The Long Way Home

Much of this war comedy is laugh out loud funny clever and original and sophisticated. The tank is used to such an imaginative way. The 2 stars have a likeable connection and the acting is animated. YJG is good. A North South buddy movie is always touching.

The only thing that stopped this being a success is the ending. Why did he have to die? Not in line with the comic tone.

I am not sure about how people could possible rate this movie as bad. I am not a critic, I did not know what to expect, in general the movie really packed a punch and hit me right in the feels. Found myself in tears of laughter and later of sorrow.

For me it was one of those gems that I will MUST re-watch again and again over and over countless times.

I did what I would generally do, make all of my friends watch it. So far the few that did also agreed that this movie is too good. I have never cried so much.

The Long Way Home is a film that touches the subject of war as many others have done numerous times. It does so in a non serious comic way that you don't get to see very often.

The story is about 2 soldiers from different side with their own agenda, goals and orders to follow. While Nam-Bok has the responsibility to deliver a top secret document to his superiors, Young-Gwang has to deliver his tank to the battalion after his unit is ambushed and killed. Their fates collide and they find each other at loggerheads.

The acting ranges from average to good and doesn't leave you cringing. The banter, fights and reconciliation between the duo is shot nicely. You see them fighting comically one moment and loitering around joking after drinking snake wine the next. They act well enough to make the film worthwhile and bring a smile to your face more than often.

The film has surprisingly good production value as the few action scenes here and there have been shot really well and realistically. The special effects though not top notch, are believable. The blasts, gunfights have been shot nicely to make a war like atmosphere.

Lastly, the director does a good job focusing some attention to the casualties of war. Although comic, the film takes enough time to show how people who would be great friends are put in a battlefield to kill each other just for the sake of war. It shows how a raging war destroys everything in its wake and how masses are affected by it just to satisfy the whims of few.

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but it can definitely be watched once as a fun flick.

Are you serious? Was I watching a film that was supposed to be a Korean war drama, and equally started like the one, full of gore, realistic battle scenes and shocking realism of being shot and mutilated. Sigh, nay, it only started like this. Sadly, the exciting story of a secret document lost and stolen and found turns into a well, a very silly generic comedy with childish performances, exaggerated facial expressions, terrible dialog, horrid plot and stupid ideas. I could not believe my eyes. A very decent drama got onto a silly C-rate comedy flick, and then at the end it tried to get serious again, alas, all the potential was lost already.

Many Korean movies give their characters comical introductions, regardless of the film's genre. 'The Long Way Home' is no different. However, this would have worked much better as a comedy altogether, as some of the serious moments felt out of place in a film that was told mostly in a humorist narrative. As a result, even the impressive battle scenes had little emotional impact.

The film's comical moments are really funny, revolving around the misadventures of a North Korean soldier, and a South Korean soldier. The South Korean soldier was to retrieve a Top Secret document from North Korean soldier, Kim Young-Gwan (Yeo Jin-gu) Funny moments arise ever so often due to their confinement in a tank. I loved the young, incompetent, and somewhat dysfunctional Kim Young-Gwan. There were also some beautiful bonding moments between the two, despite them being enemies.

As funny as the movie was, you'll be an emotional mess by the time the credits roll. In general 'The Long Way Home' was yet another enjoyable South Korean movie.