It has an angry core, a heart of anger that resonates with the viewer because the source of that anger is something real, something that has probably happened to all of us.

The movie is about four juvenile delinquents who rob a gas station. Twice. Just because.

At first glance, they seem like four nobodies. A bunch of losers who weren't brought up right and now they steal from working people who earn their money. However, a deeper examination reveals that these fellows are not losers, not by a long shot. Each of them is talented and has something to contribute, but they've been cheated. They've been cheated out of the livelihoods, the destinies they were promised by an imperfect and indifferent system.

And so, in attacking the gas station, they right social injustices that in small ways mirror the injustice so cruelly bestowed upon them.

The movie itself is priceless. Each character is brilliant and rich. From the failed baseball player turned gang leader No Mark (Sung-jae Lee) to the cowardly, self-centered gas station owner (Yeong-gyu Park).

The gang of punks waste no time in not just robbing, but angrily attacking and destroying the gas station. After the first robbery, you'd think the gas station owner would invest in a security system. A few cameras, maybe an alarm? No. He's too cheap for that and, instead, resorts to hiding the money.

When he's robbed a second time -- by the same quartet -- he makes excuses about why he has so little cash. So, the delinquents take him and his employees hostage and decide to work the gas station themselves and pocket the proceeds.

Oh-seong Yu plays Bulldozer (Mad Dog in the American version) who guards the hostages. He dispenses justice by threatening the unruly with the high school punishment of making them balance on their heads and knees -- or else get whacked with a hockey stick!

"On your heads!" quickly becomes a hilarious recurring battle cry that Mad Dog bellows in response to disobedience or disappointment. I

Mad Dog is definitely the best and the funniest character in the movie with his charming, simple nature and his single-mindedness.

As funny as the movie is, each character is haunted by a troubled past. Each of them plagued by an innocence lost.

Let's put it this way. When you were a kid growing up, did anyone ever ask you "What do you want to be when you grow up?" As if it were just that simple. Pick a career and do it. Fireman, policeman, paleontologist, doctor, race car driver, or president of the United States! Whatever you wanted, you could do.

How old were you when you realized it was a lie? Only rich people can be doctors. Paleontologists don't work with dinosaurs, they dig holes in the ground and lecture to bored college students. And police officers work a grueling, thankless job only to end up with failed marriages and broken families.

Each of the four robbers have broken dreams, too. Whether they want to be baseball players, rock stars or artists, each of them had their dream thrown back in their face by a society built around greed and indifference.

Ji-tae yu who plays "Paint", angrily tears down government propaganda posters about how rosy life is. You can feel his anger, and when you read the signs and look at his life, you share it.

The final scene is priceless comedy, but also a chilling metaphor. A parking lot full of Koreans who were beating each other senseless a moment ago, now coexist only under the threat of mutual destruction. How appropriate.

And all because a couple of bored guys decided to attack the gas station. "On your heads!"

I've been meaning to watch this right at the start of my Korean cinema exploration as the whole idea of the film really appealed to me. I didn't want to watch the HK R3 version as it was pan and scam so I had to finally fork out for the Korean DVD.

The film was not as funny as I anticipated but that's probably due to the high expectations I had built up for this movie after the long wait. Its original and contains a lot of Korean black humour that translates very well on the whole. The film contains some great support characters who give this movie added depth and rewards with repeated viewings. Hip and geared towards the pop corn audience.

During their wait, they learn how to use the automated pump system, and decide to keep the payment for the gas they pump into customer's vehicles for themselves. As more customers pull in, the percentage of people who have the potential to cause trouble for the four men increases. As time goes by, more and more people find themselves locked upstairs alongside the initial captives.

As the evening continues, the four men inadvertantly cause trouble with various people, including a faux motorcycle gang called "The Delivery Boys", a gang of young hoodlums and bullies, a group of well-to-do gangsters, and two police officers. With all the unwanted attention, can the group make a clean getaway?

REVIEW:
Story? STORY!?! We don't need no stinkin' story! Well, the production crew didn't seem to see a reason to use anything more than a minimal one. The fact that the plot is centered around a basic point A to point B outline doesn't hurt the overall feel too much, but it keeps viewers' expectations pretty low for anything really cool and different to happen. Basically, by the halfway point, you find yourself merely waiting for the next joke and not much else.

The pacing seems odd at times, and a few scenes feel really out of place. For a whacky and somewhat dark comedy, the "what went wrong" flashback sequences are not necessary. What I'm referring to are segments in the film when the four stars encounter a reminder of something in their lives that turned them into hoodlums. This would be more acceptable and evoke more pity from the viewers if the rest of the movie wasn't created in such a light hearted and simple perspective.

Another issue I have with this movie is how much it resembles another Korean film, 'Afrika'. 'Attack the Gas Station' was released nearly three years prior, so I guees this rant is aimed more towards the latter of the two films. Anyhow, both center around four individuals causing mischief because of previous, unfortunate events. Both have something to do with robbing a gas station (only a small scene in 'Afrika'), each time with the protagonists forcing the station owner to sing for their amusement. And finally, both have those ridiculous "feel sorry for me" flashback scenes. I'm not certain if the same creators had a hand in both films, but I think its time to ignore these storytelling methods in any future films.

I'm not about to fill this entire review with negative feedback, because that wouldn't properly reflect a 3 star rating. Despite the movie being very simplistic, it is pretty enjoyable to watch. Its approach doesn't hurt the ability to connect on a certain level with the characters, all of whom are acted superbly, and it doesn't detract from the comedic elements. However, I can't help but feel as though the filmmakers could have done a cleaner, tighter job in some areas. Is my lack of praise and a lowered rating justified because of this? I'm having a difficult time being completely sure, so this is where I stand for the time being. Who says I won't possibly change my mind in the future?

FINAL VERDICT:
Unless someone goes around sporting a monacle and a doctorate in philosophy (ain't stereotypes grand?), they are either lying or incredibly ignorant if they say they only like one type of movie. If said taste doesn't include whimsical, light-hearted comedies, then 'Attack the Gas Station' should not be considered for their viewing pleasure. It is a good time to be had for those looking for mindless entertainment and nothing more.

Now the question is, if I were to rob a gas station in my area, would I have just as much fun? Golden Monkey ponders...