The Battleship Island (2017) User Reviews

Intersting

[knightwr · 8/10 · 8 November 2019]

The film moved at a fast pace.

Some great performances . I hope the young girl won some awards- she deserved them.

A Blissful Middle Between Tarantino's Revenge Fantasy and Historical Drama

[Revuer223 · 8/10 · 6 August 2017]

***Minor Spoilers Ahead***

I've read four "professional" critics' reviews on Metacritics so far, and I do not believe that they are doing justice to the movie. So I write mine own here.

The movie, although inspired by the harsh conditions of Japanese occupation of Korea, is highly fictional, and the last action piece never happened.

That said, the movie is a re-visioned piece, much like Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds." The movie borrows many elements from Tarantino. 1) Inhumane treatment by historically superior entity, 2) re- visioned telling of the story, and 3) interim comedy.

The third element is one this movie executes well. The comedic relationship between the two main characters, along with the horrific conditions they are placed in, make you feel invested in their future.

As it is with Korean cinematic custom, the actions sequence was brutally violent. However, it was magnificently done. Every minute of it I was clutching the sides of my seat, hoping that the protagonists would prevail.

The movie also has layers of hidden messages that perhaps foreigners might not get. The movie's ending action piece is accompanied by "Ecstasy of Gold." The music feels out of place yet it oddly fits into the narrative of the entire movie. There, the filmmaker's alluding to the same message "The Good and the Bad and the Ugly" presents in its scene. The scene from "the Good" shows a man* running in a mass graveyard but ecstatic due to his satisfaction of greed. What should be a solemn and mournful place is turned to a fest of greed.

The message is toward current Korean culture. Likewise, the filmmaker is criticizing Koreans who live blissfully in unparalleled amount of wealth, almost forgetting the holocaust their ancestors suffered merely two generations ago.

The downside is that there is a lack of development for other characters. By consequence, the side-plot feels out of place and too sudden. There is a twist in the middle, but that twist is likewise affected by the underdevelopment of characters. A good twist needs breadcrumbs leading up to the twist so that it gives the audience the feeling of "aha!" after combining all the clues. This movie had none.

In sum, this movie is a great piece that reminds Koreans of the horrors of their ancestors. And, for us foreigners, the movie is informative of the actions of the other side of the AXIS during World War II. It is a historical fact that this island is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Though the Japanese came to an agreement with Koreans that the site used forced labor, they are not providing this information on their tour program and their tour website.

A matter of perspective

[blinkable · 8/10 · 1 May 2018]

Emotionally gripping for me to watch this because I tend to be overwhelmed by what happened to the characters in war-plot movie. The casts were all great and wonderful in their roles, each bringing out one another's best aspects and molded their chemistry throughout the journey in this movie. There were various themes on humanity being touched and carried on as the key to this movie while you are brought into an existential reflection of what if you are part of it in that war-era period, what would you have done to stay alive and what would you have chose to do. Watch this movie without getting too hung up on the political facts but more on being in the shoes of those who had to plough their way for survival. I also like the cinematography of the scenes when everyone trying to escape and working together towards it although I must say the ways certain gun shots shown just a bit hard to comprehend how certain people so easily died while certain just survived.

A mediocre period drama bolstered by extreme patriotism

[TheBigSick · 15 August 2017]

Like "Wolf Warrior 2" in China, the commercial success of "The Battleship Island" in Korea can be largely attributed to its extreme patriotism. From a pure critical point of view, "The Battleship Island" is rather mediocre, if not utterly catastrophic.

Admittedly, the film is not a total disaster. There are some brutal and bloody action scenes. But this rare merit is easily overshadowed by more CGI-enhanced (in other words, fake) action sequences. Also, Hwang Jung-min and Kim Su-an perform well in the movie such that the love between their characters, the father Kang-OK and the daughter So-hee, undoubtedly moves the audience. Yet most characters in the movie are flat and one-dimensional, especially Park Moo-young, played by Song Joong-ki.

