WaSanGo (2001)

Director:

Tae-gyun Kim

Writers:

Tae-gyun Kim (writer)
Dong-heon Seo (writer)

Release Date:

5 December 2001 (South Korea)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy

Tagline:

Violence inside Korean schools, especially WaSanGo.

Plot:

Violence in Korean High School, especially inside the WaSanGo (Volcano High). You won't be able to escape.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Blackboard | Kung Fu | Girl Fighter | Rain

Cast

Hyuk Jang	...	Kim, Kyeong-su
Min-a Shin	...	Yu, Chae-i
Su-ro Kim	...	Jang, Ryang
Sang-woo Kwone	...	Song Hak-Rim
Hyo-jin Kong	...	So, Yo-seon
Sang-hun Jeong	...	Golbangi
Hyeong-jong Kim	...	Shim, Ma
Shi-ah Chae	...	Yo-mi
Jun-ho Heo	...	Mr. Ma
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
André Benjamin	...	Kim Kyeong-su (MTV English Dub) (as André 3000)
Big Boi	...	(MTV English Dub)
Hie-bong Byeon
Snoop Dogg	...	Song Hak-lim (MTV English Dub)
Su-Jeong Eom
Mu-hyeon Lee
Method Man	...	Mr. Ma (MTV English Dub)
Tracy Morgan	...	(MTV English Dub)
Pat Morita	...	(MTV English Dub)
Mya	...	Yu Cha-i (MTV English Dub)
Pete Sepenuk	...	Dean

Also Known As:

Hwasan Highschool (literal English title)
Volcano High (International: English title) (Berlin film festival title)
Kazankô (Japan) [ja]
Volcano High School (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence, some partial nudity and language.

Runtime:

Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Germany:121 min | South Korea:120 min | UK:95 min (25 fps)

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-15 | Denmark:11 | Germany:16 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Spain:18 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | USA:PG-13 | Malaysia:(Banned)

Company:

SBS

Trivia:

André Benjamin's film debut.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Noksaek uija (2005)

Matrix meets Dragon Ball at school!

Complete comic book like madness, combining the Manga style with the Matrix film approach... lots of special effects and really well made.

In Korean and Japanese tradition it had to be at school where a fight breaks between rival groups and teachers. All Dragon Ball moves are there. The makers of this film must not be afraid of comparisons because we do not laugh at the effects, we laugh at the comedy that's always present during the movie.

Not trying to be serious it makes fun of the genre and respects and pays tribute to its origins at the same time. If you like the comic books you have to see this movie.