A Bittersweet Life | 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Second Sight)
RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2024
On July 22, 2024, UK label Second Sight will be releasing a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray (Region B) for A Bittersweet Life, a 2005 action thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Kim Jee-Woon (Cobweb, The Age of Shadows, I Saw the Devil).
All you need to know about A Bittersweet Life is that it is, in our humble opinion, one of the best gangster movies ever. Seriously – a great mix of cool characters, action, dialogue, and humour.
A loyal gangster falls foul of his gang when he’s assigned to keep watch over the young mistress of his crime boss. Things take a violent and bloody turn when he is unable to carry through on an order to dispatch the girlfriend and her new lover.
The film stars Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil, Emergency Declaration), Sin Min-a (Sad Movie), Hwang Jung-min (New World), Kim Young-Chul (My Father) and Kim Roe-Ha (The Host).
Limited Edition Features:
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Michael Bolland
- 120-page book with new essays by Dr Lindsay Hallam, Rich Johnson, Michael Leader, Daniel Martin and Alison Peirse
- 6 collectors’ art cards
Features:
- Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
- A new presentation featuring additional restoration work and UHD Dolby Vision grade by Second Sight Films
- New scene specific audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon and film academic Areum Jeong
- New audio commentary by Pierce Conran and James Marsh
- Audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon and Actors Kim Young-chul and Lee Byung-hun
- Audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon, Director of Photography Kim Ji-y and Set Designer Yoo Seong-hee
- Making of A Bittersweet Life with optional commentaries
- Archive featurettes: Art; Music; Sound; Action; Gun Smith; Special Art; Special Effects; CG; Tell Me Why; A Bittersweet Life in Cannes
- Deleted and Alternate Scenes with optional commentary
- Music Videos
- Teaser, Trailer and TV Spot
This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Umbrella Entertainment released a Region B Blu-Ray a while ago. Some of the pressings were region free, and I grabbed one when I had the chance. Why can’t this film be shown in Region A areas on purpose?
More Americans need to be aware of how great A Bittersweet Life is.
Yeah, it boggles my mind it was never properly released her (as far as I can remember). But I’m sure people will be hitting up the 4K UHD release. Most people see this format as the end all/be all (until a better edition comes along). Second Sight puts out some great editions, so its cool to see they’re venturing into more Asian films.
The UHD Blu rays have any region coding. The Blu Ray most likely would be region B though. Who would buy a UHD Blu Ray at this point though only to watch the Blu Ray. So I guess this gives you what you want. A proper Region A release, since there no longer is region A.
The theatrical cut? The “director’s cut”? Or both?
Finally! Imported a Korean dvd way back when it came out around 20 years ago now. Can’t wait to rewatch this in much better quality.