Welcome to the third edition of Koreanfilm Weekly. In this weekly column you can find the latest news on DVD releases from Korea, along with plenty of DVD reviews. For any information, question, complaint or correction, contact KoreanFilmWeekly@hotmail.com.

Note: DVD release dates and specs are subject to change.
Disclaimer: The DVD reviews might contain minor/major spoilers.

**Latest DVD Releases**

Seoul [2001]
Release Date: 1/3 - Company: CD Plus - Running Time: 109 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Japanese DTS, Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, Japanese Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, Letterboxed - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: T.B.A.

NOTES: This is a Japanese action film starring Choi Min-soo and Nagase Tomoya. CD Plus's a new company, and not surprisingly they're not offering English Subtitles. Most Japanese releases in Korea suffer the same fate though, so we can't really complain. Film is supposed to be good, and a HK release will follow shortly, with English Subtitles. The difference is this release will be a port of the Japanese DVD, so if you favor picture quality over the opportunity of having English Subtitles, get this. Just like with the Go DVD.

Korea Short Animation Collection: Episode 1
Release Date: 1/6 - Company: Pop Entertainment Asia - Running Time: 70 Minutes (Combined) - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Surround 2.0, English Dolby Surround 2.0 (doesn't necessarily mean all shorts will be in dual language) - Subtitle Options: None
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1, Full Frame - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features:  About The Film, About The Directors, Poster & Sketches, Music Video (Westlife), Interview


NOTES: Here's some more info about the shorts. Many of these won prizes at various Korean and International festivals.
MOUSE without tail - Directed by Park Won-cheol (2001), shot on DV 6mm, 15 Minutes/Mind Your Own Business - Directed by Shin Young-jae (2001), cell based and transfered to 35mm, 5 Minutes/Auto - Directed by Jeon Ha-mok and Yoon Do-ik (2002), shot on beta, 5 Minutes/On the Edge of Death - Directed by Kim Dong-wook (2000), shot on beta, 13 Minutes/Grandma - Directed by Cho Sung-yeon (2000), shot on beta b&w, 5 Minutes/Don`t Cry, Hongdo - Directed by Jang Jung-im (1999), shot on beta, 2 Minutes/Desktop Wars - Directed by Lee Chang-woo, Jung Kwan-hee and Yoon In-geol (2000), shot on beta, 7 Minutes. This is a Stop Motion short/The Cycle - Directed by Hwang Jee-young (2001), shot on beta, 3 Minutes/Nightmare - Directed by Lee Seung-woon (1999), shot on beta, 8 Minutes/Angel - Directed by Im A-ron (2001), shot on beta, 6 Minutes.

Looking For Bruce Lee! ["Lee So-ryong-eul Chacharat!" 2002]
Release Date: 1/7 - Company: Pop Entertainment Asia - Running Time: 74 Minutes - Package: 2-disc Sepcial Edition
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, Letterboxed - Format: Double Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: Synopsis - Director's Note - About Crying Nut - Puchon Fantastic Film Festival Highlights - Cine Rock Concert - NG Collection - Making Of - Theatrical Trailer - Musci Video - Still Gallery - Original Poster - Wallpaper (DVD-ROM Only)

NOTES: Another interesting release from Pop Entertainment Asia, now with this Crying Nut (the punk band) comedy. If reports are correct, this should have a concert from the Puchon Fantastic Film Festival with the band (and possibly other bands?), and a good number of extras.

Saving My Hubby ["Gutse-eora Geumsuna" 2002]
Release Date: 1/7 - Company: enterOne - Running Time: 90 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: 50 Minutes Making Of TV Documentary, Theatrical Trailer, TV Spot, Music Video

NOTES: Revenge of the Ajumma's! Bae Doo-na's latest action-comedy seems to be an underrated little gem. Just a few weeks after the film had its theatrical run, enterOne surprises us with a DVD release. Expect the usual excellent DVD, and I'm sure this film will become popular amongst Korean Film fans.

enterOne Best Pack
Release Date: 1/8 - Company: enterOne - Running Time: 116 (Friend), 117 (Driven) - Package: Tin Box DVD+DVD+Football
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 (Friend), English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Surround 2.0 (Driven)
Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles 1 & 2, English Subtitles (Friend), Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles, French Subtitles, Spanish Subtitles (Driven)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced (Friend) - 2.35:1, 16:9 Enhanced (Driven) - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0

NOTES: Interesting gift pack from enterOne. It contains the Tin Box Limited Edition of Friend (which is quickly going OOP), Sylvester Stallone's Driven, and a soccer ball signed by the Korean National Team. If you still haven't bought the tremendous Tin Box edition and want the ball (which looks cute), this could be a nice purchase. Too bad about Driven.....

*Coming Soon On DVD**

Love Me Once Again Boxset Collection ["Miwodo Dashi Hanbeon" 1968~2002]
Release Date: 1/10 - Company: Daekyung - Running Time: N/A - Package: 6-disc Boxset
Audio Options: Korean DTS (certain titles only), Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: None
Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1, Full Frame - Format: Single Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: None

NOTES: A collection of the Love Me Once Again saga, spanning from the late 60s to this year's release. The boxset is pretty barebones, but it's also cheap at around 65,000 Won retail. Most interesting is that the 68 film will have a DTS track. No subtitles here, so probably of little interest to fans outside Korea.  This tile was postponed two weeks.

A Single Spark ["Areumdaun Cheongnyeon Jeontaeil" 1995]
Release Date: 1/13 - Company: Cinexus - Running Time: 96 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, Letterboxed - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: T.B.A.

NOTES: Very eaarly specs for a title which has been delayed for months. Cinexus's release could have English Subtitles, and even anamorphic enhancement, but all this is up in the air, as well as the content of the extra features. Park Kwang-soo's acclaimed film starring Moon Sung-keun has never released before on DVD (and VCD, to my knowledge), so this could be an interesting purchase. Unless they delay it again.

R.U. Ready? [2002]
Release Date: 2003, 1/14 - Company: enterOne - Running Time: 108 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: Making Of, Interview, Theatrical Trailer

NOTES: One of this year's flops to start the 'Copywood' trend of wannabe Hollywood Blockbuster, R.U. Ready's DVD release seems to suffer the same fate as Champion, with a relatively bare bones disc. At least enterOne keeps giving us great video and audio quality, English Subtitles on all their discs and Anamorphic Widescreen, film-sourced transfers. Featuring two of Friend's stars, Jung Woon-taek and Kim Bo-kyung. 

The Way Home ["Jibeuro" 2002]
Release Date: 1/15 - Company: CJ Entertainment - Running Time: 87 Minutes - Package: 2-disc Special Edition
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles (Normal/For Hearing Impaired), English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: Director's Audio Commentary - Theatrical Trailer/Tv Spot/Making Of Spot - Still Gallery - Making of Documentary - Cast & Crew - Animated Menus - Game - The Way Home Episode 1 & 2 (Documentary?)

NOTES: One of the most acclaimed films of the year is finally on DVD, with a packed release. Plenty of extras here, but most interesting will be Lee Jung-hyang's Audio Commentary. The film is already selling well on pre-orders, appearing on Top 10 all over Korean online retailers. This should be one of the best releases of the year. Postponed two weeks.

