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:

Referenced in Noksaek uija (2005)

Not too bad, but could do better

The main problem with Volcano High is that it is half an hour too long. I felt that the first half of the film worked pretty well. The plot was incoherent, but there was a sense of movement, and the tension was building well. But when the evil teachers turned up, and that naughty kid Ryang got beaten up (repeatedly), the film suddenly stopped moving.

For the first part of Volcano High's the action sequences were amiably ludicrous, but also fairly understated. People flew around but no one really cut loose. At the final confrontation, we were ready for a bit of visual hyperbole, and I was expecting something as mind-blowing as the finales to Storm Riders, or Swordsman II, but instead the film closed with a protracted and very dull punch-up.

Visually, though, Volcano High is tremendous. While the action was derivative of the Matrix, it struck me that the camerawork and choreography had more life and grace than in that film. The comedy was amiably goofy, and the actors were charismatic.

So, not a bad film, but I think that any other persons wishing to make wu xia high school comedies can improve the formula by applying more care and attention.