JSA: Joint Security Area (Blu-ray Review)

Reviewed By Jason Lockard

Many film fans know Chan-wook Park for his violent film Oldboy. But after making a name for himself with that film, in 2000 he would bring the world JSA: Joint Security Area. Now for the 20th anniversary of film, Arrow Video is known for giving fans obscure hard to find cult films is bringing JSA to home video.

Gunfire breaks out in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, leaving two North Korean soldiers dead while a wounded South Korean soldier (Lee Byung-hun, The Good, the Bad, the Weird) flees to safety. With the tenuous peace between the two warring nations on a knife-edge, a neutral team of investigators, headed by Swiss Army Major Sophie Jean (Lee Young-ae, Lady Vengeance), is dispatched to question both sides to determine what really happened under cover of darkness out in no-man's land.

The film is based on a novel by Park Sang-yeon. It is a thrilling, gripping, dramatic, mystery, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. No wonder it won many award including Best Pictures ar South Korea's 2001 Grand Bell Awards. If is good to note that this is a Park film so there is a good amount of violence, profanity and surprisingly mild nudity. So viewer beware.

Now for the film's transfer. It is presented in it's original widescreen format in 2.35:1 and in 1080p with original lossless Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and also PCM 2.0 stereo soundtracks. Now don't worry if you don't speak Korean there is English subtitles.

The film looks absolutely amazing on this Blu-ray. Of course that dosen't surprise me as every Arrow Video release I have reviewed they all look amazing. Arrow Video never disappoints in that regard. Also another way they never disappoint is in the special features. Take a look at what is included in this Blu-ray.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

New audio commentary by writer and critic Simon Ward

Isolated music and effects track

Newly recorded video interview with Asian cinema expert Jasper Sharp

The JSA Story and Making the Film, two archival featurettes on the film s production

About JSA, a series of archival introductions to the film by members of the cast

Behind the scenes montage

Opening ceremony footage

Two music videos: Letter from a Private and Take the Power Back

Theatrical trailer

TV spot

Image gallery

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch

While this release will not be for every film fan, Korean Cinema fans are going to be in love with this release. Arrow Video has done it again with another awesome release.

So if you would like to get your hands on a copy of JSA. I cannot recommend the Arrow Video release enough. It is jam packed with good bonus features. Head over to Amazon.com and get your copy today!