Tale of Two Sisters

comeinguadalupa · #1 20th October 2003, 07:13 AM

I just joined the forums and the first thing im gonna ask is if anyones seen this with english subs. I got a chance to see it in Bangkok in Korean with Thai subs. I think i know what happened but even if i didnt, it scared the crap out of me and i think it would be pretty moving if understood it. AND i also hear Dreamworks bought the rights to this (double what they paid for Ringu) and it's expected to make Korean horror as popular as Japenese horror is now.

Mandi Apple · #2 20th October 2003, 09:08 AM

Hi there, and welcome to the forums

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365376/
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mov...205677,00.html
http://www.twosisters.co.kr/
http://www.siamzone.com/movie/m/1481/picture/2/

- haven't seen it or indeed heard of it. Thanks for the recommendation! It does look rather tasty - Gothic horror indeed! Haven't seen one of those for a little while

However, doesn't yet seem to be out with English subs - yesasia have got it here for pre-order with English subs... that's the only one I could find, though!

comeinguadalupa · #3 20th October 2003, 05:22 PM

thanks so much! ill check it out. you should def. look into it. its really creepy and the bond between the sisters makes it more then just a horror movie (if i figured it out correctly!)

theNomad · #4 27th October 2003, 12:35 PM

Yeah theres an avi copy kicking around with eng subs...No eng subbed DVD yet as far as I know but its a great family horror based movie...Another new movie I got with this was Shiver but that never had eng subs does anyone know if a version with eng subs is out yet for that

Scuz · #5 27th October 2003, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theNomad

Yeah theres an avi copy kicking around with eng subs...No eng subbed DVD yet as far as I know but its a great family horror based movie...Another new movie I got with this was Shiver but that never had eng subs does anyone know if a version with eng subs is out yet for that

Yes, there is an Eng subbed DVD out... As Mandi said, they have it at Yesasia.

Vertigo · #6 19th November 2003, 12:28 AM

The official DVD of this movie is available with english subs from CDWow for only £8.99!

cool! Me spendin' pennies me aint got again...oopsie...

http://www2.cd-wow.com/detail_result...duct_code=8399

coffeeboy · #7 19th November 2003, 11:32 AM

for those of you who are interested... (like ME!!) "Tale Of Two Sisters" is now available at dddhouse.com

http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/...productID=3420

it goes for about 12USD. pretty good!

David · #8 19th November 2003, 10:48 PM

I´m really looking forward seeing this one! Ji woon kim´s really interesting! I have a copy of his first movie "The quiet family"( the movie Miike later remade as "happiness of the Katakuris") and though it wasn´t that great it sure made me interrested in his work. dddhouse here I come!

Midori no Saru · #9 20th November 2003, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the info on this one Vertigo. I was going to buy it for about 15 quid, but CD-Wow and their free delivery are going to save me quit e a bit!

Vertigo · #10 20th November 2003, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midori no Saru

Thanks for the info on this one Vertigo. I was going to buy it for about 15 quid, but CD-Wow and their free delivery are going to save me quit e a bit!

No problem Midori...I love a bargain meself....

Midori no Saru · #11 20th November 2003, 06:16 PM

A nice review:

http://hollywoodbitchslap.com/review...p;reviewer=350

I can't wait for this to arrive...

comeinguadalupa · #12 20th November 2003, 09:59 PM

for those of you who want to further geek out:
http://www.asiandb.com/browse/movie_....pfm?code=5446
pics and wallpaper stuff! check it out. and get this movie! i was also wondering if anyone knows where i can get a full copy of the Korean folk tale this is based on-Janghwa and Hongryun

ruiner · #13 21st November 2003, 04:29 PM

heres another good sizable review
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=6085

this will have 2 b bought i think

Vertigo · #14 21st November 2003, 05:45 PM

My copy of this is (fingers crossed) due tomorrow or monday at latest so as soon as I've given it the look-see, I will post a mini review.

Mandi Apple · #15 22nd November 2003, 11:27 PM

Fwiw, Poker have just got this in on a limited edition Special 2-disc set with a giveaway cel and all that good stuff

So I think I'll be adding that one to me wishlist...

comeinguadalupa · #16 23rd November 2003, 08:19 AM

hey mandi. unfortunatly all that extra stuff is in korean only. no subs. thats the copy i got at the Chiller Theater conv. in NJ because it was the only one available. but it's not worth it unless you speak korean

Vertigo · #17 23rd November 2003, 06:55 PM

Y'ok. I watched A Tale of Two Sisters yesterday and liked but was a little annoyed by it. So much so that (because I thought I was just wearing my cynic hat) I went back to it for a second viewing today.

I'm not going to deliver a plot synopsis here because to do so would be criminal to those who haven't seen it. What I will do is urge that you watch this movie but be prepared to see a lot of familiar things being trotted out.

This is by no means a negative review. On the first viewing I liked it...liked it enough to give a further viewing rather than dismiss it outright. And on the second viewing I loved it.

There is a lot to enjoy in this movie - not least of all the performances. There was not one shoddy performance in this entire movie - each actor played their roles brilliantly, especially Im Soo-Jung and Moon Geun-Young who were moving as the two sisters of the title. The characters were thoughtfully written as was the entire story. As mentioned earlier, I won't spoil anything but the story itself is terrific and very involving.

On a technical side - beautiful direction from Kim Jee-Woon and quite remarkable cinematography make this one of those few movies that is, aside from everything else, just plain great to look at (and the anamorphic transfer on the DVD shows this off well). Also, a wonderful and understated music score helps build the atmosphere of increasing uncertainty which is very important to the storyline.

So...what didn't I like...? It is just a small thing and I have to be honest, it might reek of double standards on my part as I have seen and enjoyed so many movies which are guilty of this particular crime but....

There was an over-reliance on dragging out elements from other movies at key moments. I won't list 'em all but I know that anybody from the forum will spot 'em a mile off. As I said above, in some movies, this doesn't really matter but in this case it did. It seemed like such a letdown that in a movie where so much love and care has been invested in the acting and production, somewhere along the line it was felt necessary by someone to throw in cheap scare tactics and certain 'borrowed' visual elements which could only, in my mind at least, have been added with the specific intention of informing the audience "This is scary...." or "Do you know what's in here...?".

So...to sum up. A very moving and involving movie and one I would urge you to see...just be prepared for a few un-original moments and you will be rewarded with something good.

Midori no Saru · #18 26th November 2003, 12:01 PM

Right, I've got my copy from CD Wow, and I have watched the first quarter of it (that's no reflection on the film, as I had Japanese class last night, got home late, and I needed sleep).

Anyway, so far this film looks excellent. Rather fairy tale like so far (there's a creepy old house and a wicked stepmother) and there's mystery from the start (who is the girl in the mental hospital at the beginning). The first major scary scene gave me the shivers as much as anything in Ring or The Eye. The scene is a bit derivative, but not completely. What I like about the film already is that there's another character in the film: that of the house. Rather like "Hill House" in "The Haunting" (Robert Wise version). Yes, the film looks great so far.

If you've ever stayed in a big creepy old house when you were a child then you will find the film particularly effective. Anyway, maybe they mess it up in the rest of the film, cos I havent seen it all yet, but my instincts tell me they won't...

Vertigo · #19 26th November 2003, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midori no Saru

Rather like "Hill House" in "The Haunting" (Robert Wise version). ...

Midori...you're right at the top of Xmas card list just for mentioning that...

Midori no Saru · #20 27th November 2003, 12:38 AM

I've seen the rest of this. It's an excellent psychological thriller, or should I say chiller? The sheer artifice of the narrative structure becomes a little intrusive towards the end, and the scare tactics were a little superfluous (though very satisfying nonetheless) since there is enough horror within the story itself to chill you to the bone.

Also, the cinematography is excellent, with beautiful compositions, claustrophobia through clever use of the wide angle lens, and sumptuous colours and backgrounds (I think there's a sound reason for the slightly unreal colours in the early part of the film

)

I love that Korean take on the Arts and Crafts style house, too. I want one!

Five stars.