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2007-07-25

A.P.T residence on the DVD

A.P.T or Apartment is the recently horror project from the Korean director that has brought us the very entertaining horror movie “Phone”, Ahn Byung Ki. Now the movie was available to the market for all the fans of Asian horror movie to collect it on DVD or other home cinema format.

The story is revolves around Se-Jin a single career woman with no friends and family to speak of, forced by loneliness she spend her endless nights starring out the window of her apartment in Seoul suburb. She notices that some apartments in the block of flats opposite hers, always turn off the lights every evening at 9:56 PM, next thing happen is someone is found dead. One day after leaving her job, and is about to take the subway home, she encounters a strange woman in red dress who commit to suicide in front of the moving train, and tries to drag Se-Jin with her. After the incident she’s start to feels that the spirit of the woman haunting in her place. The series of happening start to draw her deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding the apartment, she tries to tell the neighbors and the police, but no one seems to believe her. When she spends some time with a paralyzed orphan girl who’s take care by neighborhood volunteers, she realize that the neighbors are only want to torture the girl not to help her. But every time the girl got tortured, the one who did that always be the victim of 9:56 happening. When everything going to uncontrollably and nobody seems to paying attention, Se-Jin must to reveal it all by her and soon finds out a terrible secret that they all have been share about the orphan girl.

Ahn Byung-ki put A.P.T as another copycat of Asian Horror Movie again, it seems he believe that the long haired ghost formula still has the power to terrify the audiences. But haven’t we as the audience felt a little tired with all this repetition. Not only by the ghost’s appearance, but Mr. Ahn also think that is necessary to dress up the ghost with the same movement and sound like we already seen in The Ring or Ju-On. A.P.T finally end with the really predictable results, the way it scares is not too surprising anymore, even it really has freaky moments at some point. And the climax can’t give the plus point to the entire story like every horror movie needed, as the way to make the audiences remember it for a long time. I think what Ahn Byung-ki has done in his previous movie “Phone”, still not been reach by this new project.

The Korean DVD release is similarly tolerable but unremarkable either. The transfer is anamorphic and in the suitable aspect ratio but notably soft and marked by a few flecks and spots of dirt on occasion. The sound comes in 5.1 and DTS options with English subtitles. And as the film itself the presentation of the DVD is not bad enough but not good enough either. Some of the features from the DVD such as:

  • Audio Commentary
  • Making Of
  • Interview
  • Arts & Make-up
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Computer Graphic
  • Storyboard
  • Poster
  • TV Spot
  • Trailer

Product Details:

  • Actors: Ko So-young, Kang Seong-jin, Jang Hee-jin
  • Directors: Ahn Byeong-ki
  • Format: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1, Color, NTSC, Subtitled
  • Language: Korean, English
  • Audio Specs: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Region: Region 3
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Distributor: Enter One
  • Run Time: 90 minutes

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2007-07-17

SILK Attach to the DVD

Silk is a Taiwan horror movie that wants to mix the usual element of Asian horror with some Sci-fi spices. The story began when a Canadian research photographer found death mysteriously. A team of modern day paranormal scientists, led by Japanese Hashimoto (Yosuke Eguchi), investigate the scene. Through the scientific invention of a device called Menger Sponge, which can capture and manipulate raw energy, they discovered a ghost of a 13-year old boy in a rundown Taipei apartment block and trap his energy using the device in a ramshackle apartment building.
As Ye gets closer to solving the riddle of the boy’s past, he doesn’t just find out the horrifying truth of the boy’s death, but sees tiny strands of silk attached between the ghost and the living. But those who become attached to the silk die in a horribly deaths, made all of the research thrown into jeopardy. Fearing that the ghost is dangerous and for his own hidden agenda, Hashimoto decides to isolate him, but in doing so, they unknowingly unleashed the supernatural force in the other end of the silk strand, a much more powerful and ferocious energy to which the boy somehow seems connected.

Hashimoto and his team keep constant watch over him, observing his behavior and pondering why he has remained in this world instead of passing on. But their efforts fall short when they learn that even though its energy can be visibly seen, humans are unable to hear it. Attempting to turn up some clues concerning his identity and what relly happened to him, Hashimoto recruits a special agent from JCCU (Joint Crime Crackdown Unit), Ye Qi Dong (Chang Chen) who has extraordinary gifted eyesight, he can see the colors on the wing of a flying bird, and can read lips. Reluctant at first, Ye himself haunted by guilt, burdened with a mother in a coma and lack of desire to keep on living himself. He accepts the assignment, perhaps, to seek salvation from the ghost child may reveal about life and life after death.

