The Battle of Jangsari
The Battle of Jangsari (Korean: 장사리: 잊혀진 영웅들; RR: Jangsari: Yicheojin Yeongungdeul; literally Jangsari: Forgotten Heroes) is a 2019 South Korean action-war film[4] co-directed by Kwak Kyung-taek and Kim Tae-hoon, starring Kim Myung-min, Megan Fox and Choi Min-ho in the lead roles.[5] The second installment in a trilogy following Operation Chromite, the film tells the true story of a group of 772 student soldiers who staged a small diversionary operation at Jangsari beach in Yeongdeok village to draw away North Korean attention from Incheon.[6]
The Battle of Jangsari | |
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Official poster | |
Directed by | Kwak Kyung-taek Kim Tae-hoon |
Produced by | Kim Sung-Mi Kim Dong-Won Jung Tae-Won |
Written by | Lee Man-Hee Jung Tae-Won |
Starring | Kim Myung-min Megan Fox Choi Min-ho |
Cinematography | Kim Sung-Hwan |
Production company | Taewon Entertainment |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Korea |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes[1] |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean English |
Box office | $7.8 million[2][3] |
Megan Fox plays the role of Marguerite Higgins, an American reporter and war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune, who covered the Korean War and called on the international community for assistance. Kim Myung-min plays a guerrilla task force commander while Choi Min-ho plays a low-ranking soldier. George Eads plays the leader of the landing operation.[7][8]
Produced by Taewon Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros. Korea, the film released theatrically in South Korea on 25 September 2019 and was released in USA on 4 October 2019 by Well Go USA.[9]
Synopsis
During the Korean War, a group of 772 student soldiers led by a guerrilla task force commander is tasked with staging a diversionary mission at Jangsari Beach in South Korea, in order to deceive the North Korean forces into thinking the opposition forces would launch a decisive invasion there. In doing so, they would be able to pave the way for the Incheon Landing Operation. Meanwhile, an American reporter and war correspondent (Megan Fox) covers the Korean War and tries to get help from the international community as the soldiers struggle to accomplish their mission due to a lack of proper training, weapons, and adequate food and supplies.
Cast
- Kim Myung-min as Lee Myung-Joon
- Megan Fox as Maggie (fictional character based on Marguerite Higgins and Margaret Bourke-White)[10]
- Choi Min-ho as Choi Sung-Pil
- Kim Sung-cheol as Ki Ha-Ryun
- Kim In-kwon as Ryu Tae-Seok
- Kwak Si-yang as Park Chan-Nyeon
- Jang Ji-Gun as Guk Man-Deuk
- Lee Ho-Jung as Moon Jong-Nyeo
- Lee Jae-wook as Lee Gae-Tae
- Dong Bang-Woo as General Lim Choon-Bong
- George Eads as Colonel Stephen
- Jeong Jong-Jun as Guk Man-Deuk (old)
- Kim Min-Kyu as Choi Jae-Pil
- Choi Jae-Pil as North Korean Army General
- Han Chul-Woo as Moonsan ship captain
- Jang Myung-Kab as Jochiwon ship captain
- Baek Shin - Myung troops officer 1
- Oh Gyu-Chul - village North Korean Army soldier 2
- Daniel Joey Albright - U.S. Navy soldier 2
Filming
Principal photography commenced on 3 October 2018 and was completed on 12 January 2019.[11]
Release
The film was released in 1,090 South Korean theaters on 25 September 2019.[12] It released in USA theatrically on 4 October 2019 with English subtitles.
Reception
Yoon Min-sik from The Korea Herald praised the opening sequence, the subsequent 40 minutes and how the film managed to introduce the main characters and their traits without feeling forced while also depicting the gritty, grotesque face of war. However, the reviewer felt the plot was "too contrived", Fox's character spelt out the director’s message through her dialogue, and that the film started out as something like Saving Private Ryan and ended up along the lines of Pearl Harbor.[13]
Box office
Opening alongside By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture, the film debuted at number one position and sold above 485,000 tickets (USD 3.44 million) over the weekend and a total of 690,000 tickets (USD 4.57 million) in its first five days.[14][15][16][17]
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | Kim Sung-cheol | Nominated | |
27th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | Best New Actor in a Film | Won | [18] | ||
Best Supporting Actor in a Film | Jang Ji-Gun | Won | [19] | ||
References
- "[국내영화] 장사리 : 잊혀진 영웅들". Korea Media Rating Board.
- "The Battle of Jangsari (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- "The Battle of Jangsari (2019)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
- "Battle of Jangsari". Taewon Entertainment.
- "Korean Film 'Jangsari' Starring Megan Fox to be Released by WellGo USA". Variety.
- "[Photo] First Militaristic Poster Released for the Upcoming Korean Movie "The Battle of Jangsari"". HanCinema.
- "Megan Fox to Appear in Korean War Movie 'Jangsa-ri'". Variety.
- "'CSI' Veteran George Eads to Star in Korean War Movie 'Jangsari 9.15'". Variety.
- "Battle of Jangsari (2019)". Box Office Mojo.
- '장사리' 메간 폭스 출연에 숨겨진 사연은? [★비하인드
- "The Battle of Jangsari (Movie - 2018)". HanCinema.
- "Battle of Jangsari (2019)". Korean Film Council - KoBiz - Korean Film Biz Zone.
- "[Herald Review] 'Battle of Jangsari,' average delivery, worthy tribute". The Korea Herald.
- "Quiet Victory for BATTLE OF JANGSARI over BY QUANTUM PHYSICS". Korean Film Council - KoBiz - Korean Film Biz Zone.
- "Korean Box Office for the Weekend 2019.09.27 ~ 2019.09.29". HanCinema.
- "[HanCinema's News] "The Battle of Jangsari" Tops Weekend Box Office". HanCinema.
- "Korea Box Office: 'Battle of Jangsari' Heads Local Films' Chart Domination". Variety.
- "배우 최윤슬, 대한민국문화연예대상 MC 우수상 수상". NBN News Agency (in Korean). 1 December 2019.
- "제27회 대한민국문화연예대상 배우 장지건 남자배우 조연상 수상". NBN News Agency (in Korean). 1 December 2019.