Road Movie [2002]
Release Date: 2003, 1/17 - Company: enterOne - Running Time: 115 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: Director's Audio Commentary (Kim In-shik), Critics Audio Commentary (Tony Rayns), Actor's Audio Commentary (Hwang Jung-min, Jung Chan, Sarin) - KBS Tv Documentary - Gallery - Storyboard - Steal Cut - Music Video - Theatrical Trailer - Making Of


NOTES: Of course the major news is that Tony Rayns recorded an audio commentary for this film. It will be in English with Korean Subtitles. This should be a great release, with three audio commentaries, the usual Tv Documentary enterOne has been adding lately, and some more extras.

Ardor["Mirae" 2002]
Release Date: 2003, 1/17 - Company: Cinema Service - Running Time: 110 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Fatures: Audio Commentary by Director Byun Young-joo, actor Kim Yoon-jin - Special Documentary - Deleted Scenes with Director's Commentary - Cast & Staff Interview - Interview with Music Director Cho Young-wook - NG Cut - Theatrical Trailer - TV Spot - Music Video - Production Notes - Storyline - Other Trailers: Jail Breakers

NOTES: Byun Young-joo's erotic drama is on DVD! It hasn't been announced yet if this will be a 2-disc release, but considering the amount of extras it should be a regular edition (which are very good anyway, like Surprise Party). Kim Yoon-jin won Best Actress at this year's Blue Dragon Awards for her role in this film. The director previously made some of the most acclaimed short films of the 90s. Cinema Service's next release will probably be Jail Breakers in mid February.

Sex of Magic ["Mabeop-ui Seong" 2002]
Release Date: 1/21 - Company: Starmax - Running Time: 118 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1, Korean Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: Making Of, Interview, Theatrical Trailer, Photo Gallery

NOTES: The latest film from the director of Prison World Cup (Pang Sung-woong) was quickly forgotten at the box office. The film seems to be forgettable, but decent fun. Now the Starmax site mentions English and Korean Subtitles. I'm not sure if the few sites who updated the DVD's page are just following what Starmax is saying (they were wrong with the Four Toes DVD before), or it it's reliable information. Postponed two weeks.

If The Sun Rises in the West ["Haega Seojjokeseo Ddeundamyeon" 1998]
Release Date: 2003, 1/24 - Company: SRE - Running Time: 100 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1, Korean Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: T.B.A.

NOTES: One of '98's most underrated films, Lee Eun's If The Sun Rises In The West stars Ko So-young, Im Chang-jung and Cha Seung-won. Should be similar to SRE's other releases of older films (The Contact, Harmonium in My Memory).

Phantom: The Submarine ["Yuryeong" 1999]
Release Date. 2003, 1/24 - Company: SRE - Running Time: 103 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1, Korean Dolby Surround 2.0 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R0
Special Features: T.B.A.

NOTES: Another chance to catch this blockbuster starring Choi Min-soo, Jung Woo-sung and Sol Kyung-gu (in a small cameo). At the moment the Modern Audio HK DVD is a pretty good option, with an anamorphic transfer and DTS. The Japanese DVD is without subtitles and not much better. The Korean DVD is long out of print and wasn't too good to begin with. No idea if this will be a new transfer, or just a port of the Japanese DVD. Special Features and Audio specs could change.

Yesterday [2002]
Release Date: 2003, 1/31 - Company: CJ Entertainment - Running Time:  - Package: 2-disc Special Edition
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: Production Notes, Cast & Crew Profiles, Cast Interview & Making Of (Kim Seung-woo, Kim Yoon-jin, Kim Sun-ah) - Crew Interviews - Outtakes - Supporting Actors Behind Story - Art Interview & Sketch - Deleted Scenes - Costume Collection - Still Gallery - CG Before & After - Theatrical Trailer - Teaser Trailer - Tv Spot - Easter Eggs

NOTES: The film could release on 1/10, the info here is alittle conflicting. This is a really interesting sci-fi blockbuster, despite its major flop at the box office. The release is not surprisingly packed, and this could be a sleeper hit for Korean film fans.

Can't Live Without Robbery ["Dodook-makkon Mot Sara" 2002] 
Release Date: 2003, January - Company: Starmax - Running Time: 107 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3
Special Features: Not announced

NOTES: Park Sang-myun's latest comedy hasn't been well received by critics, and disappeared from theaters after a few weeks. Subtitle options are shaky, because the Starmax site is pretty unreliable, but there's a good chance for a release of medium importance like this we'll get English Subtitles. Release date will probably change, too.

ENTERONE'S FUTURE RELEASES
All specs and specific release dates are TBA, but this is the current enterOne releasing plan for the next few months. More releases will be added later, and expect a lot of changes.            Film Name [Top Star (Release Year) - DVD Release Year/Month]

The Coast Guard [Jang Dong-gun (2002) - 2003/02], I Wish I Had a Wife [Sol Kyung-gu (2001) - 2003/02], She Brings Us Danger [Park Sang-myun (2002) - 2003/03], Madeleine [Shin Min-ah (2003) - 2003/04], Natural City [Yoo Ji-tae (2003) - 2003], Anarchists [Jang Dong-gun (2000) - 2003], Plum Blossom [Bae Doo-na (2000) - 2003], Indian Summer [Lee Mi-yeon (2001) - 2003], Summertime [Kim Ji-hyun (2001) - 2003], Chunhyang [Cho Seung-woo (2000) - 2003], Ghost Taxi [Im Ho (2000) 2003]

RELEASE RIGHTS UPDATE

All the information here is collected from DVD inserts, info from companies, official website announcement, and other info.

Conduct Zero [2002 - w/Ryu Seung-beom, Kong Hyo-jin, Im Eun-kyung] - To Be Released by: METRO (February/March 2003)

Bus Stop [2002 - w/Kim Tae-woo] - To Be Released by: CJ ENTERTAINMENT (February/March 2003)
Who Are You? [2002 - w/Lee Na-young, Cho Seung-woo] - To Be Released by: CJ ENTERTAINMENT (February/March 2003)
The Happy Funeral Director [2000 - w/Im Chang-jung, Choi Kang-hee, Jung Eun-pyo] - To Be Released by: CJ ENTERTAINMENT (2003)
Happy End [1999 - w/Jeon Do-yeon, Choi Min-shik, Joo Jin-mo] - To Be Released by: CJ ENTERTAINMENT (2003)
YMCA Baseball Team [2002 - w/Song Kang-ho, Kim Hye-soo] - To Be Released by: CJ ENTERTAINMENT (2003)

Mago [2002] - To Be Released by: IVISION (2003)

Lies [2000 - w/Kim Tae-yeon] - To Be Released by: ENTERONE (2003)
Fin De Siecle [1999 - w/Lee Jae-eun] - To Be Released by: ENTERONE (2003)

I Love You [2001] - To Be Released by: SPECTRUM (2003)

Bichunmoo [2000] - To Be Released by: PREMIER ASIA (UK - February 2003)
Musa: The Warrior [2001] - To Be Released by: PREMIER ASIA (UK - 2003)
Champion [2002] - To Be Released by: PREMIER ASIA (UK - ?)
My Wife is a Gangster [2001] - To Be Released by: PREMIER ASIA (UK - ?)
Volcano High [2001] - To Be Released by:  PREMIER ASIA (UK - ?)

