Note: All payments on movie orders will be processed at the time of shipment. Most films are special orders, so they will take longer to ship than other products.
Special offer: every time you buy three videos, get one free! Just include the promo code MBVideo3plus1 while ordering four videos, and we'll give you the lowest-priced video free.
The Foul King Kim Ji-Woon In this slapstick comedy, an unhappy bank clerk finds escape in the cartoonish world of professional wrestling. He finds a place there as a designated cheater, who wins a fan base by using all manner of illegal items and tricks against his opponents. "...amusing, oddly delicate...Rather than stampede you with sensation, it jabs and tickles" (A.O. Scott, New York Times). In Korean with English subtitles; South Korea, 2000, 111 mins. Includes optional Chinese and Japanese subtitles, theatrical trailer, music video, director's commentary (in Korean), behind-the-scenes documentary, and more. DVD | $44.95
301/302 Chul-Soo Park One of the most highly acclaimed films from the new Korean cinema, this provocative, black comedy is winner of Korea's Grand Bell for Best Picture. When the anorexic young woman in apartment 302 mysteriously disappears, a detective visits her neighbor in 301--a newly divorced gourmet cook who's addicted to food--to start the investigation. In flashbacks, the relationship between the two women is seen developing as the startling secret of what happened in 302 is revealed. "The kinkiest variation on the food-obsessed movies that have been filling art houses ever since Babette's Feast and Tampopo appeared in the 1980s" (John Hartl, Seattle Times). Korean with English subtitles; South Korea, 1996, 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Acacia Ki-Hyung Park The acacia tree in Ki-Hyung Park's (Whispering Corridors) languidly paced, atmospheric horror film serves as a kind of oracle that warns of impending terrors. As it blooms, the happy lives of Do-il, Mi-Suk, and their adopted child Jin-seong fall prey to a series of gruesome "accidents". Beautifully photographed and eerily paced, Park's film is a masterful piece of South Korean horror. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2003, 102 mins. DVD | $44.95
Affection (Jeong) Bae Chang-Ho Filmed over nine months to fully capture the seasons, this film is as visually captivating as it is emotionally deep. Set in the 1920s, it follows a 16-year-old girl who is forced into an arranged marriage with a 10-year-old. Rather than welcomed as a daughter-in-law, she is treated as a slave by the family of her child husband. Unable to bear the existence, she bravely strikes out on her own. "...an epic story of female resilience...The closest reference for Western viewers is Zhang Yimou at his best, crafting an artful melodrama out of glowing washes of primary colors" (Subway Cinema). A.k.a. My Heart. DVD in Korean with English subtitles; South Korea, 1999, 111 mins. DVD | $54.95
The Anarchists Yu Young-sik Japanese-controlled Shanghai in 1924 is the setting for this historical drama with a thoroughly modern spin. A group of five anarchists skilled in the martial arts join forces with anti-Japanese rebels, but soon find that their comrades do not share the same devotion to the cause. They eventually strike out on their own with action-packed results. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes optional English and Chinese subtitles, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews and more. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2000, 120 mins. DVD | $44.95
Another Public Enemy Kang Woo Suk In this action-packed sequel to the acclaimed Korean crime drama Public Enemy, Sol Kyung-Gu reprises his role as Kang, a tough-as-nails prosecutor who's not above going outside the law. Assigned to delve into a tangled net of bribery, embezzlement, and murder, Kang learns that the kingpin he's after is a nemesis from a former life. Like its predecessor, this quirky vigilante tale is laced with a political subtext and kinetic, even slapstick action sequences. Includes director and cast commentary, making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes car crash featurette, trailers, 5.1 sound, and English and Spanish subtitles. With Jun-ho Jeong and Shin-il Kang. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2005, 148 mins. DVD | $44.95
Attack on the Gas Station Kim Sang-Jin A group of delinquents take over a gas station, holding the manager and employees hostage as they "run" the business for their own profit. The situation escalates to unexpected levels of absurdity and chaos. "...one of the more interesting films to come out of the Korean New Wave...With its subversive script brought to life by Kim's giddy and exuberant direction, Attack on the Gas Station is a wonderfully absurd take on modern life in South Korea" (Anthony Leong, Media Circus). In Korean with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes optional Japanese and Chinese subtitles, theatrical trailer, music video, and behind-the-scenes segment. South Korea, 1999, 110 mins. DVD | $44.95
Beat Kim Sung-su An explosive example of contemporary Korean cinema, Beat follows three high school friends who find their hopes and dreams shattered by the real world. Both an action film and a powerful portrayal of troubled youth, Kim Sung-su's 1997 feature is filled with passion and visual flair. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1997, 114 mins. DVD | $44.95
Bichunmoo (Dance With Sword) Kim Young-jun Reportedly the most expensive Korean film ever made, this sweeping, martial arts epic is set near the end of the Yuan Dynasty in China and follows an ancient Korean warrior who falls in love with the daughter of his enemy. His fight for the hand of his true love will defy fate itself. With its romantic grandeur and exquisitely choreographed, gravity-defying combat sequences, this spectacular film will appeal to fans of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, released the same year. The DVD is letterboxed and includes Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin language options, with English and Chinese subtitle options, behind-the-scenes segment, music video, and theatrical trailer. South Korea 2000 118 mins. DVD | $44.95
Bloody Beach Kim In-su An online chat club's beach vacation turns into a nightmare when a killer "netizen" known as the Sandman appears on the scene. Splatter film, Korean style. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 85 mins. DVD | $37.95
