(aka "Save the Green Planet" or "Jigureul jikyeora!" )
directed by Jun-hwan Jeong
South Korea 2003
I first heard about ”Save the Green Planet” at the IFFR
back in 2004, when everyone who was anyone (and anyone else) was talking
about it, and it ran sold out during each screening. So what could be so
special about some odd looking Korean science-fiction, kung-fu, action
flick?
The answer is, that it is one incredible entertaining film. It starts out
with a “Se7en” influenced title sequence, then Lee Byeong-gu (Shin
Ha-Kyun) standing and telling his not-so-smart girlfriend about how Kang
Man-shik (Baek Yun-shik), the CEO of a chemical corporation, in reality is
from Andromeda and that unless he does what he has to do, the world will
end in seven days, wearing a gizmorized miners helmet and a black garbage
bag as protection. And hardly has he kidnapped Kang, before he beats up a
bully in almost Matrix like kung-fu. And while he is putting Kang thru
some tests, a out-of-his-luck detective is investigating the disappearance
of the important CEO.
Homaging films like “Silence of the Lambs”, “2001” (in a way one has to
see to believe) and many many others, “Save the Green Planet” is a born
cult classic. The conspiracy theory is so far out, that even Mulder from
“X-Files” would question the sanity of Lee, and its numerous references to
other films, its humour, its violence and its surprise ending, has to be
seen. But it is also one great story, often very emotional and intimate,
for instance thru Lee’s girlfriend and thru the scenes with Lee’s mother,
and actually also quiet profound and thought provoking.
Directed with utter confidence by first time director Jeong Jun-hwan, who
previously had written the political thriller “Phantom”, “Save the Green
Planet” is one of the best and most refreshing films to come from South
Korea in a long time. It is so incredible not like anything else, that it
just is an instant cult classic.
Posters
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Theatrical Release: April 4, 2003
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Tartan Asia Extreme (2 Disc Special Edition) - Region 0 - PAL
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution |
Tartan Asia Extreme Region 0 - PAL |
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| Runtime | 1:57:02 | |
| Video |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital Korean, 5.1 Dolby Digital Korean, DTS Korean | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Tartan Asia Extreme Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 16 |
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| Comments |
The
Image In general, an incredible transfer. Colours are strong, great details, and no real visible compression artefacts. It simply looks amazing. However, once again Tartan has done a PALified NTSC transfer, causing issues of both combing and ghosting (see image #7), leaving a minute "trail" when watched thru PC. On stand alone players, no ghosting or combing was visible. The Sound As always, Tartan supplies three tracks: 2.0, 5.1 and DTS. The 2.0 Dolby Digital track is quiet tame, not very much going on here. Contra to this, the 5.1 Dolby Digital, and especially the DTS tracks blows one away. Great separation, deep and solid bass and good use of the rears (non detectable). Sound can only be changed via menues. The Extras Starting off with an audio commentary by director Jeong Jun-hwan and leading actor Shin Ha-Kyun. Its a very casual commentary, they both constantly are laughing, as they commentate the film as it goes, noting upon technical aspects, references, in-jokes and so forth. Quiet a good commentary all in all. Disc 2 has an impressive amount of material. First 8 featurettes with a total running time of 107 minutes, where we are taking behind the scenes and the idea of the film, with alot of comments by Jeong. Great and informative programs. No Play-All possible. Next comes 8 interviews running a hour, where you also get answers to questions from fans. Great stuff. No Play-All possible. It is all rounded up by 15 minutes of "deleted scenes" and Jeong's short film "The Lazy Mirror". Edition Details Disc 1: Audio Commentary by Original Theatrical Trailer (1:49 / 4:3) Disc 2: CGI Featurette (14:39 / 4:3) Double Vision (22:38 / 4:3) Art of the Green Planet (9:39 / 4:3) Make Up (4:35 / 4:3) Stunt Practice (14:18 / 4:3) Soundtrack Featurette (14:34 / 4:3) Days of the Green Planet (11:15 / 4:3) Hallo from the Set (15:56 / 4:3) Interviews - The Directors Room (5:46 / 4:3) - The Concept (6:17 / 4:3) - On Production (3:56 / 4:3) - Korean Premiere 2003 (11:09 / 4:3) - Questions from the Fanclub (18:50 / 4:3) - The Detectives (7:30 / 4:3) - The Aliens (4:02 / 4:3) - 2001 Imagine (5:37 / 4:3) 9 Deleted Scenes (13:27 / 4:3) The Lazy Mirror (2:51 / 4:3) 4 Page booklet with notes by Jayne Dersley |
DVD
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Screen Captures
subtitle sample
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px native resolution
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Combing / Ghosting
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Recommended Books on Korean Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
| NO COVER AVAILABLE |
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NO COVER AVAILABLE |
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NO COVER AVAILABLE |
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NO COVER AVAILABLE |
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The Cinema Of Japan And Korea (24 Frames) by Justin Bowyer, Jinhee Choi |
Contemporary Korean Cinema : Culture,
Identity and Politics by Hyangjin Lee |
The History of Korean Cinema by Young-il Lee, Young-chol Choe |
Korean Cinema: The New Hong Kong by Anthony Leong |
Korean Film : History, Resistance, and Democratic
Imagination by Eungjun Min, Jinsook Joo, Han Ju Kwak |
The Remasculinization of Korean Cinema
(Asia-Pacific) by Kyung Hyun Kim |
Essential Cinema by Jonathan Rosenbaum |
Korean Cinema (Images of Asia) by Frances K. Gateward |
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution |
Tartan Asia Extreme Region 0 - PAL |
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Mail cheques, money orders, cash to: or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
Jun-hwan Jeong's - Save the Green Planet - Tartan Region 2- PAL DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong's - Save the Green Planet - Tartan Region 2- PAL DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong's - Save the Green Planet - Tartan Region 2- PAL DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong's - Save the Green Planet - Tartan Region 2- PAL DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong's - Save the Green Planet - Tartan Region 2- PAL DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review Jun-hwan Jeong Save the Green Planet DVD Review
