Fighter In The Wind

he plot is based largely on a famous cartoon series by Bang Hak-ki, featuring Choi Bae-dal (1922-1994), a real life figure who moved to Japan during the colonial period and established himself as a much-admired karate fighter by founding a new version of the martial arts form called Kyokushin Karate In 1934, 11-year-old Bae-dal (Yang Dong-geun) watches his father`s farmhand, Bum-soo, fighting with Japanese officials in the market in Gimjae, Korea. He admires Bum-soo`s fighting skills and starts to learn to fight. Product Description

Great Movie

Great movie, the story is a bit exagerated in comparison to Sosai Oyama's life, but it has a lot of true aspects of his life. Long live Kyokushin! June 26, 2007

"Toughest man in the World.."-New York Times, 1961

"Fighter In the Wind" (Paramui Paito)is the story of Choi Bae-dul, a real-life legendary martial arts figure who, during his peak, defeated hundreds of martial arts experts in Japan and around the world. Or more precisely, based on the comic (manga-Japanese comic)based on the martial artist's life. Choi Bae-dul is also the founder of Kyo kushin karate, millions of students still practice today.

Much of the film takes place during World War II and is set in Japan. The first half of the film follows the adventures of a young Choi Bae-dul (Yang Dong-Geun), whose desire to become a pilot takes a side-winding nose dive when death and humiliation destroy his dreams. After his humiliation at a marketplace, he is tagged as the "pant-wetter". After a run-in with the Yakuza, greatly influenced by the tales of the samurai, Miyamoto Musashi, he embarks on a training regiment in the mountains to develop a unique form of Karate.
Choi Bae-dul, now in top physical condition, travels all around the country, roams around by foot, train or whatever to challenge and defeat opponents of different styles and origins. Even his worn out, white Karate Gi looks identical to the one Ryu wears in the "Streetfighter" video game. This cartoon-like transition is strange, but doesn't hurt or strengthen the film in any way.

Fighter in the Wind shows the inherent racism towards Koreans living in Japan, especially towards one person who proves himself the superior martial artist to many famed Japanese masters. The Japanese people (a select few) hated the fact that Choi was being compared to the great swordsman Musashi Miyamoto by the media. What is most interesting (at least to me) is how those Japanese that don't know Choi show nothing but contempt towards him, while those that get to know him, end up with a certain respect, fondness and adoration for him. Teenagers started copying his hair, his outfit (torned Gi)and his mannerisms.

Beautiful Aya Hirayama plays Choi's(Yang Dong-geun)love interest. He is forced to leave her when his conscience won't allow him to stay with her.

The thing I loved about this film is that no wires, CGI was used in its extensive fight choreography. It is well-staged, realistic and a bit brutal, although not as hard-hitting as Ong-bak or TOM YUM GOONG. The music/soundtrack also fits the film and makes it feel epic-like. All the elements compliment each other to give us a very entertaining action film.

PICTURE: ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. The Korean region-3 release is fantastic. The transfer is very clean, I didn't notice any enhancements or video noise. Colors are radiant and blacks are very detailed.
AUDIO/SUBTITLES: Korean 5.1 DD and DTS-ES. The DTS track is loud! Yopu feel the impact of the hits in your living room. The english subs are very well-translated.
I'm not sure what is being sold in amazon, I have the Korean 2-disc region 3 release with a ton of extras.

I really enjoyed this film. Of course, no one can expect an entertaining, accurate film about the life of man in 2 hours. FIGHTER IN THE WIND makes a very decent attempt though.
RECOMMENDED!! (4 stars)

May 2, 2007

THE BEST!!!

The Best I've seen yet.. A friend of mine bought it and we couldn't find it anywhere after that.. I had to get this movie! He went through ALOT to become THE BEST!!!! Motivated me to THE BEST at what I want to pursue. December 24, 2006

An epic tale of journey and strength

This was unlike every martial arts movie I've seen. It was dramatic, plot-driven, and deep. It's a movie you want to see if you are a martial arts enthusiast, martial arts lover, or a lover of a good story. This is a very underrated movie. I suggest all moviegoers get this for their libraries. September 1, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...