Bloody Tie Ho Choi A crystal meth dealer with a tragic past is forced to work with a renegade cop in order to take down a powerful crime lord in this hardboiled vision of the gritty Korean underworld. "Hard-knuckle crimer" (Variety). In Korean with English and Spanish subtitles. South Korea, 2006, 116 mins. DVD | $44.95
Bungee Jumping of Their Own Kim Dae-seung A schoolteacher finds striking similarities between his new male student and a woman he fell in love with 17 years earlier. This mystical, gender-hopping contemplation of the possibility of reincarnation was the first feature directed by Kim Dae-seung, a former assistant to Korean master filmmaker Im Kwon-taek (Chunhyang). The DVD is letterboxed and includes optional Japanese and Chinese subtitles, music video, photo gallery, interviews, behind-the-scenes segment, theatrical trailer and more. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 101 mins. DVD | $54.95
Calla (Reborn) Song Hae-Seong Love lives beyond death in this romantic Korean fantasy. A man meets a woman he feels an immediate connection to, only to see her murdered. Three years later, he has moved on and is about to marry another woman, but an unexpected trip back in time offers him the chance to save the woman he lost to violence. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Champion Kwak Kyung-Taek Champion tells the true story of famed Korean boxer Kim Duk-koo, who became the WBA's No. 1 Lightweight contender only to face tragedy against a match with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini in 1982. Includes Spanish language subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Chi-Hwa-Seon (Painted Fire) Im Kwon-Taek Renowned Korean director Im Kwon-Taek presents a dramatized look at the life of legendary 19th century Korean artist Ohwon in this studied, beautifully composed film. Born a peasant, Ohwon (Choi Min-Skik) uses his talents to escape poverty, eventually earning notoriety for his ability to intricately copy famous Chinese paintings. His fame cannot help him win the heart of a noble's daughter, though, and when she marries another, the destitute Ohwon becomes a drunken wanderer in search of true art. "...a stirring, poetic portrait of the creative process" (Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter). The DVD is letterboxed and includes a slide show, the theatrical trailer and two stills galleries. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2002, 117 mins. DVD | $44.95
Christmas in August Hur Jin-Ho A terminally ill photo shop owner is brought out of his shell by a winsome meter maid, but he refuses to share the truth of his condition. "...a heartbreaking and rigorous anti-romance that in many ways one-ups Wong's In the Mood for Love. Superbly acted, unforgivingly lyrical (the doomed hero's silent response to being awoken by a thunderstorm is a breath-catcher), and blessed with a Davies-like patience for changing light and everyday duties, Hur's pensive little movie is one of the most mature and gracious tearjerkers ever made" (Michael Atkinson, Village Voice). DVD includes optional Chinese subtitles, theatrical trailer. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 97 mins. DVD | $44.95
Chunhyang Im Kwon-Taek Master Korean filmmaker Im Kwon Taek blends traditional Korean culture and pure movie-made romance in this grand tale of forbidden love in the 18th century. A privileged son of a governor falls for the daughter of a prostitute, and their passionate story is told with the assistance of a pansori singer. "...both historically resonant and strikingly modern, remarkable for its deft and spellbinding narrative, its breathtaking color, and above all its traditional sung narration...A must-see" (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 120 mins. DVD | $44.95
The City of Violence Ryu Seung-wan "Less ambitious than the recent Arahan and Crying Fist, but with a more compact visceral power, The City of Violence harks back to the earlier slugfests of South Korea's poet of pugilism, Ryoo Seung-wan" (Derek Elley, Variety). Three old buddies--a detective (Jeong Du-hong), a buffoon (Ryoo), and a thug (Lee Beom-su)--return to their hometown for a friend's funeral. The former two start investigating the strange circumstances of his death, leading the good cop and his clowny sidekick to suspect Lee and his gang of murder. True to form, this all leads up to a fast-paced martial arts finale. In Korean with English subtitles. 2-DVD Ultimate Edition. South Korea, 2006, 92 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well Hong Sang-soo Hyo-seob is a struggling third-class novelist, living in the shadow of his former success. After he is arrested over a petty dispute about the dust jacket of his manuscript, he attempts to quell his feelings of inferiority by indulging in a heated love triangle with two different women. One of them is an attractive, now married former girlfriend; while the other is a theater ticket seller who is revising his manuscript and dying to marry him. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2004, 116 mins. DVD | $44.95
Doctor K Kwak Kyung-Taek A hospital administrator asks his niece to investigate the seemingly miraculous healings being performed by a brilliant young doctor. She finds herself attracted to the doctor, a former classmate, and is determined to unlock his secret. Is something sinister afoot, or do the doctor's techniques simply defy the natural world? Fantasy and romance, with a dash of suspense. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Dream of a Warrior Hee-Joon Park In this Korean action-adventure fantasy, a detective takes a journey through time to rescue the girl of his dreams. But when his time machine goes awry, he ends up in a realm of superhuman sword-wielding warriors and rebel fighters. The impressive sword-play and visual effects overshadow the slightly confusing plot of this The Matrix and Highlander influenced flick. In Korean and Cantonese with English and Chinese subtitles. Korea, 2002, 84 mins. DVD | $44.95
Face Yoo Sang-Gon Korean police investigators are baffled by a string of sadistic killings in which the victims' faces have been erased with acid. The cops turn to Hyu-min (Hyeon-jun Shin)--a forensic sculptor with a knack for reconstructing faces. But Hyu-min's work leaves him vulnerable to supernatural terrors that will cause him to question his hold on reality. The DVD is letterboxed and includes interviews with director, cast, and crew, outtakes, photo gallery, and English and Spanish subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2004, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Failan Song Hae-Seong Choi Min-sik (Shiri) and Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung star in this romantic tragedy from Korea. A Chinese woman comes to Korea in search of her parents. There, in order to stay in the country, she arranges a paper marriage to a small-time mobster and quickly falls in love with him for his act of kindness. Their relationship is detailed in flashback, as the gangster with a good heart learns about a woman he barely knew. "Failan poignantly and convincingly illustrates the tragic missed opportunity between its two star-crossed lovers, while eloquently dissecting what it means, and how it feels, to be in love" (Anthony Leong, Media Circus). Korean with English subtitles, letterboxed, includes optional Mandarin audio, trailers and filmographies. South Korea, 2001, 116 mins. DVD | $44.95
Flower Island Song Il-gon This award-winning debut feature film by Korean director Song Il-gon follows the story of three women, each facing a difficult impasse at a different stage of life: A 17-year-old teenager who flushes her unwanted newborn baby down the toilet; a 20-something musical actress who has her tongue surgically removed due to cancer; and a married woman in her 30s who gets thrown out of her home after prostituting herself to buy her daughter a piano. Thrown together by happenstance, the unlikely threesome goes in search of Flower Island, a mystical isle off the southern coast of Korea, reputed to heal past wounds and soothe all sorrows. With Seo Ju-hee, Lim Yu-jin, and Kim Hye-na. Includes Korean and Cantonese language options and English and Chinese subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 115 mins. DVD | $37.95
Geochilmaru: The Showdown Jin-sung Kim A Korean homage to Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon, this kinetic action movie tells of eight fighters who gather on a wind-swept mountain top to participate in a martial arts competition. Each fighter is a practitioner of a different fighting form--taekwondo, karate, wushu, and more. The winner will square off against the titular Geochilmaru, the competition's fearsome and mysterious host. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2005, 84 mins. DVD | $44.95
Ghost in Love Lee Kwang-hoon Part supernatural thriller and part pure melodrama, this film follows the ghost of a jilted lover into a strange afterlife. She tries to find her place in this strictly organized spirit world, while fighting her desire to take revenge on the fiance who abandoned her for the boss' daughter. Includes optional Chinese subtitles, production notes, theatrical trailer, music video, TV spot, and more. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 92 mins. DVD | $54.95
The Gingko Bed Kang Je-Gyu The mysteries of reincarnation and past lives are revealed to Su-hyun, a college art lecturer, after he purchases an antique gingko bed and returns to his past life as the son of a court musician in love with Princess Mi-dan. This Korean ghost story became one of the country's biggest box office hits. "Director Kang serves up a diverting romantic thriller at its best" (Variety). DVD in Korean with English subtitles; South Korea, 1996, 88 mins. DVD | $37.95
Green Chair Chul-Soo Park Chul-soo Park's erotic drama Noksaek Uija starts with Kim Mun-hee's (Jung Suh) release from prison after serving a sentence for seducing a minor. Now 32, she is greeted by a swarm of reporters outside the jail and, unexpectedly, her young lover (Ji-ho Shim), now almost legal. With everyone against them, will lust alone be able to fuel their forbidden love? "It might be the most gratifying love story I've seen in any language this decade" (Michael Atkinson, Village Voice). A Grand Jury Prize nominee at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2005, 103 mins. DVD | $44.95
Guns and Talks Jang Jin This Korean action flick centers on four young professional assassins, each with his own deadly skills and unique characteristics, who lead relatively normal lives when they're not killing. All of that changes when the group leader accepts a risky mission and the gang must ban together or face destruction. In between great John Woo-inspired action sequences, the charming cast and script shed a bit of humanity on an otherwise bloody profession. The DVD is letterboxed and includes optional English and Chinese subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 123 mins. DVD | $44.95
Happy End Jung Ji-woo One of the most controversial and commercially successful Korean films of recent years. An ordinary man is pushed to his limits when he loses his job and discovers that his wife is having an affair. "Happy End pulls no punches in its delivery, straining its viewers' emotions as well as pushing the limits of the film's form. In its art and its impact, an unforgettable film" (Darcy Paquet, Koreanfilm.org). Dubbed in Cantonese and Mandarin, with optional English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Harmonium in My Memory Lee Yeong-Jae In this warm depiction of adolescent love, a teenaged girl develops a crush on her young teacher, only to be heartbroken to find he loves another. A simple, universal kind of story, very well told. Includes director commentary, making-of featurette, cast interviews, trailers, 5.1 sound, Cantonese and Korean language options, and Chinese and English subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
Hera Purple: Devil Goddess Chung Gil-chae In this sexually explicit horror film, a beautiful but otherwise ordinary housewife is possessed by the vengeful spirit of the Greek goddess Hera, infecting her with a sexual mania that turns to murder. "...a lurid, lively and eye-popping Korean thriller of the supernatural...amusingly outrageous entertainment strictly for sophisticated adults" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 93 mins. DVD | $37.95
Hi, Dharma!! Park Chul-Kwan A group of thugs on the run from a gang war seek solace in a Buddhist monastery, only to find out that the monks are more than they had bargained for. A great Jopok (Korean gangster) action-adventure comedy that surprisingly places a great deal of emphasis on character rather than bowling the viewer over with stunts and violence. In Korean and Cantonese with English subtitles. Korea, 2002, 97 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Host Bong Joon-Ho This box-office busting horror flick from South Korea takes the slapstick excess of Kung Fu Hustle and throws it at Godzilla's exoskeleton. A giant, slimy, shape-shifting creature rises from the Han River and attacks an onlooking mass, seizing a young girl, Hyun-seo (Ko Ah-sung), and plunging back into the depths. The government tries to quarantine the victims by claiming the monster is carrying a virus unleashed by the American military. Nevertheless, Hyun-seo's family escapes and embarks on a quest to save her...or what's left of her. "Establishing a galumphing tone of carnivalesque terror that trumps just about everything to follow, this picnic panic is a comic replay of 9/11 or even Sergei Eisenstein's "Odessa Steps" (J. Hoberman, Village Voice). Also known as Gwoemul. 2-DVD Collector's Edition. In Korean and English with English subtitles. South Korea, 2006, 119 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Humanist Lee Mu-yeong Three lifelong friends are unjustly accused of killing a police officer by the dead cop's corrupt partner. The crooked cop demands 20 million dollars in return for their freedom, leaving the trio in a desperate race to clear their names. Suspense and subtle political satire are intertwined in this clever feature. Includes alternate opening, TV sports, music videos, 5.1 sound, Korean, Cantonese, and Mandarin language options, and English and Chinese subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 100 mins. DVD | $44.95
Il Mare Lee Hyun-seung A correspondence through time and space bring two lovers together in this beautifully shot, subtle Korean fantasy. Sung receives a letter from Unju, a woman who lives in his house two years in the future. As their communications increase, so do their feelings for one another. Not to be confused with the 1962 Italian film of the same name. In Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 96 mins. DVD | $37.95
Jakarta Jeong Cho-Shin The perfect robbery goes wrong when it is planned by three different groups of thieves--each plotting to hit the same bank at the same time, on the very same day. Reversals of fortune abound in the Indonesian capital, as we see each outlaw gang's story told in flashback. A diverting mix of suspense, comedy and action. The DVD is letterboxed and includes and cast information, music video, theatrical trailer, and behind-the-scenes segment. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 96 mins. DVD | $54.95
Just Do It Park Dae-Young In this black comedy from South Korea, depressed and destitute entrepreneur Byeong-hwan discovers that insurance fraud might be the way back to prosperity for his family when he is hit by a truck while on a drunken bender. When his company pays him a hefty settlement after the accident, soon his entire family is scheming up creative ways to crash out and cash in. With Park Jin-hee, Jeong Jun, and Park Sang-myeon. With optional English or Chinese subtitles. Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 82 mins. DVD | $37.95
Kilimanjaro Oh Seung-wuk In this Korean action-thriller, a man returns to his hometown and is mistaken for his dead twin brother, a gangster who committed suicide after killing his wife and child. He eventually becomes entangled in the same web of violence and crime that had ensnared his brother. In Korean with English and Chinese subtitles. Korea, 2000, 100 mins. DVD | $37.95
Lies (Gojitmal) Jang Sun Woo A sexually explicit challenge to South Korean censors, this film has been praised as a daring erotic exploration and condemned as pornography masquerading as art. Based on a banned novel (the author was sentenced to six months in prison), it concerns the escalating sexual relationship between an 18-year-old girl and a 38-year-old married man. Their sadomasochistic encounters are filmed with utter realism. "Doubtlessly a landmark in sexual candor in serious rather than merely exploitative cinema" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
Love Repechage Lee Kwang-hoon Jang Dong-Gun (The Promise) stars in a clever romantic comedy from Korea, about a veterinarian and a photographer who agree to help each other enact revenge on their ex-lovers. As they begin working closely together, however, the pair realizes that they're more interested in each other. Includes English and Chinese subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 1997, 82 mins. DVD | $37.95
Love Wind, Love Song Park Dae-Young A young businessman falls in love with a tour guide while taking a short vacation, but he is tied to his home where he cares for his elderly father. Unsure of their bond and knowing that he must return home, the couple has a short, wistful relationship with the pain of separation always looming. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 96 mins. DVD | $54.95
Marriage is a Crazy Thing Yoo Ha The value of marriage in a promiscuous society is explored in this Korean romantic drama. A young woman who married a successful doctor for monetary reasons continues to have a relationship with her financially insecure, yet sexually perfect, ex-boyfriend. The strains of leading a double life lead to the realization that she must choose between the two men. The DVD is letterboxed and includes removable English and Chinese subtitles and more. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 106 mins. DVD | $37.95
Memento Mori (Whispering Corridors 2) Kim Tae-Yong/Min Kyu-Dong Although technically a sequel, you don't need to see the first Whispering Corridors to appreciate Memento Mori. This is an intriguing blend of supernatural horror and an exploration of youthful emotion. A schoolgirl finds an unusual diary that had been kept by two classmates involved in a lesbian relationship. When one of the young lovers commits suicide, the girl who found the diary is mysteriously drawn to the girlfriend she left behind. From there the story takes unexpected and haunting turns. A.k.a. Ghost Story of Girls' High 2. The DVD is letterboxed and includes 5.1 sound, behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery, and optional English and Spanish subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Memories of Murder Bong Joon-Ho Two rural cops investigate a series of bizarre murders in a small village on the outskirts of Seoul in this Korean crime-drama based on the real-life investigation of Korea's first serial killer. Over the course of six years, 10 women ranging in age from 13 to 71 were viciously murdered, with the killer growing more bold and brutal with each victim. The nightmarish details of the events unfold as the detectives dig deeper into the case. The DVD is letterboxed and includes cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, trailers, Korean language option, and English subtitle option. Dubbed in English. South Korea, 2003, 130 mins. DVD | $44.95
