The Front Line Blu-ray review

Actors: Shin Ha-Kyun, Ko Soo, Soo Go

Directors: Hun Jang

Language: Korean

Subtitles: English  

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

DVD Release Date: May 8, 2012

Run Time: 133 minutes

            South Korea is continually able to top their previous box office numbers, because their cinema has rapidly turned into one not unlike Hollywood. The epics are getting larger and the melodrama more convincing. The production values increase and the effects are increasingly realistic. There are few genres which haven’t been nationalized and recreated. The Front Line is a top-notch war film, telling the story of the men at the front line of the Korean War during the final days of peace negotiations. Award three nominations at the 2012 Asian Film awards and the country’s submission for Best Foreign Film at the Academy awards, The Front Line is also the second highest grossing domestic film in South Korean history.

            This film has everything that a war film should have, and then some. While the war battles on in the final days, the orders coming from the distant commanders are all to push for more territory before the final agreement is made. Even when the peace treaty has already been signed, there are still hours remaining in which the men can fight. Director Jang Hun is not afraid to show the brutal moments of war, with all of the appropriate violence and destruction, but he also allows us to know more about the characters. The film is not afraid to slow down and show the more tender side of humanity, even amidst war, and this is what makes it a great film.

            The Blu-ray is the perfect way to view The Front Line, outside of seeing it in a theater. The high definition enhances the visuals, but more impressive is the sound. There are many impactful moments in the film which have sound that greatly helps this experience, from explosions to sniper rifle. The Blu-ray only has a few special features, including a making-of featurette and a highlights reel. The real highlight is simply having this film in high definition and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.