The US version of the “2001: A Space Odyssey” BluRay turned out to be regionfree, exactly the same as the European version and cost a paltry 8.49 USD at Amazon.
So now it’s mine. MINE!
The Past Unearthed: A Collection of Feature Films in the Japanese Colonial Period (2007)Taewon Entertainment
The Past Unearthed: The Second Encounter: A Collection of Chosun Films in the 1930s(2008)Taewon Entertainment
Jon Pais, do you own these sets, if so, what’s your opinion of their content and quality?
I’ve only watched Volume 1, and while some reviewers found the films fascinating documents, I thought they had little more than historical value. During the occupation, Korean filmmakers didn’t have much freedom, consequently most of the works produced during this period were made to promote the Japanese war effort and “good citizenship”. As the war effort intensified, filmmakers were reduced to making no more than propaganda for the Japanese. Even if I could stomach films made under such unfavorable conditions, the absence of compelling stories and technical mastery was enough to keep me from investigating the later sets, as tempting as they looked. As far as the transfers, the image quality of the films in the first set was mediocre at best, but I can watch just about anything. Nevetheless, I have to applaud the Korean Film Archive for their efforts to salvage these works, and they are certainly attractively packaged and modestly priced. If after watching these you find something worthwhile, please let me know, as I’ve been eyeing these sets for a long time myself.
Off topic, but have you already picked up the Shin Sang-Ok collection?
The Past Unearthed: A Collection of Feature Films in the Japanese Colonial Period (2007)Taewon Entertainment
The Past Unearthed: The Second Encounter: A Collection of Chosun Films in the 1930s(2008)Taewon Entertainment
Jon Pais, do you own these sets, if so, what’s your opinion of their content and quality?
I’ve only watched Volume 1, and while some reviewers found the films fascinating documents, I thought they had little more than historical value. During the occupation, Korean filmmakers didn’t have much freedom, consequently most of the works produced during this period were made to promote the Japanese war effort and “good citizenship”. As the war effort intensified, filmmakers were reduced to making no more than propaganda for the Japanese. Even if I could stomach films made under such unfavorable conditions, the absence of compelling stories and technical mastery was enough to keep me from investigating the later sets, as tempting as they looked. As far as the transfers, the image quality of the films in the first set was mediocre at best, but I can watch just about anything. Nevetheless, I have to applaud the Korean Film Archive for their efforts to salvage these works, and they are certainly attractively packaged and modestly priced. If after watching these you find something worthwhile, please let me know, as I’ve been eyeing these sets for a long time myself.
Off topic, but have you already picked up the Shin Sang-Ok collection?
No, I haven’t Jon. I’m not familiar with this particular collection. So why I should add this set to my collection for films from this period? When I get the aforementioned second collection of Chosun films, I’ll let you know my take on them. Thanks for your informative response.
The Past Unearthed: A Collection of Feature Films in the Japanese Colonial Period (2007)Taewon Entertainment
The Past Unearthed: The Second Encounter: A Collection of Chosun Films in the 1930s(2008)Taewon Entertainment
Jon Pais, do you own these sets, if so, what’s your opinion of their content and quality?
I’ve only watched Volume 1, and while some reviewers found the films fascinating documents, I thought they had little more than historical value. During the occupation, Korean filmmakers didn’t have much freedom, consequently most of the works produced during this period were made to promote the Japanese war effort and “good citizenship”. As the war effort intensified, filmmakers were reduced to making no more than propaganda for the Japanese. Even if I could stomach films made under such unfavorable conditions, the absence of compelling stories and technical mastery was enough to keep me from investigating the later sets, as tempting as they looked. As far as the transfers, the image quality of the films in the first set was mediocre at best, but I can watch just about anything. Nevetheless, I have to applaud the Korean Film Archive for their efforts to salvage these works, and they are certainly attractively packaged and modestly priced. If after watching these you find something worthwhile, please let me know, as I’ve been eyeing these sets for a long time myself.
Off topic, but have you already picked up the Shin Sang-Ok collection?
No, I haven’t Jon. I’m not familiar with this particular collection. So why I should add this set to my collection for films from this period? When I get the aforementioned second collection of Chosun films, I’ll let you know my take on them. Thanks for your informative response.
