My Way Blu-ray Review

Well Go USA's Blu-ray presentation of "My Way" is technically impeccable, boasting an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The film demonstrates an exceptional level of detail and clarity throughout, making it a visual treat. The colors are meticulously presented with a vividness that brings every scene to life. The detail retention is remarkable, with fine object details such as scars, hair follicles, and threads in clothing vividly apparent. The contrast levels are robust, delivering deep and inky blacks without any shadow crushing. Notably, the use of DI color tweaking effectively transitions between the past and intense war scenes, using a palette of slate gray to ice-cold blue hues for battles and amber gold for childhood flashbacks.

The CGI work blends seamlessly into the film's narrative, enhancing the overall visual experience. Depth of field is well-executed, rendering objects and characters with a high degree of realism. However, there are minor stability issues; instances such as car grilles and overhead shots of tiled roofs exhibit slight inconsistencies. Despite these occasional flaws, the overall presentation remains sharp, with no prominent aliasing or edge enhancement issues. The black levels are consistently excellent, contributing to the high-definition appeal of this release and making it worthy of being used as a demo for HD capabilities.

In conclusion, "My Way" on Blu-ray delivers a strikingly beautiful high-definition experience. The rich and vibrant colors, combined with strong contrast and clear fine detail, make it a standout in visual presentation. While slight stability issues are present in specific scenes, they do not detract significantly from the overall quality. This Blu-ray edition is indeed an exemplary demonstration of high-definition transfer done right.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "My Way" is exceptional, offering a seamless balance between immersive soundscapes and articulate dialogue. With a quartet of audio options, including two lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mixes and two standard Dolby Digital 2.0 mixes, both in Korean and English, the disc delivers a versatile and powerful auditory experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, in particular, utilize directionality and discrete channelization masterfully to create an encompassing and realistic sense of immersion. This is especially evident in the film's dramatic battle scenes, where LFE effects are profound, making your floorboards rumble with intensity.

The dialogue is predominantly in Korean but features snippets of Russian, German, and English as well, all presented with crystal clarity across channels. This multilingual aspect is handled with finesse, ensuring dialogues from different languages are always intelligible and well-positioned within the soundstage. Ambient noises and sound effects are dispersed with meticulous precision, bringing to life the chaotic environment of a war zone. Bullets whizzing by, explosions, debris, and screams are rendered vividly across the surround channels, contributing to the heightened sense of realism.

Additionally, the musical score is epic in its presentation and complements the visual elements without overwhelming them. The closing ballad, despite being somewhat dramatically delivered, maintains high fidelity and demonstrates the overall quality of the sound design. This audio track is a commendable example of how meticulous attention to detail in sound engineering can elevate a film viewing experience to a demo-worthy level. The balance between dialogue, score, and sound effects ensures an engaging and immersive auditory journey for the viewer.

The Blu-ray extras for "My Way" offer insightful and engaging content, although some segments may feel too brief for avid fans. The "Making Of" featurette provides captivating behind-the-scenes footage, concentrating on some of the film's larger set pieces. The interview segment with Jang Dong-Gun and Director Kang Je-Kyu delivers valuable insights into Dong-Gun's character development and the film's conceptual genesis. Additionally, the collection is rounded off with an assortment of trailers that encapsulate the film’s promotional efforts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Of: Behind-the-scenes footage focusing on elaborate set pieces.
• Interview With Jang Dong-Gun and Director Kang Je-Kyu: Insights into character development and the genesis of the film.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer for theatrical release.
• Home Video Trailer: Promotional trailer for home video release.
• International Trailer: International promotional trailer.

Je-Kyu Kang's My Way is an epic war drama that intertwines the lives of a Korean and a Japanese man, set against the tumultuous backdrop of World War II. Initially introduced as childhood rivals and marathoners, Korean Jun-shik Kim and Japanese Tatsuo Hasegawa find their lives continuously colliding through a series of improbable yet compelling scenarios. The movie begins during Japan's occupation of Korea, setting the stage for a rivalry that becomes intensely political. As adults, the two are drawn into the wartime chaos, where their respective paths see them fighting in various armies—Japanese, Soviet, and ultimately German.

The film's production quality is noteworthy; it is the most expensive South Korean film to date with a budget of approximately $28 million. My Way is visually stunning and incorporates Hollywood-style action sequences, earning comparisons to classics such as Saving Private Ryan. Battle scenes in the movie are viscerally impactful, capturing the grotesque realities of war. Director Je-kyu Kang juxtaposes these moments with the evolving, complex relationship between Jun-shik and Tatsuo. However, some criticize the film for being heavy-handed and occasionally implausible in its narrative device of having the characters constantly reunite across different fronts and epochs.

My Way excels in character development and thematic depth, exploring the absurdity of nationalistic fervor through its emotionally charged storyline. Despite some narrative flourishes that detract from realism, the arcs of Jun-shik and Tatsuo are powerfully portrayed by Jang Dong-gun and Joe Odagiri. Their performances anchor a story that spans multiple countries and languages while delivering a poignant reflection on human resilience and interdependence amid the horrors of war. Although slightly marred by excessive patriotism and minor narrative missteps, My Way remains an evocative and memorable cinematic experience.

‘My Way’ is a standout entry in the genre of war films, offering a meticulous portrayal of the relationship between its protagonists, Jun-shik and Tatsuo. The narrative provides an intense exploration of the horrors of war and deep-seated nationalism. The video quality on this Blu-ray release is exceptional, providing clear, vibrant visuals that elevate the viewing experience. The audio presentation is also noteworthy, delivering a powerful and immersive soundscape that enhances the emotional and action-packed scenes throughout the film.

Despite its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime, the pacing is expertly managed, ensuring that the film never feels dragged down by its length. The central relationship is adeptly navigated, though some elements may come across as slightly implausible. Nevertheless, the film maintains a compelling focus and offers an unflinching look at the chaos and devastation brought about by war. While the supplementary features on this Blu-ray are somewhat sparse, their quality is not lacking, although fans may long for more extensive extras in potential future editions.

In conclusion, though My Way runs around two and a half hours, it never feels slow or, conversely, bloated. The central relationship between Jun-shik and Tatsuo is handled extremely well, for the most part at least, and even if the final rapprochement seems highly unlikely, the rest of the film is a blistering exposé of the madness of war and extreme nationalism. This is one of the most impressive foreign-made epics of the past several years, and anyone who loves big historical dramas, especially war-related ones, will no doubt be intrigued by this film. While this Blu-ray supplement is on the slim side, the video is excellent and the audio is astounding. Highly recommended.