Okay. If you’ve been reading the site for a while you’ve undoubtedly come across me rambling about how well the Koreans tend to package their DVDs. And you’ve probably just rolled your eyes and brushed it off as a geek getting over excited about something trivial. I mean, how different can DVD packaging really be, right? Well, take a look at that picture. That’s the just-announced Old Boy ultimate edition. Comes out in early October, I think. Four DVDs, a couple of books and a large, all-encompassing case. Nice, but nothing exceptional, right? Err, no. Take a look at that case again. That’s hand made. Out of copper. I can’t possibly justify spending the money on this considering I already have a very nice two disc edition and I won’t be able to understand a word of the special features, but … damn.
They’re not yet offering it for pre-order, but YesAsia’s page for the new edition is here.
The only way we’ll see english subs on the special features is if the domestic version buys rights to the extras as well and includes them. Nobody ever pays to subtitle extras in a foreign language. It’d be nice, but it just doesn’t happen. That said, the bonus disc on the two disc version of Old Boy has some really sweet stuff that doesn’t require any subs to enjoy …
It’s just too sad that there probarbly won’t be any English subs on the extras. What a shame, really.
Oh man … just digging around on Yesasia a bit and check these sets out:
The Korean edition of Band of Brothers comes in a military tote bag with a stack of extra materials and it costs the same as the domestic edition.
Arahan also comes in a hand made case.
I’ve got this edition of Wonderful Days and either this or my ridiculous Japanese Ghost in the Shell are the best pieces of packaging I own. Yeah, it beats the Japanese Kill Bill box …
A four disc Dances With Wolves in a stitched leather case …
Then there are the Korean metal-binder version of the Better Tomorrow films and the Bruce Lee Collection …