Palisades Tartan's SWORD IN THE MOON (announcement)

SWORD IN THE MOON on Region 2 PAL DVD August 15 from Palisades Tartan.  "From commercially successful Korean director Eui-seok Kim (THE MARRIAGE LIFE, HOLIDAY IN SEOUL) and starring, Jae-hyeon Jo (BAD GUY, THE ISLE) and Min-su Choi (LIBERA ME,
PHANTOM: THE SUBMARINE), comes SWORD IN THE MOON, a historical martial arts saga featuring lush cinematography, spectacular fight choreography and masterfully orchestrated battlefield swordplay from Hong Kong’s prolific action choreographer Yuen Bin (THROW DOWN) and Korean martial arts legend Weon Jin (MY WIFE IS A GANGSTER).  The film also gained recognition and praise at Cannes as an Official Selection in the Un Certain Regard section."*

* FROM PRESS RELEASE

NOTE: stock of this title was damaged in the Sony DADC warehouse fire.  It has been re-pressed and a new street date is forthcoming.

SWORD IN THE MOON DVD specs:

• 2.35:1 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
• English subtitles

EISENSTEIN COLLECTION VOL. 1 from Palisades Tartan (reviewed)

I've reviewed Palisades Tartan's SERGEI EISENSTEIN COLLECTION VOLUME ONE featuring his silent masterpieces STRIKE, OCTOBER, and BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN.  STRIKE and BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN feature new scores by Ed Hughes in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and stereo.  The extras include two extra versions of BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN with the Edmund Meisel score and the Nikolai Kryukov score.  Tartan Video originally released the Eisenstein set before they went into administration and the out of print version started commanding high prices.  Now it is back in print from Palisades Tartan.

REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 0 PAL DVDs (DVDBeaver)



STRIKE DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen original aspect ratio
• New Ed Hughes Orchestral Score in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• PAL Region 0

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen original aspect ratio
• New Ed Hughes Orchestral Score in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Behind the Scenes at the Score Recording Sessions
• Full BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN with the Nikolai Kryukov score (63 minutes)

OCTOBER DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen original aspect ratio
• Dimitri Shostakovich Score in Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Full BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN with Edmund Meisel Score (66 minutes)

 RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

Palisades Tartan's CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG reviewed/compared

I've reviewed Byambasuren Davaa's CAVE OF THE YELLOW DOG for DVDBeaver, comparing the Palisades Tartan UK PAL R2 edition and the US Tartan Video R1 edition. 

REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD vs Tartan Video (US) Region 1 DVD (DVDBeaver)

Palisades Tartan R2 UK PAL DVD Specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Mongolian DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Interview with director

Tartan Video R1 USA NTSC DVD Specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Mongolian DTS-ES 6.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo and English DTS 5.0 audio
• Optional English and Spanish subtitles
• Interview with
• Theatrical Trailer

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

"Palisades Tartan" and "Tartan" releases at my Amazon aStore.

UK release:


USA release:

Palisades Tartan envisions A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES

I've reviewed Palisades Tartan's R2 PAL UK DVD of Xiaogang Feng's A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES.  Andy Lau (INFERNAL AFFAIRS) and Rene Liu (DOUBLE VISION) are Bo and Li, a pair of thieves and lovers.  Li is tired of their criminal lifestyle and gives Bo an ultimatum.  On the run, they meet Fu (Baoqiang Wang, BLIND SHAFT), a naive construction worker traveling back home with his entire life savings in a duffel bag.  Bo thinks it would be a great final score but Li wants to protect Fu and his trusting worldview.  Unfortunately, they've boarded a train with a gang of professional thieves lead by Uncle Le (Ge You, TO LIVE).



REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Palisades Tartan DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer
• Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio
• English subtitles
• Making-of Featurettes
• 6 Deleted Scenes
• Still Gallery

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

"Palisades Tartan" and "Tartan" releases at my Amazon aStore.

Bergman's FANNY AND ALEXANDER from Palisades Tartan

My review for Palisades Tartan's DVD of the 3 hour feature version of Ingmar Bergman's multiple-award-winning FANNY AND ALEXANDER* is up at DVDBeaver (review HERE).  UK fans will want to check it out since the TV version is already out in the UK, but in an inferior transfer.  US fans (and UK fans who own the Criterion set) will be interested in this edition because the Svensk Filmindustri HD master reveals a little more information at 1.78:1 and the color timing is completely different.  Criterion might be more authentic, but that doesn't stop this alternate color-timed version from looking gorgeous (the better to appreciate the film's wonderful sets and costumes).

*I know it should be FANNY ampersand ALEXANDER, but Blogger keeps turning it into and ampersands into '&amp'

FANNY AND ALEXANDER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer
• Swedish Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

REVIEW LINK: FANNY AND ALEXANDER (Palisades Tartan Region 2 PAL DVD)  at DVDBeaver

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

"Palisades Tartan" and "Tartan" releases at my Amazon aStore.

