The first Korean blockbuster of the summer, "Public Enemy Returns", opens June 19th, just in time to shake up the domestic box office that has been dominated by Hollywood fare for several weeks. Directed by Kang Woo-seok who brings forth his third installment in the successful franchise that began with "Public Enemy" in 2002. The film then attracted over 4 million spectators, just close behind another blockbuster of the year, “The Chaser” and the third Korean film to reach the 4 million mark this year. "Public Enemy Returns" is this time written by Jang Jin who fed it some of his characteristic humour. Seol Kyeong-gu ("Oasis") returns as a law enforcer, this time he battles a criminal played by Jeong Jae-yeong ("Someone Special"/Aneun Yoja). Now the film is up again for it DVD releasing, it’s time to see again how it works with the signature offbeat humor into the intense crime action thriller, and Seol Kyeong-gu brazenly exhibits his sixth sense for acting as the diehard detective. Cheol-jung does not let his boss - or the audience - down in this funny, street-smart sequel, which also raises some critical social issues.
With disheveled hair, an unwashed windbreaker and a scar here and there, Cheol-jung is always diving headfirst into crime scenes. After 15 years of close calls with death, he's seen and done it all. The most notorious criminals sheepishly surrender to this thug of a man, who recklessly beats men twice his size, referees duels between schoolboys and openly accepts small bribes. And of course, when a situation calls for good cop, bad cop tactics, we can guess the role Cheol-jung takes. But it's hard not to develop an affinity for this flawed man, who's seen getting seriously offended by a third grader's joke and submitting to his little daughter.In "Return", Cheol-jung is the same disheartened man. He decides to quit once and for all when he is unable to get a proper bank loan for his house. His boss, detective Um (Kang Shin-il), files away the resignation form with a dozen more such "whines" from Cheol-jung. But he's serious this time. However, a high school murder case draws Cheol-jung back into the task force - or more precisely, the promise of a retirement grant does. A 17-year-old boy, the head of a gang of troublemakers, is found dead in his classroom. What appears to have been a skirmish among juvenile delinquents, however, takes an unexpected twist when the dead boy's fingerprints match those found in an unsolved homicide While investigating the dead boy's friends, Cheol-jung senses that their new boss, Geoseong Group CEO Lee Won-sul (Jeong Jae-yeong), may be involved. Cheol-jung learns that the convict-turned-businessman brainwashes schoolboys and molds them into little devilish tools of murder. Their underage status prevents their fingerprints in crime scenes from being detected, and when they do get caught, their zeal for Geoseong keeps them quiet. But Cheol-jung does not back down, and is determined to annihilate the public enemy. Continuing the tradition of the "Public Enemy" franchise, "Returns" eschews the cat-and-mouse game typical to the detective genre, and the battle between Cheol-jung and Won-sul is more like one between two dogs.The film is well crafted, with complex layers of narrative unfolding in an organic form, interjected with just the right amount of comic relief. Compared to its rather grave prequels, "Returns" is much more determined to make you laugh, particularly by downright making fun of the police.
DVD Specifications: Product Title: Public Enemy Returns (DVD) (Limited Edition) (Korea Version) Language: Korean Subtitles: Korean, English Screen Format : Anamorphic Widescreen, NTSC Sound Mix : Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) Publisher: CJ Entertainment Number of Discs: 3 Release Date: 2008-10-24 (Save your copy!)
This three-disc set comes with both Public Enemy Returns and Public Enemy, plus a bonus disc of features:
Disc 1 • Feature Film Public Enemy Returns • Audio Commentary with Kang Woo Suk, Sol Kyung Gu, Jung Jae Young, and Kang Shin Il Disc 2 • Making Of • Interview with Cast • Character Featurettes • Poster Shoot • Gala Premiere • Trailer Disc 3 • Feature Film Public Enemy(Sources: YesAsia, DVDAsian)
Kelvin Tong is the Singaporean filmmaker who’s best known for his award-winning horror thriller “The Maid,” which also was hailed as the first Singaporean horror film. After the film, he’s got involved with other titles like “1942” and “Men In White,” but these projects were unable to repeated his achievement with the maid’s horrific encounters that had broke Singapore’s box office record on its opening weekend. Now, Tong has become the first Singaporean director to make a feature film in Hong Kong with his favorite genre – a horror thriller. With title “Rule #1,” this time Tong’s film is revolving around supernatural crime drama. Being a Singaporean making a film in Hong Kong and using actors and crew from both countries, Tong has made somewhat of a hybrid film, with locations and settings shot entirely in Hong Kong, two of the most popular Hong Kong’s actors Shawn Yue (“Shamo”, “In Love With The Dead”) and Ekin Cheng are in the lead roles, also with Singaporean actress Fiona Xie. Tong said that he wrote the story back in 2003, but in Singapore cop movies where actors have to don police uniforms require police approval. “The answer I got was “no” because the police force doesn’t believe that ghosts exist. So, I had to look elsewhere.” Hong Kong’s Iconic landmarks such as Lingnan University, Hong Kong Plaza in Causeway Bay, a romantic beach-side bar in Repulse Bay and a disused water-filtration plant in Stanley which was featured in many Johnnie To films, then had served as the US$ 2 million movie’s locales. Now you are able to watch this polished latest work of Kevin Tong in Hong Kong version all region DVD that will release on this October 24th.
Every day, the Police Force receives 185 phone calls. 180 of them are about burglaries, murders, rapes and kidnappings. The remaining 5 begin with: “There is something strange in my house, can you please send someone over to take a look?”
