A very well made film that is far better than pretty much every English language film about the Korean war. Elements of the plot feel rather contrived, but are ultimately necessary to tell the story of the South Korean paramilitaries fighting against all the odds. The film is the usual mix of both emphasising the bloody horror of war, whilst also revelling in heroic fighting. A lot of the violence is presented in an extremely dramatic, over-the-top manner which contrasts against the tone of most contemporary western war films. In this regard it reminds me of a lot of modern Russian war films - except being better made than many of them. If you are looking for a film with a nuanced perspective on war, this is not the film for you. However, if you are looking for a war action flick, this is a rather good one. It is very reminiscent of 2004s 'Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War' in its execution and tone, although I feel it does not achieve this as well as Taegukgi. That is not to say that it is a bad film, because is not and manages to be engaging throughout the entire duration. A must see for war film lovers and military history buffs.
Review of 71: Into the Fire