*DVD REVIEWS*

OASIS
[¿À¾Æ½Ã½º "Oashiseu" 2002]
Release Date: 2002, 11/29 - Company: CJ Entertainment - Running Time: 132 Minutes - Package: 2DVD
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer - Region Coding: NTSC R3

Opening Day: 2002, 8/15 - Cumulative Box Office:  1,152,000 Admissions
Directed By: Lee Chang-dong (Green Fish, Peppermint Candy)
Starring: Sol Kyung-gu (Peppermint Candy, Public Enemy), Moon So-ri (Peppermint Candy), Ryu Seung-wan (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Die Bad), Song Byung-ho (Failan, Flower Island)

THE FILM: (Read Darcy's review of the film here) Most people watch movies to escape from reality. The best thing a film like Oasis can do is show us how surreal life really is. In that sense, the film represents an oasis (pun intended), far away from conventional filmmaking. While most films try hard to present people with handicaps as normal, Oasis right from the beginning paints its major characters as different, unique, abnormal. In fact, it's  'normal' people who at the end harm and take advantage of those they're supposed to help. To see the beauty in Kong-Ju (Moon So-ri), it takes someone unique like Jong-du (Sol Kyung-gu). Everybody else just treats her like a vegetable. This is simply an outstanding, amazing work. No words can do justice to how effectively it portrays difference, and how much the real world is just a facade to mask people's real intentions. While many will talk about Moon So-ri's fantastic performance, let's not forget about Sol Kyung-gu. He's perfect down to the trembling of his legs. We just might have witnessed one of the most important works in contemporary Korean cinema. [9.5]

VIDEO QUALITY: CJ Entertainment's previous releases always offered excellent presentations, with an exception. It was something that only affected a small portion of the audience --those with digital projectors or huge (50-60") TV sets-- a 'pulsating' image which rendered the viewing slightly annoying. Well, this transfer doesn't have such problem, and might just be CJ's best transfer to date. The film wasn't the easiest to transfer either. With so many night scenes, the lack of light, and the importance of shadows and darkness, the DVD does a terrific job of presenting the film. Colors are great, black levels and details are near perfect, and to find flaws here you'd really have to get close to the screen, and look for a needle in the haystack. [9]

AUDIO QUALITY: Oasis is not the film which will test your system, but the three tracks offered do a really fine job. Some scenes are enhanced by the use of the surround speakers, and generally there are no noticeable problems. All three are very solid, without being necessarily impressive. Your mileage might vary. [8]

SUBTITLE QUALITY: English translation was made by Tony Rayns, and it shows. Save for a few spelling mistakes, these are perfect subtitles. Good translation, no glaring omissions, good timing. The font could have been better (it's a little soft, like on Cinema Service's DVDs) but that's just nitpicking. Korean subtitles are really good, subtitling the songs as well. [9]

EXTRA FEATURES:
On Disc 1-
Audio Commentary  Weird choice of commentaries here. The first 40 minutes are completely dedicated to Director Lee Chang-dong, the second part it's the Assistant Director and Producer. I expected more from Lee Chang-dong, especially in terms of screenplay discussion, but he redeemed himself with the extras on the second DVD. This part is generally fine, if a little ordinary. He mostly reacts to what's on screen rather than going by himself. He talked a good deal about Jong-du's personality and the way people react to him (like when he gets the free milk, and still complains). Also, he introduced a theme which would reappear later, like the use of light on the film's different sets (one in Pusan, and one in Seoul). He talked about Kong-ju's fantasy world which gradually involves Jong-du as well, and more. There were a lot of silent pauses, but it was a pretty good commentary. Second half was much better in terms of info. The two spent a good deal of time talking about the challenges of shooting this film, the casting, the work behind the scenes (Myung Kye-nam and East Film are introduced). They talked about the importance of the carpet (where the title is taken from), and what the tree meant. Nothing particularly surprising here, mostly location/production discussion with a few anecdotes. Good material, but far from impressive.

On Disc 2 -
The extra features are organized in a very smart way. Every important crew member has his separate section complete with profiles and filmography, which for the most part aren't just a few notes, but a few pages' worth of comments, interviews, career bios and very informative filmographies.
(1) Director Lee Chang-dong  
-Profile  This includes the scripts he wrote as well, and briefly talks about his career as a novelist.
-Interview  A very good 13 Minutes interview covering most subjects related to the film. The director introduces the main theme of the film, between two people finding love away from the real world, in a fantasy of their own. He, too, mentions about the importance of the tree as a final image of their connection. Ryu Seung-wan appears, with his thoughts on being cast in this film, and the difference between working on action films opposed to dramas. They cut back and forth mentioning the film's fantasy scenes, and more. Very good.
-Making Of   Lasting almost 15 Minutes, this is a documentary style (which was probably shot together and later divided into parts) Making Of. It instantly makes evident how much of a challenge it was for Moon So-ri, both phisically and mentally.
-About The Oasis - Synopsis  Not only a synopsis, but also comments from the director.
-Production Notes
(2) Director of Photography Choi Young-taek
-Interview  A 9 Minutes interview cutting between DP Choi Young-taek and Director Lee Chang-dong. Much of it was spent conveying how difficult it was shooting in these conditions, with the amount of light, the different framing and camera range.  They also talked about the use of light during the night scenes.
-Profile  Longer than you'd expect. Choi Young-taek has become the DP of choice for Hong Sang-soo (he worked on Oh! Soojung and The Turning Gate), worked with Lee Chang-dong before in Peppermint Candy, and shot the visually impressive Volcano High.
(3) Actors Moon So-ri & Sol Kyung-gu
-Moon So-ri Profile  Useful because it lists her appearances in shorts. Hopefully she'll decide to make more feature films in the future.
-Moon So-ri Interview   An excellent interview where Moon So-ri talks about Kong-ju, her handicap, and the way she's treated by friends and neighbors. She talks about the challenges, both physical and mental, of portraying this character. She talks about working once again with Lee Chang-dong and Sol Kyung-gu (after Peppermint Candy), and how she grew as an actress in the last few years.
-Moon So-ri Making   Again this shows what a difficult role Kong-ju was for MSR. Behind the fake teeth, the bandaged elbows and the make up, there's an incredibly physical challenge involved in portraying this character. She's shown crying, probably from the stress, and struggling with the help of the director through this role. This is a very good look at how seriously cast & crew approached the story, Kong-ju's character and her state of mind.
-Sol Kyung-gu Profile, Interview  5 Minutes long, featuring an introduction of Hong Jong-du's character by Sol Kyung-gu, who describes him as an innocent person, not bad like people around Jong-du perceive him. He talks about working again with the director, his NG scenes (seems like a recurring theme for SKG interviews), and what he thought about the fantasy scenes in the film.
-Sol Kyung-gu Making   Behind the scenes clips from the shooting, along with some of his NG takes, the sex scene rehearsal, and people spotting him at the station surprised.
(4) Composer Lee Jae-jin
-Profile, Interview   a 10 Minutes long interview about the score and its message. He talked about the particular music used in the film (like in Lee Jae-jin's former works Failan and Peppermint Candy, it's simple but effective), and the fantasy scenes. He closed the interview commenting a few of the songs, why he used them and what they meant for the characters (one of these is probably the most touching scene in the film, when the 'fantasy' Kong-ju finally sings the song).
(5) Art Director Shim Jeom-hee
-Profile, Interview  Pretty long (13 Minutes) and interesting, this interview concerns mostly the set and location choices, and how they created the particular look of the film. They showed pictures of the props used, sketches and plans for the sets. Also, they showed the thought process behind the location design, talked about the tree used, how they chose the carpet (which ends up becoming one of the most important details of the film). This type of discussions should be put on more extra features, it's really informative and interesting.