To make things worse, countless problems lie in the plot, the storytelling and the editing. How did Park arrive at the Battleship Island? Why did Park survive long after being shot and severely wounded? Why were the Japanese completely unaware of the meeting of the Koreans? Why did the Japanese give up after the death of their commanding officer? Why did the Koreans see the explosion of the atomic bomb, which was physically very far away? Why does the movie end suddenly without a fourth act?

Not the best Korean movie but not bad either.

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 10 September 2018]

From all the Asian countries Korea has the best movies. I don't know why that is, but it's just a fact. I saw enough Asian movies by now to come to that conclusion. Gun-Ham-Do is certainly not the best Korean movie I ever watched but it's well made and worth a watch. As usual it's very loud verbally, like almost all Asian movies. I don't know why but they seem angry all the time when they talk. In this movie they could be though as it is a war movie about Hashima Island, more a concentration camp than a work environment if you ask me. There are some really good battle scenes, especially at the end. It clearly shows they put some effort in this movie. I wouldn't say all the actors are great actors, because for that some extras looked too fake in their expressions, and that's the case for most Asian movies. It seems they like to exaggerate a bit. And for that I score this movie lower. The story is interesting though, with good visual effects. If you like Korean movies give this one a shot.

Quite Good

[westsideschl · 9/10 · 4 May 2019]

A Japanese island, 9 miles from Nagasaki, enlarged & used from 1897 to 1974 to mine coal w/shafts going down 2/3 of a mile beneath the sea. Oddly, given the Pacific rim geologic history of subduction, that there's massive sedimentary (typically surface heavily vegetated wetlands) deposits of coal forming there. It's common name is Gunkanjima, meaning battle ship. The actual name is Hashima Island. From the '30s to the end of WWII Chinese & Korean conscripts/prisoners numbering in the thousands worked those mine shafts w/80+ temps & 95% humidity & some might say brutal treatment. During that time period an estimated 1300 miners died.

The movie mixes factual & fictionalized events. Kudos goes to the production of one of the best movie sets/props I've ever seen (actually built in Chuncheon, Korea) - Game of Thrones level. Also to the costuming & makeup personnel for the grimy authenticity & cinematography for the great camera work. Acting was spot-on although as is typical in these types of films the baddies (the Japanese in this case) are made to be really bad dudes. Forewarned - lots of violence, especially towards the end.

Good enough

[PennyReviews · 6/10 · 22 September 2017]

This movie captures you with the story, which is as strong as it is heavy. First of all the visuals are as good as needed, with the scenes raw enough to express the emotions that this film wants to express. The film makers didn't hesitate to use scenes like the ones in the men's bath, that can be shocking and work as a punch in the guts to make you understand the seriousness of the matter. Now, the stories are interesting, especially the one with the father and his kid, but some of them were just there and not as strong as the rest. Eventually, however, towards the ending, things got a little chaotic. The final battle was long, longer than it should be and that kind of made me tired to watch. Eventually, the main problem of this movie is it's length, as some scenes were just too long. But it was an interesting movie to watch, so 6 out of 10.

Rousing

[Leofwine_draca · 10/10 · 6 October 2019]

THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND is another exemplary slice of filmmaking from South Korea, with the kind of perfect direction that rival Hollywood directors can only dream about. The setting is the grubby tail-end of 1945, where miners work in a Japanese-controlled prison camp and the Koreans must contend with corruption, betrayal, rivalry and resistance fighters spurring escapes and break-outs. It's epic film-making with fine production values throughout and intelligent scripting which weaves together various sub-plots and characters into a satisfying mix. There's action, emotion, tragedy and careful character work, all of it handled deftly by an experienced cast and a director who knows exactly what works. Things build to the kind of rousing climax that delivers everything you want, and more.

Pretty ok.

[kchintogtoh · 6/10 · 18 December 2017]

I know the movie is emotional and all but it's too long and have so many unnecessary long scenes. A lot of Korean movies suffer from this kind of long cheesy build. They make their movies too dramatic and unnecessarily long and this title is one of them.

The Battleship Island Review: A visual masterpiece, deserves to be seen.

