"Chaw" 2-Disc Korea Version DVD

Another creature film from South Korea entitled “Chaw,” is an action adventure/thriller about a small village being terrorized by a man-eating, mutant boar. The Korean title "Chaw" apparently has multiple meanings. It is a variant of the English word ‘chew’ and is defined as ‘to bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate’ while in the Korean dialect of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces it also refers to ‘a trap’. The film is helmed by Shin Jung-won, director of "To Catch a Virgin Ghost," a horror-comedy hybrid that was moderately successful at the Korean box office. According to an interview with one Korean weekly movie magazine, Shin said that after his first feature he has received many comedy scripts, but none of which were funny enough to him. So he began writing “Chaw” to make ‘a funny movie’ by himself. The interview indicates that Shin’s definition of the word ‘funny’ is not what it traditionally means, and claims that his imagination is very twisted. He also said that he began making films after admitting that he enjoyed crashing clichés. Somehow, Idea for “Chaw” was came from a survey which shows that it was the boar that sat on the top of the food chain and periodically appeared all over the country leaving serious damages to farms and sometimes even attacked people in Korea. But strangely people took boars as one of the pig sorts as livestock not knowing their nature or having met them in real. Comes from this unexpected dual image, it has been developed to be a cannibal creature in the movie. In the end, this tall tale of horror and adventure proves to be a fine addition to the local stock of computer graphics-ridden monster flicks ― offering a believable, rather than realistic, experience that persuades the viewer with more than just flesh-gnawing gore. Now, you can also check the "Chaw" monster via your home entertainment set as YESASIA will release it on 2-Disc Special Edition DVD.

Mysterious, gruesome deaths plague Sammae-ri, a peaceful little village in the Jirisan National Park of South Korea, which boasting no criminal cases for 10 years. Some parts of dead body ripped off cruelly are discovered by ecologists who stayed in the mountain for studying wild animals. Among the victims is the granddaughter of Cheon Il-man (Jang Hang-seon), a native of Sammae-ri and a professional hunter. Police cannot find any clues and there is no progress in the investigation. Then Kim (Eom Tae-woong), a recently relegated police officer from Seoul who is now partnered with lead detective Shin (Pak Hyeok-kwon), finds out that the killer is none other than a wild boar. The news attracts many hunters from all over the Korean peninsula, but the situation quickly goes from bad to worse, causing counterattacks from the wild boar. In this chaos, Kim’s mother (who suffers from dementia) goes missing. Kim forms a team with Shin, Cheon, a hunter named Baek (Yoon Je-moon) and zoo-ecology researcher Soo-ryeon (Jeong Yu-mi) to track the wild boar’s hoofmarks and face the deadly beast on its home turf.

At a budget of 5 million US, “Chaw” actually requires a team of visual effects artist to create a fully CG generated giant boar, and like another CGI heavy South Korean film “Haeundae,” special effects of “Chaw” has been provided by The U.S.' Polygon Entertainment. Hans Uhlig, Polygon’s founder and CEO gave his own statement, “Although we were able to use a practical, full-scale model of the creature for some of the effects shots, the majority of these shots required computer-generated imagery. We assembled our own team of highly skilled and experienced artists who created a fully CG creature, and their work is truly amazing. Be prepared to see some really incredible and frightening visual effects!” Though set in Korea, this film is actually was shot in a forest outside San Francisco, just like a report that Uhlig, who also served as 2nd Unit Director, added in “Chaw” press release, “As the majority of the film takes place in a rural setting, we were able to shoot most of the principal photography right here in northern California.” One of the many reasons for filming in the U.S. is that it was much easier to get permission for shooting in the woods than would be the case in South Korea. And the San Fransisco area commands a striking view and looks similar to many counterpart locations in Korea.
Rising star Uhm Tae-woong (Birth of a Family, Forever the Moment) leads the cast in the battle against the carnivorous pigs with the help of Jang Hang-seon (Seven Days), Yoon Je-moon (The Show Must Go On), Jeong Yu-mi (Family Ties) and Park Hyeok-gwon (A Good Day For an Affair).

