SEE MORE DRAMA AND MOVIE REVIEWS HERE: http://dramadevoted.tumblr.com Story: For me it was the title that pulled me in. I had no idea about the actors that were in it. Just the title sounds good, 71 student soldiers fighting in a battle that they thought might not happen. They had even been told that the chances of them fighting were slim, that all they needed to do was to hold out for a few days until reinforcement arrived. Instead of that happening, they engaged the North Korean forces on several occasions, all with devastating results. I wish they had given us a little bit of background for some of the characters. The only flashbacks into the past is when the students are leaving and all the mothers are sending their children off. However, the fact that the director and producers were able to make me cry so hard and so much without any back story is amazing. They get you hooked on the characters by who they are and their relationships with each other. It is breathtaking the way they all stand together, fight with and side by side. There is so much growth in every single character that it breaks your heart when the real fighting begins. The entire time I watched this my hands were covering my mouth and I was holding my breath. I forgot to breathe several times and became dizzy. It is that intense. Music: Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention to the music. I was too busy crying and watching the action going on. Cast/Acting: It’s no wonder that Choi Seung-hyun, T.O.P, won two awards for this movie. I haven’t seen acting this good since I watched 1 Litre of Tears. Their performances are so breathtaking and so heartfelt that it breaks your heart. Even the more minor characters. You can’t help but want to reach out and hold each and every one of them. Even the ones you hated at first. Rewatch Value: 10