Motel Cactus Park Gi-yong This Korean erotic drama consists of four episodes, all of which take place in room 407 at a love hotel in Seoul. In the first episode, a girl celebrates her birthday with her boyfriend at the motel because it is the only place she feels entirely secure with him. In the second episode, a student rents the room for several hours to shoot a scene for his college video project. In the third episode, a salesman meets a woman in a bar and the two go back to the room where they tear the place up before making love. In the last episode, two college flames vaguely hope to rekindle their old relationship. In Korean with English subtitles. ADULTS ONLY. South Korea, 1997, 91 mins. DVD | $44.95
Musa the Warrior Kim Sung-su Touted as the most expensive Korean film ever made, Musa the Warrior is a grand historical epic about an envoy from Koryo (ancient Korea) struggling to survive in war-torn China. In 1375, during the battles between the Yuan and Ming dynasties, a delegation traveling to China to ease strained relations is ambushed and exiled into the country. While there, they learn that a Ming princess (Zhang Ziyi, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) has been kidnapped and they resolve to save her. In Korean and Mandarin with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 157 mins. DVD | $37.95
My Wife is a Gangster Cho Jin-gyu In this Korean action comedy, Shin Eun-gyung stars as Cha Eun-jin, a Jopog (Korean gangster) who has risen through the ranks to Big Brother #2 in the organization. This smart, confident, ruthless, gangster is also a fantastic fighter--and a female. Cha discovers that her sister has cancer and her last wish is to see Cha get married and have children before she dies. Cha complies, but begins to realize that keeping her profession a secret from her husband may be a problem. Widescreen. Includes making-of-film feature, production notes, interviews, and outtakes. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Oasis Lee Chang-dong Hailed as a seminal film of the Korean New Wave, acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong's Oasis is the story of the struggle of two social misfits to find love and acceptance. Fate helped bring them together; family fought to keep them apart. "One of the most original films of the decade" (San Francisco Chronicle). Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2002, 132 mins. DVD | $44.95
Oollala Sisters Park Je-hyeon This Korean comedy revolves around the rise and fall of the Lala Club, which is run by Eun-ja (Lee Mi-sook) and challenged by a competing club called the Lemo Club. In an effort to gain more customers, four women from the club form a singing group called the Oollala Sisters. The only problem is they can't sing. The DVD is widescreen, with optional English and Korean subtitles, and including making-of feature, soundtrack, music video, theatrical trailers, TV spot, deleted scenes. With Lee Mi-Suk, Kim Won-Hee, and Kim Min Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 105 mins. DVD | $54.95
Paradise Villa Park Jong-Won When a virtual reality player loses his sense of reality, he goes on a killing spree in an apartment complex called Paradise Villa believing its tenants are his enemies. The tenants must come up with a plan to stop the mindless killings before its too late. In Korean with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed and includes Korean, Cantonese and Mandarin language tracks and optional English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 90 mins. DVD | $37.95
Phantom, the Submarine Min Byeong-cheon This Korean homage to the submarine war film follows all of the rules laid down by its predecessors, The Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide. The crew of the Phantom must stop a renegade Korean submarine captain from firing a nuclear missile on Japan. The action is fast and the suspense is thick while the crew race to prevent catastrophe. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2002, 120 mins. DVD | $44.95
Please Teach Me English Kim Sung-su Love spoils the lesson plan in Kim Sung-su's (Musa the Warrior) sweet-natured romantic comedy about a customer service employee (Lee Na-yeong) who's assigned to learn English to improve her job skills. Yeong-ju (Lee) discovers that it's difficult to concentrate on her studies with dashing playboy Moon-su (Jang Hyuk) sitting just a desk away. But her problems are compounded by the romantic affection lavished upon her by her dreamy Aussie teacher. In Korean with English subtitles. Includes 5.1 sound, Korean and Cantonese language options, and English and Chinese subtitle options. South Korea, 2003, 118 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Power of Kangwon Province Hong Sang-soo A beautifully photographed two-part film, set in the mountains of South Korea's Kangwon Province. The first story follows a trio of young women who have traveled from Seoul, and begin to bicker about the state of their respective relationships. After leaving angry, one woman (Oh Yun-hong) returns to the province to find love. In the second story, a university professor (Baek Jong-hak) on holiday in Kangwon bungles an affair with a woman he meets and settles for a prostitute. Both stories unfold against the stunning backdrop of the mountains, which seem to quietly observe a range of human follies. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 109 mins. DVD | $37.95
The President's Last Bang Im Sang-su Called "the most controversial movie ever released in Korea" by the New York Sun, this wildly ambitious, jet-black political satire tackles the 1979 assassination of President Park Chun-hee and the brutal, anarchic jockeying for power that took place in its aftermath. Sickened by Park's corrupt behavior and embarrassing appetites, KCIA Director Kim (Baek Yun-shik) and his no-nonsense enforcer Ju (Han Suk-Gyu) kick-off a bloodbath that threatens to engulf the upper echelons of the Korean government. Im Sang-su's film is so audacious that he was hauled into court by Park's surviving relatives. "A nasty, profane, and utterly bracing black comedy [...] As political satires go, this is almost up there with Dr. Strangelove" (Glenn Kenny, Premiere Magazine). In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2005, 104 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Quiet Family Kim Ji-Woon In this slick Korean dark comedy, a family opens a mountain villa in a remote hiking area. Their first guest commits suicide at the lodge and the distraught family buries his body to avoid bad publicity. But as more and more guests become corpses, the bodies start piling up. With the villa gradually turning into a burial ground, the family becomes desperate to keep their business afloat. Funny and tense at the same time, the film manages to strike a tricky balance between humor and suspense. With Park In-hwan, Na Moon-hee, Song Gang-ho, and Choi Min-sik. Korean with English and Chinese subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 105 mins. DVD | $44.95