This movie almost successfully combines science fiction, drama and horror, the first hour of the film is easily one of the most original horror premises of Asian cinema in a while. The idea to include the addition of a believable scientific element to a ghost story with well drawn out characters to pull us in, maybe seem as such strong idea. The story that makes all the characters could actively see the ghost, compel the director Chao Bin Su to come up with different way to scare the audience, out of the usual clichés of the randomly appearing ghost, and he really success with his way in the first half of the film. But in the last 30 minutes it seems that Chao loose his direction by letting the plot repeating again the Asian horror cliché tricks especially when the film introduces a long haired woman ghost. Silk’s DVD video transfer to anamorphic widescreen presentation looks fine, though, as usual Tartan Home Cinema Releases it isn’t progressively flagged. The sound in Mandarin DTS also terrific, bass kicks when necessary, sides and rears are used appropriately. Also you can hear all the creaks and whispers in much fuller sound.

Tartan put together some worthwhile special features in this DVD but it seems it could have been better.
  • Audio Commentary by Director and Cast
  • The Making of Silk
  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

Product Details

  • Actors: Chang Chen, Yosuke Eguchi, Karena Lam, Chen Po-Lin, Barbie Su
  • Directors: Su Chao-pin
  • Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English, Japanese
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Studio: Tartan Video
  • DVD Release Date: June 12, 2007
  • Run Time: 109 minutes

Source: Amazon Buy SILK DVD

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2007-07-14

THE HOST Amok On the DVD

The Host is a movie that breaking all box office records in Korea’s history, critically acclaimed and also well received by audience world-wide. Now it’s ready to entertain your home cinema, the region 1 US DVD will be released on July 24th, 2007 in both single disc and a two disc collector’s edition in DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray formats. There are rumors that the rights to "The Host" have already been purchased for an American remake, and it is easy to see why. The film's monster elements are well-done, interesting and exciting. So please do not wait for Hollywood to butcher this movie to see it! Seek out and watch the original version!

The story is focusing on a small Park family, which runs a small snack bar on the banks of Seoul’s Han River. Head of the family is a man in his late 60’s Park Hee-bong who has three children, his elder son Gang-du is a man who seems a bit slow mentally, he has a precocious teenage daughter, Hyeun-seo, whose mother ran off after giving birth to her. Nam-il the youngest son, an alcoholic who has not made much of himself since graduating from college, and Nam-joo is Gang-du’s sister, an archery medalist and member of the national team. One fine day an ugly mutant amphibious creature, born of chemicals dumped at a nearby U.S military base, emerges from the polluted water and starts to attack the people lounging by the side of the river. As Gang-du runs away from the monster, he sees Hyun-seo. Recently came out from the snack bar, unaware of the danger. Trying to grabs her hand to save her but he stumbles and grabs another girl hands, too late to realize his error, Gang-du sees the monster grab his daughter and drag her into the river.
Gathering in the aftermath of tragedy, the Park family is stunned when the Korean government announces that the monster is not only a direct risk, but also “the host” of a virus. Then the government representative in biohazard suits arrive and demand to know who were in direct contact with the creature and quarantined them for fear they have been exposed to a new virus, including Gang-du that was joined by his family. While in quarantine, Gang-du receives a call from Hyun-seo’s mobile. It does convince that she’s still alive and trapped somewhere in a sewer in Seoul, but no-one believes him except his family. In order to save his daughter, Gang-du and his family escape the hospital and start to searching by them self with all of the most extremes way, from battling health professionals, military personnel, and other manifestations of the government and ultimately, against the large monster itself.
Meanwhile, Hyun-seo waits alone, she’s hiding in a pipe within the sewer, and cannot escape. The creature drops the bodies of its victims nearby, saving them for its dinner later. She finds them dead or mortally wounded, except for young orphan boy who’s snatched by the monster while he and his brother were stealing in her abandoned snack bar. Together they plan to climb out of the sewer using the victim’s clothes as a rope.

A monster movie for the 21st century, "The Host" takes familiar issue elements and then crushes them in much the same way the title mutant runs wreaking havoc along the Seoul riverbank it calls home. Written and directed by South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, it's a film that was patchy at best and there were funny moments too, all the while building to a surprisingly emotional climax.
The monster in the film is all done in CGI, but The CGI amazingly makes the monster look and seem believable with its design, movements and actions, created by the San Francisco based F/X Company The Orphanage.
Even in some sense, this is one of the best monster movies in years.
But the movie's strongest area isn't its slick looking monster but its heart and soul. The Park families are so likable and believable that you wish them to succeed in their mission. It was emotionally attached to these characters and when one of them dies, you’ll felt it. Actually, all the acting is fantastic. Every character is fleshed out. They're unique, and interesting. Nonetheless, it's like watching a real family squabble, rather than some actors on a screen pretending to be connected.

P.S: On June 19, it was announced that a sequel was in progress for a 2008 release, with a different director.