This 2-Disc Edition comes with the following special features:
# Audio Commentary by Director and Cast
# Attack of the Killer Boar
# Five Member Pursuit
# Horror vs. Comedy
# Deleted Scenes with Director's Commentary
# Premiere
# Poster Shoot
# Trailer

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Dragon Wars Turn The Battle To DVD

“Dragon Wars” or D-Wars was the most ambitious Korean movie, break the record as the biggest budget movie in Korea and also the longest time in the production, but almost set and actors are not in and from Korea. Even on the flashback scene it certain included some Korean nature, but the center of the story was set on Los Angeles and the main casts are Hollywood stars such as Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks and Robert Forster. Directed by ambitious Korean director, Shim Hyung-rae who’s marked this movie as his second project after a not to famous monster movie, “Yonggary”. After some great efforts on creating the creature effects that were done for three years in Shim’s Younggu- Art Movies Company, “Dragon Wars” released in South Korea on August 1, 2007 and grossed $20.3 M within 5 days, setting a domestic box-office record as the most watched film on opening week. After the dragon made some chaos within hometown, the movie then released widely in the U.S and also break the record as the highest grossing for Korean movie in U.S Box office, combined the result of the U.S and Korea, “Dragon Wars” succeed taken in more than $ 65 million on its theatrical release. On January 8, 2008, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the CGI-fest action adventure movie on DVD, Blu-ray Hi-Def and PSP.The story begin when a young boy named Ethan Kendrick (Cody Erens) with his father visiting an antique store, not for a long time he was exposed to some radiating light out from an interesting old chest. The store owner, Jack (Robert Forster) witnesses the incident and realizes the significance of the incident. He then told some old story that happened in Korea hundred years ago to the boy. Every 500 years, imoogi(a serpent that wants to morph into dragon) search for magical pearl called Youijoo which is have the power to fulfill its destiny to become a heavenly dragon. But the Youijoo was hiding within the body of a girl who must be sacrificed to the imoogi. Narin, a girl that was possessed by the power unable to sacrifice herself and decided to run away with her lover Haram, a warrior apprentice that supposedly bring the girl to Imoogi, but then fallen to a girl instead. Being chased by the imoogi, they had no choice except kill their self together, which effect to the creature’s destiny left unfulfilled and it would have to wait another five hundred years until the next Youijoo reappears. Jack tells Ethan that he is the reincarnated spirit of Haram and gives him a powerful pendant with a message to find the reincarnated version of Narin that supposedly will be the next target of Imoogi when she reach her 20 birthday. The story move forward to 20 years later, when Ethan (Jason Behr) has become a TV news reporter, he’s reported some mysterious incidents happen in Los Angeles city that might be a sign for another Imoogi return. In a coincidental, he meets Sarah Daniels (Amanda Brooks), a girl he believed as the reincarnation of his love. Together, this couple must fight Imoogi and its army that has returned in modern day Los Angeles and made a big chaos in the city as an effort to fulfill the imminent destiny.The DVD version of this special effects movie will feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio as well as the Featurette “500 Years in the Making.” Also included are Dragon Wars Animatics: from Storyboard to Screen and a Photo Gallery.
The Blu-Ray version of the film will offer up a 1080p transfer and the same extras as the DVD version.
The DRAGON WARS UMD Video for the PlayStation Portable includes the film in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Audio options include English and French stereo, with subtitles in English, Korean, French, and Spanish.Product Details:
Product Title: Dragon Wars – D-War (DVD) Region 1
Actors: Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster, Craig Robinson, Elizabeth Pena, Cody Arens, Aimee Garcia.
Directors: Shim Hyung-rae
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English, Korean
Subtitle: English, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin, Traditional), French, and Spanish.
Audio Specs: English 5.1 and French DS
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 1
Country Made: South Korea
Genre: Monster Action Adventure
Feature Film Running Time: 90 Minutes
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release Date: January 8, 2008 (Order at Amazon)

Creatures Performances Rate: 8/10
Human Performances Rate: 5/10
Story Performances Rate: 5/10
Video Performances Rate: 7/10
Overall Rate: 7/10

Asian Monster Chaotic Movie Friends: The Host (8,5/10), Godzilla (7/10), Yonggary aka Reptilian (6/10), Garuda (6/10)