(6) Producer Cho Min-cheol
-Profile, Interview   Usual producer interview, with a discussion about the scenario, casting and director. Approx. 9 Minutes.
(7) Oasis Computer Graphic
A 3 Minutes long look at how the CG scenes were added, with before/after clips, and comments from the creators.
(8) "Biennale Di Venezia" Venice Film Festival 2002 Special
A nice little 5 Minutes clip with pictures from the presentation (there's a great one with Gong Li standing next to Moon So-ri), showing the prizes the film won, the Oasis crew (Moon So-ri, Lee Chang-dong, Myung Kye-nam and Cho Min-cheol) talking with the guests, and the awards presentation. Italian talk show host Gigi Marzullo, along with Chinese superstar Gong Li awarded the Best Director prize to Lee Chag-dong, who poetically said that he felt like being in an Oasis, drinking the water they gave him (the prize). Moon So-ri was visibly touched after receiving her Best New Actress Award, and said that this award will help her in the future, no matter the difficulties. She also said she'll try to like beans in the future (watch the film and you'll understand....).
(9) Preview of Oasis with Guest  
A small clip from the film's premiere in Korea. Among the guests Kim Hye-soo, Song Kang-ho, Park Chan-wook, Cho Seung-woo, Park Kwan-jung and others. Some offered comments after the film, and they showed the actors and director signing autographs and posing for photos.
(10) Exclusive Message  Interesting feature. Directors Ryu Seung-wan and Kim Sung-soo, Gagman Jeon Yoo-sung, Poets Kim Yong-taek and Jung Ho-seung, and novelist Shim Sang-dae comment on the film, giving their thoughts on its message, the director and cast. The first three, in a separate section, are plain interviews. The last three plain audio clips with profiles and clips from the film.
(11) Theatrical Trailer
Funny, they used Sue Thompson's 1961 hit 'Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)', when the film is the complete antithesis of what conventional melodrama stands for.
(12) Still Gallery
**Great amount of extras. Exhaustive, informative and entertaining. There is really nothing which wasn't covered here. [9]

VALUE FOR MONEY (Average): The best DVD release of 2002? An amazing film, with great A/V presentation, and enough extras to satisfy any question you have. A great year-end gift from CJ Entertainment, and one of the best Korean releases ever made. [9.00]
You can purchase this film at YeonDVD.com

PHONE
[Æù "P'on" 2002]
Release Date: 2002, 11/20 - Company: Starmax/Bear Ent. - Running Time: 102 - Package: 2DVD Digipack
Audio Options: Korean DTS ES, Dolby Digital 5.1 - Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer -Region Coding: NTSC R3

Opening Day: 2002, 7/26 - Cumulative Box Office: 2,182,915 Admissions
Directed By: Ahn Byung-ki (A Nightmare)
Starring: Ha Ji-won (Sex is Zero, Ditto), Kim Yoo-mi (not to be confused with Bae Chang-ho's wife, Romance), Eun Seo-woo (Guardian Angel), Choi Woo-je (Pisces), Choi Ji-yeon

THE FILM: A siginificant step up from Ahn Byung-ki's debut Kawi (A Nightmare). Phone takes elements from Nakata Hideo's horror films (Ring, Dark Water), and mixes them with traditional horror techniques. It's also a return to the Korean High School ghost stories in a way, as many of the film's final moments remind of Park Ki-hyung's Whispering Corridors. Two things immediately stand out: production values, and little Eun Seo-woo. Visually, Phone is tremendously accomplished in creating an eerie atmosphere; Ahn Byung-ki's use of light and shadow is excellent, as well as the sound effects. Also, Eun Seo-woo (at just 6 years of age, and I believe her big screen debut) completely steals the show. While Ha Ji-won and Kim Yoo-mi give good performances, she impresses with her range and seems at ease during the most difficult scene. We might have a phenomenal child actor on our hands. Choi Woo-je is the sore note, acting like a stiff from start to finish (just like in Pisces). While the film's pace doesn't always live up to the director's visual prowess, Phone is an entertaining, scary ride. The film risks to enter exposition-overkill territory, but thankfully the director's decision to cut back between past and present helps the film. This is a fine horror film, and it's a relief that Ahn Byung-ki has decided to stray from the norm (Scream-wannabe Korean horrors), and offer something which is not entirely original, but at least with a soul of its own. [7.5]

VIDEO QUALITY: Wow! This is just a gorgeous transfer. With a film like Phone, black and shadow levels are essential to enhance the viewers' enjoyment. I didn't notice ANY problem here. No blurs, no artifacts, no grain, no print problems. Night scenes often look amazing, with a level of detail you don't see too often. Simply a marvellous job. [9]

AUDIO QUALITY: As the director said in his Audio Commentary, surround effects are incredibly important for a horror film. This DVD's audio tracks (an excellent DD5.1, and the truly impressive DTS ES) are near perfect. Great atmosphere, directionality, loud and clear dialogue. Watch this film at night, in a silent room. You'll thank the day you spent a fortune on your Audio System. [9]

SUBTITLES QUALITY: Few spelling mistakes, but generally excellent. The only problem I have is just a pet-peeve of mine, and a recurring problem on most Korean DVDs. When the schoolgirls do the word game, the 'CTH' written is actually Cha Tae-hyun (as the girl repeats it), but somehow English Subtitles say 'Leonardo DiCaprio'. I wonder, do the people who make these subtitles realize that, buying a DVD of a Korean movie, we probably know who Cha Tae-hyun is? It's like a complex of inferiority, which repeats itself all the time. It's ridiculous. Koreans who buy this DVD will just roll their eyes. Korean film fans will likely roll their eyes, too. It seems like these subtitles are made for the 5% who will buy this DVD not knowing who Cha Tae-hyun is. Korean subs are perfect, and overall this is a great job. [8.5]

EXTRA FEATURES:
On Disc 1:
Audio Commentary   Director Ahn Byung-ki  starts the commentary talking about the intro of the film, both in terms of visual style, and how they used sound to help create an atmosphere. Generally he spends most of the first half talking about how horror films are made; the use of surround effects, light and shadow, different framing, camera angles and pacing. He also took his time to insert comments about the cast, like why he chose Ha Ji-won once again (after her performance in A Nightmare, his first film). The second part got a little more technical, like shooting on location in Bang Bae-dong. He talked about directing a child actor like Eun Seo-woo, the use of elevators in the film, and music. Ahn Byung-ki seems to favor classical music for his films, and Phone too has some fine music (like the Moonlight Sonata). Overall, this is informative but can get a little tiring personally. Mr. Ahn talks in a monotonic, relaxed mood for most of the commentary, and doesn't really reveal anything unexpected. It was interesting, but I wouldn't go back to it a second time.

