New Tartan/Palisades BDs in November

[Robert S]

Great news over on DVD Times:

"Palisades Tartan have announced the UK Blu-ray Disc release of six titles on 2nd November 2009. Priced at £19.99 RRP each, Black Book and The Proposition are re-releases of the Tartan Blu-rays while the following are new to the format (in the UK): 36, A Tale of Two Sisters, Lady Vengeance and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance."

The 2 Vengeance films are instant buys for me. Hopefully we'll get (at least the option of) the fade to black version of Lady Vengeance.

A Tale Of Two Sisters is also one of the better asian horrors of the last ten years, so its release is certainly welcome.

Nice to see Palisades committing to release of the best of Tartan's back catologue on blu ray.

Now, all we need is Ringu, Dark Water and Battle Royale!

Here's the link:

DVD Times - Palisades Tartan UK Blu-ray in November

[Keith Hurst]

Have to agree, the two vengeance films are a must buy to book-end my BluRay Old Boy!

KH

[Robert S]

It seems these are HMV exclusives to begin with.

[Pecker]

Waiting to see if the last one includes 'fade to b&w'.

If not, I suspect they might bring out a boxed set in the future, as they did with the SD versions.

Still...very tempting.

Steve W

[Keith Hurst]

I do enjoy Lady Vengeance, it has some incredibly dark humour in there on a subject ( like OldBoy ) that many would steer well clear of... a good point though to look out for the fade to B&W being included.

KH

[mentasm]

The fading version was a failed experiment for me. I prefer the theatrical version, especially because the fade version has a noticeably muted palette in comparison (even before it starts to fade).

[rebel_scum]

Same here, I prefer the vivid colour pallette of the theatrical version. If Tartan cock it up, I'll import the Hong Kong disc.

[mentasm]

Their DVD release was fine, apart from the fact it was interlaced. One would assume that the BDs will all be 1080/24 though.

I own way too many copies of the VT. Got the BD, Starmax SE and FE of Oldboy, the HK, US and Korean Lady V, the US and Korean Mr. V, plus the UK VT deluxe boxed set. Just need a decent version of JSA now, since the Korean Superbit is interlaced (as are the others from memory).

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by mentasm

The fading version was a failed experiment for me. I prefer the theatrical version, especially because the fade version has a noticeably muted palette in comparison (even before it starts to fade).

Failed or not, it was Park's intent. The studio nixed the idea, but he insisted on having it back for the home video release.

For me, in this age of torture porn, the idea of not wishing to overawe the audience with colour is refreshing.

Behind all the talk of 'black comedy', Lady... is an extremely uncomfortable and uncompromising viewing experience. The fact that the fade to b&w only underlines the bleakness of the subject matter, and magnifies Park's talent - the ability to unnerve without wringing every last ounce of brutality.

Steve W

[Flur]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Failed or not, it was Park's intent. The studio nixed the idea, but he insisted on having it back for the home video release.

For me, in this age of torture porn, the idea of not wishing to overawe the audience with colour is refreshing.

Behind all the talk of 'black comedy', Lady... is an extremely uncomfortable and uncompromising viewing experience. The fact that the fade to b&w only underlines the bleakness of the subject matter, and magnifies Park's talent - the ability to unnerve without wringing every last ounce of brutality.

Steve W

I agree,but the brutality is necessary in most of Park's work and it is not overly used.

[Robert S]

I personally found the fade to black version entirely successful (however, I have not seen the full colour version).

[mentasm]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Failed or not, it was Park's intent. The studio nixed the idea, but he insisted on having it back for the home video release.

I know all about the history, but the fading version was shot in colour and the transition doesn't work because the contrast isn't strong enough. It robs a beautiful film of much of its impact.

Torture porn has to be the most overused phrase in recent memory.

[rebel_scum]

I didn't find Lady Vengeance "...an extremely uncomfortable and uncompromising viewing experience."whatsover. I thought it was a gas. I'd apply it more to Mr Vengeance, which if I'm being truthful, bored the arse off me. Some lovely touches in there, but not a film I wish to re-visit anytime soon. Contrast that with Oldboy, which is one of my most double-dipped movies ever and Lady Vengeance not far behind.

That's not a hint for some arsey lecture on 'not getting' Mr Vengeance...

[mentasm]

I had the same reaction to Mr. V when I first saw it. Pretty bleak movie, mostly because the whole thing is presented from the perspective of a deaf mute, so there's no music and the sound design is pretty sparse (but still good). Oldboy I love, for no good reason other than it's stylish and well constructed, but Lady V is such a good looking film and features such a strong central performance that it easily slid into second place in my Park rankings (edged out Mr. V, JSA and Cyborg - I haven't seen Thirst yet).

[saint paul]

So great that these are finally coming out on BR, had them on order when Tartan went bust. Might have to have a BR revenge trilogy weekend