During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island ("Hashima Island") to mine for coal, attempt to a dramatic escape.During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island ("Hashima Island") to mine for coal, attempt to a dramatic escape.During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island ("Hashima Island") to mine for coal, attempt to a dramatic escape.
- Awards
- 11 wins & 9 nominations total
Jon Allen
- Song Jong-Gu
- (English version)
- (voice)
Tommy Arciniega
- Oh Jang-Woo
- (English version)
- (voice)
- (as a different name)
Greg Chun
- Lee Gang-ok
- (English version)
- (voice)
Na Do-yool
- Joseon draftee
- (as Na Do-yul)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
As an Indian guy, I never really knew about the Japanese invasion of Korean peninsula and their atrocities towards Korean people. This movie gives an insight into it. I think Germany and Japan became allies because both think they're the most purest and superior bloods among their neighbours. The Japanese red light district is something that I think no other colonial power has implemented in their colonies. If I'm wrong please forgive me. After watching this movie the one thing I did wish was, if that THUG GUY and STRONG LADY could live together. Everyone who worked in front of the camera and behind it did a really good job. Thanks very much for this movie.
The film moved at a fast pace.
Some great performances . I hope the young girl won some awards- she deserved them.
Some great performances . I hope the young girl won some awards- she deserved them.
Brilliant but chilling film based on a true WW2 story. It's horrific what happened to the Koreans on this Battleship Island, where they were forced into slave labour by the Japanese. The film casts light on a hidden part of WW2.
In terms of the scale of this movie, the extras, the production values (very high!), the excellent plot, the quality acting, cinematography, you name it, this movie has it all. This is the kind of larger than life movie Steven Spielberg might have made, if he was Korean, quite extraordinary. I would say though that the CGI, while very good, isn't "quite" as good as the best that Hollywood can do, but it's still extremely well done. It's not a family movie though, there is some extreme violence in this movie, but war is war and war is very violent. The movie does take some liberties with the story, I'm not sure all of it is 100% historically accurate, a lot of it "is" true though, like the fact the island was mined for it's coal, but a lot is included for the sake of making an interesting story. It does cover some aspects of the Japanese army's behavior which is an enduring national shame for that country, such as the use of "comfort women", i.e. Forcing Korean (and other nationalities) female prisoners to be the sex slaves of the Japanese army. I can honestly say, some of the best movies I have ever seen in the past few years have come from South Korea. The quality of the movies coming out of the South Korean film industry are every bit as good as Hollywood makes, and in many cases better. Terrifically entertaining movie. Well worth your time to watch.
A very harrowing tale based on true story of what took place during world war II on that island. It is heartbreaking and, at times gut wrenching, to watch. Although this movie has a lot of blockbuster appeal for on screen dramatics, it does capture the horrors of war and remembering what happened on that island. This is only a small part of the atrocities that occurred during world war II, but it is one that should be remembered.
For those wanting to continue with other films, here are some recommendations: Flowers of War, City of Life and Death, Unbroken...to name a few.
For those wanting to continue with other films, here are some recommendations: Flowers of War, City of Life and Death, Unbroken...to name a few.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCharacters in the film at several points mention "the company" they work for, but which is never named. In reality, this company was the Mitsubishi Corporation, which owned Hashima Island until 2002.
- Goofs00:16:13 - 00:16:50 -> The band members are supposed to cross from Korea to Japan in the dirty, packed hold of a cargo ship. When they emerge from the boat in Shimonoseki, one can see it is a very modern ferry, complete with fully-enclosed, bright orange modern lifeboats, streamlined design, and all-welded hull and superstructure construction, as opposed to ships of the period, which were riveted.
- Quotes
Lee Gang-ok: I'm not going to die. Why are you crying?
- Crazy creditsThe title card is shown first in Japanese and then in Korean.
- Alternate versionsThe director's cut of the film is 150 minutes long in duration while the original theatrical version is about 132 minutes long.
- SoundtracksThe Ecstasy of Gold
Composed by Ennio Morricone
- How long is The Battleship Island?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,104,957
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $59,344
- Jul 30, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $46,183,383
- Runtime2 hours 12 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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