Before we see how Hollywood finished their attempt to remake the cult Korean horror classic “Tale of Two Sisters,” it’s very worthy to look the original version of this film on Blu-ray disc
that will comes out on July 28th, 2008. As a proud one for the Asian horror film, “Tale of Two Sisters” not only success to deliver an eerie fell ghost story, but more than that it’s a character or mental study and a festive of somewhat brightfullness acting talent. With it gloomy nuance along the film, surprisingly, it becomes a very good looking movie thanks to the nice cinematography and the effective score, which in some parts were very useful to make you jump. This absolutely isn't a simple tale, as it begins you out feeling a little deranged and induces you to find out what is really going on as reality and fantasy begin to smudge and might be could make confusion at more than one point. But then, once you've think you already know what’s really going on, the film continues to pull you down dark, twisted paths. This is truly an unforgettable film that virtually compels you to watch it through a second time. When it released on the cinema, “Two Sisters” opened powerfully in South Korea dislodging "The Matrix Reloaded" from its top spot. In its first three weeks, it's racked up more than 2 million admissions (around $14.5 million), with a final tally of 3 million-plus admissions likely. This third feature of writer-director Kim Jee-woon is very different in tone from his previous movies, the black horror-comedy "The Quiet Family" and charming romantic fantasia "The Foul King." Once again, “Two Sisters” is a film that succeeds not so much through its supernatural aspects, but rather its fascinating psychological examination of grief and sadness.
In a pristine sanatorium, a doctor interviews a silent young woman about her memories of "that day." Dissolve to a car journeying through summertime landscape and three people getting out when they reach a wooden house in an idyllic, lakeside setting: father Mu-hyeon (Kim Gab-su) and daughters Su-mi (Im Su-jeong) and Su-yeon (Mun Geun-yeong). Waiting inside with a greeting as warm as a prison warden's is young stepmom Eun-ju (Jung-ah Yeom), who welcomes the two sisters who come back home after recovering their health, but Su-mi, the elder sister, intentionally avoids her and Su-yeon, the younger sister, shows a smack of fear for her stepmother. On their first night, Su-yeon sneaks in Su-mi's room confessing there is someone in her room and Su-mi sees a ghost of her late mother who hung herself in Su-yeon's closet. Strange things begin to happen since then; a ghost haunts the house and stepmother's birds are poisoned to death. Assuming Su-yeon is behind the inauspicious incidents, the stepmother locks her in the closet, and when Su-mi learns about the cruel punishment, conflict between the stepmother and two sisters gets bitter than ever.
One day, Mu-hyun, the father goes to town and Su-mi finds there is no sign of her younger sister, Su-yeon and Su-mi sports Eun-joo dragging a big bag through the dark corridor leaving bloody stains behind her. Su-mi follows bloody trace of the bag and she confronts with Eun-joo on her way of tracking. They starts to fight vehemently and Su-mi falls down struck by Eun-joo in the end... A while later, Mu-hyun comes back to the house and founds Su-mi fallen on the floor alone and enraged Mu-hyun exclaims that Su-yeon was already dead??| His exclamation awakes a series of memories and hidden secrets buried deep inside of Su-mi...
Ji-woon pays great attention to details, and uses the film’s visuals not only for aesthetic value, but to carry much of the meaning and underlying themes. Although viewers may not catch all of the clues and symbolism upon first watching the film, there are a great many hints to the plot and the psychology of the characters embedded within each frame. Ji-woon directs with a deliberate, confident pace, concentrating on character and plot rather than action, and there are only a handful of obvious scare scenes in the film. However, this gives the proceedings a richness and depth that truly sets it apart from similar films. The plot is genuinely fascinating, and without relying on the easy option of a ‘big twist’ style ending, it captivates and keeps the viewer trying to work out exactly what is going on, and from which character’s perspective we are seeing events. Even after the film has ended, it is not exactly clear what has happened, and there are a number of different possible interpretations, especially regarding the supernatural elements.
Overall-Score: 4,5 stars out of 5
Product statistics:
Product Title :Tale of Two Sister Blu-ray Disc
Director :Kim Jee-woon
Artist Name(s) :Im Su-jeong | Mun Geun-yeong | Jung-ah Yeom |
Release Date :July 28, 2008 (Order your copy here)
Language :Korean
Subtitle :Korean, English
Publisher :Tartan Video
Run Time :110 Minutes
Number of Discs :1
Other Asian horror titles on Region 1 DVD:
“Black House”
BLACK HOUSE (aka. Geomeun Jip, 2007) is a South Korean thriller that masquerades as an Asian horror film; in truth the film is more psychological than "horror" although the film's main premise is somewhat horrifying and quite disturbing. Based on the novel by Yusuke Kishi and directed by Shin Tae-Ra, the film is a definitely a relief from the usual "vengeful ghost" theme that have plagued most South Korean horror films. "Black House" definitely feels more influenced by Hollywood-style filmmaking than the traditional Korean thriller.
Connection: Region 3 DVD Article
“Wide Awake”
Wide Awake takes one of the real-life medical mysteries -- patients who remain fully conscious (and responsive to pain) but paralyzed during operations, called "intraoperative awareness" -- and weaves a revenge-motivated mystery plot around it.
