Korean movies released in thailand...

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 14 Apr 2008, 23:59

I was browsing ethaicd.com, and came across Crying Fist, and it seems the Thai release is uncut (132 minutes), PAL and has english subs, for only about 6-7 euro delivered. http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=22954

So I went on browsing and also found Il Mare 2-disc, PAL and english subbed, for the same price...
http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=37920

Now, this isnt meant as a bargains-post, or else I would have dumped it in the bargains-section... but I'm wondering if any people here (Rico?) have any experience with Korean movies on thai dvd's and if the quality is OK.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Apr 2008, 00:52

All Thai DVDs are about $10, they're not bargains as such, they're just that price as normal.

That Il Mare is a re-release as the original DVD had no English subs. I remember looking at it in BKK. Here is the original DVD from 2002:

http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=6910

Going by what's posted at Boomerang the new DVD was released in 02/08 and also has the OST CD, and only English subs on the film:

http://www.boomerangshop.com/web/produc ... pid=200356

Of course the important question is: Are the subs decent?

That's the big problem with the Korean 2 Disc SE (which has DTS). According to Thai CD Express Crying Fist is also 132 minutes and also a DVD9:

http://www.thaicdexpress.com/artist.asp?cdid=DVA0000689

eThaiDVD are probably the best to import DVDs from but by local standards they're expensive, still they do need to include postage on their prices. Of the three online Thai e-tailors I've only used eThaiCD. The rest are about the same but add postage later and don't fully offer an English site.

As to quality it ranges from decent (7 out of 10 picture type stuff) to excellent (the local Blade 3 is a port of the New Line R1). It depends how fussy you are. I know Romero hates them, as he expects Western style quality for under 10 USD. I think considering the price of them they're perfectly fine, no serious problems, just not up to Western quality. Although like I said their Blade 3 is a port and is fantastic.

I own a fair few and all are fine IMO. They're about 50/50 NTSC to PAL, it depends if they're locally created masters or ports from elsewhere. I can tell you the English subs tend to also be fine. Don't expect Korean DVD quality and you'll be fine, Korean DVDs do cost considerably more though. I tend to compare them to HK DVDs from a few years ago when they started using anamorphic transfers, before HK DVDs got really good.

The big Thai local distributor is called Mangpong (they released Blade 3). As to optical censoring I believe they only do that on Thai movies and then not that often. I've yet to see one myself. Rico can answer better than me on that one.

Lastly most Thai DVDs packaging looks cheap, just so you're aware of it and don't expect nice looking cases/cover art. Not that I frankly care. Their Blade 3 comes in a lovely digi-pack but that's super rare.

Crying Fist is probably a good deal, seeing as the only other uncut DVD is the Korean one.

Thanks for the heads up on Il Mare. I'll pick it up next time I'm in BKK (usually discs are half the price in local shops).

A couple of other good releases:

* Failan - A port of the HK DVD so NTSC, which means Korean DD5.1 but unfortunately small but usable subs. The Korean releases are all OOP anyway.
* LA Belle - Interesting Korean film, both leads spend most of the film naked. The female lead is hot, it's surprising it passed uncut. This is also NTSC, possibly a port and has Korean DD5.1.

A couple of disappointments:

* Daisy - Is kind of a good release: 2 Disc SE but annoyingly you can only choose Thai DD5.1 with English subs or Korean DD5.1 with Thai subs. I need to make a new DVD of this to remove the bizarre restriction. The AV is fine though.
* Last Life in the Universe - This is a Thai film that has won lots of awards. The Thai DVD is anamorphic and is okay I suppose (I used to own it) but it's avoided as other much better DVDs have been released internationally. Still if you want to buy it cheaply.

I cannot remember any other good ones off the top of my head. I sold quite a few a while ago.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 15 Apr 2008, 01:04

Thanks Brad, I'll probably pick up both Il Mare and Crying Fist. I'm not that picky about AV quality so usually a good DVD is good enough for me. Doesnt have to be perfect.

Il Mare is uncut, right!? 99 minutes!?

I've used Ethai before a few years ago, ordered Ong Bak, and was pleasantly surprised that such a shitty looking website actually delivered within 7 days orso...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Apr 2008, 01:31

There's only one Il Mare cut (i.e - No International Cut). I've never heard of it being cut anywhere. I'd be surprised if it's cut.

My Korean LE DVD runs: 96 minutes and 1 second NTSC (I've just checked, including credits). So that 99 minutes is obviously wrong or more likely they're including things like Thai opening logos too. In short I'm sure it's uncut, as sure as we ever can be.

Crikey my Korean DVD looks poor. Lots of fleck marks and edge enhancement. Okay it's not a disaster but should be much better for an expensive Korean 2 Disc LE. Hopefully the Thai 2 Disc SE beats it.

If you do buy Il Mare, can you post what the subtitles are like please. They're poor on the Korean releases.

