Volcano High

Volcano High

Volcano High promotional movie poster
Hangul 화산고
Hanja 火山高
Revised Romanization Hwasango
McCune–Reischauer Hwasan'go
Directed by Kim Tae-kyun
Produced by Cha Seung-jae
Written by Kim Tae-kyun
Seo Dong-heon
Jeong An-cheol
Starring Jang Hyuk
Shin Min-ah
Kim Su-ro
Kwon Sang-woo
Heo Joon-ho
Music by Park Young
Cinematography Choi Young-taek
Edited by Ko Im-pyo
Distributed by Cinema Service
Release dates
  • December 5, 2001 (2001-12-05)
Running time
 121 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean

Volcano High (Hangul: 화산고; RR: Hwasango), the original version, is a 2001 South Korean martial arts action comedy film in the same vein as Tenjho Tenge.

It revolves around a troublemaking high school student named Kim Kyung-soo (portrayed by Jang Hyuk) who finds himself transferred to the last school that will take him, the prestigious Volcano High, an institution whose students display an incredible talent in martial arts, with a few demonstrating even more mysterious psychic powers. Kyung-soo is drawn into fights between different clubs, a manuscript that is told to hold great power, and a group of teachers that will do whatever possible to keep the students in line.

It was the 9th highest grossing Korean film of 2001 with 1,687,800 admissions nationwide.[1]

Prologue

17 years of feuding, sparked by the Great Teacher's Battle, has stripped authorities of their power, as self-indulgence, disguised as self-control, grips the student body. The schools have fallen into disarray. However, there is a legend. The one who acquires the Secret Manuscript will end the chaos. It is a legend that disrupts the Martial Court of Volcano High. Now, in the 108th year of Volcano...

Cast and characters

Soundtrack

The movie released different soundtracks in South Korea, in Japan and in the US. The original Korean soundtrack was scored by Park Young and features mostly rock music, including two songs from Korean nu metal band R.F. Children. The Japanese soundtrack was written by Daita (former guitarist of Siam Shade), and is similar in style, with rock music. The US version is a completely altered version from the original featuring hip hop music.

American version

The American version of the film released in late 2003 was edited by MTV and featured voice acting by hip hop artists Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Lil' Jon, Big Boi, and Mýa.

This Kung Faux parody version of the film aired only on MTV.

Differences Between the Korean and American versions

American Korean
Nearly 30 minutes edited out with scenes rearranged to a running time of nearly 80 minutes. The movie is much longer with 122 minutes.
Song Hak-rim is imprisoned because Jang Ryang framed him for trying to poison the principal. Song Hak-rim is imprisoned because Jang Ryang framed him for trying to steal the manuscript.
The main plot involves 5 teachers who are sent to discipline the students. While this plot is still in the Korean version, the main plot is actually about a manuscript that is told to hold great power. Many want to know its location while the 5 teacher plot is actually a subplot.
Kyung-soo is portrayed as a daydreamer and his recurring dream is about a girl whom he meets in the forest. This girl is actually Shimma's fraternal twin sister and she sends him into the forest to seduce him to play rugby.
So Yo-seon is Song Hak-rim's girlfriend. So Yo-seon merely admires Hak-rim from a distance while writing letters he would never get to read.
Jang Ryang and Yoo Chae-yi used to date, but Chae-yi dumped him and Ryang hopes to get back together. The two were never together and Jang Ryang only confessed his feelings for her.
The music featured is popular hip hop released around the time this version came out. The music is mostly rock.
Volcano High is said to be located in the mountains of Kim Tae-kyun The location of Volcano High is never revealed and there is no such mountain called Kim Tae-kyun. This is actually the name of the director.
Kyung-soo willingly gives up his endurance contest with Jang Ryang and accidentally loses his fight with Jang Ryang Kyung-soo remembers his mother, father, and sister telling him to restrain himself during both of these incidents.

Comic

There is also a manhwa set before the movie called Volcano High Prelude. It was distributed in the United States by Media Blasters.

References

  1. ↑ "The Best Selling Films of 2001". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 13 October 2014.

External links

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