For rookie Sergeant Lee (Shawn Yue), being a cop means running down crooks and upholding the law. Injured in a shoot-out, he finds out to his horror that he is reassigned to the dubious-sounding Miscellaneous Affairs Department (MAD). There, he is paired up with Inspector Wong (Ekin Cheng), a jaded and alcoholic veteran who explains that MAD’s role is to answer supernatural calls. A swimming pool caretaker calls the Police about strange noises at his workplace. Lee and Wong are dispatched to the scene. Lee seems to be on the brink of uncovering something sinister when Wong traces the source of the ghastly noise–a clogged-up water pump. Putting Lee down, Wong explains MAD’s rule number one–There are no ghosts. For every seemingly-inexplicable phenomenon, there is a corresponding scientific and rational explanation. When Lee and Wong arrive at a nursing home to investigate a bizarre TV that keeps turning itself on and off, the veteran cop immediately uncovers the culprit. A man in the opposite apartment is channel-surfing with a remote control that is of the same brand as the TV in the nursing home. Unconvinced by Wong’s easy explanations, Lee investigates on his own and finds himself confronted by the impossible. At the swimming pool, he is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who had drowned there. At the nursing home, he encounters the spirit of an old woman who enjoyed watching TV before she passed away. Confronted by Lee, Wong reveals the true mission of MAD. When members of the public call the Police about strange noises or ghostly shadows, MAD shows up and reassures the complainants with scientific and rational explanations. The truth must never be known or else society will descend into chaos. A firm believer of truth and justice, Lee cannot reconcile himself to MAD’s shady practices. As he rebels against the system, the young cop realizes that there is a grain of truth in Wong’s advice. Slowly, Lee is sucked into a world of deceit and cover-ups. His relationship with his girlfriend May (Fiona Xie) suffers as MAD begins investigating a string of bizarre teenage suicides. A girl is found to have hung herself from a height of five feet. Another girl is discovered to have drowned herself in a fish tank. Impossible suicides. Unless, the victims were possessed. As Lee and Wong follow the clues, they realize that something sinister is heading their way. A serial killer who was shot by Lee before his reassignment to MAD is back–as a ghost. He is moving from girl to girl, leaving a grisly trail of carnage in his wake. While Lee doggedly pursues this ancient feud, Wong has second thoughts about his flagging career at MAD. The veteran hooks up with his former wife Esther (Stephanie Che) and makes plans to quit the force. On Wong’s last day, Lee tracks the serial killer’s ghost down to a warehouse. A showdown ensues–in which nobody is let off. (Synopsis from kelvintong.wordpress.com)
Starts off very interestingly, “Rule #1” become one very well executed film of Kelvin Tong. There are some truly scary and disturbing images that will make you grab the edge of your seats. The sound effects and creepy music that help to thick the eerie atmosphere also perfectly executed. The thrilling ride is harmonized by proficient camera work. Filmed skillfully at several run-down but noticeably eye-catching locations in Hong Kong, this is definitely one of the better horror movies which allow its stunning visuals do the storytelling. Shawn Yue and Ekin Cheng, who play their roles of a rookie and a veteran cop were very comfortably with their act. Yue’s dynamism comes through adequately and Cheng’s world-weariness attaches a good human touch to the supernatural story. To say that this 95-minute is a straightforward horror thriller would be somewhat incorrect - this film is a human drama at heart as well.
Product Specifications:
Product Title: Rule#1 (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) Release Date: October 24, 2008 (Save Your Copy) Language: Mandarin, Cantonese Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English, Simplified Chinese Picture Format: NTSC Aspect Ratio: 1.78 : 1 (Anamorphic Widescreen) Sounds: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS Digital Surround Disc Format(s): DVD-9, DVD All Region Duration: 93 Minutes Publisher: Joy Sales (HK)
Wanna spend your weekend with some nightmarish visions and story? Thus, Thai’s horrific film “The Spiritual World” that get nearer with the Region 3 DVD with English subtitle pack maybe appropriate to included as one of your options. Directed by Tharatap Thewsomboon, this atmospheric Thai horror will slowly get under the skin with the story of a troubled young woman being haunted by the ghosts of the past. Ever since she was a little girl, Ming (Nuttamonkan Srinikornchot) has been able to see ghosts. Wandering between the living and the dead, she encounters beckoning spirits and mysterious spectres no matter where she goes. For the past 15 years, Ming has constantly moved from one place to another in order to escape a ghost that has been following her. One day, childhood friend Buud (Anuchit Sapanpong) suddenly shows up, and asks for her help to find out the truth behind his father's death. Buud's appearance awakens Ming's buried memories, including vague recollections of the ghost that has been chasing after her.
As usually, don’t hope too much for a refreshing idea emerging from this film, concept about someone who’s able to seek ghost or something like that, actually has reminded us to “The Sixth Sense” in the first place. But what that could make this one become a quite decent ghost story are those disturbing scenes of spiritual world. Showing many shapes of creepy ghosts with several gory forms which pretty amusing those horror fans. The film also boasts of these above average production values that exposed with its reasonable detailed lighting, stylish cinematography, and also a number of fine visual effects. While in some sequences, it’s kind of depressing to watch Nuttamonkan’s hysterical acting that sometimes was over the top with expressing her frightfulness. But we also can’t put all the charge on her, cause a movie like this actually oblige such of expressions. Along with the twist that somewhat predictable enough, director Tharatap Thewsomboon knobs the genre pretty fit, carrying out the right moods and the appropriate scares at the acceptable minutes.
General Points: *** out of *****
DVD Specifications: Product Title: The Spiritual World (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version) Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) Language: Thai Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English Picture Format: NTSC Aspect Ratio: 1.78 : 1 Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Duration: 102 minutes Release Date: 2008-09-22 (Save your copy)
