The Yellow Sea (Hwanghae) - March 26th, 2012

[the new scum]

le sigh. bummed it's region locked. I really need a region-free player but the options are limited if you can't afford an Oppo.

[Marten]

Originally Posted by the new scum

le sigh. bummed it's region locked. I really need a region-free player but the options are limited if you can't afford an Oppo.

I heard another member - I think DetroitSquirrel - mention the Insignia NS-BRDVD4 as an economical option. I'm guessing there are readily available hacks out there which can turn it region-free. Might be worth googling.

[Marten]

And if you'd rather go with a brand name there are a couple of region-free LG BR players and a Pioneer one for less than $200 at Bombay Electronics with free shipping.

Region-coding is no longer a reason to deprive yourself from importing BR movies. Oppo players are great but they're not the only game in town.

[greekak229]

The Yellow Sea review is up on DVDBeaver.com

[kishiro]

I don't like this new trend that korean and japanese distributors have started by releasing shorter, so-called "international" versions of their movies to the foreign markets (i.e not to their domestic markets).

I know many business people don't like movies that are longer than two and a half hours for purely monetary reasons (you can have more screenings per day of a shorter movie). But come on Don't do it ! Now, I just can't worry about the Weinsteins, Disney and other companies cutting down foreign movies... I also have to worry about the rights-holders cutting down their own movies to what they believe will be more pleasing to the international distributors and foreign audiences. D*mmit!

It's sooo unnecessary. Especially for the home-movie market, where runtime dosen't matter!

"The Yellow Sea" has been cut by 16 minutes. I own the Korean BD, but I can't watch it because of the lack of subtitles...
I pray to god that they change practises, but the future dosen't look too good...


Examples:

The Yellow Sea - KR version : 156 min
The Yellow Sea - "Internatonal" v : 140 min

13 Assassins - JP version : 141 min
13 Assassins - "Internatonal" v : 126 min

1911 - HK version : 122 min
1911 - "Internatonal" v : 99 min

I Saw The Devil - "KR version : 144 min
I Saw The Devil - "Internatonal" v : 140 min*


*(PS; I Saw The Devil is a special case. The International version Looses two scenes, but contains more cannibal gore because the Korean censors forced the director to trim some scenes for the domestic market)

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by kishiro

I don't like this new trend that korean and japanese distributors have started by releasing shorter, so-called "international" versions of their movies to the foreign markets (i.e not to their domestic markets).

I know many business people don't like movies that are longer than two and a half hours for purely monetary reasons (you can have more screenings per day of a shorter movie). But come on Don't do it ! Now, I just can't worry about the Weinsteins, Disney and other companies cutting down foreign movies... I also have to worry about the rights-holders cutting down their own movies to what they believe will be more pleasing to the international distributors and foreign audiences. D*mmit!

It's sooo unnecessary. Especially for the home-movie market, where runtime dosen't matter!

"The Yellow Sea" has been cut by 16 minutes. I own the Korean BD, but I can't watch it because of the lack of subtitles...
I pray to god that they change practises, but the future dosen't look too good...


Examples:

The Yellow Sea - KR version : 156 min
The Yellow Sea - "Internatonal" v : 140 min

13 Assassins - JP version : 141 min
13 Assassins - "Internatonal" v : 126 min

1911 - HK version : 122 min
1911 - "Internatonal" v : 99 min

I Saw The Devil - "KR version : 144 min
I Saw The Devil - "Internatonal" v : 140 min*


*(PS; I Saw The Devil is a special case. The International version Looses two scenes, but contains more cannibal gore because the Korean censors forced the director to trim some scenes for the domestic market)

Yeah, this is all an incredible shame. I've yet to see the extended cut of 13 Assassins and I love that film. I've seen the extended version of Yellow Sea so I'll definitely take note of what is missing once I get this Blu-ray in. From what I've read, both versions have things that the other doesn't.

[blg]

This movie is proving to be very elusive for me. I was one of the idiots who imported the Korean version, only to realize it didn't have English subs. Now that the UK edition is region B locked, I may have to finally get a region free player which I'd been putting off. Although I still don't like the fact that this edition is cut.

[darry]

Out of stock already at amazon.co.uk

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by darry

Out of stock already at amazon.co.uk

Not exactly sure what that is a sign of.

[darry]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Not exactly sure what that is a sign of.

Either am I. Is it common for something to be temporarily out of stock just after it's released?

