Welcome to Dongmakgol: Korean DVD vs Korean Blu-Ray

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Aug 2008, 13:36

Update:

I've just watched the BD in full for the first time, and there are two issues you should know about.

1: Subtitle sync problem. During the first hour, there is a five minute period during which the subtitles are one sentence early.
It's not a huge problem and it doesn't last long, but it is quite irritating because you have to remember that each new line is for a sentence you haven't heard yet.

2: Audio sync problem. I can't verify this on my PC yet, but I believe that this is a disc-based issue. The sound is 0.05 seconds late on both the DTS-HD and Dolby soundtracks (it's barely noticeable). The problem is that it becomes worse and worse as the film goes on. At the one-hour mark, the sound is a full tenth of a second late (even the most insensitive bastard would notice). After that the delay progressively decreases back to 0.05 seconds.

If you can live with those issues, go ahead and buy the BD.
Personally, I can't. I'm going back to the DVD.

EDIT:
Audio problem is definitely related to the disc.
Same thing happens when played on my PC.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 05 Aug 2008, 13:39

How is the film Tom? I have the BD here but it's been so long since I saw a good film from Korea.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Aug 2008, 13:47

Dongmakgol is a good film.

Good score by Joe Hisaishi, good performances by Shin Ha-Kyun and Kang Hye-Jeong, solid editing, good cinematography.
It's just "good cinema". Not the masterpiece that some people claim it to be, but still a decent crowd pleaser.

Not as good or as intense as Lady Vengeance and Bittersweet Life (both released in 2005 as well), but still a nice little film.

I reckon you'd like it.

Bisc wrote:Dongmakgol is absolutely awesome. Probably my favourite South Korean film that I've seen in recent years.

ReconFive wrote:Welcome to Dongmakgol - 4.5/5
Everyone knows what this is by now so i wont go into details, but its deffinetly as great as everyone says.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 05 Aug 2008, 14:16

HungFist wrote:Welcome to Dongmakgol (South Korea – 2005) – 2,5/5
Three North and two South Korean soldiers get stuck in a small village during the war. Welcome to Dongmakgol has real lousy first 50 minutes. Appart from the beautiful landscapes everything from screenplay to acting and special effects goes more or less wrong. Around halfway there’s a laughable cgi boar scene, which I recall hating on the initial viewing, but now it turned out the most enjoyable scene in the film so far. The second half isn’t exactly great movie making but it’s so ridiculously hearwarming (despite the stone cold calculation on the screenwriter’s behalf) that I can’t help myself with the rating. 2,5/5 is probably more than this movie deserves, but the aftertaste is good enough grant such decent rating.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 12 Aug 2008, 20:57

Update:

see first post.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 12 Aug 2008, 21:11

Thanks Tom. I may pick this up. I've not seen it yet. A friend gave me the Official VCD. I know I wouldn't spot the audio issue and if the subs only go out of sync for 5 minutes, big deal.

I'll certainly be picking up the HK or Korean Lust, Caution BD. Excellent film.

Have you also bought the Brotherhood BD?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 12 Aug 2008, 21:20

Nope. Didn't like Taegukgi.

What bothers me here is that the DVD of Dongmakgol is absolutely fine.
No subs or audio problems.
Why the hell would I put up with two new BD-specific problems? Just to get some extra grain and fine detail? F*ck that.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 12 Aug 2008, 21:24

If it's only "extra grain and fine detail", why even bother with BD?

.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 12 Aug 2008, 21:29

You're damn right.
I've been thinking about this for a while.

If the BD has flaws that the DVD doesn't have, maybe it's just not worth it.