Do you have a DVD-ROM Drive? You must do. It would be ace if you could post some captures and I'll match them up with my Korean DVD. I know you've never done it before but it's dead simple and you only need to post 5-6 different captures. You can find out how to do it here (follow the "Easy Alternative method for taking caps" section):

https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=2428

Lourdes has made it really easy and crucially this method will mean the captures you take are 100% accurate without any interference from software filters. I too am definitely keen to get the Thai DVD, if it has better subs or looks better.

When creating captures it's a really good idea to pick a frame that starts a new scene. It makes it so much easier for others to pick the identical frame. Eva and I always do this.

I just added this to my post above. I'm not sure if you saw it:

Lastly most Thai DVDs packaging looks cheap, just so you're aware of it and don't expect nice looking cases/cover art. Not that I frankly care. Their Blade 3 comes in a lovely digi-pack but that's super rare.

I'd definitely recommend PMing Rico so he sees this thread. He doesn't post much and knows more than I do about Thai releases, simply because he seems to have bought more than me.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:00

I've got quite a few Thai releases of korean films as well and in all honesty, the only one that I would have said was bad was Whispering Corridors which was absolutely bloody awful.

Ghost in love was very good
JSA was good, but picture quality was a bit soft
Saving my hubby was good, as was Wishing Stairs, my Boss my hero... dammit, I can't remember names of others that I've had. But all in, Whispering Corridors was the only one I've not been happy with.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:07

I forgot about "Whispering Corridors". I used to own that, just awful. People only bought it because at the time it was the only English subtitled version. It's even 4:3!

JSA was good, but picture quality was a bit soft

Another one I forgot about. I owned that too.

I agree with your opinion of it. The subs are a bit dodgy too, in some places it's as if the person making the subs has fallen asleep on the keyboard

. Thankfully they're mostly fine though.

degeneration · Post by **degeneration** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:10

Couldn't remember those specifics, but it does seem hazily familiar!!

I had the HK letterboxed release of JSA as well, and the letterboxed picture actually had more detail in it than the anamorphic Thai release!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:30

Sadly there isn't a definitive English friendly version of JSA:

* Korean - Likely the best overall but expensive and no English subtitled extras, DTS though.
* Thai - Soft picture, limited extras, DTS or DD5.1 and cheap.
* HK - Non-Anamorphic, very limited extras, DTS or DD5.1 and cheap.
* American - Possibly the best "English friendly" version but only DD5.1 and limited extras.
* Australian - Decent selection of extras (including 50 min documentary), again only DD5.1 but NTSC to PAL and Interlaced.
* UK - Decent selection of extras (including 50 min documentary), DTS or DD5.1 but NTSC to PAL and Interlaced.
* Scandinavian - Decent selection of extras (including 50 min documentary), again only DD5.1 but it would seem to be NTSC to PAL (going by info at Rewind).

Today I'd likely buy the American DVD but only because it's "probably" the best of a bad bunch.

Korean - Expensive BUT probably the best looking version.
Thai - Poorly made.
HK - Non-anamorphic.
Australian, UK and Scandinavian ruined by NTSC to PAL.

All look good based on the spec. at:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=2140

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:41

I'll probably pick up the Thai Il Mare tonight or tomorrow.
I'll do a comparison thingy, but it does depend on when it arrives, cause I'm pretty sure I'll be a bit busy the last few days before going to HK...
If it arrives in time, I'll post the results obviously.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:52

Cool, thanks Yi-Long. Please remember to:

When creating captures it's a really good idea to pick a frame that starts a new scene. It makes it so much easier for others to pick the identical frame. Eva and I always do this.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 15 Apr 2008, 17:49

Use Lourdes' capture method, thanks. Anything less yields inaccurate results and is a pain in the arse to boot. Virtualdubmod = frame-by-frame navigation, wonderful.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 15 Apr 2008, 18:44

I'll check back about all this once I actually have the disk

I'll try, that's all I can promise.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 01:56

Did you order Il Mare Yi?

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Apr 2008, 09:59

Yeah, I ordered them both (Crying Fist as well)
Nothing received yet ofcourse.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 16:47

What date did you order them? No rush, please post about them when you get a chance. Unless Il Mare is worse than the Korean LE I'll likely get that too.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Apr 2008, 18:36

Tuesday eve I ordered it I think.
So hopefully I'll receive it the coming week. Didnt get any despatch mail though, but I dont know if Ethai sends those out...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 19:41

I don't think they do but there is an "Order Status" link, top right of the homepage.

What date are you going to HK?

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Apr 2008, 21:43

May 6th. So... in 2,5 weeks orso...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 22:26

Thanks.

What DVD software do you have installed?

You'll need to use that to capture a subtitle capture (given that the Korean DVDs have poor subs). It doesn't matter about Picture Quality when creating the subtitle example.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 19 Apr 2008, 22:39

I dont really have any dvd software installed yet.

The pc came with some stuff pre-installed, but when I pop in a dvd for dvd mystere, I just play it with mediaplayer.

What stuff should I install!?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 23:21

That will do to create a capture showing what the subs look like, it's not like quality is important for that capture. Download Lourdes's ZIP file here:

https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=2428

For creating the rest of the captures. As to what DVD software is best generally speaking I've no idea I've never watched a DVD on my computer, start a thread in Technical. Most use PowerDVD.