8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.3 |
Mother is a devoted single parent to her simple-minded 27-year-old son, Do-joon. One night, while walking home drunk, he encounters a schoolgirl who he follows for a while before she disappears into a dark alley. The next morning she is found dead in an abandoned building, and Do-joon is accused of her murder. His mother refuses to believe her beloved son is guilty and immediately undertakes her own investigation to find the girl's killer.
Starring: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Goo, Yun Je-mun, Jeon Mi-seonForeign | 100% |
Drama | 71% |
Mystery | 10% |
Crime | 6% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Korean: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Korean, English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Screened in the Un Certain Regard series at the Cannes Film Festival and winner of the SIGNIS Award at the Mar del Plata Film Festival, Bong Joon-ho's "Madeo" a.k.a "Mother" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Korean distributors CJ Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an audio commentary, making of, numerous interviews, conversations, stills, and more. With optional English and Korean subtitles. Region-Free.
Alone
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bong Joon-ho's Mother arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Korean distributors CJ Entertainment.
The high-definition transfer is very strong. The outdoor scenes, in particular, are remarkably vivid, with terrific contrast levels and rich colors. Fine object detail is also very pleasing. Many of the long close-ups where the camera studies the face of the heartbroken mother are amongst the most effective scenes in the film. Edge-enhancement and macroblocking are not a serious issue of concern. Ringing and banding are also absent. I also did not detect any traces of heavy noise filtering. Furthermore, when blown through a digital projector, the image remains notably stable. Also, large cuts, marks, stains, or debris are nowhere to be seen. To sum it all up, Mother looks as strong as the rest of the award-winning Korean films in CJ Entertainment's catalog. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, CJ Entertainment have provided optional English and Korean subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
The Korean DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is solid, though it would most definitely not test the muscles of your audio equipment. Surround activity is limited, but there are a couple of scenes with strong ambient effects. The bass is potent, but, again, not too prominent. The high-frequencies are not overdone.
The dialog is crisp, clean and very easy to follow. Furthermore, Lee Byeong-woo's evocative music score benefits greatly from the loseless audio treatment, which is why I felt that the long scene with the dancing mother was amongst the very best in the film. Finally, I did not detect any pops, cracks, or hiss to report in this review.
Note: I would like to apologize to our readers for not being able to comment on the supplemental features included on this Blu-ray disc. Unfortunately, they are all listed in Korean and not subtitled in English. Even the names of the participants in the audio commentary are listed in Korean only.
Making of - (91 min, 480/60i).
Interviews - cast and crew interviews (19 min, 1080i).
Audio commentary -
The Music - a look at the film's orchestral score (16 min, 480/60i).
Conversations - short conversations with the cast and crew - (15 min, 480/60i).
Stills-
Trailer - the original theatrical trailer for the film. (2 min, 480/60i).
Interview/comments - director Bong Joon-ho discusses selected scenes from the film. (32 min, 1080i).
Mother is a strong, exquisitely acted film that should resonate well with those of you who like serious, character-driven dramas. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Korean distributors CJ Entertainment, looks and sounds great. The packaging is again very elegant. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Madeo / 마더 / Second Pressing
2009
마더 | Black & White Version | CJ 3-1 | First Press Limited Edition
2009
마더 / Black & White Version / CJ 3-1
2009
Madeo / 마더 / Colored Version
2009
플란다스의 개 | CJ 034 | First Press Limited Edition
2000
살인의추억 | Salinui chueok | Plain Edition
2003
三度目の殺人 / 세 번째 살인
2017
Biyeolhan geori | 비열한 거리 | CJ 007 | First Press Limited Edition
2006
PA030 / Type A / Digitally Remastered Edition
2003
El Secreto de Sus Ojos
2009
버닝 / Beoning
2018
고백
2010
Limited Edition
2014
추격자
2008
스테이트 오브 플레이
2009
Limited Edition | 1000 Copies | 天注定 | Tian zhu ding
2013
괴물
2006
곡성 / Fullslip A
2016
PA085 | キュア / Kyua
1997
NE 006 / Full Slip
2000
추락의 해부
2023
INFO 014 | Limited Edition
2007
2011
무협 / Wu Xia
2011