Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Just what I expected

Excellent but underrated film

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

"Welcome to Dongmakgol" (aka "Welkkeom tu Dongmakgol") was a surprisingly nice movie and it had a really good story to tell. A story that I enjoyed a lot, right up to the final scene in the movie. I can't claim to find any solace or fulfillment in the ending that director Park Kwang-Hyun went with, though, but that is of course a matter of personal preference.The storyline told in "Welcome to Dongmakgol" is really interesting and quite captivating. And the story is so passionate and well-driven by some really strong performances all throughout the movie. There is just something very majestic and profoundly beautiful about this movie, just a shame that it went fast downhill with the ending.The acting in the movie was outstanding and everyone in the movie were doing great jobs with their given roles and characters.This beautiful movie is a definite must watch if you enjoy South Korean cinema. So you might ask why I am only rating this majestic movie a mere six out of ten stars. Well, because of the ending of the movie. It was just abysmal and it ruined so much that was previously built up throughout the course of the movie.

This movie is basically about the relationship between the South and North Korean soldiers. Not because they want to but because of the situation they get into. And that is basically the brief synopsis of this movie. Oh and throw in naive Korean villagers and a American pilot that crashed. And you get a soft hearted movie that has a mix of comedy and a bit of sadness to go with it. The comedy in my opinion isn't that great but it does it's job of building relationships amongst the characters without it being too serious. Relationships is what this movie is built upon and how even if your facing the enemies they are human like everyone else. Now this isn't the most effective approach I seen of this kind but it's pretty good for at least the first view. And the scenery is nice to watch sometimes as well. This movie was a pretty good hit in Korea, I think it's because it's a flick the whole family can enjoy despite a bit of blood. Overall it's a decent flick that the whole family can enjoy if they can understand a bit of Korean culture and style of humor. If not the kids might be a bit bored with it.7.4/10

"Welcome to Dongmakgol" is a quirky and fantasy like tale about a bunch of soldiers who happen on a remote village during Korean war. A village where nobody knows anything about the war and nobody has even seen a gun. The basic premise is a little ridiculous and over the top. But if you are willing to believe it, then the movie is very rewarding.It has some excellent cinematography. A few scenes are exaggerated but that is for the comic effect. The village and the villagers maybe silly but other characters are still believable which is necessary for the film to maintain its grip on reality.Many reviewers have complained about the politics of the film. But the movie is not about politics. Just like that village it exists in its own world and is not aware of the reasons of war. It just know instinctively that violence is bad.

Charming gem of a film has been unfairly lost to the world a mere year after its release, which is a real shame. This is a powerful statement about people and life.The plot of this film has a crashed American flier, two South Korean soldiers and three North Korean soldiers all ending up in a small remote village that seems untouched by the civil war that raging in the rest of the country. At first there is tension between the two waring sides, but the slowly the two sides begin to see eye to eye. Unfortunately beast of war takes no sides and it isn't long before the violence threatens the peaceful village.Yes its clichéd, and yes you'll probably know where its going, but this is still a charming little film that touches both the heart and the head. There is magic in this tale, both on screen and off as the simple story wins over the audience like the village wins over the sworn enemies. The film makers seem to feel that there is a magical quality to living and they have infused their film with some truly magical moments, how else do you describe a hostage situation that falls apart because the hostages wander off to do other things? This is a movie for the head and the heart. You will be touched by some wonderful characters and the world they live in. As some people say there is magic all around you and in a film like this you'll believe it. It begins with the crashing pilot noticing a moth and it ends with the final image that is both heartfelt and bittersweet. For the head there is another meditation on the stupidity of war and the pointlessness of it all. And while it may seem to be yet another warning that war will destroy all that we love, its a warning we can not hear often enough.If the film has any real flaw its that its probably too long at two and a quarter hours. I don't know what you'd cut, but it just seemed a bit long to me.Still, I can't recommend this film enough. Its a charming off the beaten track sort of film that deserves a bigger audience. Those looking for a change from the stereotypical Asian horror or action films should look here. The same should be said to anyone simply looking for a good film to see.8 out of 10