By Mike McStay in Daejon has the first review I have seen done on the recently released No Gun Ri movie “A Little Pond”. Here is how Mike sums up the movie:
I then sat down and waited for the film to start and after it was over I kept thinking, I just saw the finest North Korean Propaganda film ever made. I even waited to the end to see if the film has a poster or a photograph of either Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il.
The film had Russians trying to play American soldiers and it never worked for me. You had a really heroic North Korean child appear after the incident to play to the audience. I also thought that the film poster and many scenes from this film were lifted straight from North Korea Propaganda posters denouncing the USA soldiers as baby killers. I really could not believe that I had actually seen all of this. [Socius]
You can read the rest at the link, but it appears the movie is about as bad as I expected. Has anyone else seen the movie and willing to comment as well?
2:25 am on April 19th, 2010 1
What a shame. To the veterans of Korean War, I'm sorry.
2:28 am on April 19th, 2010 2
I have a quick question:
Why do you have a photo of the poster from the 2005 BBC documentary "Kill Them All" with your item about the just-released film "A Little Pond"?
3:13 am on April 19th, 2010 3
Let us take our equipment and our American Soldiers back home.
Puck this little ungreatfull excuse for a "country".
If they ever need us, they can make a call.
Yes, I've heard all the reasons "excuses" we should stay. Not going to except them.
3:28 am on April 19th, 2010 4
Going over ballistic over a dumb movie….
When are you going to pack up and move out?
5:52 am on April 19th, 2010 5
Soon I hope, why should America waste any more blood on Korea? What a waste Korea is… And all those Koreans employed by USFK can be supported by their families or maybe even you Tom.
If Korea can't handle it's own problems by now, especially in regard to defence, than it deserves to fall.
We all know though, if Korea gets into trouble, they'll be looking to the international community and particularly the US to ONCE AGAIN bail them out of trouble. As usual, Koreans will turn around and spit on those who helped them out after the smoke clears.
Oh well, there are a bunch of those worthy of the name, gyopo draft dodgers that I'm sure will rush to Korea's aid when needed, right?
7:14 am on April 19th, 2010 6
Thank-you Mr. Laporte for telling it like it is. After parking the car next to the 100K BMWs, Mercedes and Audis, and scurring up the elevator 28 floors to my new upsacle, lavish apartment, One cannot but think and wonder about the 33,000 U.S. sacrifices that were made so this country could prosper and have a way of life that they can enjoy. Some people need to read the history books again.
7:27 am on April 19th, 2010 7
The US and the UN did the right thing THEN. The right thing now is to get out of Korea.
Korea is a waist of time and money for any country.
I do not want thanks for what happened 60 years ago. The Soldiers that leave home for a year in this ungreatfull country deserve better than they get from both Korea and the American Military.
While I enjoyed my years in Korea, it was no thanks to the American Military that I did, nor to the Koreans that protested outside the gates. I made my own way. Not every Soldier is as able and willing.
Nice speech by the way. You said nothing that is not known to me. When a Korean writes the same and the country agrees with that Korean, I will change my mind.
(I don't think I will ever need too.)
7:35 am on April 19th, 2010 8
You are correct. You going to start handing out the History books in Korea?
What about the Soldiers serving today? Is it just the Dead that you are greatfull for? If so than we should pack up and leave. Job was done years ago.
8:00 am on April 19th, 2010 9
Don't let your judgment of this country be clouded by the bullshit flung by a few assholes.
8:04 am on April 19th, 2010 10
The movie aims at causing a rift. It's only as powerful as you allow it to be.
8:28 am on April 19th, 2010 11
I take a more hands-on approach. I read the history books, study the maps, and then visit the battlefields. I try to talk with the locals I come across, many of which are curious about the reasons why I'm visiting. The reaction I've received has been overwhelmingly positive, although it clearly brings up bad memories for some.
10:07 am on April 19th, 2010 12
That is an official movie poster for the movie.
10:11 am on April 19th, 2010 13
Ha, they made Russian play American soldiers? That must have rankled, even if they were doing their level best to smear the real mccoy.
