Archive for the 'DVDs: New Releases' Category

This week there are four Korean movies being released on DVD.  One of them, War of Arrows, I listed last week, but the release date was pushed back until Feb. 17th.  The rest are listed below.  I want all of these…. does that make me greedy?

RyangKang-do; Merry Christmas, North! (pictured left)– directed by Kim Seong-hoon and Jeong Seong-san. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: for all ages/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 95 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: February 16th.

Dancing Zoo (center)– directed by Kim Hyo-jeong and Park Seong-yong, starring Han Hee-jeong and Moon Gu.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 115 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price:  22,000 KRW/ Available: February 17th.

Hong Gil-Dong 2084 (right)– directed by Lee Jeong-in and voiced by Dong Ho, Kim Seung-yeong and Jeong Jae-heon.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 93 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: February 17th.

Last weekend, you may have noticed that this weekly feature did not appear on this site.  That is because there were no new DVDs of Korean films released then. But we are making up for it this week with five movies coming out on DVD. 

First we have S.I.U, which is short for The Special Investigation Unit. It was directed by Hwang Byeok-gook and starred Uhm Tae-woong (Uhm Jeong-hwa’s younger brother), Joo Won and Seong Dong-il.  Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running time: 111 minutes plus 51 minutes of extras on disc 2/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: February 8

Picture above right is Always, directed by Song Il-gon and starring So Ji-seob and Han Hyo-joo.  Number of discs: 4/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 105 minutes plus 150 minutes of extras.. Disc 2 contain footage of the making of the movie and standard ‘extras’, Disc 3 is a character profile of Jang Cheol-min (So Ji-seob) and Disc 4 is a look at Ha Jeong-hwa (Han Hyo-joo’s character)/ Suggested Retail Price: 27,500 KRW/ Available: February 8

Family Mart, directed by Kim Geon and starring Kim Yeon-soo, No Joon-ho and Kim Hyeon-sook, is a little bit obscure. It was made in 2008 and screened at the 2009 Jeonbuk Independent Film Festival. Later, it was granted a very small theatrical release in 2010, Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: for ages 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 91 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: February 9.

The Journal of Musan made my and several other lists of Best Films in 2011.  It was directed by Park Jeong-beom who also plays the main character, a North Korean refugee from the town of Musan who finds life in South Korea less tolerant than he believed. It also features Jin Yong-wook and Kang Eun-ji.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 127 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: February 9.

Finally we have War of the Arrows directed by Kim Han-min and starring Park Hae-il, Ryu Seung-ryong and Kim Moo-yeol. Number of discs: 3/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: for ages 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 122 minutes (theatrical release), 128 minutes (director’s cut?, disc 2). The third disc is extras of unlisted length/ Suggested Retail Price: 29,700 KRW/ Available: February 9.

Because of the holiday taking up the first half of the week, there are no new releases of DVDs until the second half.  At that time, we will have three films made available for purchase: Elbowroom, Re-Encounter and If You Were Me 5. I have already ordered that last one and I am interested in the other two as well.

Elbowroom:  directed by Ham Kyeong-rok and starring Park Ji-won and Shin Yeong-sook. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 90 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000KRW/ Available: January 26

Re-Encounter: directed by Min Yong-geun, starring Yoo Da-in and Yoo Yeon-seok. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digitial 5.1/ Running Time: 108 minutes + 108 minutes of extras on the second disc including director Min’s short film The Little Thief (26 minutes)/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: January 27

If You Were Me 5: directed by Kim Yi-gwan, Bu Ji-yeong, Kim Dae-seung, Shin Dong-il and Yoon Seong-hyeon. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 12+/ Format: 16:9 anamoprhic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 146 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: January 27.

I am back in Korea after a month of spending time with family in the US. I have a lot of catching up to do here, so I am going to ignore how jetlagged I feel and get started. While I was away, many DVDs were released. I will give information about them and include the DVDs slated for release this week as well.

High Pitch– d. Kim Sang-jin, starring Kim Joo-seok and Kim Seon-ah. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: all ages/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 124 minutes + 38 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: December 21

The Day He Arrives– d. Hong Sang-soo, starring Yoo Joo-sang and Kim Sang-joong. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 18+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 2.0/ Running Time: 104 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 22

Katuri: Story of a Mother Bird– d. Jeong Gil-hoon, voiced by Lee So-eun, Han Shin-jeong. Number of discs: 1 (contains both 2D and 3D options)/ Subtitles: Korean and English (English dubbing is also included)/ Rating: all ages/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 57 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: December 22

Sorry and Thank You– <omnibus>–directed by Song Il-gon, Oh Jeom-gyun, Im Soon-rye and Park Heung-shik. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 12+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 116 minutes + 10 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 23

You Are Such a Fool–<documentary>– directed by Kang Seong-wook, narrated by Ahn Seong-gi. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: no information/ Rating: all ages/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 2.0/ Running Time: 73 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 23

Countdown– directed by Heo Jang-ho, starring Jeong Jae-yeong and Jeon Do-yeon. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: 18+/Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 119 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 28

Quick– director Jo Beom-gu, starring Lee Min-gi and Kang Ye-won. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 112 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 29

Hindsight — directed by Lee Hyeon-seong, starring Song Kang-ho and Shin Se-kyeong. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 120 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Running Time: 120 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: January 5

Client– directed by Song Yeong-seong, starring Ha Jeong-woo and Park Hee-soon. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital  5.1/ Running Time: 127 minutes + 50 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: January 11

Mr. Idol– directed by Ra Hee-chan, starring Ji Hyeon-woo an Park Ye-jin. Number of discs: 3/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 12+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 114 minutes + 77 minutes (the third disc is called Park Jae-beom Special)/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: January 11

LaLa Sunshine– directed by Kim Ah-ron, starring Yang Eun-yeong and Lee Chan-yeong. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 2.0/ Running Time: 63 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: January 13

Dooman River– directed by Lu Zhang, starring Choi Geon and Yoon Ran. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 2.0/ Running Time: 90 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: January 13

Pained– directed by Kwak Kyeong-taek, starring Kwon Sang-woo and Jeong Ryeo-won. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 105 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: January 18

Couples– directed by Jeong Yong-gi, starring Kim Joo-hyeok and Lee Yoon-ji/ Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running Time: 110 minutes +51 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: January 18

It seems that my getting excited about the release of Magicians was a bit premature as that dvd has been pushed back to December 30th. But that is ok because there is something to get just as excited about. That is the Kim Soo-yong Collection pictured left in the above image. It is a four disc collection consisting of the films A Seaside Village (1965), Confessions of an Actress (1967), Mist (1967) and Night Journey (1977). Subtitles: Korean, English, Japanese/ Rating: ages 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital Mono/ extras include a 56 minute documentary by Kim Soo-yong on Seaside Village/ Suggested Retail Price: 49,500 KRW/ Available: December 13

The movie in the center of the image is I Came From Busan directed by Jeon Soo-il and starring Park Ha-seon and Kim Jeong-tae. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 19+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ / Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 81 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: December 13

The last movie is Themselves directed by Yoo Tae-shik and starring Ko Soo-hee and Kim Jin-yi. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 12+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 99 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: December 13

This week we have three new movies being released onto DVD. First up we have the fourth installment of the Marrying the Mafia series…

Marrying the Mafia 4–Directed by Jeong Tae-won, starring Kim Soo-mi, Shin Hyeon-joon and Tak Jae-hoon.  Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: English and Korean/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital/ Running Time: 103 minutes + 56 minutes of extras on second disc/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: December 7th

Champ– Directed by Lee Hwan-kyeong, starring Cha Tae-hyeon, Kim Soo-jeong and Yoo Oh-seong.  Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 12+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital/ 133 minutes+ 50 minutes of extras on second disc/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: December 7th.

The giant water bear movie! I remember writing a horrible review of this movie and yet… of  the three movies listed here this week… it is the only one I briefly considered buying.  I know I will end up getting it but I am going to wait a few months when the price drops.  Sector 7– Directed by Kim Ji-hoon and starring Ha Ji-won, Ahn Seong-gi and Oh Ji-ho. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 112 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: December 8th.

