2009 Lost Memories: Viewer Comments

The film starts with an intriguing idea: what if Japan had allied with the United States against Germany and won World War II, maintaining for itself the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere and keeping all of Korea as a Japanese province? The ethnic Korean hero of the film has the opportunity to "set things right," a thing that will result in much suffering for Korea during both World War II and the Korean War. A great film could have been made from these ideas, but this effort is less than a masterpiece. It is a competently made, adequately acted thriller which could have been much more.

Considering the story premise sounds promising and the cast is fantastic this film is a complete bore.

Fantastic movie! You can most definately see the money spent on the making on this film. The special effects, the guns, the sound, and the feel of the whole movie is justified through a fantastic solid storyline only a few may ever fully appreciate.

2009 Lost Memories is a "what if" movie. What if Ito Hirobumi had never been assassinated? (I actually had to do research to fully understand the importance of this man) The movie depicts a very different Japan whose empire covers the modern day Korean peninsula. Sakamoto (who is Korean) tries to uncover a conspiracy involving a group of Korean Terrorists. However, the plot runs much deeper than that. I cannot say much without ruining any of the unfolding story.

2009 Lost Memories is a fantastic film. Almost a perfect ten. My only complaint is that it may take outside research to fully understand the complexity of the plot. Due to this, the movie may drive away some American audiences away. But if you decide not to do research, at least get it for the action!

The special effects and sets are well made. They only add to the film's environment. As the mystery unfolds, Sakamoto's relentless pursuit of the truth while trying to dodge his Korean heritage and his father's past is hsown at a good pace. Unfortunately, some other "facts" in the film are not made to known to viewers (i.e.: how the "Lunar Soul" works, is it only one way?).

The gunplay action is better than most Hollywood productions, if not all. Soem very good work by the Korean actors didn't hurt, either.

The special effects are amazing and the gun battles better than most of Hollywood's stuff, especially in the use of sound.

Of course most American audiences won't know the importance of man who's assassination is prevented (Ito Hirobumi), but the subtitled chronology that follows should be sufficient. All in all, I really enjoyed this one.