WAR from Palisades Tartan reviewed

Here's a review link to Palisades Tartan's Sainsbury exclusive DVD of Alexei Balabanov's WAR for DVDBeaver. 

THERE IS NO WIDE UK RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN SET YET, BUT IT WILL BE POSTED HERE AS WELL AS IN A NEW POST WHEN AVAILABLE.  



REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 2 DVD (DVDBeaver)

WAR DVD specs:

• Anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer (1.77:1)
• Russian/Arabic/English DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio options
• Optional English subtitles
• Behind the Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV spots

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

Palisades Tartan's Carlos Reygadas' SILENT LIGHT reviewed/compared

I have reviewed and compared the Palisades Tartan R2 UK and R1 NTSC editions of Carlos Reygadas' SILENT LIGHT at DVDBeaver.  Although it won several awards (including Mexico's Best Picture equivalent and a Cannes Jury Prize) and film festival prizes, SILENT LIGHT was ruled ineligible for the Academy Awards (it was Mexico's entry for the year).  Johan (Cornelio Wall), a farmer in a Mexican Mennonite community, has fallen for Marianne (Maria Pankratz, Ariel winner for best supporting actress) although he is married to Esther (Miriam Toews, novelist and Ariel best actress nominee) and has five children.  Surprisingly, his preacher father only offers support for whatever choice he makes and warns him that he could lose both women if he doesn't act soon, but will fate force his hand?

Palisades Tartan (R2 UK PAL) DVD specs:

• 2.35:1 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Plautdietsch DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Interview with lead Cornelio Wall
• Behind the Scenes
• Delected Scenes
• Region 2 PAL

Palisades Tartan/Vivendi (R1 USA NTSC) DVD specs:

• 2.35:1 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Plautdietsch DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English or Spanish subtitles
• Interview with lead Cornelio Wall
• Behind the Scenes
• Deleted Scenes
• Region 1 NTSC

REVIEW LINK: SILENT LIGHT (Palisades Tartan Region 2 PAL vs Region1 NTSC) at DVDBeaver

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

"Palisades Tartan" and "Tartan" releases at my Amazon aStore.

UK DVD:


US DVD:

WAR from Palisades Tartan

BROTHER director Aleksei Balabnov's WAR hits Palisades Tartan R2 DVD on February 21 (first as an exclusive at Sainsbury's) starring Aleksey Chadov (NIGHTWATCH), Ian Kelly (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1), Ingeborga Dapkunaite (HANNIBAL RISING), Sergey Bodrov Jr. (BROTHER).  A British actor and his girlfriend are kidnapped in Georgia by Chechen rebels.  The actor is set free to raise the money in Britain for his girlfriend's freedom.  He meets up with another man in his situation and they pair up to wage a two-man war on the kidnappers.

NO WIDE UK RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN SET YET, BUT IT WILL BE POSTED HERE AS WELL AS IN A NEW POST WHEN AVAILABLE.

REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 2 DVD (DVDBeaver)

WAR DVD specs:

• Anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer (1.77:1)
• Russian/Arabic/English DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio options
• Optional English subtitles
• Behind the Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV spots

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

Palisades Tartan welcomes THE UNINVITED

I have reviewed Palisades Tartan's Region 2 PAL DVD of Soo-yuon Lee's THE UNINVITED (review HERE).  One night on the way home, Jung-won (Park Shin-yang, WHITE VALENTINE) falls asleep on the train.  He wakes up at the last stop and gets off only to notice two children are still on the train alone.  The next morning he learns that the two children were murdered.  Soon apparitions of the children start appearing at his dinner table.  He thinks he is going crazy until neighbor Yeon (Gianna Jun, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE) sees them too, but she's got her own problems since she is testifying at the trial of a friend who killed both their children.  Yeon has a shamanistic gift for second sight and tells Jung-won that she can tell him why he is seeing the ghosts, but he might not like the answer...

THE UNINVITED DVD specs:
2.35:1 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
Korean DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
Optional English subtitles
Theatrical Trailer

REVIEW LINK: THE UNINVITED - Palisades Tartan R2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan



"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

GHOSTS OF WAR Back From Beyond the Grave

"BLAIR WITCH meets FULL METAL JACKET"* in Su-chang Kong's Vietnam war-era ghost story R-POINT returns to UK DVD from Palisades Tartan as GHOSTS OF WAR.  Six months after they disappeared, distress signals from Batallion 53 appear on the airwaves.  A shell-shocked lieutenant leads a small group in search of the missing men in R-Point, an abandoned military outpost that neither side of the war will enter.  The men arrive at an abandoned temple built on cursed holy ground and are soon confronted with assailants living and dead.  Will they end up like the missing Battalion 53?  Fans of DEATHWATCH and THE BUNKER will enjoy this one.

