4K Ultra HD – Edition FR – The Jokers – 131 min – 16 November 2022
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: CSD
• Ratio: 1.85
Soundtrack
• Korean DTS-HD MA 5.1
• French DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – The South Korean survey
In a small town near Seoul, a serial killer kills ten women without leaving any clue. From the beginning of the investigation, the local police were overwhelmed by the events. Making evidence, blundering, forced confession, resort to shamanism, all the means are good to arrest a culprit. As investigators sink into absurd logic, the bloody path of the murderer continues...
Inspired by an authentic fact, this dramatic black polar formally elegant (and virtuoso too) and narratively dense (the scenario could feed many films) remains a masterpiece fifteen years after its release. Indeed, it is difficult not to be caught by the story of this desperate hunt where the incompetence of the local authorities (the cop duo is endearing) will come up against the evil, ghostly figure of a brutal serial rapist-killer.
A finesse of writing and remarkable playability, Memories of Murder In addition, it allows itself to break up multiple tone (from burlesque humour to the rise of brutal violence) and a nasty tacle of South Korean society (police slippages, social misery, flaws of the health system and passing away). A classic that marked its time (the beginning of the new wave of the country) and cinema (the Zodiac David Fincher is almost a remake).
IMAGE – Shaman's eye
In spite of odd spots (white dots here), this superb 4K version restored by Bong Joon-ho in person does justice to the peaty atmosphere of the work. However, do not expect beautiful images, in the sense that they are not there to shine with a thousand fires.
In all respects, in line with the artistic will of the Ops chef, they plunge us into the wretched countryside of Seoul, in the mid-1980s. The planes are therefore dark, the pique generally soft, the colors not bright (if this is the last minutes) and the contrasts quite natural. But don't worry, even at night in a beating rain, the clarity remains pleasant and the details clearly visible.
Only here, without an HDR encoding, this SDR UHD transfer is broadly identical to its 1080p counterpart released in 2018. Because apart from the disappearance of tingling in low light (compression is stronger) and a granularity that breathes a little better (an increased definition), no difference comes to speak out (where the removal of a point to the note).
SON – Sad letter
Since sound plays a leading role in the atmosphere conveyed by the work, it was important that these sound tracks ensure. If this is not the case of the VF which is confined to a 2.0 mixing too frontal and narrow to allow any immersion, it is not the same on the side of the impressive VO.
Balanced, clear and powerful (the dynamic surprises during the first race-continuation), it distills very realistic atmospheres (the more or less continuous presence of wind and rain) using intelligent surrounds and conveys a devastated poetic score with what it takes of presence. However, it is a pity that the publisher is not offering the 7.1 mix available on the South Korean Blu-ray published by CJ Entertainment.
CONCLUSION – An endless tunnel...
While a monster can hide other monsters and the absence of truth will haunt you forever, this huge and obsessive hunting of the country man delivers tiny extra clues in 4K Ultra HD. But be careful, the previous Blu-ray already allowed access to the essentials of the file! Therefore, is it necessary to reimmerse it?
Artistic note
10
Video quality
7
Audio quality
8
0
A masterpiece!
It's not much to say yes. 😉
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