Ring Virus Kim Dong-bin Based on the influential Japanese film Ringu, released a year earlier, this spooky Korean horror film concerns a sinister videotape with a threatening message. When her niece dies under mysterious circumstances, a reporter tries to get to the bottom of the matter. When several other deaths are linked to the videotape, the reporter teams up with the doctor who performed her niece's autopsy to uncover the secret of the video curse. In Korean with English and Japanese subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 110 mins. DVD | $54.95
Run 2U Kang Jeong Soo A love triangle develops among three disaffected youth amidst chaos brought about by the yakuza. Club singer Hiroshi and his friend Tsuyoshi flee Japan after invoking the wrath of the yakuza. Landing in Korea, they meet Kyung-ah, a young singer, who takes an instant liking to Hiroshi and raises Tsuyoshi's jealousy. When the yakuza finally track down them down, all rivalries must be put aside in order to survive. The DVD is letterboxed and includes removable Korean, English and Chinese subtitles, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a music video, the original trailer and more. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2003, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
Saulabi Moon Jong-geum The Korean word "saulabi" means a warrior or fighter. The film Saulub promotes the controversial hypothesis that the Japanese samurai come from the Korean saulab. Four hundred and fifty years after the fall of the Korean Paekjae Kingdom in 600, a small band of warriors become dedicated to restoring it in Japan, where they became the spiritual source for the Japanese samuari code. With action choreographed by Akira Kurosawa's long-time partner Takakura Eizi. With Choi Jae-seong, Enoki Takaaki, Lee Sang-hun, Umemiya Masako. In Korean and Japanese with English subtitles. Japan/South Korea, 2001, 99 mins. DVD | $44.95
Save the Green Planet! Jang Jun-hwan Difficult to categorize and impossible not to love, this debut feature by Korean director Jang Jun-hwan blends slapstick comedy, social critique, sci-fi wizardry, and Asian shock horror into a delirious whole. The outrageous story involves an eccentric beekeeper (Shin Ha-kyun) and his tightrope walker girlfriend (Hwang Jeong-min) who kidnap a wealthy businessman (Baek Yun-shik) because of their paranoid fear of a hostile alien takeover. There is nothing quite like Jun-hwan's "snazzy, playful, somewhat gory, often hilarious, and generally unpredictable first feature" (J. Hoberman, Village Voice). In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2005, 118 mins. DVD | $44.95
Say Yes Kim Sung-Hong A young married couple on winter vacation makes a terrible mistake when they agree to give a ride to a mysterious man who calls himself "M". Their discomfort with their passenger's peculiar behavior gives way to sheer terror when his violent tendencies become clear and a news breaks of a series of murders along the highway. Possibly influenced by Robert Harmon's The Hitcher, this is a shocking and graphic example of the new wave of Korean horror films. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 104 mins. DVD | $44.95
School Trip Yoo Hyeon-mok In this award-winning 1969 Korean classic by director Yoo Hyeon-mok, a teacher employed on a remote island isolated from modern culture plans a school excursion to Seoul for his students. The students' simple parents don't understand his intentions and insult him, but he is determined and successfully carries out the school excursion. The children's culture shock is both comic and touching as they encounter a modern city for the first time. With Koo Bong-seo, Moon Hee, Hwang Hae, and Jang Dong-hwi. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1969, 115 mins. DVD | $44.95
A Seashore Village Kim Su-yong Shin Young-gyun, Go Eun-ah, Hwang Jeong-sun, Lee Nak-hun, and Lee Min-ja star in Kim Su-yong's 1965 award-winning Korean classic. At a seashore village, high seas prevent a fishing boat from returning. Soon the village is filled with a growing number of widows, including Haesun, who lives with her mother-in-law. Despondent over the loss of her husband, Haesun begins a relationship with Seongku and they marry and move to the mainland. Then Seongku is drafted and Haesun must return to her hometown where she begins to lose touch with reality. Widescreen DVD with optional English or Korean subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1965, 94 mins. DVD | $54.95
Sex is Zero Yun Je-Gyun After completing his military service, Eun-shik enrolls at a prestigious university to prepare for a difficult government exam. However, his plans are derrailed by a veteran of his army headquarters, who persuades him to join a club for bodily fitness--much to the detriment of his promising professional future. Described as a Korean Fast Times at Ridgemont High as directed by the Farelly Brothers, Yun Je-Gyun's box office smash is a hilariously bawdy romp. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2002, 96 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Shackle Cho Byung-hwa A mentally unhinged writer commits a series of brutal rapes and murders while coveting his beautiful neighbor. Very disturbing horror-erotica from Korea, with extreme violence and softcore sex. Includes optional Chinese subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. ADULTS ONLY. South Korea, 2000, 93 mins. DVD | $37.95
Shiri Kang Je-Gyu This espionage thriller from the director of The Gingko Bed became the biggest box office hit in Korean cinema history. The political tensions between North and South Korea set the stage for high-octane action and suspense. A North Korean assassin, working for a renegade extremist group, goes after South Korean political and military targets. South Korea's top two agents are on her trail, but their pursuit is interrupted when the North Korean extremists send commandos across the border to steal a shipment of a powerful new explosive. This theft threatens a soccer match that symbolizes the hopes for Korean reunification. Heavily influenced by Hong Kong and American action films, the political elements make Shiri as interesting as it is exciting. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes The Making of Shiri, music video, theatrical trailers, multilingual audio and subtitle options. Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 125 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Siren Lee Ju-Yeop The hostilities between two firefighters with different attitudes toward life and work grow as the tension of their dangerous occupation increases. When they are called to a deadly inferno, their differences must be put aside. There is plenty of exciting action and drama in this Korean Backdraft. The DVD is letterboxed and includes optional Japanese subtitles, interviews, theatrical trailers, and several behind-the-scenes segments. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 96 mins. DVD | $54.95
