Fighter in the Wind

THE BEST MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEENThis is probably the best martial arts movie I have ever seen...bar none. First of all the KOREAN FILM INDUSTRY is technically proficient and that excellence is reflected in this film...unlike the old BRUCE LEE /CHUCK NORRIS films which are at a more elemental level of film making IMHO.There is a lot of cultural conflict going on which an OCCIDENTAL can not fully understand ( reasons being inability to understand the language spoken in the film, probable lack of nuance in the subtitle translation, lack of focus on this historical aspect in our high schools & college curricula ) . For instance, this film takes place in Japan right during and after the end of WWII. It shows the racism KOREANS experienced at the hands of the JAPANESE. Although I can not fully understand all the nuances this historical revelation is fascinating nonetheless.This film is a biography( fictionalized according to WICK) of MAS OYAMA a real live TAEKWANDO icon; and founder of the ubiquitous eponymously named TAEKWANDO schools in the USA . Practitioners of TAEKWANDO will get even more out of this film. But, I loved it. Having a background in TAI CHI this film resonated with me. THE BOOK OF 5 RINGS by MIYAMOSO MUSASHI is the protagonist's bible. The protagonist goes into isolation in a harsh environment. Without being a spoiler...you will love this part. A series of martial arts challenges are laid down. You have to watch to find out what happens in these many challenges. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the love interest angle. Yoko is a beautiful Japanese geisha. Our hero plays the chivalrous Sir Galahad. Love sparks are kindled. What is special about love in this movie is the effect love has on a sentient being who is trying to walk the path of a warrior. You will need to watch the film to see if 1 human can reconcile being an ultimate savage in a fight while reserving a part of himself as the preserve of love and tenderness.I owned this movie 5 years ago and loved it. I played it over and over again. My opinion has not changed. This is one of the greatest martial arts films of all time; and very beautifully filmed. This film teems with historical relevance. A must see for martial artists and anyone who likes a dramatic story which reveals the little told history ( in the USA at least ) of Japanese racism towards Koreans.

This is by far the best version of portraying the life of Mas Oyama. Whether some of the story is fictional or not doesn’t matter. He was a legendary fighter in real life and this version is incredibly entertaining and well illustrates some of the cultural values.

This movie traces the life of Choi Baedal, a Korean who learns to prove himself in the martial arts world of post-WWII Japan. Loosely based on the life of Mas Oyama (Sosai), founder of Kyokushin Karate, it is an enjoyable watch, especially for those who practice Kyokushin. It is not, however, all fighting and training. A fair amount of the film focuses on Baedal's life before training in the mountains, including a love interest.The movie is in both Korean and Japanese. English subtitles are available. The only downside is that in the options submenu, the languages are not labeled in in English, so I have to fish around to see which of the five subtitled languages is English (I think it's the third).On the whole a good movie.

This is the first 5 star movie I have seen in a very long time. I do not understand the 3/2/1 star reviews and I won't give them even any attention by reading them. This was and is a remarkably good movie... well directed... well produced... and the actors were more then just good. I will not even hint at anything that might be a spoiler, if this is the first review you are reading... stop right here and watch the movie, you will not be disappointed. This movie has everything you would want in it and was based on actual events. Read the book also.

Great intention, but terribly clichéd. Obviously written simply to showcase martial arts and Japanese prejudice against Koreans, with some anti-American sentiment thrown in. Very odd that one of the main Korean protagonists would cite Miyamoto Musashi and the "Book of Five Rings", when a major theme of the movie is struggling for a sense of Korean cultural identify. Certainly the script writers could have done some research and cited the Korean Hwarang warrior-philosopher Won Gwang Beop Sa, the buddhist monk who taught the youth of the Hwarang Taek Kyong, which is featured in the movie. And for the record -- I respect Musashi's book and record and am not Korean or Korean-American -- my ancestors were Scots.

This movie really surprised me. I have been involved in martial arts for many decades. I knew the basic story of Mas Oyama and have worked out with and met several of his students back in the 70's. While I was watching this movie I knew that the story line was familiar but I didn't put it together until the ending when they showed Mas and the bull he was fighting. Very legendary. Then I read the ending and I was amazed to learn that Mas Oyama was actually Korean and had changed his name while living in Japan. Surprising revelation for me. Great movie.