MY WAY is a film inspired by the true story of how a Korean ended up in three different armies during the course of World War Two (from the Japanese army to the Soviet army to being captured by the US troops in a German uniform).   The film revolves around two rivals who grew up competing against each other (by running) while growing up.  Do to the corrupt nature of the Japanese (who were occupying Korea at the time of World War 2), Kim Jun-shik is disqualified from running in the Olympics and they chose Tatsuo (the Japanese rival) instead even though Tatsuo lost to Jun-shik.   A riot breaks out and he is conscripted into the Japanese army with other Koreans, and soon he and his fellow Korean soldiers experience the horror of war up close against the Chinese and the Soviet Union.   Tatsuo tries to force Jun-shik to be a suicide soldier and both of them end up being captured by the Soviet army (and sent to Siberia).   They are forced together as comrades as they both want to get back home.

 

MY WAY has some really well directed battle scenes while telling a story of two enemies drawn together by the need to survive.   It is over two hours long and I wish they developed the tale a little bit more even though it was a nice movie to watch.   MY WAY seems to be focusing on the epic highlights while attempting to tell the story of two soldiers.    MY WAY is more of an anti-war movie that shows the triumph of the human spirit while under pressure from the horrors of war.   They go from army to army where the leaders have the same win at all costs attitude which means soldiers will die in the name of glory.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Making-of featurette is just 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage which would have been better if combined with the more compelling five minute interview with actor Jang Dong-Gun (Jun-shik Kim) and director Kang Je-Kyu.   Also included are three theatrical trailers (with the first one being annoying due to the English narrator voice).

 

FINAL ANLYSIS:  MY WAY is a good follow up to TAE GUK GI.   Kang Je-Kyu finds a different way to follow the war film by focusing on the human bond developed by two people who were rivals.

 

This DVD review is (c)8-3-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com