Korean Title: Shilla-eui Dalbam
Starring: Cha Seung-Won, Lee Seong-Jae, Kim Hye-Soo
Director: Kim Sang-Jin
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Rating: 15+
Genre: Comedy

About This DVD

Kim Sang-jin, who brought Korean audiences ``Attack the Gas Station,'' has released a new action comedy, ``Kick the Moon.'' The scenario is clever and well written. The film opens with a high school trip to Kyongju, where a fight erupts between two rival high school gangs. Choi Ki- dong leads his gang into battle, while Park Yong-jun cowers in fright and cannot bring himself to fight. Ki-dong is severely punished for his actions by his teachers, while Yong- jun escapes punishment, guiltily looking on from a window as his friend receives a beating. Ki-dong is the school bully, while Yong-jun is the brain. But after this incident, they decide to switch roles.

The role reversal makes for a delightful comedy of errors, as each man tries to be someone he's not. Choi Ki-dong (Cha Sung-won) is completely unfit as a teacher. Temperamental, with a fiery temper, he's as volatile as he is aggressive. A scenario based largely on a Dr. Jeckyll incessantly trying to hide Mr. Hyde makes for effective comedy. Park Yong-jun (Lee Sang-jae) meanwhile tries to become a gangster, but can never quite suppress the gentle lamb that lies within.

The two old friends meet ten years later in a room salon. Choi Ki-dong recognizes one of his students in the room salon and scolds the manager for employing a minor. It is of course hypocritical that the teacher should be scolding the room salon manager for improprieties, when he is setting no better example by being there in the first place. None of this is lost on the Korean audience, which is deeply aware of nuances that might be less obvious to a foreign audience.

But Min Ju-ran (Kim Hye-su) steals the show. She is by far the greatest comic presence in this film. She is a caricature of all the formidable qualities of the Korean woman. She takes off the coquettish gifts of the young Korean female beautifully, using her feminine charms to try to soften the police superintendent's heart in the police station. Fiercely protective of her younger brother, she tries every trick in the book to get him released. Bowing deferentially to everyone, she then employs crocodile tears. Then, just to be sure her feminine charms have had their desired effect, she makes eyes with the men.

Out in the parking lot, the formidable alter ego of the Korean female comes to the fore. Suddenly, the woman who seemed so helpless is transformed into a tigress that lays a beating on her younger brother for being so foolish. Kim Hye-su's caricature of the Korean woman is brilliantly comic. Appearing charming, meek, and mild without, the Korean woman can be formidably powerful when her family or domain is threatened. Kim Hye-su plays with such stereotypes effectively, employing just the right amount of hyperbole to produce the desired comic effect.

The Korean audience was obviously delighted by the comedy, but foreigners can also enjoy the humor without the need for too much translation. There is a lot of slapstick comedy in this film and some humor that translates despite the language barrier. The elderly police inspector with the baritone voice is a nice touch. He is always whipping out his wallet and throwing it down on the table or the ground to show his badge. In one scene, he throws his wallet down on the table of the restaurant to show his badge to Ju-ran's brother Min Ju-sok. Ju-sok then picks up the wallet and thumbs threw it to see how much money it contains. As he thumbs the bills, we see that it is all 1000 won notes. In another scene, the inspector throws his wallet at Yong-jun's rival, who then kicks it in the air.

Audio Format:	DD 5.1 Surround
Video Format:	Widescreen 1.85:1 (Anamorphic)
Languages:	Korean
Subtitles:	English, Korean, Japanese
Country Made:	Korea
Region Code:	3
Year Made:	2001
Running Time:	119
Special Features:	- Voice Commentary by the Director - Making of - Deleted Scenes - Interviews - Cast & Crew - Trailer
Availability:	Usually ships in 5-10 days