Once Upon A Time in High School:

The Legend of Jeet Kwan Doo

 

Cast:

Kwon Sang-Woo as Kim Hyun-soo
Han Ga-In as Kang Eun-ju
Lee Jung-Jin as Kim Woo-sik
Park Hyo-jun as Hamburger
Kim In-Gweon as Stabber
Lee Jong-Hyeok as Jong-hoon
Kim Bu-Seo as Sung-choon
Cheon Ho-Jin
Baek Bong-Gi

Official Site: http://www.cjent.co.kr/english/productlist/highschool/index.asp

Summary:

A model student transfers to a notorious Jungmoon High School!
In the spring of 1978, Hyun-soo transfers to Jungmoon High School in Kangnam where his mother thinks the land price will skyrocket due to the development of the area. Yet, Jungmoon High School is notorious for its severe corporal punishment by teachers and power struggles between school gangs. On the first day, he gets spanked with an aluminum baseball bat for violating the school's dress code. Then, one day, he plays basketball with his classmates and helps his team to a victory, which allows him to become chummy with Woo-sik, a kingpin of the school. Before long, they find out that they both are huge fans of Bruce Lee and become best friends.

He got so easily what I had desired so badly.
After school, on the bus, Hyun-soo and Woo-sik see a girl who resembles Olivia Hussey, the most popular foreign actress in Korea at that time. Her name is Eun-ju, a senior at nearby girls high school. Both fall in love with her at first sight. Hyun-soo is gentle and kind, while Woo-sik is tough and charismatic. Knowing Woo-sik is so different from her, she can't help but become attracted to him.

To hell with the school!
Hyun-soo endures the pain of his secret love for Eun-ju. However, Eun-ju and Woo-sik begin to bicker over petty things. While she's in pain over Woo-sik cheating on her, Hyun-soo sees a chance to win her heart. In the meantime, Woo-sik and Jong-hoon, a student patrol captain, get into a fight. In the duel, Jong-hoon cheats and beats up Woo-sik, who leaves school in the aftermath of his defeat. With Woo-sik gone, Jong-hoon abuses his power as student patrol captain and bullies whoever gets in his way. Hyun-soo falls into an Inferior Class, and Jong-hoon keeps bullying him. The corporal punishment and favoritism by the teachers gradually become worse. To make matter worse, Eun-ju chooses Woo-sik over him. Driven to the wall, Hyun-soo explodes. With nunchakus tucked in the back of his pants, he goes up to the roof after Jong-hoon.

 

Credits: http://www.cjent.co.kr/english/productlist/highschool/synopsis.asp, yesasia, spcnet

 

 

What I Think:

I have heard about this movie and people say it is actually a good one. I just finished watching “Taekgukgi” and “ My tutor friend” then so I was thinking, okay I am having too much action here…so this movie completely evaded me. But I have wanted to watch it coz Lee Jung-jin is in it, (I just love him! Que zas que zas que zas!) and I haven’t seen any movies of Han Ga In, this was the first movie where I saw her act. Plus Kwon Sang-woo is the lead.

I have seen quite a few KSW movies and I didn’t like them all much, lousy storylines that’s why. By far, the one KSW movie that I thought was okay was “Love so Divine” but alleluia!!! I now have my favorite Kwon Sang-woo movie of all time! “Once upon a time in High School!” Yeah!

 

The movie’s theme is so heavy and serious I cannot even begin to write about it so I will just re-post what il_mare posted in her review in spcnet:

“ … The interplay of power among the different kingpins, the average student trying to survive and how each tried to take different sides for their personal benefit and all these scenes seemed to be a reflection of society at large then. The violent methods in the name of upholding strict school discipline were graphic and brutal. The teacher's teaching methods made me sick….”

 

Must-watch scenes:

1. Intro where the teacher yells to his students “You single-celled amoebas!” Omfg I was laughing so hard in that scene!

2. The running game where 2 hot oppas, oh by god! LJJ and KSW are running against each other. KSW won,he was first in line. Hottttt!

3. Basketball game versus jung-hoon. That game was really hot and rockin! KSW, LJJ and basketball, it can’t get any hotter than this.

4. Disco scene: With LJJ in a wig (I thought he changed hairstyle there…) hitting with the ladies and KSW dancing… it was hella hot!

5. Woo-sik (LJJ) imitating Bruce Lee’s moves in the “Game of Death” he looked cool there actually. I love just love staring at him!

6. Rain scene: When Eun-ju (HGI) shared with Hyun-soo his umbrella because she’s wet from the rain. He was surprised when she just popped out of nowhere. J  and they shared a bus ride home,he gave her his umbrella.

7. Second Disco Scene: where LJJ kisses HGI, woah was he working on that deep kiss or what! A pro is working at it!

8. KSW and HGI are dating, omg KSW is really good at playing the guitar too huh? He got the right chords; I closely watched the chords of the guitar. He is one good guitar player!

9. Woo-sik and Jung-hoon fighting at the rooftop. 

10. Hyun-soo and Jung-hoon fighting at the rooftop. 

 

I like one line here in the movie, where KSW said” Woo-sik gets so easily what I desired so badly” when he knew that woo-sik was already dating eun-ju. I just want to hug him, he just gets cold feet and cant tell eun-ju he likes her.

 

I must say, KSW and LJJ looks hot in gym clothes, jersey pants and shirts! Jeeez man! I am reminiscing the scene in Love Story In Harvard where Lee jung-jin was wearing his gym shorts and shirt while playing basketball, with the music Que zas playing in the backround! Awwww! Both KSW and LJJ looks even hotter in shorter hairstyle! And Han Ga In is  so pretty too, she has nice big, expressive eyes and cute nose too. 

Lee Jong-Hyeok who plays Jong-hoon (Edward of Green Rose) looks old,I dunno..but I think he does.

 

The ending, well the girl always chooses the bad boy, HGI ended up with LJJ.  

 

Rating: 9 Korean Kimchis out of 10

credits: yesasia, spcnet, asianfantics

 

Music Playing in the Background: Gravity- Fly to the Sky