War of the Kingdoms - Battlefield Heroes

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Movie
German title War of the Kingdoms - Battlefield Heroes
Original title Pyeongyang-seong ( 평양성 )
Country of production South Korea
original language Korean
Publishing year 2011
length 118 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Lee Jun-ik
script Jo Cheol-hyeon,
Oh Seung-hyeon
production Jo Cheol-hyeon,
Oh Seung-hyeon
music Kim Joon-seok
camera Chung Chung-hoon
cut Kim Jae-beom,
Kim Sang-beom
occupation
chronology

←  Predecessor
Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield

War of the Kingdoms - Battlefield Heroes (original title: Pyeongyang-seong , German "Fortress Pyongyang ") is a comedy by the South Korean director Lee Jun-ik . It is the follow-up to the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield . The film mixes historical characters with fictional events and tells in a satirical way of a war between the Shilla empire and the Chinese Tang dynasty against the kingdom of Goguryeo .

action

In 668, the King of Shilla and the Field Marshal of the Chinese Tang Dynasty plan an attack on the Kingdom of Goguryeo . Shilla is supposed to receive the Baekje kingdom for this . General Yeon Gaesomun dies in the first attack. The dying Yeon chooses his second, combative son Nam-geon as his successor, while his eldest son, Nam-saeng, who is willing to compromise, is to go into politics. Nam-geon wants to win the war no matter what, while his brother wants to negotiate with the other realms. The attacks of Shilla and Tang China are said to be shared with the main unit of Shilla. But General Kim Yoo-sin holds them back. He warned his king that after the conquest of Goguryeo, the Tang would not return the kingdom of Baekje to Shilla, but would attack Shilla. The king trusts his words.

The general Kim Yoo-sin makes a scene in front of the general of the Tang to distract from the main unit's absence. He reports that it will be stopped by Goguryeo near Seoul. The Tang Marshal accepts this dissatisfied, but points out the lack of time. Pyongyang Castle must be conquered before the first snowfall. Meanwhile, Goguryeo can defend himself successfully by shooting at the advancing enemies with mandarins and then unleashing bees on the attackers. Instead of the main unit, soldiers from Baekje fight for Shilla. The Tang General is very dissatisfied with these, as they often try to steal from the battlefield.

In the next battle, the Shilla soldier Thingy ends up in the hands of Goguryeo. At the same time, Nam-saeng is catapulted into the camp of the opposing army by Nam-geon. In order to weaken the morale of Shilla and Tang's troops, the soldiers of Goguryeos force him to relay the message over the loudspeaker that the fight is pointless and that they should go home. The address moves many soldiers, including on the part of Goguryeo. On the other hand, Nam-saeng seeks asylum with the Tang. Kim Yoo-sin is pleased to see them again, but cannot get hold of him. His plan is for Goguryeo to decimate the Tang forces so that his main unit can defeat the Tang. But the general of the Tang promises a great country to Nam-saeng if he supports him.

Thingy is meanwhile celebrated as a hero and has a wish at Nam-geon. He asks to marry the Goguryeo warrior Gap-sun, who, however, is reluctant. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place, but it keeps a distance from him. In the next battle, Goguryeo uses a deadly secret weapon and can defend himself. Meanwhile, Nam-saeng has a plan to lure Nam-geon out of the reserve. So Tang and Shilla's groups pretend to retreat. Nam-geon rides after them with his troops to make sure they don't come back. Instead, they have regrouped and attack Nam-geon, who can only save himself with the help of his younger brother. In Nam-san, doubts also grow that Goguryeo can win the fight. Nam-saeng approaches him, saying that he must open the gate for the seaweed in the next battle, he has negotiated with the seaweed.

The main unit arrives for the next battle. But the Tang are skeptical of Shilla and don't want to see her at the front. At the same time, Kim Yoo-sin installs a secret unit who disguise themselves as Goguryeo warriors, penetrate the castle and prevent the gate from being opened and the secret weapon from falling into the hands of the Tang. But after a while the king Goguryeos can open the gate and seeks Nam-saeng and the Tang general to negotiate. Nam-geon is killed in battle, to the shock of Nam-saeng and Nam-san. The Tang general also revokes all promises. But then the main unit and King Shillas arrive. The Tang must withdraw and the war ends. Kim Yoo-sin gives his fighters the wisdom that it is best not to fight. In the end, Thingy lives happily with Gap-soon, who is expecting a child.

reception

War of the Kingdoms - Battlefield Heroes premiered in South Korean theaters on January 27, 2011 and had a total of over 1.7 million viewers. The Lexicon of International Films writes: “Update of the historical epic 'Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield' (2003), which despite impressive fight scenes and splendid equipment never reaches the density, ease and humor of its predecessor." Kevin Thomas from Los Angeles Times, however, draws a positive conclusion and describes the film as an "entertaining war satire". In particular, Kim Min-sang as Thingy is the highlight as a clumsy hero who knows that war never changes anything for the poor. Ronnie Scheib from Variety also sees the film positively with memorable characters. The kings and generals would make plans and move the soldiers like chess pieces, while the drafted peasants would only try to survive on the battlefield.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Jump up ↑ Battlefield Heroes (2011). In: Korean Film Biz Zone. KOFIC, accessed November 17, 2018 .
  2. Jump up ↑ War of the Kingdoms - Battlefield Heroes. In: Lexicon of International Films . Retrieved November 17, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Kevin Thomas: Movie review: 'Battlefield Heroes'. Lee Joon-ik's war satire is enjoyable, and the best Thingy about it is Kim Min-sang. In: Los Angeles Times . March 14, 2011, accessed November 18, 2018 .
  4. ^ Ronnie Scheib: Battlefield Heroes. In: Variety . August 9, 2011, accessed November 18, 2018 .