[Achyut_Prashast_Singh · 9/10 · 13 September 2017]

Movie: The Battleship Island (15)

Rating: 4.5/5

I'll be straight: the film was breathtaking. I started watching and didn't realise when 2 hours passed away. It was really engaging, and well executed. Visually it looks like a fantasy. Ryoo Seung-wan's recent release THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND is a well made action film that never gets too melodramatic and the entertainment quotient remains quite high throughout.

It's another time I'm impressed with Hwang Jung-min. He delivers another great performance as he did in ASURA. So Ji-sub was decent in the action sequences, but one would wish his character got a proper scope in the second hour. Song Joong-ki's character was extremely well written and he delivers a great performance. Kim Su-an does another mindblowing job after TRAIN TO BUSAN. One can only wish she does more such roles because she really acts well. Same for rest of the cast.

The screenplay is excellent: it stays focused and never deviates from storytelling. The action sequences are jaw-dropping and mindblowing: make sure you watch the film in a very high quality so as to appreciate the film even more. The cinematography is excellent and captures the eye-catching visuals very well. The editing is decent and really, I didn't wish the film was shorter.

THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND turns out to be a terrific action film which should be seen not just because of its high quality technical values but also to know about this extremely well-narrated tale of survival.

what does the director really want to say?

[yoggwork · 6/10 · 18 February 2019]

The performances are very good, but unfortunately, what does the director really want to say? A lot of space depicts traitors and running dogs, and the father of his daughter turns an anti-Japanese film into a prison break film. The whole film can not see the resistance of the workers, the persecution of the Japanese is only through various aspects to show, the front may only be a rolling nail plate, right? This is also the director who was bought up by Japanese money.

a meaningful & extremely moving film

[aminifatimaaa · 10/10 · 22 January 2019]

Profound for the simple reason that this film breathes life into history by presenting this extraordinarily gripping true story. Absolutely stunning. One amazingly kinetic experience, splendid production values and some of the most intense staging and action you'll see within the korean film industry.

Epic movie!

[myartniki · 7/10 · 29 April 2020]

The CGI was amazing!! The storyline was great. This movies too much oily and dirty, after watched this it will makes you wanna take a shower hehe

Hate Fantasy and Pseudo Historical Drama

[annnafreankk · 1/10 · 4 December 2018]

A mediocre movie bolstered by extreme patriotism aka Fascism . In South Korea factories,House, parks everything own by few Super wealthy Families , but looks like the must direct the anger of people to Japan(and Others) to keep then enslave....

Battleship Island review

[JoeytheBrit · 7/10 · 26 June 2020]

A Korean action movie set on the notorious Hashima Island, where Korean immigrants and Chinese prisoners of war were forced to mine for coal from the 1930s to the end of WWII. Although "inspired by true events", the plot is pure fabrication. It's highly watchable, though, thanks not only to the compelling situation, but the genuinely touching relationship between second-rate musician Jung-Min Hwang and his screen daughter, Su-An Kim.

Wow , Just amazing

[josepaul-68510 · 9/10 · 28 May 2020]

As an Indian guy, I never really knew about the Japanese invasion of Korean peninsula and their atrocities towards Korean people. This movie gives an insight into it. I think Germany and Japan became allies because both think they're the most purest and superior bloods among their neighbours. The Japanese red light district is something that I think no other colonial power has implemented in their colonies. If I'm wrong please forgive me. After watching this movie the one thing I did wish was, if that THUG GUY and STRONG LADY could live together. Everyone who worked in front of the camera and behind it did a really good job. Thanks very much for this movie.

If there's one thing that's constant..

[jasminn_tan · 6/10 · 8 January 2023]

I don't know how much of the movie is based on true events and how much is just fiction but a single element that is always present in WWII movies centered around Japan and the Japanese's rule is their brutality and cruelty. And that part at least is true. The Japanese government turns a blind eye to what its predecessors have done not too long ago but for many other countries that have experienced the sheer violence of the Japanese regime, it is not so easily forgotten. I do not have to be a Korean to understand the pain and empathize with the Koreans that were forcefully taken from their home and subsequently abused and plundered by the Japanese.