10:26 am on April 19th, 2010 14
Don't forget the movies/new-organizations produced IN US too… Typical BS from movie producers…
10:29 am on April 19th, 2010 15
The more you say
"LOOK at the ungrateful sobs",
the more you are playing into the hands of the anti-US/NK/etc.
I must say this movie has unfortunate timing, with the sinking of PCC-772 and all.
11:17 am on April 19th, 2010 16
Chinese play Korean evil doers in Hollywood movies. So what's the really difference?
11:20 am on April 19th, 2010 17
All the reviews I've read on this movie, I heard it's really crap and it's a box office stinker. But I think I'll watch it anyway to see what all the retired (phony wannabes included) GI's are crapping their pants about.
11:23 am on April 19th, 2010 18
These days they are building up the #3 boy Kim Jong Eun and attributing anything 'good' that happens to him – so it would only be appropriate that he also get credit for this movie.
11:28 am on April 19th, 2010 19
Nothing, I'm just saying, if I were a Russian, I wouldn't want to have an American uniform on!
11:39 am on April 19th, 2010 20
- I do not want thanks for what happened 60 years ago.
You don't deserve a thanks because you weren't there. Not that Koreans haven't said thanks a zillion times already since the war ended, and despite the fact that most GI's that participated in the Korean War had no clue where Korea was, and thought of Koreans as strange peasants living in primitive huts.
-The Soldiers that leave home for a year in this ungreatfull country deserve better than they get from both Korea and the American Military.
The soldiers who leave home for a year in Korea, were mostly sent by their governments, to do a job. Now jut shut up and do your f*cking job. I'm sick of constant bellyaching that Koreans aren't bowing down every minute and worshipping the ground that the GI's walk on, by saying thank you to the GI's every second of the day.
-While I enjoyed my years in Korea, it was no thanks to the American Military that I did, nor to the Koreans that protested outside the gates. I made my own way. Not every Soldier is as able and willing.
Thank you for volunteering to fight in Korea to save Koreans from the commies. I know you really cared about and loved all the ungrateful garbage Korean slant eye gooks so much that you sacrificed your time and suffered for your personal life.
11:47 am on April 19th, 2010 21
But if you were Russian and being paid $300/day to wear an American uniform, you would have no qualms about it.
11:48 am on April 19th, 2010 22
Wondering how 'Retired GI' will respond to TOM.
11:50 am on April 19th, 2010 23
America is a failed bankrupt has been with full of people who have strong sense of self entitlement – where the world owes them everything. For example; Korea gave you losers easy good paying jobs for speaking your own language, and this is the thanks you get – nothing but hatred. Korea doesn't need any help from you losers.
11:55 am on April 19th, 2010 24
Why?
1. When you are making a movie you are not wearing a "uniform". There is more to a uniform than cloth. You are wearing a costume.
2. There is no great degree of animosity between Russians and Americans. Unlike some nationalities I won't mention here who just can't let it go.
3. If payed properly, I'd play a Russian soldier by wearing a Russian military costume in a poorly written, 3rd rate Korean fantasy movie. Bring it on.
11:59 am on April 19th, 2010 25
Good Tom. Go watch it. This movie is only the tip of the iceburg for me.
I saw plenty during my nine years in Korea.
In 2002, the sweet soft spoken yoja on Stanley that I was friends with explained to me how the 20 somethings in Korea feel. Something along the lines that, "we like individual Americans but we don't like America". This was in response to me telling her the "talking points" of my CO. Just to show how long I have felt this way.
The fact that the movie exist at all is just another insult. I don't care if it is any good or if it looses money or makes money.
It is just another indicator of where the korean mind and heart is.
12:01 pm on April 19th, 2010 26
Hollywood is BS. Doesn't relate to the Korean mind.
12:09 pm on April 19th, 2010 27
There have been tons of Korean movies about Koreans killing innocent people at Korean War, 1980 Gwangju, Vietnam, etc. – what makes Americans special that they get a free pass when everyone else has scrutiny?
