Watch Welcome to Dongmakgol For Free

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Korean War. An American pilot, a couple of North Korean and South Korean soldiers take respite in a peaceful valley with villagers who know nothing of unnatural strife. An epic sized almost-a-fairy-tale with a touch of 'Shangri-La', a touch of magic, a touch of 'that ain't likely' and a touch of brutal warfare. The Americans are aggressive. Excellent production values, beautiful photography, great actors and two impressive battle sequences. The humor is gentle and there is some corn but also great charm. It will be too long for some, but that's the way it is.

"Welcome to Dongmakgol" (aka "Welkkeom tu Dongmakgol") was a surprisingly nice movie and it had a really good story to tell. A story that I enjoyed a lot, right up to the final scene in the movie. I can't claim to find any solace or fulfillment in the ending that director Park Kwang-Hyun went with, though, but that is of course a matter of personal preference.The storyline told in "Welcome to Dongmakgol" is really interesting and quite captivating. And the story is so passionate and well-driven by some really strong performances all throughout the movie. There is just something very majestic and profoundly beautiful about this movie, just a shame that it went fast downhill with the ending.The acting in the movie was outstanding and everyone in the movie were doing great jobs with their given roles and characters.This beautiful movie is a definite must watch if you enjoy South Korean cinema. So you might ask why I am only rating this majestic movie a mere six out of ten stars. Well, because of the ending of the movie. It was just abysmal and it ruined so much that was previously built up throughout the course of the movie.

Charming feel good story set during the Korean War. Hard to believe but true! The characters are easy to identify with, and draw you into the story. They are fairly believable, with the slight exception of the North Korean commander who seems perhaps too heroic. It verges on being trite or cheesy at times, idolizing the "quaint" village, but for the most part stays away from that. The film is even handed in its treatment of all sides in this war, other than perhaps the military command, as it is quite anti-war. There is a bit of violence and gore, so it isn't for young children. I would recommend this to anyone; go in expecting a fairly romanticized comedy and you shouldn't be disappointed.

I found the movie simply brilliant, and i must say i find weird that many people focus their attention on the war, which is not the key of the movie itself. In my opinion the war is roughly depicted because it is just a "place" within which the main story unfolds. The emphasis is on the characters, their unpredictable encounter and the situations that make possible for them to become friends and maybe even companions. There is a phrase said Smith taking back the grandma while the village keeps up with the party that somehow sums up the movie: "Such a good time. That's life.".Besides, i particularly appreciated the acting of the crazy girl, Hye-jeong Kang (which i already saw in Old Boy) which is also probably the best character. Watching the movie i found more than a similitude with two movies from Hayao Miyazaki: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (for the hidden village idea and the lantern-statues as well) and Mononoke Hime (for the wild boar scene, which by the way is one of the best of Dongmakgol, original and simply brilliant). Only later i realized it was mostly due to the music, which is in fact composed by Joe Hisaishi, who made the music for these Miyazaki movies too; once again, his work is superb.One thing i always wait for is a movie's ending scene (mostly cause i've seen too many movies ruined in the last part... A.I. for example), and i must say i loved this one, when we see why the young communist soldier had a flower too, and who gave him it. No special happy ending for the village or whatever, just a moment when all of them where together, 6 as the 6 butterflies that we saw flying away from the snow a few moments before. ;)