Sword In The Moon (2003)

Amazing scenes. Great colors. As a fan of Asian movies I accept this one as a promise for more great ones. I can't say this is masterpiece because I am not into the Korean cinema - i saw only two or three movies , but hey don't forget Kim Ki Dook movies - so they are more than 3 :-) Anyway - Im not sure that I understand the final. But I got the idea - the friendship has not a time for existence. This is something that may have or may have not. I give 5 of 10, because of the idea, the costumes, the atmosphere. Although there is too much blood - I say bloodbath. The beginning was promising - I thought that it would be a medieval crime movie - because of the mysterious murders , but the point of the movie was not that kind. It is too deep to consider. May be I'm kind a disappointed because of the end: just like the "Spirited Away" - manga movie... But that does not mean the movie is not great.

than 'Hero'. But it's not a fun comedy. The story is about an army that opposes the despot ruler and when this is divided into two fractions they have to fight each other, or something like that.The production values are fancy camera effects and similar things like that- and less substance and thought of course. Not far from the 'Matrix' style. The Koreans are capable of a better historical movie than this, I just haven't seen it yet. For a fan of action packed martial arts movies this may be gold. For me it has little to keep my interest.

The tale of two comrades who made different choices and now fight on opposite sides. An expensive and visually exciting movie ruined by a very thin plot and some flashbacks that are difficult to distinguish from present, actual events and the faces of many actors are so similar to a western audience that it might well happen to feel quite confused.Scenery and costumes are very interesting and there are some details in weapons, armors and robes that are very particular, such as the far east small hand weapons, the lamellar cuirasses and the hats of the dignitaries.Blood runs in rivers and beheaded enemies rank in dozens. It is disturbing in the long distance and it is absolutely unnecessary to show all this violence to tell a tale. A film about violence embellished by the choreography, sets and costumes. The plot is irrelevant at the end.

I saw the movie on its North American premiere (July 14, 2004) at the Fantasia Festival. I was slightly disappointed as I had been expecting a more epic, ensemble cast movie along the lines of Musa the Warrior. Instead, the movie concentrated only a much smaller number of characters. Still, the movie was solid, thoughtful and visually intriguing. There were slightly jarring tone shifts from the dominant thoughtful and realistic tone of confused loyalties, intrigue and blood, versus the lighter, more flamboyant, martial arts sequences. It almost seemed as though the filmmakers couldn't make up their minds about whether the movie was supposed to be a martial arts "flick" or a historical epic. The story touches nicely on the issue about the need for loyalty versus the need to adapt to new situations. Is it really worth your life and those of your friends to be loyal to one's master or does there come a time when one must submit to the winds of change? Is there perhaps greater courage in leaving the old ways for new ones? How does one decide? These questions are raised in this movie, and ironically, there is the suggestion that the answer given, may in fact be the wrong one!