The Host (BONG Joon-ho)

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Lino · #1 Post by **Lino** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:34 pm

Tentatively scheduled for a release on DVD in late December.

Lino · #2 Post by **Lino** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 7:43 pm

Pre-order the DVD now!

Lino · #3 Post by **Lino** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:23 pm

Got this one in the mail yesterday and already watched it twice! This is as good as it gets -- if you've got a DVD, share it with everyone! I know I am.

Michael · #4 Post by **Michael** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:04 pm

Lino, if you have time, I'd love to hear more about what makes the film so good. How's the Korean DVD?

Galen Young · #5 Post by **Galen Young** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:31 am

Lino · #6 Post by **Lino** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:51 pm

Michael wrote:Lino, if you have time, I'd love to hear more about what makes the film so good. How's the Korean DVD?

Certainly! First of all, it's always refreshing when a film with so much hype as this one is getting completely manages to live up to its high expectations. Korean cinema is at its very best and has been for the last 5 years or so and not only that but it's easily the most interesting slice of World Cinema today that you can find, even managing to obliterate the best of US indie filmmaking (which seems to have infatuated itself with nothing much that recycling a long, lost sense of independent cinema that was born in the 70's, which I'm perfectly ok with but the gallery of anti-heros is getting awfully crowded and uninteresting and the whole scene is reeking of 21st Century ennui; I would have welcomed much more if the phoenix'd rise from its ashes but sadly, that phenomenon is still to happen).

Before watching The Host, I decided to check out Joon-ho's previous one -- Memories of Murder -- just to get a taste of his kind of filmmaking. I'm glad I did that (and you should too but it's not obligatory to do so in order to enjoy the former one) because I could already see with my own eyes what all the reviewers were saying about his genre-bending kind of cinema and the way he so effortlessly manages to go from deep drama to comedy, from satire to social commentary, from the individual preocupations to collective ones and all the while being fresh, inventive and original. The same can be applied to The Host because his keen eye and vision is clearly on display from start to finish. Talented guy, he is.

This is then a genre movie that completely transcends pigeon-holing and classification. It was quite incredible when in one particular scene he was able to make me cry out of sympathy for the characters and almost a second later, I was laughing at something else. It's a rollercoaster ride like very few and as a result, the 2 hour running time flashes before your eyes. And that's why after going through it, you want another ride --like I said above, I already watched it two times!

The korean DVD is amazing, with perfect A/V quality and has what is perhaps the most professional subtitling on a feature film I've seen apart from the classy job Criterion has accustomed us to. It's a shame that the other two discs that are dedicated to the extras do not have subtitles at all. But I can understand what a marathon it would be to subtitle them! Optimum in the UK is going to release a 2xDVD of this baby in the near future for those who want to wait.

I think I should point out that on the 2nd disc of extras, there is an interview with Tony Rayns (of MoC DVD fame) in english. His thoughts on The Host pretty much mirror my own.

I hope I have managed to make you order the DVD. You will not be disappointed. At all.

Lino · #7 Post by **Lino** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:45 pm

That is the next one on my list, actually. It sounds promising.

I forgot to mention that on the second disc of extras of the korean edition for The Host, there is a short feature entitled Sink and Rise by Bong Joon-ho that is subtitled in english. It's very funny and it's a one take shot. The upcoming Optimum edition won't feature this short as one of its extras.

Michael · #8 Post by **Michael** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:09 pm

I hope I have managed to make you order the DVD.

Yes, you have. But it seems to be sold out at yesasia so I will do some shopping around on ebay then. Lino, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. Thoughts of yours and others on this forum, especially after being a member here for years, mean more to me than anything on IMDB and such.

Michael Kerpan · #9 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:16 pm

Another possible source. sometimes cheaper than YesAsia -- but the shipping charges hurt a bit (if you aren't ordering several things at once):

Lino · #10 Post by **Lino** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:36 pm

DVDBeaver reviews the korean discs.

Michael Kerpan · #11 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:23 am

zombeaner · #12 Post by **zombeaner** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:07 pm

Quickly. I loved the film, I put it in as soon as I got it home on Wednesday and I was very impressed. The DVD has one of the best pictures I've ever seen. Simply amazing, if only the extras were subbed, but I knew they wouldn't be going in.

Michael Kerpan · #13 Post by **Michael Kerpan** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:16 pm

Now seen for a third time (in order to do my screen captures). ;~}

I haven't watched the subtitled short film on disc 3 yet -- maybe today.

patrick · #14 Post by **patrick** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:48 pm

Has anyone seen the UK edition yet? I can't decide whether I want the R2 version for all the extras or the R3 3-disc set for the beautiful packaging.

manicsounds · #15 Post by **manicsounds** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:16 am

The R2 disc looks great. Haven't gone through all the extras but there is quite a lot. Menus are nice too.

Dropped the DTS track, but the Dolby serves justice. I recommend it.

patrick · #16 Post by **patrick** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:45 pm

Great, I guess I'll go ahead and order it. I listen to films in stereo anyway so DTS doesn't have much appeal for me.

foggy eyes · #17 Post by **foggy eyes** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:27 pm

Yup, the Optimum R2 is top notch. As far as I can tell, the transfer is flawless. As for the film, the two minute sequence shot unveiling the monster in broad daylight is utterly exhilarating. Super-smart genre filmmaking.

soma · #18 Post by **soma** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:01 am

R4 Madman / Eastern Eye 2 disc Special Edition

EXCLUSIVE Australian extras filmed in Melbourne
AN INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR BONG JOON-HO
Q&A SESSION WITH BONG JOON-HO

^ From the Melbourne International Film Festival July 2006, I was there. Essential purchase.

manicsounds · #19 Post by **manicsounds** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:53 am

I guess it should be mentioned, the Magnolia US Region 1 has a new English audio commentary with Tony Rayns and the Director, for fans of them

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