Sorum Yoon Jong-Chan A cabbie moves into a crumbling apartment where the previous tenant died in a fire. As he learns about the connections his neighbors had to the deceased, the cabbie begins to suspect that the apartment is haunted. But is the real horror from the dead...or the living? A fantastic debut feature, Sorum is less a horror film than a chilling social allegory. Includes director commentary, making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes footage, photo gallery, trailers, 5.1 sound, and Spanish and English subtitle options. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 112 mins. DVD | $37.95
Soul Guardians Park Kwang-Chun The only survivor from a religious cult's mass suicide gives birth to a child before dying. Her daughter grows up to be haunted by dark dreams and surrounded by strange and terrifying events in real life. Some religious warriors come to believe that Satan himself is trying to use the woman for his evil agenda. A thrilling horror feature, with some flinch-worthy special effects. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1998, 98 mins. DVD | $44.95
Stray Bullet (Obaltan) Yu Hyun-Mok "A remarkable film" said Variety of this once-banned Korean drama directed by Yu Hyun-Mok. A poor accountant who can't even afford to go to the dentist to take care of his unrelenting toothache must somehow find a way to support his deranged mother, pregnant wife, rebellious little brother, and his whoring sister. Tragedy follows. Also known as Aimless Bullet, the film makes for a bleak social critique of postwar South Korea. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1960, 108 mins. DVD | $44.95
Sunk Into Her Park Seong-Il Passion is blind and destructive in this sensual drama about a woman descending into madness and the failing musician who seems willing to succumb to it. Their intense love affair becomes more troubling as the couple struggles with poverty and as the woman's mental health deteriorates. Also known as Love Her. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 93 mins. DVD | $54.95
Tae Guk Gi (The Brotherhood of War) Je-Kyu Kang Kang Je-gyu's epic war drama is the highest grossing film ever released in Korea. It offers a searing look at the Korean War and a sobering examination of the troubling paradoxes at the heart of Korean national life. The film follows two brothers, Jin-tae and Jin-seok, who are drafted into the military and follow divergent paths while fighting side-by-side on the frontlines. Kang's aptitude with big-scale film projects eclipses that of many Hollywood directors, and he locates a superb balance between a melodramatic war epic and a complex emotional portrait. "Brutal yet meaningful, agonizing yet touching, The Brotherhood of War is a harrowing but rewarding experience" (Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle). 2-DVD Special Edition includes 6 featurettes, multi-angle storyboard comparison, production stills, and more. Korea, 2004, 148 mins. DVD | $44.95
Take Care of My Cat Jeong Jae-eun This earnest and refreshing film follows the catlike wanderings of five lively and sensitive 20-year-old South Korean women: Sweet, eccentric, Tae-hee (Bae Doo-na); pretty but self-centered Hae-joo (Lee Yo-won); a talented artist, Ji-young (Ok Ji-young); and lively twins Bi-ryu and Ohn-jo (Lee Eun-sil and Lee Eun-ju). Together they formed a circle of close-knit friends but as they turn 20, their paths begin to diverge. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 112 mins. DVD | $44.95
A Tale of Autumn Yoon Seok-Ho This is a feature-length abridgement of the most popular Korean television series of 2000, also known as Autumn Fairy Tale and Endless Love. Raised as brother and sister, Joon-suh and Eun-suh are suddenly torn apart when it is discovered that Eun-suh was switched at birth with Joon-suh's real sister. After nine years apart, Joon-suh and Eun-suh are reunited when Joon-suh's family returns from America. Knowing now that they are not related, their relationship takes on romantic overtones, but both are involved with others. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 142 mins. DVD | $44.95
Tell Me Something Chang Youn-Hyun In this graphic, disturbing Korean thriller, a detective tries to solve a grisly murder case. The trail of victims with missing body parts leads to a woman with connections to them all. "It's as meticulously plotted and as gruesome as Argento's Tenebre, as sharp-edged and eerily antiseptic in its visual palette as Michael Mann's Manhunter, and as intelligent as both" (Robert Lewis, MovieForum.com). The DVD includes optional English and Chinese subtitles, theatrical trailers, and MTV editorial feature. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 117 mins. DVD | $37.95
This is Law Min Byeong-jin When a string of corpses turn up, all holding a different tarot card, a South Korean task force quickly finds their hands full. But when the prime murder suspect winds up dead, the investigation turns even more daunting and dangerous. Eun-kying Shin (My Wife is a Gangster) stars in a procedural thriller by first-time director Min Byeong-jin. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2001, 114 mins. DVD | $37.95
Too Young to Die Park Jin-Pyo In this tenderly wrought, festival award-winning Korean film, an elderly widow and widower embark on a robust and remarkably active love affair despite their advanced age. Shot in a documentary style, this intimate film is explicit in its portrayal of lovers made young again by rediscovering the joys of sex. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 67 mins. DVD | $37.95
Tube Beak Wun-Hak A former undercover agent named T is unwittingly used as the sacrificial bait in an agency operation. He seeks revenge against a government that has betrayed him by taking a crowded subway hostage as one detective squares off against him. South Korea, 2004, 114 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Uninvited Lee Su-Yeon Jung-won (Shin-yang Park) is troubled by anxiety about his upcoming marriage. One evening he falls asleep on the train, and wakes up next to two sleeping girls. The next day he discovers that they've been found dead. Obsessed with finding out what happened to them, Jung-won's hunt for clues leads him to Yeon (Ju-hyun Jun), a woman plagued by psychic visions. As the couple digs into the mystery, their lives begin to fall apart. Su-yeon Lee's Korean horror film is an eerie, character-driven thriller that lingers in the mind long after its resolution. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2003, 128 mins. DVD | $37.95
