The Tiger Blu-ray Review

The Tiger is presented on Blu-ray by Well Go USA with a remarkable AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The presentation offers superb clarity and detail, capturing the gritty textures beneath Chun's fingernails and the fabric details of the Japanese army uniforms. Cinematographer Mo-gae Lee's preference for extreme close-ups supports an excellent level of fine detailing. Despite the film's overall bleak and almost monochromatic color grading, the transfer excels in its crystal-clear rendering of intricate patterns, such as leafless deciduous tree branches, with no resolution or stability issues during aerial and crane shots.

This visual presentation stands out due to its rich, inky black levels and wide range of shadow detail—especially in heavily forested scenes—which contribute significantly to the film's realistic three-dimensional depth. The muted winter colors dominate the palette, though scenes shot in full sunlight display a vibrant primary radiance. Flesh tones appear healthy and natural under appropriate lighting conditions. Notably, the film maintains a consistent film-like quality throughout, lacking the typical digital video cues despite no information on shooting format being available.

Concerns about CGI intrusions are minimal and generally not attributable to the high-quality transfer. The dark sequences are slightly underlit, aimed at enhancing realism rather than exposing visual effects. The MPEG-4 AVC encoding ensures a clean presentation devoid of noise and artifacts. When well-lit, color reproduction is bright and vivid, showcasing beautiful and ravishing hues that meticulously preserve the film's intended look. Overall, this Blu-ray transfer is a technical achievement that significantly enhances the cinematic experience despite minor production constraints.

The Tiger's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix delivers moments of intense ferocity, notably during the battles with tigers. The mix provides an excellent sense of immersion with ambient environmental effects dotting the surrounds, especially as much of the film plays out in open environments. Dialogue is presented clearly and prioritized well, ensuring communication is always intelligible despite being paired with multiple languages, such as Korean DTS-HD MA 5.1, and 2.0 Stereo options paired with English and Spanish subtitles.

There are some interesting choices made in the sound mix, particularly the decision to neutralize the typical explosive gunfire at key sequences. This may surprise viewers expecting powerful bangs when muskets are fired, but the nuanced sound design effectively supports the narrative without overt distractions. Additionally, the sound effects and background atmospherics provide a strong sense of dimensional space, making one feel encapsulated within the scenes. The dynamic range effectively captures everything from subtle, sullen undertones to full-bodied animalistic roars, enveloping listeners with an authentic and thrilling audio experience.

The surround sound presentation is stellar, with notable channel movement that enhances spatial awareness, contributing to a layered and engaging listening experience. The tiger's guttural rumblings and powerful presence reverberate hauntingly around the channels, creating an immersive aural landscape. Low-frequency extensions highlight dramatic moments quietly yet powerfully, and once the volume is set comfortably, adjustments are rarely necessary. Overall, this audio presentation upholds high-quality standards, offering crisp clarity and meticulous attention to auditory details.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Tiger" offer a sparse yet commendable range of content that enhances the viewing experience. While the selection is brief, it supplements the main feature with trailers that tease a variety of compelling narratives from similar genres. The quality varies between standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD), providing a broad glimpse into other cinematic works that might pique the viewer's interest. The technical presentation of these trailers maintains a professional standard, although a more comprehensive set of extras would have been beneficial.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: The Tiger.
• Trailer: The Wailing.
• Trailer: Memories Of The Sword.
• Trailer: Assassination.

Park Hoon-jung's 2015 thriller "The Tiger" captures the South Korean landscape during a politically tumultuous era with a visually compelling narrative. Set in the 1920s under Japanese occupation, the film centers on Chun Man-Duk (Choi Min-sik), an aging, once-revered hunter tasked with killing the last tiger in Jirisan. The film begins in 1915, introducing Chun and his young son amidst an expedition, laying the groundwork for a personal yet politically charged showdown. A significant working of metaphors is woven throughout the narrative, with the 'Mountain Lord' tiger serving as a poignant symbol of Korea's enduring spirit amid Japanese oppression. The plot underscores thematic elements of survival and resistance, albeit sometimes too overtly, reducing its emotional resonance.

Character development is spearheaded by Choi Min-sik’s compelling performance, oscillating between pathos and moments of unintended humor. His portrayal of Chun - a man grappling with loss and his place in an occupied nation - showcases a remarkable range but occasionally suffers from narrative inconsistency. Chun’s complex journey is paralleled by multiple subplots and allegorical content which, while enriching backstories and adding layers, often distract from the central narrative. These side plots, including Chun’s strained relationship with his son and the overarching hunt for the metaphor-laden beast, contribute to the film’s extended runtime and occasionally diffuse the main storyline’s impact.

Technically, "The Tiger" excels with its striking depictions of the Korean wilderness, although some CGI integration falls short of blending seamlessly into the live-action sequences. Despite occasional visual distractions, the film’s strengths lie in its evocative landscapes and intense moments of human-animal interaction. Though the abundance of thematic explorations and an uneven plot execution may test viewers’ patience, the core story remains gripping and offers an engaging look at Korea’s historical and cultural underpinnings through its symbolically charged narrative.

"The Tiger" is a visually compelling film that, despite certain narrative shortcomings, manages to maintain an engaging story. The direction by Park Hoon-jung is dynamic, capturing the raw beauty and fierce survival instincts of the titular tiger while grounding the drama with Choi Min-Sik’s commanding performance. However, the film tends to lose focus with numerous irrelevant subplots that weaken the main narrative’s impact, leaving viewers wanting a tighter edit. The film’s pacing suffers due to these distractions, and a more concise runtime could have significantly enhanced its storytelling.

As for the Blu-ray release, Well Go USA delivers a stellar A/V presentation that highlights the film’s striking cinematography and immersive sound design. The visual fidelity is top-notch, bringing out the lush Korean landscapes and minute details in high definition. The audio tracks also deliver an engrossing experience, from the subtle sounds of nature to the intensity of action sequences. What the Blu-ray package disappointingly lacks is any form of special features or behind-the-scenes content, which would have added value for fans and collectors alike.

Overall, "The Tiger" is a film with significant potential that stumbles in its execution. Despite its flawed storytelling approach, the strong visual and auditory presentation on Blu-ray makes it a worthwhile addition to any collection. If you're interested in vividly shot historical dramas or are a fan of Choi Min-Sik's work, this release is recommended, but it's not without its caveats.