On Disc 2:
Interview  A mix of interviews with the cast with a few clips from the film. This seems a little half assed, especially for those 40 seconds interviews with Choi Woo-je and Kim Yoo-mi which are 20 seconds of clips, and a simple "It was a fun, I enjoyed working with the staff and the cast" sentence. Director Ahn Byung-ki talked about the Bang Bae-dong location, and how the phone in this film acted somehow like the videotape in Ring. He talked about how he changed since Kawi(his first film), and the particular marketing of the film. Ha Ji-won said that this was her second horror film (after Kawi), and quickly talked about her character. Choi Ji-yeon talked about her audition, working with Kim Yoo-mi (especially during the most powerful scenes, like when they fight), and about the film's title. Little Eun Seo-woo talked about a few of the challenges the shooting brought her (like the blood scenes), and that she had fun working with the director and cast.
Making Film  You can play this back to back with the Play All feature. This is a very good Making of, mixing Behind The Scenes clips on location with NG Cuts. It was really helpful in showing how Ahn Byung-ki works. He gives a lot of input to the actors, especially to Eun Seo-woo. One important thing to remember when directing child actors is that the relationship between the kids and the filmmakers is incredibly important. It's impressive how the director's guidance instantly translates into a good performance from Eun Seo-woo. This gives you a chance to see how much of natural talent she really is. She had no problem crying buckets on command, or kiss her daddy like a grown up when 'possessed'. Also, Mr. Ahn seems to be a perfectionist as well, as he tries to make the piano scenes as realistic as possible. Footage from the fight between Jin-hee (Choi Ji-yeon) and Kim Yoo-mi's character is pretty powerful. The two go at each other with such rage, then after a few seconds embrace like they were sisters. They also show the 'death' scene and how they got there, which is something you don't see too often on any film's DVD. Great material here.
Production Note  This is not what you expect. Basically it's a 6 Minutes medley of the preparation behind the film, including make up, location building, how they used the props, and similar things. It's impressive how realistic prostetics and 'dummies' for the death scene have become nowadays. You can see veins on this one!
Behind The Scenes   This was really a nice surprise, and something other DVD producers should use more often. It's not the Behind The Scenes you expect. It's more like footage of the actors and directors fooling around on set, and could be called the 'Eun Seo-woo show'.  There's a nice family atmosphere during the shooting, and the little kid obviously lights up the morale here. There's a moment when Ahn Byung-ki and Seo-woo trade Kung Fu poses (from cartoons I think), she dances a Hip Hop song, asks Choi Woo-je to sing his song from Pisces (Oh My!). Clips from the actors cracking up, like the doctor who couldn't stop laughing because Seo-woo was staring at him. Finally, there's a little bit about the photoshoot. Great stuff. Cute, funny, and it gives a good idea of how much the crew enjoyed this production.  
Commentary By Actor   Eun Seo-woo comments her most important scenes in this 10 Minutes feature. It's pretty basic stuff, with her saying she liked working with the director, her relationship with Kim Yoo-mi and Ha Ji-won, her kiss scene, slapping Choi Woo-je, and a few other things. Entertaining stuff.
Deleted Scenes  Only two. The first concerns Kim Yoo-mi calling Ha Ji-won from the hospital, then dining with a few friends. Second is a meeting between the family and Ji-won at an exhibition, when Kim Yoo-mi's character realizes how much Young-ju (Eun Seo-woo) is attached to Ji-won.
Real Story  Reality TV! Not really. Choi Ji-yeon and Ha Ji-won talk about anecdotes related to cell phones and horror stories. Weird.
Trailer/TV Spot/Prologue  This is the first meeting between cast & crew. Lots of shaking hands, laughing, and fooling around.
**Excellent extras. Not extremely informative, but entertaining and interesting. Seo-woo is a riot, and the Making of is great. Well done! [8.5]

VALUE FOR MONEY (Overall): Phone is really one of the year's most surprising releases. Not so much for the film, which I expected to be good, but for the tone of the extras, and the discovery of a talent like Eun Seo-woo. Many things could change in the future, but if she keeps acting like this, Korean Cinema will have a great actress for years to come. Fantastic presentation with reference A/V quality, and very good subtitles. Highly Recommended.[8.35]
You can purchase this film at YeonDVD.com

FUN MOVIE
[Àç¹Õ´Â ¿µÈ­ "Jaeminneun Yeonghwa" 2002]
Release Date: 2002, 7/19 - Company: Cinema Service - Running Time: 120 - Package: 2DVD
Audio Options: Korean & Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles 1 & 2, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer -Region Coding: NTSC R3

Opening Day: 2002, 4/12 - Cumulative Box Office: 1,041,500 Admissions
Directed By: Jang Kyu-sung (Assistant Director of Two Cops 3, Hoodlum Lessons)
Starring: Kim Soo-ro (Volcano High, Hi Dharma), Kim Jung-eun (Marrying The Mafia, several TV Dramas),Im Won-hee (Dajjimawa Lee, No Comment), Seo Tae-hwa (Friend, I Wish I Had a Wife), Lee Won-jong (Hi Dharma, Kick The Moon), Kang Sung-jin (Breakout, Attack The Gas Station), Lee Mi-yeon (Pisces, The Last Witness)

THE FILM: Japanese extremists plan to disrupt the Joint World Cup ceremony, using lethal weapon PPX as their mouthpiece. After two years of intense and incredibly competitive training, Hanako (Park Kyung-rim) is chosen to leave the country to secretly infiltrate in Korea, and pave the way for the team. After a successful facial surgery, Hanako becomes Sang-mi (Kim Jung-eun), the married woman of a Korea Police officer, Yoo Hwang-bo (Im Won-hee). Just when Murakami (Kim Soo-ro) leads the team in Korea to start their plan, they lose the precious PPX, and will try everything to complete their plan, ruin the Joint World Cup and make a statement. Sounds familiar? indeed. Fun Movie is the inevitable result of 5 years of increasing success in Korean Cinema. Billed as the country's first ever parody, Director Jang Kyu-sung's debut film takes memorable scenes from some of the most successful films of the last few years, and reinvents them trying to form a coherent plot. From My Sassy Girl to Shiri, from Ditto to Nowhere To Hide, the film smartly takes familiar moments to creat effective comedy. The problem, as it's always the case with these films, is getting too cute, going overboard with parody. Under serious scrutiny, the film seems to be a big collection of jigsaw pieces from a few dozen films. Some fit perfectly, like the No. 3 parody --brilliantly recreated by Kim Soo-ro-- many others are there just because of their fame (Friend scenes are well recreated, but not really funny). In a way, the screenplay will adapt a 'piece' to fit in the puzzle at the end, even if it loses its meaning. If there's one thing which saves Fun Movie from becoming just another rehash of the various Naked Gun, Scary Movie-type of film, is its young leads. The surprise star of the year, Kim Jung-eun, is better than Jeon Ji-hyun at doing the Sassy Girl. She's lively, with great facial expressions, and a natural screen charisma which is extremely hard to find. With her role in the major hit Marrying The Mafia, she's become one of the top actresses in Korea after just two films. Also, eternal character actor Kim Soo-ro finally gets the chance to show his considerable talent with a bigger role. Whether he's imitating singer Seo Tae-ji, speaking Japanese, or recreating Song Kang-ho's hilarious No.3 scene, he seems the perfect choice for this film. Concluding the trio is Im Won-hee, a regular of Ryu Seung-wan and Jang Jin-produced films. His performance in the internet shortDazimawa Lee (a parody of 70s Korean films) might have been what got him this role. Seo Tae-hwa is much better --and funnier-- than his roles in I Wish I Had a Wife and Friend, not taking himself too seriously. The film has evident flaws, and at 2 hours it overstays its welcome by at least 20 minutes. But it's eventually pretty fun. Using the same locations, similar music and camera angles, it helps recreate some of the most memorable moments of the last few years. Its biggest merit --adhering effectively to the parody-- is also it's biggest flaw. If you don't know what the film is parodying, if you can't get the subtle cultural references, the film will just be a collection of amusing scenes which at the end don't lead to a cohesive unit. This might be a cash cow for its makers, and lead to many sequels. Let's just hope they will wait at least a few years for the next installment, otherwise the novelty will wear off quickly. [6.5]

