NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (March 2021): Criterion have transferred Bong Joon Ho's Memories of Murder to a double Blu-ray package. The feature is advertised as a "New 4K digital restoration, supervised by cinematographer Kim Hyung Ku and approved by director Bong Joon Ho". There have been other Blu-rays of Memories of Murder available including a Curzon / Artificial Eye double bill, that came out last November. We do not own it to compare. The distinguishing feature of the Criterion transfer is the how much darker and greener the image is than the CJ Entertainment 1080P from 12 years ago. I can't speak to the authenticity of the original color scheme or its possible revisionist alteration, but it is quite dark - which definitely suits much of the film. The heavy green-bias did make me think of some of the films of Criterion's recent World of Wong Kar Wai Blu-ray package. 

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original Korean language. It exports subtleties like the wind in the tall grass or the deep bass of the train augmented with a few deft separations. The score is by Tarô Iwashiro (Red Cliff, Shinobi) supporting the film reasonable well with shifting moods and as Leonard described "kind of Tubular Bells/Tangerine Dream quality about it, only more subtle". It often adds a creepy and contemplative quality to the viewing experience. Criterion offer optional English subtitles for the feature, and both Bong Joon Ho commentaries, on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray has the same two Bong Joon Ho commentaries also found on the CJ Entertainment Blu-ray - but there they were not translated. Criterion does so here with optional subtitles (see samples below.) I only briefly sampled them but he is very informative as to the production details and the story. New is an audio commentary by Tony Rayns. He discusses how Memories of Murder launched Bong Joon Ho's career (after his first, Barking Dogs Never Bite failed at the box office), how the director extensively researched the true crime but adding different parts in his personal adaptation, Rayns states how he feels Bong Joon Ho is being ironic on the title of the film, the comedic (or black comedy) touches, actor Kang-ho Song - one of the most famous in South Korea, the character of Detective Park Doo-man - his ironically likeable aspects, the 104 days of shooting, clarifying the story to a deeper level, reminding us the time period it is set in the 80's with the impending 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and much more including an interesting anecdote where Rayns leant the director a book on Jack the Ripper which proved effective in his conceptualization of Memories of Murder. There is much more including a 1/4 hour new interview with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro discussing Memories of Murder and its director, Bong Joon Ho. The first Blu-ray has two short deleted scenes, with optional audio commentary by Bong, also with optional English subtitles. Lastly on this first disc are a Teaser, trailer, and TV spot.

On the second Blu-ray are a a fascinating new 10-minute interview with Bong about the real-life serial killer who inspired the film with film critic and translator Darcy Paquet who converse about Lee Chun-jae, who inspired Memories of Murder. There is a new 20-minute interview with film scholar Jeff Smith who analyzes director Bong Joon Ho's use of sound. Criterion include a 159-minute documentary (Thanks Sunny!) made in 2004, featuring director Bong Joon Ho, actors Song Kang Ho and Kim Sang Kyung, cinematographer Kim Hyung Ku, production designer Ryu Sung Hee, composer Taro Iwashiro, and others—chronicles the production and release of Memories of Murder. Also on the second disc is the 1/2 hour Incoherence, a 1994 student film by Bong, with a new 7-minute introduction by the director. This film was digitally restored in 4K by the Korean Film Archive under the supervision of the director Bong Joon Ho in 2019, using the picture from 16mm original negative and sound from a 16mm print acquired in 2002. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic and novelist Ed Park.

Bong Joon Ho's Memories of Murder is a fascinating film - part horror, part crime investigation, part dark comedy. The Rayns commentary and translated director commentaries add immensely to appreciating the film experience. It's easy to call this a masterpiece. Criterion have left no stone unturned in regards to supplements in their double Blu-ray. The intentionally darker image and green bias was very easy to accept and may, also, enhance your viewing. This stacked release with cinematographer and director approved 4K digital restoration gets our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze