The Great Battle (2018 Korean movie streaming currently on Hi-Yah) is a gem of a picture got a very limited US release (at the same time as Venom). It is hard to find , but worth tracking down. This is the Korean version of 300 mixed with Braveheart. What it may lack in historical accuracy it makes up for in style and jaw dropping battles many of which rival the Two Towers

It is visually appealing, packed from top to bottom with action and combat, dressed in appealing costumes, and backed by a stirring soundtrack by Yoon Il-sang.

A solid if unremarkable Korean historical war epic about a single fortress holding out against a massive Tang Chinese invading force. THE GREAT BATTLE isn't particularly fresh or original as a movie, often nodding back to Hollywood oldies like LORD OF THE RINGS and 300, but at the same time it proves entertaining throughout with only a few slow spots in between the pitched battles. There are no big name actors or performances here, but the film goes for the visual approach, with a lot of CGI-augmented large-scale fights and some creative moments during the siege. It's well-shot and violent, too, so if you like the genre you'll like this one too well enough.

A movie that claims or has the title (at least internationally) of "Great Battle", does have quite something to prove. And while it starts off with a battle scene, that is not the one that is meant in the title. I reckon there are more than one battle scenes anyway.

The fighting choreography and the framing/camera work are beautiful! More than that some might argue actually. Story is quite easy to follow. A friend of mine compared it to Musa, which I think does a disservice to this rather than helping it. That's a bar and a comparison you don't need to make, just enjoy this for what it is. Characters are nicely drawn, even if the whole thing is more or less predictable. Visually stunning is enough for some, not even close to enough for others of course