VIDEO QUALITY: No flaws to report. Great black levels and colors, impressive level of detail, and no sign of artifacts or blurs. It's not as beautiful as the Public Enemytransfer (done by Cinema Service as well), but I think that's because of the different look of the films. Really well done. [8.5]

AUDIO QUALITY: Great! The soundtrack and action scenes are loud and clear. The dialogue has no crackles, and the tracks use pretty effectively the surround speakers. [8.5]

SUBTITLES QUALITY: As always --at least when a Korean film features other languages-- two types of Korean subtitles are presented. The first subtitles everything, the second only the Japanese dialogue. A different font is used here, so it's easier to read than Cinema Service's previous efforts. English Subtitles are generally good, but there are too many spelling/punctuation mistakes, and the translator changed around some things, added more swearing, and sometimes completely changed the meaning. You get the idea they tried to use the same dialogue of the parodied movies, but it didn't come off as effectively as I expected. Most of the parodies work on visual means, so it shouldn't be a problem. [7.5]

EXTRA FEATURES:
On Disc 1:
Cast & Crew  Other than the usual filmographies, this section features a few interviews with the cast and director. Kim Soo-ro's interview (2'48") is about this being the first film to parody Korean Cinema, his character Murakami, and the Nowhere To Hide parody. Kim Jung-eun talks a lot more (9'50"), even though she had to read a few times to remember what to say. She covers different subjects, like her transition from TV and CF to the big screen, why she chose this role based on her opinion of the scenario, and she talks a little about her character. Director Jang Kyu-sung's interview (6'12") is probably the most interesting. He mostly talks about the casting, some of the parodies, and why they chose those particular films. Producer Kim Sang-oh (5'32") is standard producer fare, talking about the staff, the film's production, and its placement in current Korean Cinema. There are also a few short interviews -mostly lasting 90 seconds-- with Im Won-hee, Seo Tae-hwa and Music Director Sohn Moo-hyun.
Audio Commentary  Called 'fun commentary' by the DVD, this is indeed entertaining. Im Won-hee, Kim Soo-ro, Seo Tae-hwa, Producer Kim Sang-oh and Music Director Sohn Moo-hyun join the discussion. If anything, the fact there are so many people makes this more of a debate than a commentary. There isn't the insight you'd expect from regular commentaries, but in exchange this is much more fun and easier to follow. All five react to scenes on screen, often pointing out the movie that was parodied, and some anecdotes behind the making. Thankfully they don't mention everything (Robot Taekwon V and There Is No Sun parodies last a few seconds), and even if there are a few silent pauses, this is consistently entertaining. Perhaps toward the end the group started to feel tired, and the input slows to a crawl (mostly becoming quick comments, laughs, jokes). Among the info revealed here is that Kim Soo-ro studied Japanese in school, and it's clear he's effective delivering his lines in Japanese --same could be said for Kim Jung-eun. There's a slight problem towards the middle, when the audio goes out of sync for about 10 minutes, but thankfully the commentary is in sync with the audio (it's just a second of lag, so some people might not even notice). This doesn't happen with the Film's regular tracks though. Overall, this is not as informative as I expected it to be, but it's a fun commentary, and there's a nice atmosphere with the five constantly cracking jokes and laughing.

On Disc 2:
Tv Documentary  This is the usual KBS 'Film Story' documentary many DVDs use as extra feature. It's formatted really well, but these usually air when the film is released, so those who just saw the film might feel a little bored watching so many highlight clips. The major characters are introduced, with really short interviews, behind the clips scenes, outtakes, location shooting and more. Lasting over 45 Minutes, this is very good material, and doesn't really need subtitles.
Parody Comparison  Small clips of some of the films parodied. First is the original scene, then the Fun Movie parody. Films featured are: Peppermint Candy (2000), Green Fish (1997), Friend (2001 - several scenes), Attack The Gas Station (1999), No. 3 (1997), The Foul King (2000), Bichunmoo (2000), Whispering Corridors (1998), Two Cops (1993), Ditto (2000), and Nowhere To Hide (1999). These are nice clips to remind you of some of the biggest successes of the last few years. Of course the film parodies or at least references many more films, even if for a few seconds. Ironically there's no clip for Shiri, the most parodied film in Fun Movie, but I guess they considered that too obvious.
Outtakes/NG Cut/Deleted Scenes  Fun section including outtakes  from the film mixed with NG Cuts. The Deleted Scenes section includes some NG Cuts as well. The first deleted scene parodies the Two Cops interrogation scenes and subsequent self-inflicted damage by either the cop or the thief (which was repeated on all three Two Cops film). This time the kid with the yellow raincoat is the victim of Im Won-hee's crazy antics. He trashes the whole room, and even writes "P'i (Blood)" with blood on the door, and electrocutes himself. Pretty funny, but a little forced. Second scene is the making of a Matrix-style freeze frame with Hanako. This was pretty much useless, and we've seen enough Matrix parodies. Third scene is a parody of the Time Egg epilogue in My Sassy Girl, this time with Kim Jung-eun's character Sang-mi as an elder woman coming from the future. Nice for a laugh, but a smart cut. Fourth and final scene is the continuation of the taxi scene from Friend ("Chingu Ya!"), where Kang Sung-jin starts dancing while slapping his 'brothers'. Another smart cut. At the end there's an option to play all the section back to back.
Additional Parodies  This might be tricky for non Korean speakers. Basically it's a list of other films parodied (with clips from Fun Movie), only this time there's no original to compare with, and if you don't know the Korean title of the film parodied, you'll be lost. Some big surprises here, even if some parodies last a few seconds. Featured here:Nowhere To Hide (1999), Friend (2001), Ditto (2000), The Contact (1997), Whispering Corridors (1998), Bichunmoo (2000), My Sassy Girl (2001), Attack The Gas Station (1999), No. 3 (1997), Lies (2000), Two Cops (1993), Joint Security Area (2000), Christmas in August (1998), The Foul King (2000), There is No Sun/Our Sunny Days (1999), Green Fish (1997), Sopyonje (1993), Peppermint Candy (2000), Beat (1997), Dazimawa Lee (2000), Kick The Moon (2001), The Rules of The Game (1994), A Promise (1998). In retrospect, there are some really surprising omissions, and equally surprising additions.Rules of the Game was a '94 film starring Park Joong-hoon that did well, but I never expected them to use it here. Same thing goes for Kim Sung-soo'sThere Is No Sun, starring Lee Jung-jae. This section helped a little with the smaller parodies, but you're basically rewatching the film, and if you can't read Korean this will be of very little use to you.
'Cinepeople' Interview  While it doesn't match the excellence of the Kang Woo-suk interview, this is still really good. Film 2's Oh Dong-jin and critic Kim Young-jin come back for a 38 Minutes interview with Seo Tae-hwa, Im Won-hee and director Jang Kyu-sung. The first half is focused on the idea of parody, how it differs from normal comedy, and why it was time for an uniquely Korean parody film. They talk about the challenges of recreating moments from the film, shooting on the same locations, with similar camera angles, and especially trying to capture what was funny about a certain scene. A lot of focus is spent on highlighting Seo Tae-hwa and Im Won-hee's careers. In particular, their previous works with Jang Jing (Im Won-hee with The Spy) and Kwak Kyung-taek (Seo Tae-hwa in 3PM Paradise Bathouse, Doctor K and Friend).  There are small clips at the bottom from each film they talk about; also, director Jang Kyu-sung talks about working with Kim Sang-jin in the past (he was co-producer and assistant director for Two Cops 3 and Hoodlum Lessons). Even if a little fragmented (they go back to themes frequently, and there isn't a 'linear' structure like Kang Woo-suk's interview), this is really informative and entertaining.
Other Extras  Production Notes, Theatrical Trailer, Tv Spots (15" and 20"), Music Video (Lucy 'Moviestar'), Other Trailers (Surprise Party, Lord of The Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring), Soundtrack (2 songs from the film including Moviestar, and a new song whose lyrics basically mention every film parodied)
**Very good extras. The interview is excellent, many parodies are covered, and the outtakes section is entertaining. Added with the commentary, this is nice material, and has decent replay value. [8]

