Comments on: I want the 147 minutes of my life back http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:58:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: AndHereWeAre http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54344 AndHereWeAre Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:37:12 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54344 I wonder if anyone else noticed the misogyny of the film. The only present-day female characters are either airheaded housewives unable to appreciate the tragic majesty of Korean history, or coffee girls. We're not even given a token love interest. In historical flashbacks, we see the Empress and her entourage, typical objects of chivalric male protection. And that's it for female characters. Anyone inclined to view contemporary Korean nationalism as an overgrown boys' tree-house club would find ample support for that view in this film. I wonder if anyone else noticed the misogyny of the film. The only present-day female characters are either airheaded housewives unable to appreciate the tragic majesty of Korean history, or coffee girls. We’re not even given a token love interest.

In historical flashbacks, we see the Empress and her entourage, typical objects of chivalric male protection. And that’s it for female characters. Anyone inclined to view contemporary Korean nationalism as an overgrown boys’ tree-house club would find ample support for that view in this film.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54186 michael Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:59:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54186 It's true--Star Wars III made me join the dark side. It’s true–Star Wars III made me join the dark side.

]]> By: yeolchae http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54158 yeolchae Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:10:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54158 Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings were clearly propaganda too. It was just very well packaged and entertaining propaganda. Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings were clearly propaganda too. It was just very well packaged and entertaining propaganda.

]]> By: Cobra III http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54148 Cobra III Tue, 31 Oct 2006 06:43:51 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54148 R. Elgin wrote: "Films that use the medium for propaganda are never any good." Not exactly. I can think of at least two outstanding examples right of the top of my head: "Triumph of the Will" and "The Battleship Potemkin". Yes, I know both these films are in the service of the Twentieth Centuries two most heinous ideologies but you'd have to be a philistine to say that these films are by any means trash. While the messages they espouse makes one cringe, that doesn't mean one isn't or can't be amazed at the awesome display of technical bravado and visual flare. R. Elgin wrote:

“Films that use the medium for propaganda are never any good.”

Not exactly. I can think of at least two outstanding examples right of the top of my head: “Triumph of the Will” and “The Battleship Potemkin”. Yes, I know both these films are in the service of the Twentieth Centuries two most heinous ideologies but you’d have to be a philistine to say that these films are by any means trash.

While the messages they espouse makes one cringe, that doesn’t mean one isn’t or can’t be amazed at the awesome display of technical bravado and visual flare.

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54139 R. Elgin Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:20:58 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54139 I am not surprised. Films that or use the medium for propaganda never any good. I'm sure the public yawned as well. This suggests the real reason behind promoting a film quota in Korea is to preserve the stranglehold upon the market enjoyed by such bad Korean movies and directors; directors who are clearly politically motivated. I am not surprised. Films that or use the medium for propaganda never any good. I’m sure the public yawned as well.

This suggests the real reason behind promoting a film quota in Korea is to preserve the stranglehold upon the market enjoyed by such bad Korean movies and directors; directors who are clearly politically motivated.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54137 SomeguyinKorea Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:04:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54137 They are looking for a stamp? The symbolism of it seems rather trite. Totally uninspiring. In any case, I wouldnt' jump to conclusions about his political views. It's a work of fiction, after all. For example, I'm acquainted with one of the biggest authors of Korean nationalistic fiction, and I gotta tell you that this movie's premise is pretty tame when compared to the stuff he writes about Japan and the US. Funny thing is, he's a pretty mild-mannered guy...and, get this, he's not in any way xenophobic. They are looking for a stamp? The symbolism of it seems rather trite. Totally uninspiring.

In any case, I wouldnt’ jump to conclusions about his political views. It’s a work of fiction, after all. For example, I’m acquainted with one of the biggest authors of Korean nationalistic fiction, and I gotta tell you that this movie’s premise is pretty tame when compared to the stuff he writes about Japan and the US. Funny thing is, he’s a pretty mild-mannered guy…and, get this, he’s not in any way xenophobic.

]]> By: sunbin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54136 sunbin Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:49:09 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54136 IMO, silmildo > taegukki > hanbando while i think the political subtext is ok (free speech), the hanbando plot is just full of improbable logic flaws. IMO,
silmildo > taegukki > hanbando

while i think the political subtext is ok (free speech), the hanbando plot is just full of improbable logic flaws.

]]> By: mins0306 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54135 mins0306 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:29:47 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54135 Korean movie directors in the "386" age group are hard-core Uri and pro-Roh, which explains all the anti-US and anti-Japanese movies(garbage) that have been churned out lately. "Hanbando" as gbevers stated is nothing but anti-Japanese propaganda garbage, the reason it lost the top place to "The Host", is because it opened at a time when the Dokdo crisis was over and the FTA negotiations were starting. Put it simply, Koreans were more interested in anti-US garbage than anti-Japanese garbage. I hope the screen quota is brought down real soon, because there is a lot of garbage in the Korean movie industry that needs to be thrown out. Korean movie directors in the “386″ age group are hard-core Uri and pro-Roh, which explains all the anti-US and anti-Japanese movies(garbage) that have been churned out lately.

“Hanbando” as gbevers stated is nothing but anti-Japanese propaganda garbage, the reason it lost the top place to “The Host”, is because it opened at a time when the Dokdo crisis was over and the FTA negotiations were starting. Put it simply, Koreans were more interested in anti-US garbage than anti-Japanese garbage.

I hope the screen quota is brought down real soon, because there is a lot of garbage in the Korean movie industry that needs to be thrown out.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54131 michael Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:55:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54131 Haisan, what other Korean War movies do you know about that might be on DVD (or even video)? And even earlier (1960s and earlier) Korean movies in general that are out on DVD? I really like early movies and haven't seen many Korean ones. Haisan, what other Korean War movies do you know about that might be on DVD (or even video)? And even earlier (1960s and earlier) Korean movies in general that are out on DVD? I really like early movies and haven’t seen many Korean ones.

]]> By: dogbertt http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54129 dogbertt Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:24:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/10/31/i-want-the-147-minutes-of-my-life-back/#comment-54129 I guess that means Seoul Selection won't be showing it. I guess that means Seoul Selection won’t be showing it.

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