Your Hollywood producers for decades have portrayed Asian countries in American movies, as evil stereotypical enemies for years and years. Now the shoes is on the other foot. So how do you like it when you're wearing the shoes? I guess you don't like it? Why don't you grow up and grow a pair! You guy's nationalism is funny and hypocritical when you consider that your movie and TV industries have been insulting Koreans, and other Asians for decades. Now you're crying like little kids because of one silly poorly acted movie that nobody is watching, but which is based on a true story. Go cry somewhere else.
12:21 pm on April 19th, 2010 28
That is why I don't want "thanks" tommy boy, I wasn't there at that time. So thanks for agreeing with me.
The soldiers that leave home these days for a year, away from their family, do so because Korean youth are unable to defend their country. Korea begs for America to send it's Soldiers to do what Korean "soldiers" are unable and unwilling to do.
I did my pucking job in Korea for nine years. Where were you Tommy?
Not bowing low enough? That's funny Tommy. Korea doesn't bow, nor do I wish for korea to bow. I wish for Koreans to act like adult human beings that are happy for the efforts that their own people are unable or unwilling to do.
As for the name calling of the Korean people, it is clear that you have no pride in them.
As for thanking me for doing a job that you and many like you would not or could not do—Your very welcome.
I DO deserve that! As do all American Soldier serving in Korea today.
I learned much in Korea. Good and bad. I learned enough to know that America is no longer wanted or needed in Korea.
If I had the power, we would start packing up tonight. It is what the Koreans want.
12:56 pm on April 19th, 2010 29
Suppose I can't argue with that
1:03 pm on April 19th, 2010 30
When the American soldiers began eating the Korean childs brain, I thought to myself, that brain has no nutritional value?
1:10 pm on April 19th, 2010 31
I do not believe that a vast majority of Koreans feel this way. I’ve known and met too many who think otherwise. Koreans do have pride… Let them have it. It harms us none. They (even Tom) deep down know the truth. We need not rub their nose in it nor should we seek any special thanks (or accept any particular blame) for events occurring 60 years ago. The US and UN did the right thing defending Korea. A large chunk of my family fought for Korea and I have served here.
Accidents, while regrettable, have and will happen. We can only attempt to mitigate the inherent dangers involved. Children and others (many many others) have been killed by the ROK military too, but that doesn’t make sensational news. Those stories do not crank up nationalistic chest thumping.
We can only take satisfaction in knowing South Koreans enjoy a prosperity and freedom they would otherwise never have known. By luck of being born on the US occupied side of the DMZ, people like Tom can speak freely without fear of being sent to a gulag or summarily executed. No matter how distasteful, biased and wrong his opinions are; that is what was fought for and is being defended to this day. That’s good enough for me.
1:16 pm on April 19th, 2010 32
Having dealt with the GI's on a regular basis in the past, I know that most were in Korea because their government told them to go to Korea for whatever their national self interests – not because you GI's feel any special bond with Koreans.. to 'help' them. Most have the attitude that native Koreans are beneath them and act like conquerers rather than be there to "help the poor Koreans" . When you volunteer for the military, you are being paid to do the job that you were hired to do. That does not deserve my special thanks to you. Your job is just like any other job that involves traveling to a different country that you have no clue about nor have any special like, and being stationed in that country to do a job.
In fact, you guys should be thankful that there is a place like Korea with its R&R's – and saving you guys from being deployed to war fronts like Iraq and Afghanistan where you might get your asses blown away. Do Koreans get a special thanks and a little apology for having to patiently put up with never ending cycle of immature GI boy retards who can't handle a little drink without going retardo in Itaewon or Hongdae?
1:54 pm on April 19th, 2010 33
In that movie? Noooo, really? You gotta be kidding.
1:56 pm on April 19th, 2010 34
…and the joke is offensive.
1:58 pm on April 19th, 2010 35
"not because you GI’s feel any special bond with Koreans.. to ‘help’ them. Most have the attitude that native Koreans are beneath them and act like conquerers rather than be there to “help the poor Koreans” ."
Well, I know in the case of the Australians that most of them probably had lingering memories of the Koreans being the most sadistic of the POW guards, so you may be on to something there, Tom…
2:12 pm on April 19th, 2010 36
I’m hoping the people with the power will read this and get the hint.
