Untold Scandal DVD question (1 Viewer)

[David McIntosh]

I saw Untold Scandal at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and I was very impressed with it. I was interested in purchasing it on DVD, and I see that there are several versions available. Excluding the pricey Japanese disc, there's a Korean and Hong Kong release.

The Korean version comes on 2 discs, and costs about double the price of the Hong Kong single disc version. (US$23+S&H versus US$12+S&H.)

(For those curious, both versions include English subtitles and DTS audio.)

I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about the transfer / encoding quality of these discs. Also, does anyone know if the Korean DVD suffers from optical censorship (which seems to be something people are warned about regarding Korean DVDs)?

My current temptation is get the Korean 2 disc version, but if anyone can provide any information that would assist me in making this decision, then it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you.

 

[jason:g]

There is no optical censorship. The Korean edition is the best edition, I have the Limited Edition.

Here are my comparisons between the R3 Korean edition, the R2 Japanese edition, and the R3 Hong Kong edition.

R2 Japan Version (Amuse soft) (2-Disc Edition) (Digitally Remastered Edition)

ｽｷｬﾝﾀﾞﾙ (Untold Scandal)
Starring:
ペ・ヨンジュン (Bae, Yong Joon)
チョ・ヒョンジェ (Jo Hyun-Jae)
イ・ソヨン (Lee So-Yeon)
Directed by:
イ・ソヨン (Lee Jae-Yong)

Extras:
2 featurettes exclusive to the Japanese DVD edition, including: Bae Yong Jun's press conference in Japan; and Jo Hyun-Jae (Cho Hyeon-Jae) & Lee So-Yeon visiting Japan
Cast interviews - Bae Yong-jun, Jeon Do-Yeon, Bae Yong-jun, Jo Hyun-Jae (Cho Hyeon-Jae) & Lee So-Yeon
Crew interviews
Culture in Choson dynasty: Speculations about the sexual culture in the 18th century
Making of featurette
Deleted Scenes
1 Korean Trailer
1 Japanese Trailer
1 Korean TV Spot
1 Japanese TV Spot
Photo Gallery - Bae Yong-Jun Still Gallery
Cast & Crew Profiles (Stills)

Initial pressing of Japanese R2 Limited Edition includes:
Special Pamphlet;
Red Chiffon Scarf Replica;
Special Post Cards;
Full size poster;
[Dramatic] Design Card;
Special Cardboard Box Package

Subtitles: Japanese

Picture Format: 1.85:1 Anamorphic NTSC (Runtime: 124min)

Korean Dolby Digital 5.1
Korean DTS 5.1
Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1

http://www.amuse-s-e.co.jp/cluba/catalog0210/Z1388.html


R3 Edko (Hong Kong) edition (1-Disc Edition)

挑情寶鑑 (Untold Scandal)
aka 丑闻 (Scandal)
Starring:
覘勇俊 (BAE Yong-Jun), 全度妍 (JEON Do-yeon), 李美淑 (LEE Mi-Sook)
Directed by:
李在容 (E J-Yong)

Release Date: 04/06/2004

Extras:
Trailer
Bae Yong-Jun's Hong Kong tour documentary
Behind-the-scenes trivia
Photo gallery
Cast & Crew Filmographies

Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English

Picture Format: 1.85:1 Non-anamorphic NTSC (Runtime: 124min)

Korean Dolby Digital 5.1
Korean DTS 5.1

Product: 04-EDVD-08



R3 Korea (2-Disc Edition) – (CJ Entertainment)
Untold Scandal (aka Seukaendeul: Joseon Namnyeo Sangyeoljisa)

스캔들 - 조선남녀상열지사
Starring:
Jeon Do-yeon (전도연 ), Lee Mi-sook (이미숙 ), Bae Yong-joon (배용준 )
Directed by:
Lee Jae-yong (이재용 )

Extras on Disc One: Audio Commentary with Director, Lee Jae-Yong, and male lead actor, Bae Yong-joon, and producer, Lee Eugene (Dolby Digital 2.0 - 192Kbps)

Extras on Disc Two:

Culture in Choson dynasty (9.37min)

Making Film Documentary (12.06min)

Crew Interviews (20.29min)
Q & A Film Discussion with Director (13.27min)

Interviews - Bae Yong-jun (7.36min), Jeon Do-Yeon (6.28min), Bae Yong-jun (2.23min), Jo Hyun-Jae (Cho Hyeon-Jae) & Lee So-Yeon (5.18min)

Costume (18.07min)
Modern & Baroque - Musician Interview (11.42min) (Note: It's the same musician who scored "Janghwa, Hongryeon")

Photo Story - Bae Yong-Jun Still Gallery

Deleted Scenes (with optional director commentary) -
#9, #19 & #23, #29, #38,
#52 & #53, #58, #62 & #63, #68,
#71, #75, #80, #89, #92 & #94

Trailer (2.15min)
TV Spot (0.30min)
Music Video (URSULA 1000 - Kinda’ Kinky) (1.55min)
2003.11.30 Press Screening (4.28min) (Burned-in Korean subtitles for the spoken Japanese language)

Original Paintings (7.14min) - Interview with the painter of Cho Wun's Kama Sutra-like erotic drawings

Initial pressing of Korean R3 Limited Edition includes:
Collectible Booklet of Cho Wun's erotic paintings;
3 Collectible Cards;
Special Cardboard Box Package

Subtitles: English, Korean

Picture Format: 1.85:1 Anamorphic NTSC (Runtime: 124min)

Korean DTS (448Kbps)
Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 (768Kbps)

Bitrate: 7.68m/s

 

[David McIntosh]

Excellent. Thanks very much. Korean version it is then.