I'm on the lookout for the best currently available release of this.

The R1 by Kino (1.85/2.0 audio/anamorphic) apparently has a dubious transfer.

An R2 out by Soda Pictures (1.85/2.0 audio/anamorphic) includes an interview with the Director, which one would assume is subtitled in English, however, I couldn't find any reviews for it.

There's also a cheap R3 listed at CD-Wow which seems to have a slightly cropped 1.78 transfer and better audio options (5.1/DTS). No mention as to whether or not it's anamorphic.

Anyone have a helpful reply or is there another release I should look into?

The R3 you're talking about is, I suppose, the Hong-Kong edition (there are thai and malaysian editions too), but the korean SE
is as good as the R1 Kino release from what I read. Compared to the R1, the korean R3 has no subs on extras, is 1.85 anamorphic too
but has DD5.1 and DTS tracks.
I couldn't find anything on the japanese release you can find on Yesasia.

I heard the Malaysian edition is cut, so I've avoided that release. As for the extras containing subs, that aspect isn't of upmost importance to me. Where can the Korean SE be located? If the transfer is a wash compared to the Kino release, at least the audio options are superior.

I searched a few venues, including yesasia, and was only able to spot the one at CD-Wow, which as you state, is likely the Hong-Kong release. Granted it's slightly cropped, but since I can't find any confirmation it has an anamorphic transfer, that's an obvious deal-breaker.

Hi,

The UK Soda disc is of very high quality and comes highly recommended!

Ciao,
Pro-B

Pro-B, thanks for the recommendation. The UK disc it is.

Censorship in Malaysia is stronger than in Hong-Kong, I avoid malaysian editions too.
At hkflix.com for example.

Hi Pro-B,

The main problem with R3 are compression artefacts, could you tell me if Soda used the same transfer than CJ Entertainment
or point me to a good review of this UK disc.

Thanks.

Tutut:

I am sorry for the late reply (very busy)! I am unsure if there is a good English review out there. I obtained a copy of the film with Soda's Reconstruction awhile ago and was very pleased with the treatment. I have not seen the R3 disc people have pointed out here so I am not in a position to compare the two in detail. Yet, entirely based on my viewing of the R2 disc I must conclude that this is one quite solid disc (the only minor issue here is macro-blocking but I was able to tolerate it).

Hope this helps.

Ciao,
Pro-B

You mean early(time-shift), take your time, I'm not an impatient kid demanding an answer.
"Untold Scandal" is on my list as well as "Chunhyang" and "Blood Rain", I've seen all of them but I only own "Chihwaseon".
I like those "costume movies"...not all of them, "Duelist" for example is out-standing by its emptiness.
Your macro-blocking issue is maybe the same than the compression artefact problems mentionned in some reviews.

Thanks for the help.