2:20 pm on April 19th, 2010 37
Right @Nathan: I knew a old guy who was a Japanese POW. He always said the guards ate "funny stuff" and smelled funny (bad). He never knew what it, or that smell, was until he arrived in Korea during the Korean war. He learned it was called kimchi…
2:35 pm on April 19th, 2010 38
Well, hell… That'd make a person stop and think.
2:55 pm on April 19th, 2010 39
WOW I am impressed that by a 2 minute trailer with about 10 seconds of "American" dialogue you can discern they are Russian actors. Those are some amazing accent coaches, because they sounded NOTHING LIKE RUSSIANS!
3:02 pm on April 19th, 2010 40
Don't be obtuse; the Russian comment came from a reviewer who saw the movie itself and, presumably, the credit roll.
8:24 pm on April 19th, 2010 41
Korea does not "save" anyone from Iraq of Afghanistan. I served in Iraq. Bosnia before that. Honduras before Korea.
"thankful"? For Korea? Yet AMOTHER ungreatfull country to, for most GIs, waste another year in? I think not.
R&R? Korea? If you are refering to Itaewon and the other "villes" outside the Camps as R&R, then I know what your problem is.
"Your job is just like any job that involves traveling to a different country that you have no clue about nor have any special like, and being stationed tn that country to do a job."———-AND THERE IT IS. THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO LEAVE. If all Koreans feel this way, and I know they do, than they need, NO strike that, DESERVE to see us leave.
Would that I had the power to make it so.
Tom, if you want GI's to feel a special bond with you, how can they when you feel as you do?
I felt close with those that showed me around and helped me to learn.
Those that acted as you do, I obviously didn't give a damn about.
Before the days of the "curfew", I had college students that once or twice adoped me over the holidays. One of my best friends was a ROK airforce guy for one of my years.
How the military has managed to puck everything up in korea since 2001 is amazing to me. Of course the Korean People may be to blame for that.
In either case, leaving Korea is the answer to many a problem.
Save Money and free up manpower that is currently wasted in Korea.
3:02 am on April 20th, 2010 42
To some extend I agree with Tom.
I’m also tired of listening GIs and Americans how Koreans are ungrateful people and that USA should leave Korea.
As somebody here said before, If I got one dollar every time you guys repeat this thing, I would have done a million dollar already …
It’s just a movie and you guys are overreacting. Ignore it.
6:31 am on April 20th, 2010 43
I suppose on that same line of thought, Koreans should ignore Hollywood portrayals of them as workaholic cheapskates or the fact Korean characters are often played by Chinese or Japanese?
7:54 am on April 20th, 2010 44
“Having dealt with the GI’s on a regular basis in the past, I know that most were in Korea because their government told them to go to Korea for whatever their national self interests – not because you GI’s feel any special bond with Koreans.. to ‘help’ them.”
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. I really have my doubts Tom has had significant contact with American service members.
9:30 am on April 20th, 2010 45
GI- I was only making a point of gratitude. Of course Im grateful for all of what the Military does each and everyday, so sorry I didnt mention it and thanks for correcting me. I served 8 yrs here and continue to do so within the US goverment, packing up and and leaving would be absurd.
9:40 am on April 20th, 2010 46
Thank you for your service!
Absurb for you. Justified for me. We will have to agree to disagree
on this one.
10:08 am on April 20th, 2010 47
Tom
Your own people pimped out your women, ripped off others, and generally profited on human misery. Stuff that in your sanctimonious pipe and smoke it.
10:21 am on April 20th, 2010 48
Christ,
It's just a communist propaganda.
Ignore it.
11:26 am on April 20th, 2010 49
If I had one dollar for everytime a Korean reacted to an accident as "murder" or MBC program as proof of Americans trying to kill Koreans through "mad cow" terror I would have 47 million dollars per incident. Probably close to 470million just in the past 6 or so years.
—
It's the scale of the mania that disturbs us Dr. Yu.
1:01 am on April 27th, 2010 50
[...] There will no doubt be many films to avoid as well. And this year being the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War it was only to be expected that there would be one or two films dealing with that theme, with A little pond, a treatment of the No Gun Ri incident, topping the list. “The finest North Korean Propaganda film ever made,” says an early reviewer. [...]