[Marten]

Originally Posted by kishiro

I don't like this new trend that korean and japanese distributors have started by releasing shorter, so-called "international" versions of their movies to the foreign markets (i.e not to their domestic markets).

I know many business people don't like movies that are longer than two and a half hours for purely monetary reasons (you can have more screenings per day of a shorter movie). But come on Don't do it ! Now, I just can't worry about the Weinsteins, Disney and other companies cutting down foreign movies... I also have to worry about the rights-holders cutting down their own movies to what they believe will be more pleasing to the international distributors and foreign audiences. D*mmit!

It's sooo unnecessary. Especially for the home-movie market, where runtime dosen't matter!

"The Yellow Sea" has been cut by 16 minutes. I own the Korean BD, but I can't watch it because of the lack of subtitles...
I pray to god that they change practises, but the future dosen't look too good...


Examples:

The Yellow Sea - KR version : 156 min
The Yellow Sea - "Internatonal" v : 140 min

13 Assassins - JP version : 141 min
13 Assassins - "Internatonal" v : 126 min

1911 - HK version : 122 min
1911 - "Internatonal" v : 99 min

I Saw The Devil - "KR version : 144 min
I Saw The Devil - "Internatonal" v : 140 min*


*(PS; I Saw The Devil is a special case. The International version Looses two scenes, but contains more cannibal gore because the Korean censors forced the director to trim some scenes for the domestic market)

And the disappointing part is that we'll probably never see a subbed full-length release of either The Yellow Sea or 13 Assassins. And although Fox International co-financed the production of The Yellow Sea, they gave it only a DVD release in the U.S. - the shortened version.

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Marten

And the disappointing part is that we'll probably never see a subbed full-length release of either The Yellow Sea or 13 Assassins. And although Fox International co-financed the production of The Yellow Sea, they gave it only a DVD release in the U.S. - the shortened version.

Guess we better need to learn Japanese and Korean to fully enjoy these films then.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by darry

Out of stock already at amazon.co.uk

Originally Posted by greekak229

Not exactly sure what that is a sign of.

It probably means that the amount of pre-orders that they had was greater than the number of copies they had in stock at the time of release (today).

[logboy]

here's a comparison of the two cu*ts of yellow sea

http://wildgrounds.com/2011/06/22/ye...directors-cut/

as far as I'm concerned, the biggest issue I have with this tactic is that it's not being picked-up on & pointed out in reviews or advertising - its effectively being kept quiet & fans or writers are helping it have a chance of spreading.

also odd that a company restoring older films to full length is releasing a film that's intentionally shortened.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by logboy

also odd that a company restoring older films to full length is releasing a film that's intentionally shortened.

Eureka were probably only offered the shorter version. Even if they could have got the longer one, there is the subtitling cost.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by logboy

here's a comparison of the two cu*ts of yellow sea

http://wildgrounds.com/2011/06/22/ye...directors-cut/

as far as I'm concerned, the biggest issue I have with this tactic is that it's not being picked-up on & pointed out in reviews or advertising - its effectively being kept quiet & fans or writers are helping it have a chance of spreading.

also odd that a company restoring older films to full length is releasing a film that's intentionally shortened.

There is a lot of misinformation in your post, logboy.

First, Eureka Entertainment isn't releasing the film, Bounty Films are.

Second, there is hardly a tactic here. If the Korean distributor is only licensing the shorter version, then I fail to see how Bounty Films are to be blamed. Do you know with absolute certainty that Bounty Films could have licensed this longer cut?

Third, I would assume that people who aren't commenting that there are two cuts of the film are unaware that they exist. If an English-friendly version of the longer cut isn't available - and correct me if I am wrong, but the Korean release isn't - then how could one possibly comment on it. Just because a longer version exist, it does not mean that it is the better version that should have been released.

Fourth, I personally cannot see how adding more to this film would make it any better. I have not seen this longer cut, but I will in about 2 weeks.

Pro-B

[logboy]

pro-b

the confusion of two cuts already has an effect on easy it is to argue the pros and cons of one over the other.

eureka are dustributing yellow sea on behalf of bounty films in uk and Ireland.

I think what we have is not one companies decision to create two cuts but a decision taken not in collusion but by one, the other or both, In understanding of what is required to allow each party access to the same film without as much chance of treading on one another's toes when it comes to release timing.

