daisho2004
03-30-2008, 04:48 PM
If nobody has seen this movie you really don't know what your missing is it a very good movie with an Excellent storyline and some really good Action scenes in it. Below is a review posted by Woopak and he really did an excellent review so there was no need to post anything on top of his.
This was post by By Woopak "The THRILL" (San Francisco, CA)
"Fighter In the Wind" (Paramui Paito)is the story of Choi Bae Dal, a real-life legendary martial arts figure who, during his peak, defeated hundreds of martial arts experts in Japan and around the world. Or more precisely, based on the comic (manga-Japanese comic)based on the martial artist's life. Choi Bae Dal is also the founder of Kyo kushin karate, millions of students still practice today.
Much of the film takes place during World War II and is set in Japan. The first half of the film follows the adventures of a young Choi Bae Dal (Yang Dong-Geun), whose desire to become a pilot takes a side-winding nose dive when death and humiliation destroy his dreams. After his humiliation at a marketplace, he is tagged as the "pant-wetter". After a run-in with the Yakuza, greatly influenced by the tales of the samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, he embarks on a training regiment in the mountains to develop a unique form of Karate.
Choi Bae Dal now in top physical condition, travels all around the country, roams around by foot, train or whatever to challenge and defeat opponents of different styles and origins. Even his worn out, white Karate Gi looks identical to the one Ryu wears in the "Streetfighter" video game. This cartoon-like transition is strange, but doesn't hurt or strengthen the film in any way.
Fighter in the Wind shows the inherent racism towards Koreans living in Japan, especially towards one person who proves himself the superior martial artist to many famed Japanese masters. The Japanese people (a select few) hated the fact that Choi was being compared to the great swordsman Musashi Miyamoto by the media. What is most interesting (at least to me) is how those Japanese that don't know Choi show nothing but contempt towards him, while those that get to know him, end up with a certain respect, fondness and adoration for him. Teenagers started copying his hair, his outfit (torned Gi)and his mannerisms.
Beautiful Aya Hirayama plays Choi's(Yang Dong-geun)love interest. He is forced to leave her when his conscience won't allow him to stay with her.
The thing I loved about this film is that no wires, CGI was used in its extensive fight choreography. It is well-staged, realistic and a bit brutal, although not as hard-hitting as Ong-bak or TOM YUM GOONG. The music/soundtrack also fits the film and makes it feel epic-like. All the elements compliment each other to give us a very entertaining action film.
PICTURE: ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. The Korean region-3 release is fantastic. The transfer is very clean, I didn't notice any enhancements or video noise. Colors are radiant and blacks are very detailed.
AUDIO/SUBTITLES: Korean 5.1 DD and DTS-ES. The DTS track is loud! Yopu feel the impact of the hits in your living room. The english subs are very well-translated.
I'm not sure what is being sold in amazon, I have the Korean 2-disc region 3 release with a ton of extras.
I really enjoyed this film. Of course, no one can expect an entertaining, accurate film about the life of man in 2 hours. FIGHTER IN THE WIND makes a very decent attempt though.
RECOMMENDED!! (4 stars)
This was post by By Woopak "The THRILL" (San Francisco, CA)
"Fighter In the Wind" (Paramui Paito)is the story of Choi Bae Dal, a real-life legendary martial arts figure who, during his peak, defeated hundreds of martial arts experts in Japan and around the world. Or more precisely, based on the comic (manga-Japanese comic)based on the martial artist's life. Choi Bae Dal is also the founder of Kyo kushin karate, millions of students still practice today.
Much of the film takes place during World War II and is set in Japan. The first half of the film follows the adventures of a young Choi Bae Dal (Yang Dong-Geun), whose desire to become a pilot takes a side-winding nose dive when death and humiliation destroy his dreams. After his humiliation at a marketplace, he is tagged as the "pant-wetter". After a run-in with the Yakuza, greatly influenced by the tales of the samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, he embarks on a training regiment in the mountains to develop a unique form of Karate.
Choi Bae Dal now in top physical condition, travels all around the country, roams around by foot, train or whatever to challenge and defeat opponents of different styles and origins. Even his worn out, white Karate Gi looks identical to the one Ryu wears in the "Streetfighter" video game. This cartoon-like transition is strange, but doesn't hurt or strengthen the film in any way.
Fighter in the Wind shows the inherent racism towards Koreans living in Japan, especially towards one person who proves himself the superior martial artist to many famed Japanese masters. The Japanese people (a select few) hated the fact that Choi was being compared to the great swordsman Musashi Miyamoto by the media. What is most interesting (at least to me) is how those Japanese that don't know Choi show nothing but contempt towards him, while those that get to know him, end up with a certain respect, fondness and adoration for him. Teenagers started copying his hair, his outfit (torned Gi)and his mannerisms.
Beautiful Aya Hirayama plays Choi's(Yang Dong-geun)love interest. He is forced to leave her when his conscience won't allow him to stay with her.
The thing I loved about this film is that no wires, CGI was used in its extensive fight choreography. It is well-staged, realistic and a bit brutal, although not as hard-hitting as Ong-bak or TOM YUM GOONG. The music/soundtrack also fits the film and makes it feel epic-like. All the elements compliment each other to give us a very entertaining action film.
PICTURE: ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. The Korean region-3 release is fantastic. The transfer is very clean, I didn't notice any enhancements or video noise. Colors are radiant and blacks are very detailed.
AUDIO/SUBTITLES: Korean 5.1 DD and DTS-ES. The DTS track is loud! Yopu feel the impact of the hits in your living room. The english subs are very well-translated.
I'm not sure what is being sold in amazon, I have the Korean 2-disc region 3 release with a ton of extras.
I really enjoyed this film. Of course, no one can expect an entertaining, accurate film about the life of man in 2 hours. FIGHTER IN THE WIND makes a very decent attempt though.
RECOMMENDED!! (4 stars)