Well, I guess six-and-a-half years isn’t too long to wait. And I shouldn’t really complain.  In fact, I am really very happy that the full length version of Song Il-gon’s technical, one-take masterpiece, Magicians will finally be available on DVD as of December 16.  I know that I am a week early posting this– I will be posting info on the Korean movies being released on DVD for the coming week during the weekend. Not only that– the second disc in this set contains Song Il-gon’s short films including Picnic, a film I occasionally get questioned as to its availibilty.  This region 3 dvd will be subtitled in English.

Last week was an excellent time to buy DVDs and this coming week sees the release of some films that may be well worth owning.  One of them was this year’s first surprise hit, Sunny.

More than 7 million people watched this movie nationally at the time of its release in theaters. This three disc set contains both the theatrical release and the Director’s Cut. I wonder if this accounts for a discrepancy in the rating listed on the promotional material for this DVD and the rating for the theatrical release. The movie was rated for ages 15+, but the promo material for this DVD set has it rated for 18+… I do not know if it is a misprint or if the Directors Cut contains material that makes it unsuitable for younger viewers..

SUNNY:  Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, starring Ko Soo-hee, Kim Min-yeong, Kim Seon-kyeong. Number of Discs: 3/ Subtitles: English & Korean/ Rating: 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Doby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 124 (theatrical), 135 (director’s cut)/ Suggested Retail Price: 26,500 KRW/ Available: November 24

Pictured above left is the animated omnibus If You Were Me: Anima Vision 2. Number of Discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean & English/ Rating: all ages/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 126 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: November 24

The other film listed above is Sagwa starring Moon So-ri, Lee Seon-gyun and Kim Tae-woo & directed by Kang Yi-kwan.  Number of Discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running TIme: 107 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: November 24

I hope you’ve been saving your pennies because this coming week there are several DVDs being released that will be well worth owning.

Winner of the Grand Bell awards, Jang Hoon’s FRONT LINE starring Shin Ha-gyun, Ko Soo and Lee Je-hoon is now available.  Number of discs: 3/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 133 min, second disc 78 min, third disc is the OST/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ available: November 16

BLIND– Director: Ahn Sang-hoon, starring Kim Ha-neul, Yoo Seung-ho  Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 111 minutes plus 58 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 23,100 KRW/ Available: November 16

LEAFIE: A HEN INTO THE WILD– one of the best animated films I have seen in a long time.  Directed by Oh Seong-yoon and voiced by top stars Moon So-ri, Yoo Seung-ho and Choi Min-shik. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: all ages/ Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 93 minutes plus 24 minutes of extras/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: November 16.

The first DVD in the image on the right is DRIFTING AWAY directed by Kim Dong-won and starring Lee Kyeon, Ko Joon-hee and Shin Dong-mi.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dobly Digital 2.0/ Running Time: 78 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: November 17. 

The second disc in the image is EIGHTEEN directed by Jang Geon-jae and starring Seo Joon-hyeong and Lee Min-ji. Number of discs: 2/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/ Running Time: 96 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 25,300 KRW/ Available: November 17

October is already coming to a close and the last full week of the month brings us three movies being released onto DVD.  However, only one of the three will have English subtitles. The dvd pictured left is Funny Neighbors directed by Yang Yeong-cheol and starring Park Won-sang and Jeon Mi-seon.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean and English/ Rating: Ages 12+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running time: 97 minutes/ Suggested retail price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: October 26th/ Chance I will purchase this: 50%– I don’t buy many comedies and I will hold off buying it right away, but I there is a chance I will purchase this at a later date.

Pictured center is The Grass Is Greener directed by Seong Ji-hye and starring Kim Yeong-ho and Hwang In-yeong. Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 15+/ Format: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 2.0/ Running time: 91 minutes/ Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: October 26th/ Chance I will purchase this: 75%–

Finally, we have Ghastly which I saw on television and expressed my opinion about earlier. It is directed by Ko Seok-jin and stars Han Eun-jeong and Lee Hyeong-seok.  Number of discs: 1/ Subtitles: Korean/ Rating: ages 18+/ Format: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen/ Audio: Dolby digital 5.1/ Running time: 78 min/ Suggested Retail price: 22,000 KRW/ Available: October 27th/ Chance I will buy this: 10%– I hated this movie. It is one of the worst I have seen in a long time.  BUT I expect that in about two months, I will be able to find it for a quarter of its current cost–I can’t resist sales and will pick it up..