Battle For Incheon: Operation Chromite (2016)

7.0 /10

Directed by: John H. Lee

Star Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Beom-soo, Liam Neeson, Jin Se-yeon

Genre: War, Drama, Historical

Running time: 111 minutes

Operation Chromite, set in the 1950s, is based on the actual events of the Battle of Inchon during the Korean War. I'd call it a spy drama rather than a war drama because most of the film concentrates on obtaining critical information about subsurface sea mines installed by North Koreans at Incheon Port, code-named "X-Ray" by Captain Jang Hak-Soo (Lee Jung-Jae) and his elite team of seven members. General Douglas MacArthur's "Operation Chromite" serves as the secondary focal point.

The representation of the cat-and-mouse game between Jang Hak-soo (Lee Jung-jae) and his North Korean counterpart, Lim Gye-Jin (Lee Beom-soo), is fantastic. This section of the story always keeps the suspense high and delivers incredible heart-stopping and breathtaking moments. It was difficult for them to gather intelligence behind enemy lines, but they were willing to go to any length to save their country, and this sensitive situation was expertly handled.

On the other hand, the scene in which General MacArthur is planning an amphibious landing of naval troops is far less compelling and appears needless. MacArthur was opposed by all other officers for his decision to land on Incheon which had a 5000:1 chance of success.“I am Douglas MacArthur. I win wars.”-clearly shows his confidence in the plan. Unfortunately, this is the only effective line by Liam Neeson in the whole film. It seems like he's being used just to gain the attention of the international audience. In my opinion, Neeson's role doesn't even qualify to be called a supporting role.

The story is absorbing and compelling. Action sequences were filled with the theme of sacrifice but there is room for improvement. The cinematography is great. CGI is ok when it comes to its low budget. Lee Jung-jae has given a memorable performance. All the supporting cast have given energetic performances. Dialogue writing isn't inspiring but doesn't cause any harm too to the story. There are some childish sequences that could have been easily avoided.

Overall with an intense surreal plot and mesmerizing performances, Operation Chromite is mostly satisfying, enjoyable and a heart-warming film. Those heroes need to be remembered and their story is a must told.

Where to Watch: Battle For Incheon: Operation Chromite is available on Amazon Prime.

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