When it comes to action movies, there is a prototype: strong male lead(s), lots of explosion and action, plus a hint of drama and comedy. This isn’t just a tried-and-tested formula in Hollywood, it’s also the working model for Korean blockbuster film, Ashfall.
Touted as the ‘biggest Korean disaster blockbuster ever’, it certainly spared no expenses when it came to acquiring the elements of a good action flick. Its main stars are some of the biggest names in the Korean film industry – Lee Byung-hun (who’s also no stranger to Hollywood) and Ha Jung-woo – and the special effects team made sure there were plenty of big ticket explosions and fast-paced action.
The plot: When a volcano on Baekdu Mountain suddenly erupts, pandemonium ensues on the Korean peninsula. Deadlier eruptions are predicted, and to prevent another disaster, the South Korean government sends a team of special forces led by a very reluctant In-chang (Ha Jung-woo) into North Korea to find Joon-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun) who leads them to nuclear weapons needed to stop the final deadly eruption. The chemistry between In-chang and Joon-pyeong is entertaining, funny even.
The action is provided not only by volcanic eruptions – there’s a nail-biting 10 minutes in the beginning of the film when Seoul is thrown into chaos as buildings and roads collapse – but also courtesy of gunfights provided by the American army and the Chinese mafia. Then there’s the South Korean-US tension when it comes to North Korean nuclear warheads. For an action flick, there’s a lot of real politics involved. The plot twists and turns as you wonder where Joon-pyeong’s loyalties lie, and if Jung-woo is to survive or not.
Meanwhile in Seoul, the drama is provided by Ji-young (played by Bae Suzy), In-chang’s wife who’s heavily pregnant and trying to evacuate the city. There’s also another family drama involving Joon-pyeong and his estranged daughter. One has to wonder why a big action flick needs that many elements of family drama, but then Korean films sometimes tend to be melodramatic.
What gives this action movie its impetus is a giant timer courtesy of the volcano’s imminent eruption. While the movie is pretty predicable (ie. it follows a tried-and-tested formula), it has a good pacing and it’s peppered with enough action to satisfy moviegoers. If you enjoyed films like San Andreas and Armageddon, then you’ll definitely enjoy Ashfall.