The movie itself was fine but I didn't like its pacing and the way some parts were written. The story would jump forward and there would be little to no explanation of what happened to lead up to current events. The ending was realistic, many had died but some managed to leave the island alive.

Very well executed - and terrifically entertaining!

[dave-mcclain · 9/10 · 11 August 2017]

The name of and the setting for the South Korean historical fantasy action-drama "The Battlefield Island" (NR, 2:12) is rooted in a fascinating but little-known and previously nearly forgotten chapter from Japanese and Korean history. Japan's Hashima Island lies off the shoreline of Nagasaki and gets its more famous nickname of Battlefield Island (Gunkanjima in Japanese) because of its oblong shape and especially how it looks from above, with the sea walls and many concrete buildings added. Beginning in 1887, during Japan's rapid industrialization program, Hashima became home to a mining operation which took coal from under the sea. Meanwhile, history also tells us that in 1910, Japan annexed Korea.

During World War II, this colony to the west of Japan was expected to support the country's war effort, including supplying troops to fight the Emperor's battles and workers to mine coal, in order to keep the Japanese war machine chugging along. Although the island's mines employed Japanese workers in various numbers from 1887 through 1974, and Hashima became an important symbol of Japanese modernization, its period as home to Koreans subjected to forced labor and horrible conditions is a blight on its past. (That complicated history required a political compromise between Japan and Korea before Hashima was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, part of the group of places called "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining".) This film imagines what an uprising and attempted escape by those Korean workers might have looked like.

Lee Kang-OK (Hwang Jung-min) is a bandleader in Korea during World War II. He is the single father to Lee So-hee (Kim Su-an), a precocious but talented little girl who sings and dances with her father's band. Kang-OK decides to take his band and his daughter to Japan where he believes they will be safer. The group ends up on a ship which is destined for the location of the film's title. During the intake process for the island's new workers, Kang-OK desperately works to convince the officials there that he and his bandmates are in the wrong place. While the musicians are not allowed to leave the island, the island's director does spare them from the coal mines and allows them to serve him as musicians and in other capacities. Kang- OK is also able to get permission for his daughter to continue performing with the band and work in a domestic capacity, where she is looked after by the island's "comfort women", especially Oh Mal- nyeon (Lee Jung-hyun). Although she is still a young girl, So-hee is sometimes dressed up and made up like the comfort women and, under the control of the island's director, her safety seems far from certain. Kang-OK does what he can to see and protect his daughter (within the tough restrictions the Japanese place on the Korean workers) and becomes increasingly desperate to get her off the island.

Most of Battleship Island's Japanese and Korean residents work in the undersea coal mines, in harsh and dangerous conditions. This is especially true of the Korean forced laborers who are treated by their Japanese supervisors and guards as slaves, with no thought given to their safety or even their survival. Within the group, a Korean gangster named Choi Chil-sung (So Ji-sub) literally fights for and earns the right to become the unofficial leader of the Koreans on the island, a situation which could either benefit or harm Kang-OK's efforts to get himself and his daughter off the island. Meanwhile, a Korean agent trained by the Americans arrives on the island posing as a worker. His mission is to arrange the escape of an aging and highly respected Korean resistance leader (Lee Geung-young) who is being held captive on the island, a situation which Kang-OK also tries to use for his benefit. As these circumstances come to a head, the Japanese military officials in charge of the island are coming to the realization that the war is nearing its end, that Japan is likely to lose and that they must make take drastic action to ensure their own survival in the aftermath. The film's plot and subplots all culminate in a daring attempt by the Korean workers to escape Battlefield Island and sail back to Korea, just at the moment history tells us that the Americans are about to take drastic actions of their own which will definitely end the war.

