Volcano High

Volcano High
Volcano High promotional movie poster
Hangul	화산고
Hanja	火山高
RR	Hwasan'go
MR	Hwasan'go
Directed by	Kim Tae-gyun
Written by	Kim Tae-gyun Seo Dong-heon
Starring	Jang Hyuk Shin Min-ah Kim Soo-Ro Kwon Sang-woo Huh Jun-ho
Distributed by	Cinema Service
Release date(s)	December 5, 2001 (South Korea)
Running time	120 min. (original version)
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

Volcano High (Korean: 화산고, Hwasango) 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.

Cast

• Jang Hyuk 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-a 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-woo 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-jin 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 union 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-bong 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 Shade), 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 MTV featuring popular hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Lil' Jon, Big Boi, and Mýa.

• Pat Morita as Vice Principal Jang Hak-Sa (renamed Ko)
• Big Boi as Shimma
• Kelis as So Yo-seon (renamed Song)
• Tracy Morgan as Woo Ping

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.

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

External links

• Volcano High at the Internet Movie Database