RichC2

Figured I'd create a thread for this, the movie was put into limited released in the US a couple weekends ago and expanded pretty well this last weekend. It's being distributed by Amazon Studios in the US.

It has a 93% on rottentomatoes with a 8.1 out of 10 average, a 92% viewer score as well. Runtime is 2hr 19m.

I thought it was pretty damn entertaining flick, I think Richard Roeper describes Chan-wook Park as being a "master of classy trash" and I think that fits this movie perfectly. I think the translated title is actually "Korean Girls Scissoring"

Synopsis: 1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl (Sookee) is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress (Hideko) who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle (Kouzuki). But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.

Dan

I found it very entertaining, but I still like the vengeance trilogy more. This wasn't bad by any stretch, though.

asianxcore

Just bought my ticket! Seeing it in about 3+ hours.

Solid Snake

oooh. Always up for Park's work. Love his style.

RichC2

It's a little different for him for the first 2/3rds, but it's a gorgeous looking movie and I dug the plot a good bit as well.

He mentioned during an interview that he was surprised to discover graphic sex like what's in this movie isn't common place in the US

asianxcore

The amount of it in this film definitely made the audience I saw it with uncomfortable. A few people left and some folks in my row kept laughing.

I really enjoyed the film. Both Kim Min-hee & Kim Tae-ri were fantastic!

Solid Snake

I'm of various sides. If it's a thematic element of focus, I don't do much aside from focusing on wtf is going on. In some other types of film, I'd probably giggle or something cuz most of the times... graphic sex in US films isn't done right. It's just there to be there and to move the plot pretty much.

RichC2

It's a mix here, both part of the story and gratuitous. I laughed at how long one scene went on, which really wasn't very long, hell it'd be short for an action scene.

boredsilly

Man, I adored this movie. I went in blind, so I was really thrown for the twists and turns this movie took, but lord was this movie incredibly beautiful. The cinematography in this was breath taking.

Dan

Looks like, for some dumb reason, this isn't coming out on blu-ray in the USA.

Fear not, nerds. Canada's got you covered.

Why So Blu?

Import time!


EDIT - pre-ordered it for $23.29 shipped from Canada.

asianxcore

Where did you hear that from?

OldBoy

Which site? Region a right?

Solid Snake

There's a link, man. Click on that shit.

OldBoy

Error message comes up man...

Solid Snake

works for me.

Dan

Looks like Amazon.ca pulled the listing. Hopefully it pops up again (like the Stranger Things vinyl eventually did)

Then again, Mongrel Media owns the rights in Canada. They usually just port the US disc over from Magnolia Pictures (and sometimes they pull out the lossless audio, because fuck them). So if Magnolia Pictures isn't doing it, chances are Mongrel isn't either. Lame.

Looks like y'all will have to import the Honk Kong version.


edit: also, be wary of Canadian blu-rays. That shit is different up north. The discs are made to withstand colder temperatures, so they don't always work south of the border.

edit 2: Canadian link that works again?
Edit 3: fucking hell, this fucking site and fucking with amazon links. go to amazon . ca / dp / B01M5JQ8SX /

Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com and Vulture.com)

E Unit

Or just hold out for the Magnolia release.

Why So Blu?

It's not? Not even from Magnolia?

Dan

As mentioned two posts up... editor at RogerEbert.com says neither Sony or Magnolia is doing a US Blu-ray for this. Seems really strange... so who knows how accurate his info is. Time will tell.

asianxcore

Thanks again for the info!

I'll wait to see if any other countries pick this film up on Blu-Ray, or if a Blu-Ray release does come Stateside. I've read some issues with the Hong Kong BD released by Edko over at another forum.

RichC2

I think that guy may be jumping the gun and probably has a bit to do with Amazon being co-distributer and wanting to push the HD version on their site.

There was a rumor a few months ago of an extended cut making its way to blu-ray in the US, and something tells me that may still be the case.

The DVD is being sold at full retail on Amazon's site as well ($30.99) if you need further evidence that this is likely a streaming shakedown, if you know what I mean.

On a side note, this was listed as one of the top 5 foreign movies of 2016 by the National Board of Review, other winners: Elle, Julieta, Land of Mine, Neruda.

It also won Best Foreign Language film by LA Film Critics.

asianxcore

Looks like Canada is getting this on Blu-Ray!

https://www.amazon.ca/Handmaiden-Mad...the+handmaiden

Why So Blu?

We know. We were talking about it a few posts back on this thread.

asianxcore

Oops, my bad