WaSanGo (2001)

Director:

Tae-gyun Kim

Writers:

Tae-gyun Kim (writer)
Dong-heon Seo (writer)

Release Date:

5 December 2001 (South Korea)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy

Tagline:

Violence inside Korean schools, especially WaSanGo.

Plot:

Violence in Korean High School, especially inside the WaSanGo (Volcano High). You won't be able to escape.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Blackboard | Kung Fu | Girl Fighter | Rain

Cast

Hyuk Jang	...	Kim, Kyeong-su
Min-a Shin	...	Yu, Chae-i
Su-ro Kim	...	Jang, Ryang
Sang-woo Kwone	...	Song Hak-Rim
Hyo-jin Kong	...	So, Yo-seon
Sang-hun Jeong	...	Golbangi
Hyeong-jong Kim	...	Shim, Ma
Shi-ah Chae	...	Yo-mi
Jun-ho Heo	...	Mr. Ma
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
André Benjamin	...	Kim Kyeong-su (MTV English Dub) (as André 3000)
Big Boi	...	(MTV English Dub)
Hie-bong Byeon
Snoop Dogg	...	Song Hak-lim (MTV English Dub)
Su-Jeong Eom
Mu-hyeon Lee
Method Man	...	Mr. Ma (MTV English Dub)
Tracy Morgan	...	(MTV English Dub)
Pat Morita	...	(MTV English Dub)
Mya	...	Yu Cha-i (MTV English Dub)
Pete Sepenuk	...	Dean

Also Known As:

Hwasan Highschool (literal English title)
Volcano High (International: English title) (Berlin film festival title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence, some partial nudity and language.

Runtime:

Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Germany:121 min | South Korea:120 min | UK:95 min (25 fps)

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Spain:18 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | USA:PG-13 | Malaysia:(Banned)

Company:

SBS

Trivia:

André Benjamin's film debut.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#31.10)" (2004)

Good fun for the fun-loving

I can understand why this film splits viewers into those who either love it-to-death or those who despise it. To properly enjoy Volcano High, you will need to relax, loosen up and dig up some old skool memories.

Considering this is primarily a fun film, main and periphery characters are well portrayed, and there's a lots of subtle comedy and bombastic drama to keep anyone with a developed sense of humour happy.

However, if you love martial arts movies, you will be disappointed - the martial arts is spread pretty thin. Although Volcano High is Korean, it appears to have gone the way of recent Hong Kong kung fu films, in that choreography is either obscured or entirely replaced by CGI effects. However, the special effects and acting are top-notch, Hyuk Jang especially evoking both sniggers and respect.

Well made and good fun if you don't take your movie-watching too seriously. If, however, you want something a bit more substantial from Korea, try Musa or Shiri.