An Illiterate Korean Reviews Japanese Blockbuster “The First Slam Dunk”
Over the winter, a certain Japanese animated movie called “The First Slam Dunk” swept across East Asia. After seeing this film, adapted from the legendary manga series “Slam Dunk,” I can definitely say that this fame and acclaim are well-deserved.
Of course, the animation was fantastic, a stunning display of skill in intense action scenes and tender character moments alike. There were many loving references to the movie’s manga origins, especially poignant given the movie’s impeccable move to CGI with 2D elements.
But that’s enough of the visual stuff. What I want to discuss today is the incredible plot and writing of this movie, the dialogue (Japanese) and subtitles (Korean) of which I could definitely understand perfectly without guessing at all, because I can definitely understand spoken Japanese and read Korean. Wouldn’t it be so embarrassing if I, an ethnic Korean, couldn’t read Korean? Wouldn’t it be so embarrassing if I forgot how to read a language I learned as a toddler? Ha! Couldn’t be me. His brother stopped showing up in the movie for reasons that are definitely unknown to everyone and not just me.
For example, the main character of the movie, [INSERT NAME], showed an incredible story arc of maturation, picking up the sport of basketball after his brother stopped showing up in the movie for reasons that are definitely unknown to all viewers and not just me. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes is when he finally revisits the cave where he and his brother did something in Japanese that I definitely understood, and left home to pursue basketball, and it is equally cathartic to see his team win against all odds so he feels worthy to return home, his mother fittingly telling him [INSERT SOMETHING IN JAPANESE]. I’m a major fan of sports movies (source: I watched “Space Jam” as a kid, and also “Rudy,” I guess) and this was easily the most tangible, emotional, and definitely understandable show of characterization I’ve seen. Michael Jordan could never.
Other characters get incredible attention, too, from the Team Captain [INSERT NAME] to the dramatic former bully [INSERT NAME] to the fiery [INSERT NAME]. It’s such a powerful, if medically questionable, moment when he decides to power through and keep playing in spite of his injury, upon which the movie only capitalizes on with Coach [INSERT NAME] encouraging him with what I assume was a brilliantly inspiring speech. He’s also easily the funniest character, with such banger lines as [INSERT JOKE IN JAPANESE] and [INSERT WITTY ONE-LINER IN JAPANESE]. Or, if you prefer, [INSERT JOKE IN KOREAN], or [I’M RUNNING THIS JOKE INTO THE GROUND]. Other characters get incredible attention, too, from the Team Captain [INSERT NAME] to the dramatic former bully [INSERT NAME] to the fiery [INSERT NAME]
Overall, “The First Slam Dunk” was a phenomenal time, all the way from when the basketball did the thing that you’re supposed to do with basketballs, to the final [INSERT BASKETBALL TERM]. If you ever have the chance to watch this movie, give it a fair shake, it won’t disappoint.
And, of course, to be completely faithful to the material, you need to watch it in Japanese. I don’t make the rules, I only follow them, and I understood everything perfectly!
You can take the woman out of the bird, but you can't take the bird out of the woman: meet Yoon Lee.
