Hwasango
Encyclopedia
Volcano High 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; most notably Song Hak-rim (portrayed by Kwon Sang-woo
). Kyung-Soo is drawn into fights between different clubs, a Manual that is told to hold great power, and a group of teachers that will do whatever possible to keep the students in line.
), it's similar in style, mostly rock music. The US version is completely different featuring known hip-hop artists.
featuring popular hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg
, Method Man
, Lil' Jon, Big Boi
, and Mýa
.
This MTV
altered version of the film was aired three times, twice on the premiere date, and once on the following Saturday. The American version was presented entirely by True Crime: Streets of LA
. There was only one commercial,featuring a gunshot victim being operated on, and it was for the aforementioned game.
set before the movie called Volcano High Prelude
. It was distributed in the United States by Media Blasters
.
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
South Korean martial arts
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
in the same vein as Tenjho Tenge
Tenjho Tenge
is a Japanese manga authored by Ito "Oh! great" Ōgure. The story primarily focuses on the members of the Juken Club and their opposition, the Executive Council, which is the ruling student body of a high school that educates its students in the art of combat...
. It revolves around a troublemaking high school student named Kim Kyung-soo (portrayed by Jang Hyuk
Jang Hyuk
- Career :As a child, Jang Hyuk spent most of his life in his birthplace Busan, before making his drama debut in the SBS drama Model in 1997. Besides the TV drama School and a minor role in the little-seen film Zzang, Jang appeared in g.o.d.'s music video of their 1999 debut single To My Mother...
) 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
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
, with a few demonstrating even more mysterious psychic powers; most notably Song Hak-rim (portrayed by Kwon Sang-woo
Kwon Sang-woo
-Career:Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called "mom-zzang" movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles...
). Kyung-Soo is drawn into fights between different clubs, a Manual that is told to hold great power, and a group of teachers that will do whatever possible to keep the students in line.
Cast
- Jang HyukJang Hyuk- Career :As a child, Jang Hyuk spent most of his life in his birthplace Busan, before making his drama debut in the SBS drama Model in 1997. Besides the TV drama School and a minor role in the little-seen film Zzang, Jang appeared in g.o.d.'s music video of their 1999 debut single To My Mother...
as Kim Kyung-Soo: Main character whose powers caused him to get kicked out of school. Volcano High is the last school that will accept him. - Shin Min-aShin Min-a (actress)- Career :Shin Mina debuted as a model for KiKi Magazine and has since appeared in many commercial and films advertisements, becoming one of the most in-demand commercial and films endorsers in South Korea....
as Yoo Chae-Yi: Nicknamed and described as "Icy Jade". Captain of the Kendo team and love interest of Kyung-Soo. - Kim Soo-Ro as Jang Ryang: Nicknamed "Dark Ox". Leader of the Dark Oxen and captain of the weight-lifting team. One of the most powerful and feared fighters at Volcano High.
- Kwon Sang-wooKwon Sang-woo-Career:Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called "mom-zzang" movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles...
as Song Hak-rim: Described as "Elegant Crane in a Pine Forest". The most powerful martial artist in Volcano High. He is imprisoned after being framed by Jang Ryang for trying to steal the Manuscript. - Kong Hyo-jinKong Hyo-jinGong Hyo-jin is a South Korean actress living in Seoul, South Korea.- Filmography :- Music Videos :*Part 1: "Left Alone" Part 2: "I Still Bite My Lips" *"Brown Hair"...
as So Yo-seon: Described as "Single Hearted". Admirer of Song Hak-rim and co-captain of the Kendo team. - Kim Hyeong-jong as Shimma: Captain of the rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team. - Huh Jun-ho as Mr. Ma: Leader of the 5 Teachers who are sent to discipline the students. He has a history with Kyung-Soo.
- Byeon Hee-bongByeon Hee-bongByeon Hee-bong is a South Korean actor who is best known for his role in the smash hit The Host for which he won awards at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and Blue Dragon Film Awards. Byeon became a cult TV star in the 1970s for portraying eccentric men that can't quite fit in with mainstream...
as Vice Principal Jang Hak-Sa: Enlists the help of the 5 teachers and is angry due to the fact he isn't the principal.
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....Soundtrack
The movie had different soundtracks in Korea, in Japan and in the US. The original Korean soundtrack was scored by Yeong Park and features two songs from Korean nu metal band R.F. Children. It is mostly rock music. The Japanese soundtrack was written by Daita (former guitarist of Siam ShadeSiam Shade
Siam Shade was a five-piece Japanese rock band, which broke onto the visual kei scene alongside a multitude of other artists in the early 1990s. They enjoyed a decade of relative popularity before disbanding in early 2002. On November 18, 2007, they reunited for a concert in honor of their...
), it's similar in style, mostly rock music. The US version is completely different featuring known hip-hop artists.
American version
The American version of the film was done by MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
featuring popular hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
, Lil' Jon, Big Boi
Big Boi
Antwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...
, and Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
.
- Pat MoritaPat MoritaNoriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
as Vice Principal Jang Hak-Sa (renamed Ko) - Big BoiBig BoiAntwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...
as Shimma - KelisKelisKelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
as So Yo-seon (renamed Song) - Tracy MorganTracy MorganTracy Morgan is an American comedian who is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and currently known for playing the role of Tracy Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock.-Early life:...
as Woo Ping
This MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
altered version of the film was aired three times, twice on the premiere date, and once on the following Saturday. The American version was presented entirely by True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA is an action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube in November 2003 and the first game in the True Crime series...
. There was only one commercial,featuring a gunshot victim being operated on, and it was for the aforementioned game.
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. |
| 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 day-dreamer and his recurring dream is about a girl who 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 then dumped him and Ryang hopes to get back together. | The two never were together and Jang Ryang only revealed his feelings for her. |
| The music featured is popular Hip-Hop music released around the time this version came out. | The music is mostly Rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... . |
| Volcano High is said to be located in the mountains of Kim Tae-gyun | The location of Volcano High is never revealed and there is no such mountain called Kim Tae-gyun. 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. |
Manhwa / comics
There is also a manhwaManhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
set before the movie called Volcano High Prelude
Volcano High Prelude
Volcano High Prelude is a manhwa, set before the 2001 film Volcano High that details the events that occur before Kim Kyung-soo arrives. This however, does not required to be read before seeing the movie. The manhwa was written by Ahn Chul-jung and illustrated by Kim Hwan...
. It was distributed in the United States by Media Blasters
Media Blasters
Media Blasters is an entertainment corporation founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz, based in New York City. They are in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga compilations and anime and live-action movies and television series to home-video...
.