An excellent film from talented director Chan-wook Park, who also made the incredible "Old Boy". A beautifully made production which highlights the lunacy of a divided Korea, this is a thought provoking and hugely enjoyable military drama with a serious point to make. The plot centres on a fictional modern day incident which took place in the North Korean border post at the "Bridge of No Return".
Simon Hill, Celluloid Dreams.

 
"Joint Security Area" offers complex North Korean characters, and a tragic tale about a friendship doomed by the entrenched political distrust and fear that have divided Korea for almost fifty years. One of the most striking aspects of "Joint Security Area" is its sumptuous cinematography. Director Park Chan-wook and cinematographer Kim Sung-bok have crafted a number of memorable scenes that drip in atmosphere, tension, and surprisingly, warmth.
Anthony Leong, MediaCircus.