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| Setting/Backstory Following the end of the end of the Korean War, South Korea entered a period of rigid, over militaristic democratic reform which hit all aspects of Korean life, especially education. Once Upon a Time in High School takes place during the heart of this period in 1978. Amidst all the turmoil, however, young men and boys alike found a hero in one man--renowned martial artist Bruce Lee. To his fans, he was the epitome of cool, and represented all that was just and right in the world. One could say that he was the polar opposite of Korea, which fell on tumultuous times. Once Upon a Time in High School explores the problems with the nation's school system by telling the story of transfer student Hyeon Su and his struggles with Maljuk High. More importantly, however, it weaves the tale of how students deal with this new school system, the changing times, and each other. |
| Spirits of Jeet Kune Do |
| Ah, high school...brings back some bad memories... |
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| Lookin' a little TOO much like Bruce there buddy... |
| Acting Korean heartthrob Kwon Sang Woo (Sad Love Story, My Tutor Friend) plays the main character Hyeon Su here, which will definitely attract the ladies. They may be disappointed, however, because he plays such a dork! And he's great at it too. You really begin to feel what he's feeling, and you're always hoping he succeeds in his endeavors. I was thoroughly impressed by his performance as this shy, kind high school student, and now consider myself a fan. Other notables are Han Ga In (Super Rookie), who plays the love interest Yu Jin, and Lee Jeong Jin, Hyeon Su's best friend and rival Woo Shik. Both act well, with Han Ga In proving girls are just plain dumb at times and Lee Jeong Jin portraying the tough-though-good guy. That being said, though,I feel that Park Hyo Jun, who plays "Hamburger," a fat kid who sits next to and befriends Hyeon Su, stands out more than the previously mentioned actors. Some of his scenes and lines are the most memorable in the movie. Overall, a tremendous effort here--I was sold from start to finish. |
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| Disco may be dead now, but in 1978, it was alive and kickin'! |
| Yu Jin is there to remind us of how stupid girls can be sometimes. |
| Cinematography While a few scenes are quite memorable, the film is shot in a pretty straightforward way. Fight scenes are well done in particular, and are shot in a way to make you a part of the action. The colors are pretty dull and repetetive, stressing the rigidity of South Korea's political situation. Overall, nothing really to write home about, but nothing really to complain about either. |
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| There's only so much one man can take... |
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| Final Word Great movie, don't miss it. Don't let the title fool you, however--this is not a martial arts movie. It's a well-crafted historical drama with some martial arts overtones. Good to see by yourself, with a group of friends, or with a girl. Final Score: 4.5/5 (A) |
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