VALUE FOR MONEY (Overall): Fun Movie is a nice 'training ground' to test just how much you know about Korean Cinema and culture. With enough extras, a nice commentary, and Cinema Service's usual knack for quality control, this is a recommended purchase.  [7.55]
You can purchase this film at YeonDVD.com

OH! LALA SISTERS
[¿ï¶ö¶ó ½Ã½ºÅ¸Áî "Ullalla Siseutajeu" a.k.a. Oollalla Sisters, 2002]
Release Date: 2002, 11/15 - Company: enterOne - Running Time: 102 Minutes - Package: DVD
Audio Options: Korean DTS, Korean Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitle Options: Korean Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1, 16:9 Enhanced - Format: Dual Layer -Region Coding: NTSC R0

Opening Day: 2002, 4/26 - Cumulative Box Office: 810,000 Admissions
Directed By: Park Je-hyun (Legend of Gingko)
Starring: Lee Mi-sook (Besame Mucho, An Affair), Kim Won-hee (Extra), Kim Min (The Black Hole, An Affair), Kim Hyun-soo (Whisper Princess), Kim Bo-sung(Two Cops Series, Boss X File), Park In-hwan (The Quiet Family, Prison World Cup), Kong Hyung-jin (A Perfect Match, Surprise Party), Han Sung-shik  (Public Enemy, The Quiet Family), Jung Sung-hoon, Han Bo-ram

THE FILM: If 2001 was the year of Jopok comedies, 2002 was definitely the year of slightly nostalgic 'dork' comedies. Bet on My Disco, Are You a True Guy?, She Brings Us Danger, Wet Dreams, Sex is Zero, Conduct Zero and finally Oollalla Sisters. Park Je-hyun's follow up after Legend of Gingko is an eclectic mix of Waikiki Brothers' set up (struggling night clubs), mixing it with Bet on My Disco's shenanigans. Two big clubs --Nemo and Lala-- have been fighting for control of the territory in the last few decades, but now Cho Eun-ja's (Lee Mi-sook) Lala is not doing well. She has to pay a big debt, and without income she could be forced to sell the property to rival Kim Geo-man (Kim Bo-sung), the owner of Nemo Club. When Mi-ok (Kim Won-hee, returning to the big screen after 5 years) comes back, the Lala Sisters get new hope from her ideas. The film follows the four 'sisters' attempt to save Lala, mixing silly, over the top comedy with exhilarating dance choreographies. Put under scrutiny, Oh! Lala Sisters is not really a good film. The plot is a little too convoluted, the characters are mere clichés (on purpose), and the film often risks walking the line between entertaining and annoying with its silliness. Still, this is clearly a guilty pleasure type of film, with intentional overacting --which is quite hilarious, especially Kim Bo-sung's insanely OTT character-- lots of great visual and verbal gags (Yubang/Yoo Bang-hee was pretty creative), and excellent dance choreographies. The film doesn't always keep a good pace, especially towards the end, but with so many jokes thrown at the viewers, something is bound to work. Lee Mi-sook is great as the geezer with pride, trying to save Lala while looking completely inept at doing everything related to music. Kim Min must have done a good job, because she's annoying throughout the whole film (which was probably what they were going for). Kim Bo-sung is simply hilarious, his best performance in ages. His silliness will not go over well with some viewers, but he's responsible for many memorable moments. All these little Korean comedies seem to follow the same road, taking stereotypical characters and paper-thin plots, making an entertaining film out of it. The classic 'Leave your brain at the door' is required here, but Oh! Lala Sisters is often very entertaining. Surprising, considering how bad it looked on paper. [7]

VIDEO QUALITY: Will it be a surprise if I say this film looks great? enterOne delivers again, with an excellent looking, film-sourced transfer. Attractive colors, no noticeable flaws, good black levels and details. No complaints. [8.5]

AUDIO QUALITY: For a film like this I expected a somewhat 'quieter' experience, but with a booming DTS track, I was surprised. The surround speakers are mostly used during the dance sequences, with great bass levels and good ambient surround. No noticeable problems. A very good job. [8.5]

SUBTITLES QUALITY: I really didn't expect to see jokes like Yubang (boobs)/Yoo Bang-hee translated, but enterOne did it. They did their best to convey the verbal comedy --which isn't easy-- and generally did a good job here. Fine translation, great timing and minimal spelling mistakes. A very pleasing experience. [8.5]

EXTRA FEATURES:
Making Of   Lasting 7 Minutes, this feature mixes Behind the Scenes clips with some outtakes (like Kim Won-hee and Kim Bo-sung's wigs getting stuck together during a scene). Too short, but there's some decent material here.  
Deleted Scenes  The first of four deleted scenes sees a fight between the Lala and Nemo Clubs from 72. This is pretty silly, and was smartly cut out. Second is Kim Geo-man's attempt to learn Golf, with predictably horrible results. Third scene, probably the one which should have been used, shows a drunk Mi-ok trying to con Geo-man with her beauty. Fourth scene sees the sisters bet at the horse races, and win...then lose.
Music Video, Trailer, TV Spot, OST With Oollalla  Basically this is a medley of the film's dance choreographies, with footage from the girls' training. Featured songs are: Atomic Fireball "Caviar & Chitlins", Chic "Le Freak", Humo Feat. Josefina "Cha Cha Cha De Las Secretarias" and Seo Seung-hee "Bamimyeon Bammada".
**Considering enterOne's previous 'regular' releases, this is a pretty barebones disc. Decent extras, but nothing you'll watch twice. [6.5]

VALUE FOR MONEY (Overall): For a 'Special Edition,' this is a pretty disappointing release in terms of extras. The presentation is enterOne's predictably excellent job, and the film is good for a laugh. Check the Trailer first, at least. Recommended  [7.65]
You can purchase this film at YeonDVD.com

AUTUMN FAIRY TALE
[°¡À» µ¿È­ "Gaeul Donghwa" KBS Miniseries 2000]
Release Date: 2002, 11/14 - Company: MPEG Video (Malaysia) -Running Time: 950 Minutes (18 Episodes) - Package: 9DVD + MTV VCD + OST CD
Audio Options: Korean Dolby Stereo 2.0, Mandarin Dolby Stereo 2.0 -Subtitle Options: Chinese Subtitles, Malay Subtitles, English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1, OAR Full Frame - Format: Dual Layer -Region Coding: PAL R3