The Host (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Product Details

  • Actors: Kang-ho Song, Hie-bong Byeon, Hae-il Park, Du-na Bae, Ah-sung Ko
  • Directors: Joon-ho Bong
  • Format: Anamorphic, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: Korean, English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Studio: Magnolia Pictures
  • DVD Release Date: July 24, 2007
  • Run Time: 120 minutes

EXTRA FEATURES

  • Making Of interview with director Bong Joon-ho
  • Reel of deleted scenes (23 mins)
  • Bong Joon-Ho's Direction featurette
  • Memories Of The Sewer featurette
  • The Film Departments featurette
  • Physical Special Effects featurette
  • Sound Effects featurette
  • Designing The Creature featurette
  • Creature Animation featurette
  • Puppet Animatronix featurette
  • Making The Creature featurette
  • The Crew profiles and interviews
  • The Characters casting tapes and interviews
  • Creature gag reel
  • Saying Goodbye To The Host featurette
  • Storyboards
  • Stills gallery
  • Trailers

Source: Amazon Buy The Host DVD

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2007-07-11

Forest of Death goes to DVD

There’s a notorious forest that for some reason is a popular place for many people to commit suicide, those who come are not only from the surrounding city but also from far away. One day, a criminal has abducted, raped and murdered the prime minister’s daughter in the forest. But the new in-charge detective Ha (Shu Qi) believes that there is something behind, she heads out to the forest where the girls were found killed and quickly realizes that there’s something mysterious about this forest. When desperately looking for clues she meets botanist Steve Shum (Ekin Cheng), a student of botany who has written his doctorate paper on the theory that “Plants are Sentient Creatures”. He spends all his time and efforts trying to prove that plants have feeling and can even communicate, together their conduct an experiment which will analyze the signals collected from the crime scene to disclose the truth and to determine whether or not the suspect is guilty by obtaining eyewitness and evidence: the forest itself. However, Steven’s girlfriend Mary, who works for a major TV station, also heads for the forest to make the location report. Could the trees be the answer to this case, or is there something even more absurd lurking in the deep forest? And will the mystery of forest be disclosed to the public?

“Forest of Death” is supposed to be a horror movie about trees that are able to express their feelings, but this latest solo movie of Danny Pang is in fact more of a mystery-crime-thriller with a slight hint of horror in it, but not nearly enough to make it a horror movie. So this movie will disappoint you if you only decide to watch this movie based on their promotional posters, that probably can make you think this movie is about some creepy ghost girl roaming around in the bushes or about giant trees killing people.

It’s disappointing to see Danny Pang’s solo direction going a little off-track compared to his projects with his brother, Oxide Pang. This movie is slow-moving and lacks the element of horror, and as a science flicks, it never made any serious attempts to build up a strong case for audience to believe what it’s trying to tell.

Product Details

  • Actors: Shu Qi, Ekin Cheng, Lawrence Chou
  • Directors: Danny Pang
  • 1 disc package
  • English Subtitles
  • Making Of
  • Star Files
  • Photo Gallery
  • Format: DVD Region, NTSC, Anamorphic, Widescreen, Subtitled
  • Region: All Regions
  • Studio: Universe Laser
  • Run Time: 98 minutes

Source: Amazon Buy Forest of Death DVD

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2007-07-09

Arang haunting on DVD

Arang” is the 2006 Korean Summer horror blockbuster, This film is the debut of Ahn Sang Hoon as the director who was prepared the production that previously went under the title of “Line” for several years. The DVD itself will included the commentary of Sang Hoon about this first debut also from some of the cast, a small collection of deleted scenes, two behind-the-scenes featurettes and the theatrical trailer, only that…??

The story is like a merged of CSI and The Ring, is a supernaturally-themed murder mystery. It starts with a mysterious death of a man after him receiving an e-mail with a link to a strange website.
Veteran detective So-young and her rookie partner Hyun-gi are attached to investigating the case, and soon their hands full after another victim dies in similar way, what’s so strange is that all of the victims seem to have died due to an acid unleashed inside of their bodies and received an e-mail from the same sender before they died. They start to realize that the recent serial killings may have something to do with a mysterious disappearing of a girl and an incident that occurred ten years ago, in a salt house.


Overall the movie is like any other Asian horror flick, still repeating the cliché of the modern Asian ghost movie formula, including half seen figures, ghosts lurking in video cameras, haunted websites and countless shots of long black hair appearing in unlikely places, there’s even one scene where the entire roof inside a shower is covered with hair. Instead some sequences are actually ripped out of the Thai horror “Shutter” where the ghost appears only on camera during a wedding shots and elevator scene lifted from “The Eye”, maybe someone can unclogged this mess and let some fresh ideas run through.
But “Arang” is still entertaining as a horror, the cinematography is quiet excellent especially the shot of the beach and a lighthouse. The fusion between two genres: crime drama and supernatural story seems quiet interesting, however maybe it would be better to see more of the investigation side of the story rather than the horror side. That’s a twist plot at the final sequence even the twist is quiet predictable too.

Product Details:
Actors: So-yeong Choo, Won-jung Jeong, Ok-bin Kim, Dong-Wook Lee, Jong-su Lee
Directors: Sang-hoon Ahn
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: Korean
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Tartan Video


Source : Amazon Buy ARANG DVD

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