I've already seen instances of resentment towards companies for not declaring they've distributed a shorter cut when people have accidentally / later discovered there is a diuference in what they got to see.

bounty may have been able to license the longer cut, but I'm more interested in the idea as to why they wouldn't if they could? and why would the korean company have two versions if both are available to license? why only offer one to license? it's the simultaneous nature of two cuts without a clear declaration of reason that causes suspicions.

the point about one cut possibly being better than the other isn't about judging how well the film works, it's about the existence of differing cuts not as artistic but to be portrayed as such or to be understood from that perspective when there are long standing business issues that this method of release might benefit in a way which potentially denies or ignores the artistic effect. note - there's a fansub of the longer cut.

it *may* be because of the film, but it *may* be this and many other issues both Korea and the USA have had with various connecting issues relating to releasing films from one place in another; the USA part-finance of the film suggests its done as a way to buy into control in a way a license doesn't necessarily ever allow.

[greekak229]

I watched the long cut online a few months ago with English subtitles and I immediately loved it, but I don't think we will be too disappointed with the short version. From what I read in that description of the Director's Cut, it seems like even a better version than the longer one because it adds more tension, taking out a lot of filler in the process. Either way it doesn't appear to alter the narrative in any way.

[aewb]

Are the "international" versions usually director approved?

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by logboy

pro-b

eureka are dustributing yellow sea on behalf of bounty films in uk and Ireland.

Correct, and this is why I responded. But helping with distribution and purchasing licensing rights/releasing are two very different things. Your post implied that Eureka Entertainment were somehow responsible about the content on the Blu-ray.

Originally Posted by logboy

I think what we have is not one companies decision to create two cuts but a decision taken not in collusion but by one, the other or both, In understanding of what is required to allow each maker access to the same film without as much chance of treading on one another's toes when it comes to release timing. maybe they could license the longer version (eureka licensed the longer 'guilty of romance' and had it certified but then didn't release it) but I think it's more a case they didn't necessarily have a reason to as it would be easy to see how the difference was minimal to the film by comparison to the opportunity to go separate ways from the timing of the Korean release & therefore maximise chances of avoiding perceived issues with grey / reverse imports or ability to get a market to pay less attention to another markets opportunities.

I understand your concerns, but I think that you need to word your statements very carefully because I would assume that you do not know exactly what type of an agreement Eureka Entertainment have. In other words, it is best to operate with facts rather than assumptions, which you are passing as facts. Agree?

Originally Posted by logboy

bounty may have been able to license the longer cut, but I'm more interested in the idea as to why they wouldn't if they could?

The reason why I responded earlier is because unless you work for Bounty Films, then you obviously do not know the exact limitations of their licensing agreement. But your post made it sound like you do, and that they had the option to release this longer Theatrical Cut, yet they chose not to.

Originally Posted by logboy

...and why would the korean company have two versions if both are available to license? why only offer one to license?

First, you do not know if they have two versions available for licensing. This is what I attempted to explain to you above.

Second, there could be many reasons why. Sometimes the party that controls the rights simply does not want to distribute longer cuts/versions.

Let me give you a few examples.

The long version of this film was available only in Italy for a very, very long time. Internationally, for a very long period of time Medusa only licensed the shorter cut. In fact, I have to double check, but I think that they are still not licensing the longer cut in many territories, the U.S. included:



Here's another example, Medusa in Italy again. Though this time around Miramax was involved. Eventually, only the Korean DVD of the long version surfaced outside of Italy (we shall exclude the gray Russian market), but to this day I have many, many questions as to how a Korean company managed to license the Italian cut with English subtitles. (I don't know if you know, but if you choose the Korean subs, then the nudity is censored).



How about a really notorious case: Patrice Chéreau's La reine Margot. There is this legendary cut, 160 minutes long, which was not released widely on VHS/DVD. Do you know why? Because the box office results in France were poor, and because a certain critic from Variety apparently complained that the film was too violent, etc.

There are many, many examples where a film will street with a longer theatrical time in its country of origin, then when it is purchased for distribution in various international markets, and later on appears on the home entertainment market, it would pop up with an entirely different version. As a matter of fact, a very great number of films routinely appear at Cannes and Venice in rough form and are later altered/finished by the director/production company. So, they appear with a different running time in the theaters, and then on DVD and now Blu-ray.

What I am trying to convey to you, logboy, is this: It isn't fair to blame a distributor for something that they may not be responsible.

Good to see you posting again

Pro-B