Other reviews for “Dragon Wars”:
(By Frank Scheck – Hollywood Reporter)
Unlike his countryman Joon-ho Bong's The Host, which revived the monster movie genre with wit and style, South Korean helmer Hyung-rae Shim applies a strictly grade-Z sensibility to "Dragon Wars." Belatedly receiving a U.S. release after it became a huge hit in its native country (under the title "D-War"), the film boasts superior CGI special effects for a movie of its type. But it's unlikely to erase anyone's fond memories of the original "Godzilla" and its ilk. The film kicks into gear in its second half, with Buraki and its minions laying waste to entire city blocks. Resonances of past films of its type abound, particularly in the drawn-out battle between Buraki and a legion of armed helicopters at the top of a skyscraper that recalls "King Kong." While the CGI effects are undeniably impressive, the laughable story line, risible dialogue and cheap humor (most of it involving a hapless zoo security guard) seriously detract from the fun. Neither Behr (who starred on the WB Network's "Roswell") nor Brooks adds much interest to the proceedings, and Forster delivers what might be the first bad performance of his career. Even such normally reliable supporting players as Chris Mulkey and Elizabeth Pena don't come off well.(By Irene Nakano - Joong Ang Daily)
Here are some of the reasons it could succeed: First of all, there’s the sheer novelty of having the scariest looking serpent and mini-dinosaurs spill out onto the big screen with incredible spontaneity. D-War is therefore a totally major work, a first for Korea and definitely a work that has inspired many of us who have never lived abroad. Its special effects justify the fact that it’s the most expensive movie ever made in Korea by a Korean, even though some of the scenes in D-War require an appreciation for Shim’s prior background in comedy. Several campy moments actually keep us in the creative loop, so to speak. And even those of us with absolutely no sense of humor are given the chance to make the same loop, thanks to some of the zany characters, like the zookeeper who nearly gets clobbered to death by an elephant carcass. But why should it matter where Shim spent $33 million? It should come as no surprise that it has always been his dream to become a filmmaker and he was willing to pay the price. Secondly, audiences in English-speaking countries will not have to be told in advance that it’s a foreign film with some subtitles, which should help it succeed where others before it have failed, most notably “The Host,” another Korean monster movie that failed theatrically in areas such as the U.K. due to language barriers. In closing, D-War, like all films, is a universal medium; computer special effects give it enough leverage over more traditional methods, like “Godzilla.” So perhaps the main reason some members of the entertainment industry seem to have problems following D-War’s message is due to their limited thinking about monster movies in general. Maybe they ought to try to remake the whole movie more intelligently, using different camera angles or drawings, with different scaling, instead of having the director look so derelict in his duties. Surely he must have something to boast about after six years of being so committed and passionate about this movie. So please note: How you rate D-War shouldn’t be based on whether you agree with such things as the size of its marketing budget or its chances of succeeding as a Korean export.(By Scooter Thompson – Movieeveryday)
Considered the 'George Lucas' of Korea, Writer / director Hyung-rae Shim's latest film, Dragon Wars: D-War, really does share a lot in common with the Star Wars films. Let's be honest, as much as the Star Wars franchise has become a national treasure and phenomenon, the actual acting, storyline, and dialogue in the original Star Wars film was not that great. It was the special effects that captured people's imaginations. Dragon Wars: D-War falls about 15 steps down into the cellar in this comparison, yet, it does deserve some notice for bringing some new mythology to life as well as for the exceptional CGI work. It's too bad that Mr. Shim didn't get the writers from the year's spectacular Korean creature feature, The Host, though to help him punch this script up to being more worthy of the incredible sums of money that must have been spent on the CGI for this film. Literally, the final 30 minutes is as CGI-driven as Transformers. Nonetheless, there's no reason to rake this film over the coals excessively. The acting, story, and dialogue came out amateurish, no doubt, but give the artisans involved some due and recognize they are a couple of decades behind in these areas, but right at the forefront when it comes to the rest of the technology. There's no question that a random word generator might have written more comprehensible dialogue. Likewise, CGI actors might have delivered more realistic performances than Ms. Brooks and Messers Behr and Forser. But the final battle and Buraki's CGI army marching toward and through downtown Los Angeles was great fun to watch. You've got to give international filmmakers, like Hyung-rae Shim, credit when they attempt to make great movies with huge budgets and special effects. Had this film been released in the late 1970s, it might have been a huge hit.

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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 24^th, 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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