Masquerade Blu-ray Review

"Masquerade," shot on Red by Lee Tae-yoon and lauded for its stunning digital cinematography, truly excels in its video presentation on Blu-ray. The 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer captures the grand historical scale and intricate details of the 17th Century Korean royal court with remarkable accuracy. The digital photography allows for a clear focus on the elaborate period garb and complex set designs, reminiscent of the kind of intricate detail traditionally requiring 65mm film.

CJ Entertainment's Blu-ray release showcases a top-tier image with sharp clarity and vibrance. Colors are bold and vivid without over-saturation, particularly the reds and golds which shine brightly. The uniform shades of whites in the servants' garb and the masses in the courtyard have a nuanced subtlety. With deep, solid blacks and fine shadow detail, the image maintains consistency without any hint of artifacting, even on a more compact BD-25 disc.

This Blu-ray exhibits an impressive attention to detail; from fabric textures to individual beard hairs in the 2.20:1 frame, everything resonates with realism. Despite the straightforward encoding, the stunning visuals ensure that "Masquerade" presents a cinematic experience that is highly engaging. The lack of bonus content or lossless audio does little to detract from an otherwise splendid video presentation.

CJ Entertainment offers "Masquerade" with a choice between 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks in both Korean and English. Each Korean track defaults to English subtitles, which users can manually switch off. All available audio tracks are Dolby Digital at standard DVD bitrates, presenting a significant limitation due to the absence of a lossless audio option. The Korean DD 5.1 track, the primary focus in most reviews, delivers an acceptable experience with centered dialogue, an enveloping surround sound field, and a balanced presentation of the film's musical score by Mowg and Kim Jun-seong.

Despite these better points, the release features only compressed audio formats, aligned with disappointment from a technical standpoint. The main Korean Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track is noted as front-heavy and less dynamic compared to the visually stunning content of the film. While the track does provide some minimal channel movement, the overall calm nature of the film's action does not demand extensive use of surround sound capabilities. Additionally, the package includes a Korean Dolby Digital 2.0 track, alongside English dubbed Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 tracks, diversifying user options but maintaining a lack of high-fidelity audio performance throughout.

The Blu-ray release of "Masquerade" offers a meticulously crafted set of extras that significantly enhance the viewing experience, compensating for the absence of any supplemental content in previous editions. The bonus features here delve deep into various aspects of the film’s production, providing viewers with invaluable insights and a comprehensive understanding of its complex narrative and technical quality. Each featurette is thoughtfully produced, offering a blend of informational depth and engaging presentation, making this disc a must-have for enthusiasts who appreciate the intricacies of filmmaking.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary: Insightful discussion with director and cast. Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: Detailed exploration of the film’s production. Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes that didn’t make the final cut. Interview with the Filmmakers: In-depth conversation with directors and producers.

"Masquerade," internationally titled but originally known as "Gwang-hae: The Man Who Became King," is a South Korean historical fiction film that intricately speculates on the events that transpired during a 15-day gap in the reign of King Gwang-hae of the Joseon Dynasty. This critically acclaimed film, directed by Choo Chang-min and starring Lee Byung-hun, has garnered significant acclaim, sweeping the 2012 Grand Bell Awards with wins in fifteen categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Lee Byung-hun's dual portrayal of Gwanghae and the commoner Ha-sun, who impersonates the king, is nothing short of remarkable, even though initial efforts to visually differentiate the two characters are minimal.

The narrative thrust of "Masquerade" cleverly exploits the timeless "pauper becomes prince" trope. Tasked with alleviating Gwang-hae's constant fear of assassination, Chief Secretary Hyo Gyun enlists Ha-sun, an outsider and entertainer with an uncanny resemblance to Gwang-hae, to pose as the king. When Gwang-hae is poisoned and incapacitated, Ha-sun steps into his role, initially with comedic ineptitude but ultimately with profound impact. This transition is facilitated by key character relationships, notably with the Chief Eunuch and other members of the royal court, which imbue sociopolitical complexity and ethical dilemmas into the plot.

Visually, "Masquerade" is a feast for the eyes. The production is rife with breathtaking cinematography, striking costume design, and authentic set pieces that transport viewers to 17th-century Korea. The Blu-ray transfer elevates these elements, delivering vibrant colors and immaculate sharpness that align perfectly with the filmmakers’ intentions. Despite its lengthy runtime of 134 minutes, which could benefit from pacing adjustments, "Masquerade" remains an engaging and visually stunning piece of historical cinema that scrutinizes both personal identity and political intrigue within a richly detailed and culturally significant setting.

The Blu-ray release of "Masquerade" distinguishes itself with an impressive video transfer, showcasing the film's rich historical and visual elements with exceptional clarity and detail. The transfer retains the pristine quality of a meticulously remastered piece, underscoring CJ Entertainment's commitment to high standards in home media presentation. However, the decision to provide only Dolby Digital audio tracks, rather than a lossless or uncompressed alternative, represents a notable shortfall. This compromises the overall audio experience, particularly given the film's sophisticated soundscape.

Adding to this sense of minimalism is the disc's lack of supplementary content. There are no extras, no trailers, and the disc loads directly to the menu, presenting a rather bare-bones offering that perhaps doesn't fully leverage the potential of the Blu-ray format. For collectors and fans of the film, this stripped-down approach might be disappointing, though it does contribute to a relatively low price point.

At the moment, the Blu-ray of "Masquerade" is available only as a Best Buy exclusive, with an Amazon listing indicating a wider release next year. "Masquerade" is the first Blu-ray by CJ Entertainment (now known as CJ Entertainment & Media or simply CJ&M) released under a recently signed distribution deal with Inception, and if it's an indication of things to come, the future looks promising. Lossless audio and a few extras are all that needs to be added. In the meantime, "Masquerade" can be ordered through Best Buy, and it is highly recommended on the strength of the video quality and the film itself.