THE SERIES: This 2000 series made much noise, not only in Korea, but also Taiwan (where it was released as 'Endless Love'), China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hawaii and the US (through local TV stations showing subtitled Korean series). It's pretty easy to see why. Autumn Fairy Tale is one of those addicting Tv dramas that Ajumma live and die for. It has all the elements of the most popular series: engaging characters; conflicting, convoluted plots; terrific cliffhangers...and insanely manipulative scenes. Autumn Fairy Tale wears its heart on the sleeve, making no excuses as to what it's trying to do. Just about every episode you'll see someone cry, hear sappy music and mega-convoluted 'coincidences.' Still, it's really hard to resist the charm of this series. The first few episodes are a little shaky, but if there's one thing this series does well is flesh out its characters' personalities. While they're certainly stereotypes (the innocent and good-hearted girl next door, the evil sister, the beautiful rich playboy, etc.), the writing is strong. There are some terrific episodes in the series' middle arc, with almost perfect cliffhangers. Obviously watching this back to back kind of ruins their impact, but you still want to continue. If anything, some more lighthearted moments would have helped, as this is a terribly draining experience. Personally, the first few episodes had me in tears for other reasons, namely Song Seung-heon's poor acting, the shamelessly manipulative style and the overall atmosphere I wasn't used to (I mostly watch Korean sitcoms and historical dramas. This was the third Romantic Drama). Episode after episode, this series eventually grows on you. The writing will lead you to care about its characters, no matter how manipulative it gets. At the end, you'll most likely feel like some 40-something Ajumma, crying at this convoluted melting pot of emotions. Sure, it's not high art, but Autumn Fairy Tale is simple, engaging, and often well written. It's not the best Korean TV Series I've seen (by far), but it's probably a good start. [7]

THE CHARACTERS:
Yoon Joon-suh [Song Seung-heon (Calla), Choi Woo-hyuk] This is probably the most 'detached' character of the series. Joon-suh always tries to keep his cool, until he falls for Eun-suh, and begins opening himself. Both Song Seung-heon and Choi Woo-hyuk could have been better. Song's most emotional scenes didn't really ring true because of his acting. He improved a little towards the end, but overall for a leading character in a series like this, I expected much more. The character's emotional conflict in the series' middle arc wasn't as effective as the writers hoped, simply because Song doesn't convey his emotional state effectively. Whether he's desperate or just mildly sad, his facial expression and behavior changes very little.
Choi/Yoon Eun-suh [Song Hye-gyo (Hotelier, Guardian Angel), Moon Geum-young (Lover's Concerto)] Song Hye-gyo completely carries the series from start to finish. She's lovely, and makes you care about her character no matter how clichéd it is. Moon Geum-young was almost equally good. Throughout the series, this was perhaps the strongest character in terms of writing and acting. If Autumn Fairy Tale works, most of the merit must go to Song Hye-gyo.
Han Tae-suk [Won Bin (Guns & Talks)] Won Bin surprised me here. He was effective as the slightly annoying playboy for the first few episodes, then gradually turned into someone completely different. You see the character's maturation pretty effectively thanks to Won Bin's portrayal. Good stuff.
Choi/Yoon Shin-ae [Han Chae-young (Record, Bet on My Disco), Lee Ae-jung] Well, it's the usual Han Chae-young. This is probably the best acting she's ever done, but it's still not very good. It seems like every scene points out her good looks, but she's not able to raise above that. Her character is interesting in terms of writing and character development, but it never really comes across well on TV. Many important moments lose impact because of Han's acting. Still, problems aren't as noticeable as inBet On My Disco  (where she's pretty much a sore note in a great little comedy) or Record (where the only thing she could do was show her assets).
Shin Yoo-mi [Han Na-na] Han Na-na is a former Miss Korea finalist. For the first half of the film, she was probably the most sympathetic character, suffering for Joon-suh's selfishness. The problem was the second half, when she becomes very little more than an annoying drama queen with suicidal tendencies. Han Na-na is pretty good.
Yoon Kyu-soo [Jung Dong-hwan] The usual father figure in TV Dramas. Caring, but not very open to changes. The character is underdeveloped. Jung Dong-hwan is adequate.
Lee Kyung-ah [Sun Woo Eun-sook] The two mothers were very important characters in the series, and she was effective, if a little too over the top.
Kim Soon-im [Kim Hae-sook] Short of Song Hye-gyo and Won Bin, this is the best performance of the Series. Good character, good acting.

VIDEO QUALITY: A pretty good presentation, actually. Since the Dual Layer DVDs only contain two episodes per disc, the picture quality is satisfying. The only major problem is that sometimes scenes will look overly bright. Otherwise there are no noticeable major flaws. Serviceable for a TV Drama transfer. [6.5]

AUDIO QUALITY: The audio is generally good, but there are a few problems. The first episodes sound a little tinny, and there's one or two episodes suffering from weird echos (seems like audio from an entirely different series?!), which become a little annoying. Usually it's a mix of high and lows, but nothing that will bother you in the long run. [6]

SUBTITLES QUALITY: Uh-oh. I think who did the English Subtitles here didn't spend too long on them. Many spelling and grammar mistakes, but the biggest problem is that the Subs lack polish. Many times people who don't understand Korean will be puzzled by the translation. Example: when you hear 'Tae-suk Oppa!' or 'Eun-suh Unni" in Korean, you know that's how people address each other in Korea. But, if the subtitles continue to translate it as 'Brother Tae-suk!', people who don't know Korean customs and culture might be confused. Also, there are too many omissions. The use of Chinese names instead of the original Korean (Eng Shi instead of Eun-suh) proves that these are either dubtitles, or they simply translated the Chinese subtitles (the Chinese dub clearly uses the Korean names, though). Still, with all the problems, you'll still understand what's going on. Personally, I turned them off after five-six episodes, they were too annoying. Sadly this is still the best option if you can't get tapes from friends in Hawaii (where this series was screened). Chinese Subs seem to do their job fine. [4.5]

EXTRA FEATURES:
MTV CD  This VCD features all the soundtrack plus MTV, with a nice interface. Too many spoilers if you haven't seen the series, but it's a good chance to 'relive' the best moments. The last two minutes show an interview with the cast & director just after the last episode. They ask Song Hye-gyo about the kiss scene with Song Seung-heon, and mostly thank everybody for their hard work.
CD+Screensaver  A VCD with a few additional features. There's a screensaver (pretty good looking, but it's slow as a tank), Starweb (some internet software. I didn't try it), Prologue (three Opening Credits Videos), a Music Video, and Music Box. This is basically the same soundtrack of the MTV CD, but at least there are lyrics in Hangul. I spent about half an hour on this. It's slow enough to sing along.
**They could have done better in terms of Special Features, but that's the norm for non-Korean releases. [6.5]

VALUE FOR MONEY (Overall): A good deal (at only $50 retail in Malaysia) if you can tolerate this type of melodramas, otherwise it might be a little too manipulative. The boxset does its job fine, but subtitles are horrible. Since the Korean version is long out of print, and the Chinese release is hard to find, this might be your only option if you want to see the Series. [6.25]
You can purchase this DVD at Coolwin Video.

Note: The film's rating is counted twice for the final average. After all, the most important thing is the film, isn't ?

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Special Thanks: Darcy Paquet, Yeon Hyeon-sook, dvd.co.kr, papadvd.com, dvdshelf.com, dvd.naver.com, yesasia.com, koreanwiz.org, dvdasian.com, joycine.com, film2.co.kr, cine21.co.kr, cinemaservice.com, cineseoul.com

Last updated on 2003, 1/5.

NEXT WEEK'S REVIEWS--
Resurrection of the Little Match Girl (2002 - enterOne DVD)
The Contact (1997 - SRE DVD)
Bad Guy (2002 - CJ Entertainment DVD)
Surprise Party (2002 - Cinema Service DVD)
No Blood No Tears (2002 - 20th Century Fox Korea DVD)
Card subject to change :)

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