dumsumdumfai Although I don't have insider information, but you project or guesstimate why there are so many good (and to that end - also bad) S.Korean movies. Freedom to do the final cut is probably one factor. Young directors probably another. Culture synthesis or catharsis probably a third factor.This Once Upon a time in Highschool is as typically good as it gets. It is nostalgic, it is careful, it is sentimental, it is deliberate, it is technically well done. All seems cliché even. But it works. It works as a collective memory because it gets to the heart of the matter, the essentials, the universal experiences of high school. No, not the light hearted, self deprecating, sarcastic rear-view mirror look. But I think the key to this movies is the mixing of a bit more risky, personal - with some fantastical elements.You see, with all the bottled up emotions you see (and feel along with the main character) during the first 90% of the movie, you need an out. And this fantastical element is the ending fight scene, mostly one shot - continuous, exhausting, satisfying - to relief all the tension that was built up. This fulfil some unfinished business - in our minds, in our past experiences, that lifts us the audience. Then the movie stayed true to its times - with the apology ending to ground you back to reality. What a move that is.I think this movies works extremely well psychologically due to the built-up all the way to the final fight scene on the roof. That is, the story understands that most of us has regrets. That we were smaller then we looked inside. Was afraid most of the times, had confidence issues, were betrayed at least once. And did not act out on others. But most of us (at least for the Asians anyhow), didn't fight back.

infinito2345 I felt this movie was awesome.People described it as the experience faced by highscoolers during the military regime days of south Korea but for me it was different.It seemed like a well sketched out story spiced up with some really good and brutally realistic martial art seqences.The transformation undergone by every character is depicted realistically.It is a story of friendship,first love,betrayal and revenge.And the final scene on the roof with nanchakus tops it all...a brilliantly realistic close combat scene...you can watch the entire movie just for that one scene.Excellent performances throughout."spirit of jeet kune do" is a winner all the way.P.S. By the way am i the only non-korean seeing and reviewing all of the great south korean films like taegukgi,marathon,failan etc.I would be happy if this movie gets a broader international release,at least to American audiences.

davidstone28 Surprisingly good coming of age movie about a young adult / teenager in military school in South Korea, and the bullying, unrequited love, parental pressures etc that has to deal with. The movie gradually hooks you in - the characters are endearing and believable - and its surprisingly touching. There are some Blue Lee elements in it but isn't a "kung fu" movie. Although the film is set in Korea, its crosses cultures very easily - this could easily be a school in the US for example. If you want an intelligent, touching, coming of age movie with characters that you can relate to, and well as some occasional action to crank up the tension, this is well worth watching. 8/10

JohanRdam Sometimes when watching a football game (or any other sport), you see a player using amazing skills to get past every of his opponent's, but when he finally arrives in front of the goal he misses. Is such a dribble then great/amazing/whatsoever and should it be remembered for a long time OR should it be easily forgotten because it did not result in a goal?I have the same feelings about this film, from the beginning on it gave me the feeling that I was watching one of the greatest movies of the year, but somehow when the movie was finished I somehow was not quite satisfied with it. It's hard to explain (especially if you don't want to include spoilers), but the ending just did not do justice to its build-up. The director in the end just focused too much on one part of his story and let the other storyline IMHO slip away a bit.In the end, I find it hard to award points for this movie. The major part of this movie is great, but the ending is just so-so. Well, I give it an eight, mainly for its great acting, intense scenes, the realistic way end-of-seventies South Korea is portrayed and you know, the ending wasn't that bad....8/10