Actually, the Shin Sang-ok films are from a later period, but the collection is one of the most significant to have been released by KOFA. Out of the 5 films in the collection, three are very, very good - yet, to the best of my knowledge, there hasn’t been a single review of the boxset online. I began to write one of my own, but I got caught up with my preparations for moving to Korea, and I never finished the article. Shin was born in Chongjin (now part of North Korea) in 1926, and went to Japan at the age of 16 to study film. Returning to Korea three years later, he got his first start in motion pictures as art director on Choi In-kyu’s Liberation film Hurrah! For Freedom (1946). In the 1950s and 1960s, Shin established himself as one of Korea’s major filmmakers, producing hundreds of films and directing as many as two or three per year. In 1954, he married popular actress Choi Eun-hee, who would later star in several of the director’s films, including Mother and a Guest, for which Shin received the Best Director prize at the 1st Daejong Film Awards. In the 1970s, strict government censorship crippled the local film industry, and Shin’s studio was closed down in 1978. That same year, Shin and his recently divorced wife were kidnapped by North Korean dictator and self-professed film buff Kim Jung-il, with the intention of jump-starting the Stalinist state’s film industry. Shin directed seven films in the North before making a daring escape with Choi in 1986. The couple sought asylum in the United States where the director, working under the alias Simon Sheen, made “3 Ninjas Knuckle Up” (1995), a children’s martial-arts movie. Shin returned to South Korea in 1994, continuing to make films until health problems put an end to his career. Shin died in Seoul on April 11, 2006. The “Shin Sang Ok Collection” includes A Romantic Papa (1960), Mother and a Guest(1961), Seong Chun-hyang (1961), Deaf Sam-ryong (1964), and One Thousand-Year-Old Fox (1969). My own personal favorite is Deaf Sam-ryong, with Mother and Guest being a close second. They both have excellent performances, superb B&W lensing and engaging stories. They both also feature actor Jin Kyu Kim, who starred in Kim Ki-young’s The Housemaid. Finally, though I normally abhor costume dramas, I would gladly rewatch Seong Chun-hyang over again.
In compensation (for the time being) for not being able to acquire the Shin Song-Ok Collection from various sources (thanks Jon for your generous help) I just invested in the following Korean and Chinese sets:
Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER (releases November 2,2009)
Lu Chuan’s CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH 2-Disc Edition (includes 150 minute documentary)
In compensation (for the time being) for not being able to acquire the Shin Song-Ok Collection from various sources (thanks Jon for your generous help) I just invested in the following Korean and Chinese sets:
Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER (releases November 2,2009)
Lu Chuan’s CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH 2-Disc Edition (includes 150 minute documentary)
Great investment, Doug! City of Life and Death is one of the very best films released this year, and the B&W cinematography is second to none. My only real issue with the image is that there are very few true blacks (due to the film itself, not the transfer). I was fortunate enough to catch it on the big screen at PIFF, which made me realize how much I miss having a decent sound system here. You’re probably already aware that the documentary material isn’t English-subtitled?
In compensation (for the time being) for not being able to acquire the Shin Song-Ok Collection from various sources (thanks Jon for your generous help) I just invested in the following Korean and Chinese sets:
Bong Joon-ho’s MOTHER (releases November 2,2009)
Lu Chuan’s CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH 2-Disc Edition (includes 150 minute documentary)
Great investment, Doug! City of Life and Death is one of the very best films released this year, and the B&W cinematography is second to none. My only real issue with the image is that there are very few true blacks (due to the film itself, not the transfer). I was fortunate enough to catch it on the big screen at PIFF, which made me realize how much I miss having a decent sound system here. You’re probably already aware that the documentary material isn’t English-subtitled?
Yeah, I figured that, but I always like those little extras regardless. I can’t believe that a US distributor hasn’t acquired this for us Yanks!!
Män som hatar kvinnor (2009) aka: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
no english subtitles, but I couldn’t wait till 2010 to view this thriller based on the popular novel of the same name.
Picked up Fulci’s “Aenigma” cheap off a market. God help me!
“Colin” - Ultra, ultra low budget Brit Zombie flick.
“Seinfeld” - Seasons 4 & 5 (This got superb after the sometimes weak 1 & 2. Never bothered with season 3)
“Iron Angels” - Upgrade from old UK VHS.
YAY!! One of my first love affairs with Hong Kong Nu-Wave action cinema. Gals ‘n’ guns and a great cast with the scrummy Moon Lee and ‘The Osh’ doing their kick ass business. Classic stuff from 1987 when things really took off, so nice to finally have it on DVD.
“Beach of the War Gods” - Another great DVD release in the R3 ‘Legendary films’ series.
Wang Yu’s patriotic (hey someone has to be) period action film is a mini-classic for a reason. Masses of extras do battle as China and Japan slug it out.
It’s Kung Fu vs Bushido baby!
“The Wolf Man” - Universal. Upgrade from VHS dupe.
“Miracle Mile” - Shockingly ignored little gem that is masterfully crafted, well acted and that manages to expertly combine excitement, laughs and tears
A long time fave. Upgrade from VHS dupe.
“Unarmed and Dangerous” - Brit martial arts/gangster flick with a stumpy armed ‘Thalidomide’ victim as its ass kicking, Kung Fu, hero!
