to satisfy people on both sides of the debate and not have too controversial an ending, but at that point maybe this film should just not have been made.
wow!
fluffset23 May 2013
This movie is so awesome! Should get more worldwide attention but its not because this is surely not Kim ki duk's art house. About a victim's family who want to take revenge after what happened to their family 26 years ago in Gwangju's massacre, very well constructed and so unpredictable, its a true story I guess because at their ending credit they listed a lot of name,of victim of the gwangju's massacre.
Got sufficient tension, great acting, some saddy moment that make me cry and honestly I rarely cry watching movie although they say their genre are drama. If you love good thrilling movie just like the chaser, yellow sea, memories of murder, i saw the devil, and many more excellent korean thriller you will absolutely love this! If not I will punch myself in the face just like edward norton in fight club!
Got sufficient tension, great acting, some saddy moment that make me cry and honestly I rarely cry watching movie although they say their genre are drama. If you love good thrilling movie just like the chaser, yellow sea, memories of murder, i saw the devil, and many more excellent korean thriller you will absolutely love this! If not I will punch myself in the face just like edward norton in fight club!
Disappointing
divemabini4 September 2022
Interesting premise regarding a painful chapter in Korean history. And while the acting is quite good, in typical action film tropisms, the story can only progress because of unrealistic monologues.
Sure, the characters want the ex-president to "repent" and beg forgiveness. But do they really? Come on. They have SO so many chances to kill him when it becomes obvious that he won't. But what do they do?
They monologue.
Yup, they all monologue, for the simple sake of coming to a very unsatisfying conclusion. Don't listen to the reviews that are like, "Wow!", "Korean cinema as I love". There is nothing to love here. An overused movie cliche for the sake of....what?
And don't get me started on the main female character. I was so looking forward to being an integral part of the story and showing the men how it is done.
And she ends up being a clown, who either can't make the shot, or won't instantly take the shot when it's in her crosshairs. She's no trained marksman, and one of the biggest disappointments of the film.
Sure, the characters want the ex-president to "repent" and beg forgiveness. But do they really? Come on. They have SO so many chances to kill him when it becomes obvious that he won't. But what do they do?
They monologue.
Yup, they all monologue, for the simple sake of coming to a very unsatisfying conclusion. Don't listen to the reviews that are like, "Wow!", "Korean cinema as I love". There is nothing to love here. An overused movie cliche for the sake of....what?
And don't get me started on the main female character. I was so looking forward to being an integral part of the story and showing the men how it is done.
And she ends up being a clown, who either can't make the shot, or won't instantly take the shot when it's in her crosshairs. She's no trained marksman, and one of the biggest disappointments of the film.
Korean cinema as I love
searchanddestroy-119 July 2018
Actually, there are two kinds of Korean cinema: the true Korean, genuine Korean scheme, and the Hollywood like one: the kind i hate with super heroes, action packed movies and of course f...happy endings. Useless to say that this feature belongs to the first category. Gripping, poignant, brutal, it could never be an American feature. But it is sometimes too long, a bit ankward, and the final ending disappointed me a little.
Waste of time
kryzanne22 July 2020
The final minutes are so gripping! So intense, that if you don't get at the edge of your seat with this story, you are made of ice!
alshwenbear13 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
By the end I was yelling at the screen! Shoot! Based on true events on the story of Korea, and unfortunately with similitude to Mexico in 1968, made this film so intense, it is like having six cups of coffee within six minutes, it is like failing to catch the last train home and losing it after running a mile. The movie builds up slowly and fatefully to its purpose, the acting, what can we say? It's a Korean movie, different but compelling. How much can you wish that one of the movie characters gets to die? Especially when you know is a rotten human being much like the Mexican president Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, who before the Olympics in Mexico City, ordered the soldiers to shoot on innocent people on October 2, 1968. I was wondering if ever anyone related to the massacred kids in Tlatelolco, ever fantasize on doing something like in "26 Years" , and "El paciente interno" (THE CONVICT PATIENT) (2012) seems to be the answer to the question, unfortunately I haven't seen this documentary or heard about director Alejandro Solar, but definitely I am looking forward to see his work . To anyone interested in the subject I would recommend "Rojo amanecer" Red Dawn (1990) directed by Jorge Fons, even though the movie presents the story only from "the experience" of one family living in one of the Tlatelolco Buildings. The Koreans, the Chinese in Tiananmen plaza, and many other places in the world have suffer, and lived in terrifying memories. Too bad in real life dictator Augusto Pinochet died of old age, too bad Gustavo Diaz Ordaz never was punished, and too bad Chun Doo-Hwan is still living virtually free! "26 Years" is a good movie that I would recommend to those who like to think and reflect about the past and future of any society on our messed up world.
Not so suspenseful
lovegang28 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Not so suspenseful after the first assassination attempt. This hopeful action film evolved to a drama focused movie, with many cheesy dialogue. There was this sense of fair from the production crew, like they're afraid of stepping over political lines. It made the movie unorganized and consist of uncorrelated scenes; And prolonging the final attempt to kill Chun Doo Hwan. I felt unsympathetic for the characters in the movie, and unjust as an audience at the end when they don't show the final kill. They leave it as a cliffhanger, as in the korean film culture values it.
Excellent superb film
parlatome2 April 2020
Waste of Time
hrangchalcaleb13 December 2020
I'm being generous in giving 1 star. This movie is an absolute waste of time. The way it was dramatized in the end was absolutely unnecessary. Maybe there are people who like these types of movies. Unnecessarily stretched, unnecessary dramatic dialogues and ending was pathetic. Worst movie I've watched so far in 2020.
Masterpiece: climax is mindblowing
CommonViewer19 June 2021
This movie is a masterpiece from its 1st frame. The way they showed the past millitary massacre in animated form just blew me away. All the main characters have been very properly deveolped and we could understand their grief, emotions and actions. All this really helped in last 30 minutes of climax, tye climax will give goosebumps and butterflies to any kind of user .
Acting wise all characters did justice to their role and will far exceed your expectations. Guys without waiting just play this masterpiece, words are less to describe this.
Acting wise all characters did justice to their role and will far exceed your expectations. Guys without waiting just play this masterpiece, words are less to describe this.
Would have been an 8!
ianwilkins762 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Bloody Koreans have no idea how to end a show at all! Who died exactly? An absolutely pointless build up to zero conclusion, as per usual. And the strong willed girl could've taken the shot about 10 times but .... well as is displayed in Korean dramas and cinema all women over there are gutless cowards when the moment to shine comes! I've not been this annoyed since watching hotel del Luna.
Stupendous...
RosanaBotafogo25 August 2021
Stupendous, a daring production, given the circumstances of its production, and political and dictatorial barriers... Intelligent, resistant, convincing, but a beautiful South Korean production... That distresses that final "bad vase doesn't break"... made with online donations line, the end credits last 10 minutes, to name all the donors... And the real one is still alive and enjoying all its wealth acquired with the blood of the people, Chun Doo-hwan...
Frankly, it's just insulting
cinjanssens5 September 2022
This movie was grossly ridiculous. It was the worst POS I've ever seen. What an insulting "tribute" to the victims of the actual horrific event. Instead of giving fictional gratification to a terrible historical tragedy (ie inglorious basterds) it is just filled with stupid characters that are too cowardly to avenge their families. It was absolutely infuriating. Not to mention it had such a bizarre non ending it was just a total waste of time. There is nothing good about this movie. Do not waste your time. That's why Netflix is taking this garbage off at the end of the month. I hate whoever wrote this nonsense. Please don't make movies anymore. I want my time back.
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