Connection: Region 3 DVD Article
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that will comes out on July 28th, 2008. As a proud one for the Asian horror film, “Tale of Two Sisters” not only success to deliver an eerie fell ghost story, but more than that it’s a character or mental study and a festive of somewhat brightfullness acting talent. With it gloomy nuance along the film, surprisingly, it becomes a very good looking movie thanks to the nice cinematography and the effective score, which in some parts were very useful to make you jump. This absolutely isn't a simple tale, as it begins you out feeling a little deranged and induces you to find out what is really going on as reality and fantasy begin to smudge and might be could make confusion at more than one point. But then, once you've think you already know what’s really going on, the film continues to pull you down dark, twisted paths. This is truly an unforgettable film that virtually compels you to watch it through a second time. When it released on the cinema, “Two Sisters” opened powerfully in South Korea dislodging "The Matrix Reloaded" from its top spot. In its first three weeks, it's racked up more than 2 million admissions (around $14.5 million), with a final tally of 3 million-plus admissions likely. This third feature of writer-director Kim Jee-woon is very different in tone from his previous movies, the black horror-comedy "The Quiet Family" and charming romantic fantasia "The Foul King." Once again, “Two Sisters” is a film that succeeds not so much through its supernatural aspects, but rather its fascinating psychological examination of grief and sadness.
In a pristine sanatorium, a doctor interviews a silent young woman about her memories of "that day." Dissolve to a car journeying through summertime landscape and three people getting out when they reach a wooden house in an idyllic, lakeside setting: father Mu-hyeon (Kim Gab-su) and daughters Su-mi (Im Su-jeong) and Su-yeon (Mun Geun-yeong). Waiting inside with a greeting as warm as a prison warden's is young stepmom Eun-ju (Jung-ah Yeom), who welcomes the two sisters who come back home after recovering their health, but Su-mi, the elder sister, intentionally avoids her and Su-yeon, the younger sister, shows a smack of fear for her stepmother. On their first night, Su-yeon sneaks in Su-mi's room confessing there is someone in her room and Su-mi sees a ghost of her late mother who hung herself in Su-yeon's closet. Strange things begin to happen since then; a ghost haunts the house and stepmother's birds are poisoned to death. Assuming Su-yeon is behind the inauspicious incidents, the stepmother locks her in the closet, and when Su-mi learns about the cruel punishment, conflict between the stepmother and two sisters gets bitter than ever.One day, Mu-hyun, the father goes to town and Su-mi finds there is no sign of her younger sister, Su-yeon and Su-mi sports Eun-joo dragging a big bag through the dark corridor leaving bloody stains behind her. Su-mi follows bloody trace of the bag and she confronts with Eun-joo on her way of tracking. They starts to fight vehemently and Su-mi falls down struck by Eun-joo in the end... A while later, Mu-hyun comes back to the house and founds Su-mi fallen on the floor alone and enraged Mu-hyun exclaims that Su-yeon was already dead??| His exclamation awakes a series of memories and hidden secrets buried deep inside of Su-mi...
Ji-woon pays great attention to details, and uses the film’s visuals not only for aesthetic value, but to carry much of the meaning and underlying themes. Although viewers may not catch all of the clues and symbolism upon first watching the film, there are a great many hints to the plot and the psychology of the characters embedded within each frame. Ji-woon directs with a deliberate, confident pace, concentrating on character and plot rather than action, and there are only a handful of obvious scare scenes in the film. However, this gives the proceedings a richness and depth that truly sets it apart from similar films. The plot is genuinely fascinating, and without relying on the easy option of a ‘big twist’ style ending, it captivates and keeps the viewer trying to work out exactly what is going on, and from which character’s perspective we are seeing events. Even after the film has ended, it is not exactly clear what has happened, and there are a number of different possible interpretations, especially regarding the supernatural elements.Overall-Score: 4,5 stars out of 5
Product statistics:
Product Title :Tale of Two Sister Blu-ray Disc
Director :Kim Jee-woon
Artist Name(s) :Im Su-jeong | Mun Geun-yeong | Jung-ah Yeom |
Release Date :July 28, 2008 (Order your copy here
)Language :Korean
Subtitle :Korean, English
Publisher :Tartan Video
Run Time :110 Minutes
Number of Discs :1
Other Asian horror titles on Region 1 DVD:
“Black House”
BLACK HOUSE (aka. Geomeun Jip, 2007) is a South Korean thriller that masquerades as an Asian horror film; in truth the film is more psychological than "horror" although the film's main premise is somewhat horrifying and quite disturbing. Based on the novel by Yusuke Kishi and directed by Shin Tae-Ra, the film is a definitely a relief from the usual "vengeful ghost" theme that have plagued most South Korean horror films. "Black House" definitely feels more influenced by Hollywood-style filmmaking than the traditional Korean thriller.
Connection: Region 3 DVD Article
“Wide Awake”
Wide Awake takes one of the real-life medical mysteries -- patients who remain fully conscious (and responsive to pain) but paralyzed during operations, called "intraoperative awareness" -- and weaves a revenge-motivated mystery plot around it.
Connection: Region 3 DVD Article
