BLU-RAY REVIEW

Burning

Featured In Issue 237, March 2019

Picture4
Sound3.5
WSR Score3
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Well Go USA
(Catalog Number):
WGU03061B
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$29.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
148
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
3/5/2019
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Lee Chang-dong
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

"Burning" is a psychological tale of all-consuming jealousy that tells the story of three individuals and a mystery that shows no one is truly as they seem. The story is the examination of an alienated young man, Jongsu (Yoo), a frustrated introvert whose already difficult life is complicated by the appearance of two people into his orbit: first, Haemi (Jun), a spirited woman who offers romantic possibilities, and Ben (Yeun), a wealthy and sophisticated young man who returns with her from a recent trip. When Jongsu learns of Ben's mysterious hobby and Haemi suddenly disappears, his confusion and obsessions begin to mount, culminating in a fiery finale. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette "About The Characters" (HD 02.29) and trailers.

The 2.39:1 1080p AVC picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, upconverted to 2160p with greater resolution and luminance, was photographed digitally and sourced from a 2K master Digital Intermediate format. The picture exhibits a natural color palette with rich hues that at times pop. Fleshtones appear natural as well. Contrast is well balanced. Black levels are natural and shadows are generally revealing. Resolution is generally soft, but some close-ups exhibit fine detail. Overall, this is a natural and realistic picture. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is set within the inner city of Seoul, and there is a lot of ambience that is directionalized along the soundstage with city traffic, pedestrians, airports, trains, etc. Surround extension is overall subtle at best. However, the jazz music extends nicely and provides the deep bass in the soundtrack. In a disco club scene, the sound is the most aggressive with a strong soundfield dimension, likewise, a scene in a cathedral. Dialogue is natural sounding (Korean with English subtitles), but at times wanting in spatial integration. Overall, this is a satisfying soundtrack but basically mediocre. (Gary Reber)