The Good the Bad the Weird 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Arrow’s 4K UHD presents The Good, the Bad, the Weird in an HEVC/H.265 2160p transfer framed at 2.36:1 (booklet notes original 2.35:1), sourced from CJ Entertainment–supplied 4K SDR masters and director-approved by Kim Jee-woon. HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading were completed by Fidelity in Motion, with additional picture restoration by R3Store Studios. Both the Korean Cut and International Cut are included. This release does not include a 1080p Blu-ray of the feature; screenshots circulating from the UHD are downscaled to 1080 SDR and are not color-accurate representations of the HDR palette.

The presentation sustains a distinctly filmic look from the 35mm origins, with a beautifully organic, tightly resolved grain structure. Fine detail is precise and consistent—from intricate fabrics and set textures to expansive outdoor vistas where sand and grass retain crisp delineation. HDR10/Dolby Vision deliver strikingly vivid primaries and nuanced specular highlights, yielding rich, burnished interiors and high-impact exteriors without clipping. Complex multi-hued lighting is rendered with clean color separation and strong depth, while skin tones remain natural and stable. Contrast is robust with inky blacks that avoid crush, and bright elements exhibit controlled intensity. The encode appears transparent, with no conspicuous banding, noise, or edge enhancement, and the restoration minimizes print wear without scrubbing away texture. Overall, a reference-grade upgrade that showcases the film’s palette and detail with exceptional fidelity.

The 4K UHD upgrades the previous 1080p disc’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 to a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix that meaningfully expands the soundstage. Surround activity is near-constant, with side and rear channels engaged by ambient textures, swirling score elements, and the film’s frequent set-piece mayhem. Imaging across the front stage is precise, with discrete effects cleanly mapped and panned—gunshots crack with sharp transients, bloom into echoes that trail to the sides and rears, and resolve with distinct impact cues. Dialogue remains cleanly anchored and intelligible at all times, even amid crowded, high-SPL sequences.

Low-frequency energy is generous and tight, delivering weight to horse hooves, engines, and sustained rumbles during explosions without masking midrange detail. The score by Dalpalan and Chang Young-gyu, evocative of Morricone with nods akin to Jerry Goldsmith’s 1960s spy textures, is spaciously dispersed through the surrounds yet retains coherent focus across the front. Overall dynamics are lively without harshness, with effective use of headroom for sudden peaks and convincing depth for quieter expanses. Channel separation, localization, and envelopment are consistently strong, yielding a vigorous, demo-ready mix that serves both spectacle and nuance. Optional English subtitles are included.

A comprehensive extras suite balances new and archival material with strong technical focus. Two cuts are selectable via the Choose Version menu: the Korean theatrical cut (greater emphasis on independence fighters; mid-point between the Cannes and International edits) and the International cut. Supplements include a concise director intro, three substantive commentaries, new craft interviews, an extensive vintage production doc, focused technical featurettes, generous deleted/alternate material, trailers, and premium physical packaging.

Extras included in this disc:

• Versions: Korean Theatrical and International cuts selectable.
• Introduction by Kim Jee-woon: Brief contextual setup.
• Commentaries: Cast/Director (Intl), Director/Craft team (Korean), and Critics (Intl).
• New Interviews: Director and stunt/martial arts coordinator.
• Archival Documentary “Running Fast”: Feature-length production chronicle.
• Technical Featurettes: Cinematography, lighting, stunts, production design, and sound.
• Movie/Storyboards Comparison: Side-by-side analysis.
• Deleted Material: Deleted scenes with optional director commentary; alternate scene.
• Alternate Endings: Five variants, including an extended version.
• Trailers and Gallery: Multiple regional trailers; photo gallery.
• Packaging: O-ring slipbox, reversible sleeve, artcards, fold-out poster, and perfect-bound book.

Kim Jee-woon reframes the spaghetti western through a Korean lens, centering on three intersecting outlaws racing for a treasure map in 1939 Manchuria. Park Chang-yi, “The Bad” (Lee Byung-hun), is a precision killer; Yoon Tae-goo, “The Weird” (Song Kang-ho), a wily thief who nabs the prize; and Park Do-won, “The Good” (Jung Woo-sung), a relentless bounty hunter. The setup recalls classic Leone, but the film operates as a genre mosaic—western iconography, pulp adventure momentum, and period-espionage intrigue—stitched into a propulsive caper that never idles.

The film’s signature is kinetic excess delivered with wit and craft: dusters and revolvers collide with armored cars and mounted machine guns, Mongolian riders charge with sabers, and geography-savvy chases escalate into bravura demolition. Set on the cusp of World War II under Imperial Japan’s shadow, the narrative mines the “end of the frontier” theme—men outpaced by modernity yet driven by code, greed, and survival. Practical stunts, expansive desert vistas, and rhythmic cutting emphasize physicality, while tonal balance keeps violence splashy and sardonic without losing stakes. It’s an energetic homage that stands on its own—fast, funny, and ferociously inventive.

This 4K UHD presentation of The Good, the Bad, the Weird consolidates consensus praise for a crisp, dynamic image and impactful audio—an attractive upgrade that serves both the film’s propulsive action and its quieter character beats. The movie’s genre-fusing energy and breakneck pacing are consistently noted, yet reviewers also emphasize its pauses for character interplay and clear motivations against a world that’s moving on without them. As a package, it arrives with a notably extensive slate of supplemental material and handsome packaging with extra swag, framing the feature with substantial context and collectability.

The only recurring caveat: the absence of an included 1080p Blu-ray of the main feature. Beyond that omission, the release is broadly regarded as a beautiful-looking and sounding edition with absolutely stellar A/V and a depth of extras that goes well beyond the usual. For fans and new viewers alike, this is a standout 4K UHD release that captures the film’s kinetic spirit, visual flair, and tonal balance, while offering a comprehensive set of bonus features to explore.