4K Ultra HD – Edit DE – Capelight Pictures – 120 min – 22 November 2019
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 2.35
Soundtrack
• Korean DTS-HD MA 5.1
• German DTS-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles
• English
• German
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 meanderings of revenge...
1988. Oh, Dae-soo is kidnapped by strangers on his way out. After losing consciousness he realizes that he's in prison somewhere. Every day it is fed and washed. After an attempted escape and an attempted suicide that failed, he realized that he no longer even had the freedom to kill himself. By watching TV, he discovers that his wife was brutally murdered and that he is suspect number one. Daesso swears to revenge...
Grand Prix du Festival de Cannes 2004, Old Boy is a technically sophisticated and scriptually controlled hybrid dramatic thriller. Populated with complex characters masterfully interpreted, this incredible story of revenge with ultra-violent scenes and permanent tension is carefully thought to manipulate us from A to Z.
IMAGE – See all colors
Supervised by the director and drawn from a brand new 4K scan, this remasterization corrects the flaws of the previous Blu-ray, namely the blocked blacks, the burned whites, the excesses of greens, the use of edge enhancement and the digital noise.
With its more neutral colors, its otherwise more skillful contrasts and its falsely softer twist (there are actually more details), it allows to enjoy much more natural images, especially as the light sources are much better.
However, the copy presents dirt (from these white dots), three planes suffer from chromatic aberrations (not visible in HD but certainly due to shooting equipment) and the dark areas are too thin.
If it is not the best 4K Ultra HD in the market, Old Boy Nevertheless, it has never been so beautiful!
SOUND – Degenerate Melody
Well spatialised (cf. road traffic) and dynamic when narration demands, the VO DTS-HD MA 5.1 prefers above all voices (limpid) and music (ample) even if the effects of fighting (wounds and moaning) and bass come to jolt its habits.
The mix has, however, failed! Dialogues sometimes take the place of certain atmospheres (such as rain when passing through the telephone booth) and parasitic noise (breathing and whistles) can occasionally be heard.
CONCLUSION – Stay human, struggle!
Escaped for 15 years. By whom? Why? To find out, it's up to you to discover this visceral Shakespearian drama with Korean sauce! But to satisfy this desire for revenge, the Ultra HD Blu-ray edition is a much better remedy for suffering.
Artistic note
9
Video quality
8
Audio quality
7
0
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