HAEUNDAE (South Korea 2009) ***1/2
Directed by Yun Je-gyun

Those who have not been to Asia will probably have not heard of HAEUNDAE.  HAEUNDAE is South Korea’s most popular beach resort.  But it also the title of South Korea’s biggest summer hit and the longest running Korean film in both Korea and the U.S.

HAEUNDAE is a classic big budget disaster movie.  The film begins with the 2004 Tsunami disaster and flash forwards to the present.  The film, directed and also written by Yun revolves around several characters before a mega Tsunami hits the huge beach resort.

The main difference between HAEUNDAE and the typical Irwin Allen Hollywood disaster movies like TOWERING INFERNO, POSEIDON ADVENTURE and THE SWARM is that this film is Korean.  And proud of it!  Director Yun captures the hustle and bustle of the busy resort right from the beach stalls to the teens and lifeguards that hang populate the beach front.  The elderly Koreans are more animated than their white counterparts and it is amusing to watch older characters screaming and for example, pulling the hair of the younger ones.  As for the teens, the class difference, romance and drama are effectively tied into the story.  When the Tsunami finally hits, the audience really cares for the characters.

Yun is fond of over melodramatics.  But he does his scenes in a fun, over-the-top goofy way that eventually entertains.  The humour is more often silly (biting lips when making love; stuck in toilet stalls during the flood; lots of kicking and screaming) than situational.  But the blending of silliness and disaster works well primary because the actors are bold enough to act out all the way in their roles.

HAEUNDAE has a special run in Toronto and Montreal beginning this week at the AMC.  One of the highest grossing films in Korean history finally reaches here to leave its mark.  The film is definitely worth a visit!