War of the Arrows A.K.A. Arrow: The Ultimate Weapon • 최종병기 활 (2011)

WAR OF THE ARROWS is a powerful South Korean historical action film centered on extraordinary archery, survival and one man's desperate mission to rescue his kidnapped sister. Set during the Second Manchu Invasion of Korea in 1636, the film follows Nam-yi, a gifted archer who uses his extraordinary skill to pursue the Qing forces that have taken his sister and other villagers captive.

STORY OVERVIEW

Nam-yi and his younger sister Ja-in were raised after their father's execution and eventually find a home under the protection of Kim Mu-seon. Years later, Ja-in marries Mu-seon's son Seo-gun. Their wedding celebration is shattered when Qing forces invade the village and take Ja-in and other residents prisoner. Returning to find his guardian dead and his sister captured, Nam-yi immediately sets out after the invading army.

Armed with his remarkable bow and an intimate knowledge of the terrain, Nam-yi begins picking off the enemy forces one by one. His pursuit brings him into direct conflict with Jushinta, a formidable Qing commander determined to stop him. As the chase moves through forests, mountains and battlefields, Nam-yi's archery becomes the key to his survival and his only hope of bringing Ja-in home.

MARTIAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS

War of the Arrows stands apart from conventional kung fu movies by making archery the central combat discipline. The film showcases rapid-fire shooting, moving targets, long-distance attacks, close-range bow combat and tactical use of the surrounding landscape. Sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, horseback action and large-scale battles complement the film's extraordinary emphasis on traditional archery.

WHY COLLECTORS PICK IT

Collectors of Korean action cinema will appreciate War of the Arrows for its intense pacing, impressive period production and unusually focused depiction of archery as a martial art. Park Hae-il's performance as Nam-yi is matched by Ryu Seung-ryong's imposing portrayal of Jushinta, creating a memorable hunter-versus-hunter confrontation.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Released in 2011, War of the Arrows became a major South Korean box-office success, attracting more than 7.4 million admissions and becoming the country's highest-grossing film of 2011. The film was also recognized at major Korean awards ceremonies, including the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards. Its depiction of the 1636 Qing invasion and its emphasis on Korean archery helped distinguish it from more conventional historical action films.

• Verified A.K.A.s:
  • War of the Arrows – International English title
  • Arrow: The Ultimate Weapon – Alternate English title
  • 최종병기 활 – Original Korean title
  • Choejongbyeonggi Hwal – Revised Romanization
• Director: Kim Han-min
• Writer: Kim Han-min
• Producers: Jang Won-seok, Kim Sung-hwan
• Starring: Park Hae-il, Ryu Seung-ryong, Moon Chae-won, Kim Mu-yeol
• Nam-yi: Park Hae-il
• Jushinta: Ryu Seung-ryong
• Ja-in: Moon Chae-won
• Seo-gun: Kim Mu-yeol
• Country: South Korea
• Genre: Historical, Action, War, Drama
• Martial Arts Focus: Traditional Korean Archery, Bow Fighting, Swordplay, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Horseback Combat
• Original Language: Korean
• Release Year: 2011
• Format: DVD
• Edition: Single Layer
• Running Time: Approximately 122 Minutes
• Video: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, NTSC, Color
• Audio: Korean, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English Captions
• Disc: Single Layer

Carefully researched and prepared for collectors of Korean action, historical martial arts and Asian cinema by ClassicKungFuMovies.com.