The Divine Weapon

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Movie: The Divine Weapon
Revised romanization: Singijeon
Hangeul: 신기전
Director: Kim Yu-Jin
Writer: Lee Man-Hee, Shin Hyeon-Jeong
Producer: Kang Woo-Suk
Cinematographer: Byun Hee-Sung
Release Date: September 4, 2008
Runtime: 134 min.
Genre: Action / Period-15th Century / Award Winning
Studio: KnJ Entertainment
Distributor: CJ Entertainment
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot

In the year 1448, during the 30th year of Se-Jeong's (Ahn Sung-Ki) reign, Joseon finds itself at the mercy of its Chinese overlords. In pursuit of Joseon’s autonomy, King Sejong funds a secret project to create the Sinjijeon - a powerful rocket based artillery weapon. When the project nears completion, the Ming Dynasty learns of the project and comes down hard on suspected Koreans. The inventor of the Sinjijeon destroys important research materials and commits suicide to protect the project. For the country of Joseon, the project isn’t completely lost as the inventor’s daughter Hong-Ri (Han Da-Gam) escapes with the blueprints for the Sinjijeon.

Hong-Ri is then hidden by Joseon officials at the home of a shady merchant named Seol-Ju (Jung Jae-Young). Since Seol-Ju’s father was accused of treason and killed, Seol-Ju has stayed away from politics and concentrated solely on accumulating wealth and wooing women. Even with his reservations about politics, Seol-Ju becomes drawn into the Sinjijeon project, largely because of his affections for Hong-Ri. When the Chinese officials threaten to again clamp down on Joseon, King Sejong orders a halt to the Sinjijeon project. Meanwhile, Seol-Ju and Hong-Ri have other plans.

Cast



Jung Jae-Young	Han Da-Gam	Heo Jun-Ho
Seol-Ju	Hong-Ri	Chang Gang



Ahn Sung-Ki	Seo Ju-Seong	Shin Jung-Keun
King Sejong	Mu-Saeng	Pan-Soo

Additional Cast Members:

Jung Sung-Mo - Sa Ma Seon
Kim Myung-Soo - Kkya Oh Ryung
Lee Do-Kyung - Hong-Man
Ryoo Hyoun-Kyoung - Bang-Ok
In Gyo-Jin - In-Ha (Bang-Ok's fiance)
Lee Kyoung-Young - Keum-Oh
Park Jung-Chul - Se-Ja
Kim Myeong-Kuk - Myeong Hwang-Je
Lee Seung-Keun - Bong-Gu (Hong-Ri's assistant)
Min Kyung-Jin - Sir Ga-Song (Hong-Ri's father)
Park Kyeong-Hwan - Jin Dae-In
Lee Chang-Jik - Mao
Jung Jae-Jin - Young Wie-Jung
Han Lee-Bin - Su-Ryeon
Choi Seung-Il - Nobleman Jung
Bang Soo-Hyung - Enddawoo
Ji Il-Joo - pharmacist
Han Sung-Sik - Hong-Man's butler
Jo Won-Hee - Yoo-Bong
Lee Kwang-Hee - Chang Gang's butler
Lee Jang-Hoon - Kab-Deuk
Oh Soon-Tae - Oh Cho
Kim Kang-Il - Lee Tae-Rang
Lee Jung-In - Oh Cho's wife
Kim Han-Joon - man at laboratory
Park Yoon-Hee - high ranking public officer 4
Cha Soon-Bae - Ming1
Ri Woo-Jin - Ming dynasty scientist
Lee Il-Sub - Ming vassal 1
Park Chan-Kuk - Ming vassal 2
Lee Geun-Hoo - Lee Tae-Rang's bodyguard
Kim Gun-Ho - laboratory man
Joo Boo-Jin - elderly woman
Yoo Ok-Joo - woman
Kim Do-Hyeong

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2008 (28th) Hawaii International Film Festival - October 9th-19th
2009 (11th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 11th-15th - The Action Asia Competition (International Premiere)
2009 (13th) Fantasia Film Festival - July 9th-29th (Canadian Premiere)

