Bichunmoo


Bichunmoo is a 2000 South Korean martial arts fantasy drama film written and directed by Kim Young-jun and featuring Shin Hyun-joon, Kim Hee-sun, and Jung Jin-young. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film in Korean history.
The film was based on a 1986 manhwa called Bichunmoo by Kim Hye-rin.

Plot

In 12th-century China/Goryeo, during Mongol rule, childhood sweethearts Jinha and Sullie are later separated at adolescence but vow to re-unite, despite Sullie telling Jinha of her father's arrangement of marriage.
Orphan Jinha begins training in the Bichun martial arts and discovers his father was a noble swordsman of a renowned House, murdered by the Mongol army, led by Korean rivals seeking the secrets of the Bichun martial arts. As told by his dying uncle, who at his death bed reveals his true identity as one his father's guards, Kwakjung, suffering from a wound by assassins.
Meanwhile, Sullie's father, a Mongol general, arranges for her to marry a Mongol noble. Believing Jinha to be shot dead by arrows, after he is found to be both the heir of the rival house and a rival to her future suitor, Sullie marries the noble.
After his rescue by a fisherman and recovering from near-death, Jinha takes on the persona of bandit Jahalang, and begins an anti-Mongol crusade with the help of his rebel army of Bichun warriors. After multiple successes across the kingdom, Jinha personally ambushes and kills the aging Mongol general in a ritual execution, as revenge for being one of those behind the plot against his family.
Finally Jin-ha and Sullie are re-united, when Jinha's bandit warriors infiltrate Sullie's family manor.the

Cast

Bichunmoo was shot entirely in China, with a Hong Kong–based martial arts director.

Criticism

In spite of its financial success, the film was heavily criticized on its initial release in Korea, primarily due to its alleged disloyalty to the comic book on which it was based. Another argument given against the film was the casting choice of Kim Hee-sun, who was perceived as being too modern for a period swordplay film.

Reception

Alan Morrison of Empire called Bichunmoo a "Top-notch martial arts action".