*Front Magazine

REVIEW LINK: DVDBeaver review of GHOSTS OF WAR (Palisades Tartan R2 DVD)


RELATED POST: "Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan"


GHOST OF WAR DVD specs:

• 1.81:1 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Korean DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Su-chang Kong, producer Kang-Hyuk Choi and location manager Wan-Shik Kim
• Mission R-Point (4:3; 30:19)
• Broken Radio (4:3; 13:17)
• 1972 Vietnam (4:3; 9:59)
• Special Effects (4:3; 9:58)
• Original Trailer (4:3; 1:51)

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

UK DVD:

US DVD:

Palisades Tartan presents Ki-duk Kim's 13th film TIME (reviewed)

Kim Ki-Duk's (THE ISLE/SEOM) 13th film TIME (Shi-gan) hits DVD in the UK courtesy of Palisades Tartan.  Fearing her boyfriend Ji-woo (Jung-woo Ha, of Ki-Duk's BREATH) has grown tired of her, jealous Seh-hee (Ji-Yeon Park, MEMENTO MORI) disappears out of his life one day and undergoes painful and extensive plastic surgery and comes back into his life as waitress See-hee (Hyeon-a Seong, CELLO).  She is shocked to learn that Ji-woo has not gotten over Seh-hee and cannot move on.  When she reveals her true identity, she gets far from the expected reaction and that's when things get weird (and bloody). While some of Tartan Films' past Asian titles have been NTSC-PAL transfers, this Palisades Tartan disc is Region 2 NTSC encoded, so the transfer is as good as the original R3 edition.  The extras have English subtitles as well.

REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 2 NTSC DVD at DVDBeaver

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Palisades Tartan

TIME DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 transfer
• Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo options
• Optional English subtitles
• Behind the Scenes (45 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon UK aStore.

EISENSTEIN COLLECTION VOL. 2 from Palisades Tartan

Tartan UK went into administration before they could put out the second volume of their EISENSTEIN COLLECTION, but Palisades Tartan put it out a couple months ago (they also rebranded and reissued the EISENSTEIN COLLECTION VOLUME ONE - review forthcoming).  Volume 2 features ALEXANDER NEVSKY as well as Eisenstein's crowning achievements IVAN THE TERRIBLE PART I and IVAN THE TERRIBLE PART II: THE BOYAR'S PLOT.  The reconstruction of the seized and unfinished BEZHIN MEADOWS is also included as an extra.  The 3 disc set features attractive transfers of the three features with Russian mono audio and optional English subtitles.  Although it does not have the extras of Criterion's US set (an early release with interlaced transfers), it is a great buy if you just want the films in good transfers.  I had forgotten how visually ravishing the IVAN films are until I re-watched them for review.


REVIEW LINK: Palisades Tartan (UK) Region 2 DVD set at DVDBeaver

Palisades Tartan's SOLDIER OF ORANGE reviewed

I have reviewed Palisades Tartan's 2010 DVD of Paul Verhoeven's war classic SOLDIER OF ORANGE (featuring Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbe, Derek De Lint, Edward Fox, and Susan Penhaligon) for DVDBeaver.  Higher budgeted than Verhoeven's transgressive art films, SOLDIER OF ORANGE is based on the true story of a Dutch student who joins the resistance when German occupies the Netherlands.  There's plenty of explosions and action as well as some of Verhoeven's usual envelope-pushing violence and sex.

DVDBeaver review HERE!

Specs:

• 1.66:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen presentation
• Dutch/German/English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Dutch Teaser Trailer
• US "Survival Run" Trailer
• Cast/Crew Filmographies
• World Cinema Trailer Reel

"Palisades Tartan" releases at my Amazon aStore.

RELATED POST: Paul Verhoeven's SOLDER OF ORANGE from Palisades Tartan

Paul Verhoeven's SOLDIER OF ORANGE from Palisades Tartan

Paul Verhoeven's SOLDIER OF ORANGE was re-released last August on R2 PAL DVD in the UK from Palisades Tartan.  Once the most expensive Dutch production, SOLDIER OF ORANGE is the true story of a group of friends who end up on different sides when Germany occupies the Netherlands during World War II.  Rutger Hauer (TURKISH DELIGHT), Jeroen Krabbe (THE FOURTH MAN), Derek De Lint (BLACK BOOK), Edward Fox (A BRIDGE TOO FAR), and Susan Penhaligon (THE CONFESSIONAL) star in this war epic.  American readers might want to check this one out since the US DVD is long out of print.

Review link forthcoming.




 DVD Specifications:

• 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• Original Dutch mono audio with optional English subtitles
• Dutch teaser trailer
• American "SURVIVAL RUN" trailer
• World Cinema Trailer Reel
• Paul Verhoeven Filmography
• Rutger Hauer Filmography
• Jeroen Krabbe Filmography