Awards

2008 (28th) Critics Choice Awards - November, 2008
- Best Cinematography
2009 (46th) Daejong Film Awards - November 6, 2009
- Best Film
- Best Editing
- Best Sound Effects
2009 (32nd) Golden Cinematography Awards - December, 2009
- Best Actress (Han Da-Gam)
- Gold Medal Cinematography

Comments

Migthy Thor May 07 2016 6:55 pm I have watched this movie many times already and I am watching it again . . . I will never be tired of this movie! SO FABULOUS and FANTASTIC!Super GREAT! The story, directorial, scenes, costumes, performance, editing ... = everything is just so PERFECT!

Jung Jae-Young you're the BEST (",)

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Ki Feb 01 2009 4:12 am Going into “The Divine Weapon” my own enthusiasm was slightly muted just from my own past experiences with Korean period films. Specifically those action-based period films that the Chinese seem to do so well, but Koreans seems to always botch. Furthermore, not long into “The Divine Weapon,” there’s also a noticeable nationalistic tone, a hallmark of recent Korean films like “Hanbando,” “D-War” and “May 18″ (all of which are horrid films that only mothers of the cast & staff would love). Turns out that “The Divine Weapon” is light years better than those mentioned films, but hardly a classic of any sorts.

Set sometime in the 16th century, during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, the country finds itself at the mercy of its Chinese overlords. In pursuit of Korea’s autonomy, King Sejong funds a secret project to create the Sinjijeon - a powerful rocket based artillery weapon. But when the project gets close to completion the Chinese government clamps down hard on suspected Koreans and the inventor of the Sinjijeon commits suicide. Fortunately for the Koreans, the project isn’t completely lost as the inventor’s daughter, named Hong-ri, escapes with the blueprints for the Sinjijeon.

Hong-ri is then hidden by Korean officials at the home of a shady Korean merchant named Seol-ju. Since Seol-ju’s father was accused of treason and killed, Seol-ju has stayed away from politics and concentrated solely on accumulating wealth and wooing women. Even with his reservations with politics, Seol-ju becomes drawn into the Sinjijeon project, largely because of his affections for Hong-ri. When the Chinese officials threaten to again clamp down on the Koreans, the Korean king orders a halt to the Sinjijeon project. Seol-ju and Hong-ri think otherwise.

“The Divine Weapon” features a $10 million budget, large for a Korean film, and appears made for a diverse Korean audience. The film incorporates action, adventure, romance, politics, history, as well as its strong nationalistic tone, to appeal to a diverse demography. Unfortunately for the film, with the inclusion of so many different elements, the film fails to produce a distinct voice and comes across more like an imitation of various of other films. What the movie does have to offer is a stellar performance by Jae-yeong Jeong as Seol-ju. Not since “Someone Special” has Jae-yeong Jeong given a performance to talk about, but that all changes with “The Divine Weapon.” Meanwhile, his romantic counterpart, played by Eun-jeong Han, gives a less appealing performance. Eun-jeon Han physically resembles Michelle Yeoh, but lacks much of her screen presence.

Storywise, The Divine Weapon’s insistence to cover various genres lightly but never focus on any one area becomes increasingly the movie’s downfall. With the backdrop of the Korea’s clandestine operation to breakfree from its Chinese oppressors, political intrigue seems to be the driving force for the movie. But before you can get your feet comfortably set in the story, you’re treated to unrealistic sword battles featuring Jae-yeong Jeong going all Crouching Tiger on his enemies. With this, realism goes down the tube and before you can get comfortably set in the fantasy sword play world, you’re shown light hearted romantic moments between Jae-yeong Jeong and Eun-heon Han. Granted the moment in the Geisha house when Jae-yeong Jeong slips his hand inside of Eun-heon Han’s shirt is a riot, but by this time you have to ask yourself what the hell am I watching? And yes, while you’re pondering that question a gruesome castration scene comes about. Hmm…

“The Divine Weapon” is the type of movie that if you catch on an airplane or cable television, you’ll find yourself lightly amused as it offers nice diversion from reality. But if you want anything more, you should look elsewhere.

The Divine Weapon

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