Untold Scandal Lee Je-Yong The 18th century French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses has provided material for a number of skilled filmmakers, but this adaptation by Korean auteur Lee Je-Yong is arguably the most boldly reimagined version yet. Set in Korea at the end of the Chosun Dynasty, the film stars Bae Yong-Jun as a handsome young aristocrat who becomes obsessed with a graceful and aloof beauty. His mission is deterred by his spiteful cousin, who coerces him into deflowering an innocent young woman before she can become her husband's concubine. "Director Lee Je-Yong gives the book a makeover full of wit and startling beauty" (LA Weekly). In Japanese with English subtitles. Korea, 2003, 124 mins. DVD | $44.95
Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors (Oh! Soo-jung) Hong Sang-soo The title suggests poorly translated foreign pornography, but that is far from the case. This is actually a demanding but rewarding love story about the complications that arise when two friends fall for the same sexually inexperienced woman and how her virginity simultaneously attracts the suitors and keeps them at a distance. Shot in black and white, with a non-linear structure that emphasizes the conflicted emotional states of the characters. Winner of a Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival. The DVD is letterboxed and includes theatrical trailers, talent files, and a behind-the-scenes segment. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2000, 126 mins. DVD | $37.95
The Way Home Lee Jeong-hyang Lee Jeong-hyang (The Art Museum by the Zoo) directs this heart-warming tale of a spoiled city boy who learns to accept and understand the simple pleasures of nature and life while staying with his mute elderly grandmother in the country. Kim Eul-boon, who had never acted or even seen a movie before being cast by Jeong-hyang, delivers an outstanding performance as the boy's grandmother. A touching film that manages to hit all of the right emotional buttons without resorting to sentimentality. "Magnificently expressive" (Janice Page, Boston Globe). In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2002, 80 mins. DVD | $44.95
Whispering Corridors Ki-Hyung Park Ki-Hyung Park's gripping horror film takes place at a highly regimented all-girl's private school in Korea. A student who was killed in an accident ten years before returns to possess the body of a current student, and uses her host to take revenge on her former instructors. One teacher, a former student of the school and the best friend of the deceased, provides the key to ending the bloody reign of terror. Park's film doubles as a stinging critique of Korea's strict disciplinary approach to education. Includes English and Spanish subtitles. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea 1998 105 mins. DVD | $37.95
White Badge Jiyoung Chung The emotional scars of war threaten to sabotage the marriage and career of a Korean publishing house editor who fought in Vietnam alongside American troops. A brooding intellectual, he is plagued by flashbacks of frontline battle and ultimately is forced to confront his troubled past. A different perspective on the Vietnam experience is brought to light in this South Korean drama. Winner of the Grand Prix and Best Director at the Tokyo International Film Festival. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1994, 122 mins. DVD | $37.95
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? Bae Yong-kyun An aged monk, his young apprentice and an orphan inhabit a remote monastery. This fascinating Korean film by Bae Yong-kyun focuses on their interaction and, in the process, provokes a contemplation on life, death and enlightenment. A solo effort, the film took ten years to complete. Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1989, 135 mins. DVD | $44.95
Wishing Stairs Jae-yeon Yun Like its predecessors Whispering Corridors and Memento Mori, the third film in this terrifying Korean horror trilogy takes place in an all-girls boarding school. Legend has it that anyone who counts the steps leading to the school dormitory will provoke a spirit to appear and grant them their wish. But because the school is a haven for jealousy, cruelty, and paranoia, these wishes become weapons of unspeakable horror. The DVD is letterboxed and includes making-of featurette, director's sketchbook and notes, promotional materials, photo gallery, trailers, 5.1 sound, and more. In Korean with English subtitles. Korea, 2003, 97 mins. DVD | $37.95
Woman Is the Future of Man Hong Sang-soo Two men pursue a woman from their past in this drama from controversial South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo. Heon-jun (Kim Tae-woo), a struggling filmmaker who has just returned from the United States, runs into his old friend Mun-ho (Yu Ji-tae), now an art professor. Over dinner, they find themselves talking about Seon-hwa (Seong Hyeon-ah), a beautiful woman they both dated in college. They individually decide to track her down, only to discover that she is not the woman they remembered. Official Selection at 2004 Cannes Film Festival. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 2004, 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
Yellow Flower Lee Ji-sang Lee Ji-sang's controversial adult drama explores the way in which a diverse cast of characters incorporate sex into their lives. Graphic and extreme, this smoldering Korean film also achieves moments of poetic lyricism. With Kim Jung-gi and Shu Jung. South Korea, 2002, 85 mins. DVD | $37.95
Yellow Hair Yu-min Kim Enormously controversial in its native Korea, this transgressive drama was subjected to a lengthy censorship process before being allowed to hit the screen. Lee Jae-eun and Kim Ki-yeon star as dyed-yellow rebels who pick up a salary man (Kim Hyeon-chul) at a club and bring him back to their studio for a wild threesome. When the man chafes at the prospect of future trysts, the two women conspire to hunt down his girlfriend and murder her. Kim Yoo-min directs an edgy, erotic, and boundary-pushing look at love and madness. In Korean with English subtitles. South Korea, 1999, 82 mins. DVD | $37.95
