Splendid Film/Amasia South Korean Blu-ray Mediabook Synopsis: With his unique style and an incredibly brutal story, director KimJee-woon (I Saw The Devil) has created an outstanding action masterpiece. For the 15th anniversary of A Bittersweet Life, the genre classic is being released as a limited and serialized 3-disc media book: The Special Edition includes the uncompromising Korean theatrical version in HD for the first time worldwide, the Director's Cut with a new picture master, over 90 minutes of unreleased extras 20-page booklet and Kim Jee-woon's actioner, 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' Blu-ray bonus disc! Sun-woo is the right hand of crime boss Kang. He always does his job with absolute perfection and keeps a cool head in every situation. When Kang decides to go away for a few days, he hires Sun-woo to babysit his young lover Hee-soo, whom he suspects of cheating on him. If Kang's suspicions are confirmed, Hee-soo and her lover are to be killed immediately. Sun-woo catches them both after a short time, but he cannot kill Hee-soo and lets both of them live. A fatal mistake that turns him from hunter to hunted... (119 Mins)

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Tartan Asia Extreme UK DVD Synopsis: Sun-woo is no ordinary hotel manager. He is also the ruthlessly efficient right hand man of underworld boss, Kang. But tough guy Kang has a weakness; his young girlfriend. Suspecting she's unfaithful, Kang orders Sun-woo to take care of the problem. When Sun-woo discovers her with another man, he uncharacteristically grants them mercy. Kang is furious and orders his gang members to hunt down Sun-woo. With nerves of steel, Sun-woo battles the gang alone. With each kill, he takes one step closer to his final confrontation with Kang. (114 Mins)

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Views: When I first bought A Bittersweet Life, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I had not seen anything about the film leading up to my purchase, but I knew it was directed by Kim Jee-Woon who had directed A Tale Of Two Sisters, and The Quiet Family - two films that I really enjoyed. Then I watched this – and probably about 4 more times in the first week, showing it to every friend that stopped by. What a movie! I was hooked right from the beginning with its tight direction, great cinematography, and, of course, leading man Lee Byung-Hun. It seems this man can do no wrong, making quite the impression in movies such as The Good, The Bad And The Weird, I Saw The Devil, JSA, and television show's like the wonderful, Mr. Sunshine, and many Hollywood productions also. His looks, fighting skills, and on-screen presence were all just amazing – often coming across like South Korea's answer to Chow Yun Fat. Kim Jee-Woon should be making directors such as Scorsese, De Palma, and Mann, very nervous after providing such an incredible gangster film. For me, this very beautifully filmed production offered much more entertainment than anything I've seen from those aforementioned Hollywood directors in the last 25 years! I've often said that from the turn of the century, South Korean films have impressed me the most. And A Bittersweet Life is one of those films...

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In a nutshell, A Bittersweet Life could be easily sold as an exciting tale of gangster revenge, but director Kim Jee-Woon makes it so much more than that. Sprinkled with that typical dark-humour Kim loves so much, we follow Sun-Woo (played by Lee) who plays a hotel manager that also happens to be the right-hand man to his boss and big-time gangster, Mr. Kang. Treated more like a son after working under Kang for 7 years, Sun-Woo gets a break from his hit-man duties when he is offered the easier job of keeping an eye on his bosses new girlfriend Hee-Soo (Shin Mina) - an early twenties cellist who, Kang expects, is cheating on him. This is ironic in itself, as Mr. Kang has a wife and children of his own. After catching a glimpse of the beautiful Hee-Soo and hearing her play, Sun-Woo finds himself quickly falling for her. To make matters worse, after following her home one night, the handsome Sun-Woo catches her with a boyfriend (and someone more her own age). Under his boss's orders, Sun-Woo is to kill them both, but as his emotions override and he sees the fear in her eyes, the hit-man with a heart lets them go. Of course, he understands the consequences of turning on his boss, although doesn't expect the extremities of Mr. Kang's reaction when he finds out about Sun-Woo's decision. Following the long tradition of the gangster underworld, Kang decides to punish his man who is like a son to him. Giving Sun-Woo a chance to explain himself, the big boss reveals that he knows of the hitman's feelings for Hee-Soo. It's a poignant moment as Sun-Woo is knelt in the mud, understanding his predicament in falling for the one girl that has brought him to his knees, that soon sees him buried up to his neck and left-for-dead in the heaviest of rain.

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As A Bittersweet Life hits the 1-hour mark, you are forced to the edge of your seat (and if you aren't already, there's something wrong). After he has suffered some intense torture, Sunwoo makes an incredible escape in 5 minutes of solid action that makes similar scenes from Oldboy and other movies, look tame in comparison! Just when you thought the pace and action up to that point were doing a good enough job in keeping you hooked, director Kim decides to crank things up another few notches – just to make sure you're watching. It sets Sun-Woo on a crazy journey of vengeance as he takes on the very men he once controlled, locks-horns with a deadly assassin in a brutal showdown, and of course, gets his revenge on Mr. Kang. It's intense, it's violent, but it's beautiful. And boy oh boy, what an ending!!

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Overall: An incredible action-noire that I will never tire of watching, A Bittersweet Life is a modern classic!

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Splendid Film/Amasia Blu-ray Mediabook Extras: Korean Cinema Version in HD, Directors Cut with Remastered Picture, 20 Page Booklet, Additional Movie with 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird', Audio Commentary with Director, Audio Commentary with Cast & Crew, Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary, Making of Documentary with Audio Commentary from Director & Crew, The Style of A Bittersweet Life Featurette, La Dolce Vita Director Interview, Tell Me Why – Interview with Cast & Crew, Trailers, TV Spots

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Tartan Asia Extreme DVD Extras: Cast & Crew Interviews, Featurette, Trailer, Justin Bowyer Film Notes

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Watch my unboxing video for this Splendid Film/Amasia release HERE