"The Battlefield Island" is an enthralling and fantastically entertaining historical fantasy. It feels like a South Korean mix of 1997's Oscar-winning "Life is Beautiful" and the 2001 TV miniseries "Uprising", just with Japanese Imperial forces instead of Nazis and South Korean forced laborers standing in for European Jews. The fact that the main story is complete fiction is almost immaterial, especially set against the backdrop of a real place and an actual chapter in World War II history. In that sense, it may remind Movie Fans of Quentin Tarantino's 2009 historical fantasy "Inglourious Basterds". Although most people know that no plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler ever succeeded, that didn't make the movie any less enjoyable. This film is on a scale and has production values which stand up to some of the best Hollywood blockbusters, but with a decidedly Asian bent. Director Seung-wan Ryoo ("Veteran", "The Berlin File", "The City of Violence") skillfully balances the story's action with its tender moments and its brutality with its humanity, giving audiences worldwide a film that deserves to be seen by all Movie Fans, even those who are most averse to seeing movies with subtitles. Although some of the plot points are a bit too far-fetched, this is an exceptional film, not to be missed. "A"

Harrowing tale

[Glue2Screen · 7/10 · 3 March 2022]

A very harrowing tale based on true story of what took place during world war II on that island. It is heartbreaking and, at times gut wrenching, to watch. Although this movie has a lot of blockbuster appeal for on screen dramatics, it does capture the horrors of war and remembering what happened on that island. This is only a small part of the atrocities that occurred during world war II, but it is one that should be remembered.

For those wanting to continue with other films, here are some recommendations: Flowers of War, City of Life and Death, Unbroken...to name a few.

Very well made!

[esha1812 · 9/10 · 29 January 2018]

While having seen many Hollywood True Historic event based movies, this was the first Korean movie that I have seen ever. So Ji-Sub from "Oh My Venus" fame and Song Joong-ki from "Descendents of the Sun" fame, are the two actors who brought me to this point, leading to "The Battleship Island". And their performance has been really great. The direction is quite good, leaving very few logical loopholes and the movie captures your constant attention. While within Korea and Japan most of the people would be aware of such an incident, people like us truly have no idea about such events even happening. And while it is a hair-raisingly tragic affair, I am thankful for making this movie available worldwide and enjoyed the narration and acting overall. P.S. The child artist is amazing as well ! Kim Su-An. A must watch for fans of either Korean Movies or the above mentioned actors!

Brilliant film that portrays the suffering / forced labour that koreans suffered at the hands of the japanese during world war 2 ( South korean B+ Movie) My Ratings 9/10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 9/10 · 7 March 2020]

Brilliant but chilling film based on a true WW2 story. It's horrific what happened to the Koreans on this Battleship Island, where they were forced into slave labour by the Japanese. The film casts light on a hidden part of WW2.

Very poorly executed

[junehlee · 1/10 · 27 July 2017]

Thankfully, I was given a chance to view this film at the closed preview just a day before the opening in Seoul. So with free tickets, along with free drinks and popcorn which was provided by the distributor of the film, I was in a very happy state when the viewing started, which fell much to dismay at the end of the film.

By the way, I said 'thankfully' because I did not had to spend a dime for the ticket. Still, I am regretful that I wasted my good 2 hours for... for this piece.

I do not want to give away spoilers for those who want to watch this awful film, but I can simply narrow it down to one thing; entertainment characteristics of the films.

Whenever we go to a movie theater to see a certain film such as this, we visit not expecting to watch a historical document film, but expecting a nice 'fictional' plot, of course being based on the historical events.

The movies, after all, are always fictional. As much as it tries to depict the history much close to exact facts as possible, it is nevertheless, fictional lines and fictional stories which were re- created for viewer's pleasure.

After the preview finished, there was a Q&A session with the director Mr. Seung-wan Ryoo. One of the audience asked the director whether this film is bound to be criticized for creating much of the 'fictional story' instead of accurately following the exact turn of events.

But... films being fiction, is the biggest premise that all the audience agree on. For watching well made historical films such as 'Braveheart', 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Titanic', 'Das Boot' and so forth... I don't ever recall people criticizing these films for being too fictitious. '300' was absurdly fictitious as well, but was quite well received by the viewers. Quite entertaining too.

So, when the audience asks the director, whether this film to be criticized for being 'too fictitious', I think he meant to say he was not mesmerized with the story-line, at all.

That's it for this film. Not entertaining at all. If you want to destroy the actual history, you should at least try to make it fun & pleasing as possible.

Director pointed out when he recalled the actual history of Battleship Island, his imagination unraveled beyond limitation. I believe that's where the problem lies. Getting carried away by one's imagination too much.

Additionally, one audience pointed out this film being quite similar to Bollywood made history movies if we forget dancing on the Bollywood films, and much of violence on this film. Most of Bollywood history films (Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of them, big love for Khans), while completely ignoring the actual turn of events, there is a one a bright shining (Good looking as well) hero who saves the day for all, or die-trying, very dramatically.

But even I love Bollywood movies, I didn't expected to watch "Special Bollywood edition Korean film" with additional blood-lust.

Cinematic chapter of a hidden history lesson

[hazidil · 8/10 · 11 August 2017]

The Battleship Island was one of the most awaited Korean movies in 2017 and it did not disappoint the audience.

As a total stranger who did not know anything about Hashima Island and the coal mines that were operated by the Japanese during the 1940s, the movie gave me a lot information of that history, which actually made me read more how the Koreans were enslaved during Japanese occupational era.

The movie tells a story of 400 Korean men, women and children who were trapped and slaved to work in a coal mine with minimum facilities given. The difficulties faced by the victims and the power struggle between officials and them are shown in a very realistic nature. The three lead characters are of Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub and Song Joong-ki. Hwang is a a bad master who tries to immigrates to Japan but is sent to this island with his daughter. So is a gangster from Seoul who ends up in the same situation as Hwang. However, Song only appears in the movie after about half an hour of its run and completely steels the scenes afterwards. Unlike the others he being an under-cover soldier is sent to the island to rescue a so-called patriotic leader who is trapped. However, things goes in a different direction and all of them unites to rebel against the Japanese officials and flee the island by ship to return to Korea.

Throughout the movie we can see patriotism vs betrayal, power against the feeble and poor which is applicable for modern times as well. I personally enjoyed this movies which I recommend for those who prefers movies of this genre: history and patriotism.

A Korean blockbuster that's as good as anything out of Hollywood

[astrostar-18501 · 8/10 · 26 September 2021]

In terms of the scale of this movie, the extras, the production values (very high!), the excellent plot, the quality acting, cinematography, you name it, this movie has it all. This is the kind of larger than life movie Steven Spielberg might have made, if he was Korean, quite extraordinary. I would say though that the CGI, while very good, isn't "quite" as good as the best that Hollywood can do, but it's still extremely well done. It's not a family movie though, there is some extreme violence in this movie, but war is war and war is very violent. The movie does take some liberties with the story, I'm not sure all of it is 100% historically accurate, a lot of it "is" true though, like the fact the island was mined for it's coal, but a lot is included for the sake of making an interesting story. It does cover some aspects of the Japanese army's behavior which is an enduring national shame for that country, such as the use of "comfort women", i.e. Forcing Korean (and other nationalities) female prisoners to be the sex slaves of the Japanese army. I can honestly say, some of the best movies I have ever seen in the past few years have come from South Korea. The quality of the movies coming out of the South Korean film industry are every bit as good as Hollywood makes, and in many cases better. Terrifically entertaining movie. Well worth your time to watch.

A NEARLY PERFECT MEGA BLOCKBUSTER

[sdfnhwpfwgwlgv · 9/10 · 16 December 2020]

I'm speechless. This bombast of film lets the viewer in complete awe and I don't know what to write at first. One of the best films I've ever seen. What an effort, what an almost perfect creation. Anyone who cannot empathize here should seriously go to the doctor. The unbelievable but fact-based story, the extraordinary acting performances above all the little girl who probably delivers the best acting performance of a child in this century, the never-ending and mostly well-done effects and the immense sound, the intensive and damn well-thought-out social study that runs through the entire film. In this film there comes one masterly crafted scene after the other, despite the long running time of 151 minutes in the directors cut. I could go on praising the film, but that would go beyond the limit here.

We'll wait a long time for such an incredible film experience, I'm almost certain of that.