D-WAR: First Look

[kpa]

After 5 years of "coming soon" announcements, South Korea's big budget film about dragons attacking Los Angeles is finally finished. SciFi Japan has a report on the movie and the first screening at the 2006 American Film Market.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/

[Zigra]

This movie looks like it could be awsome. Hopefully the acting won't be as unbearable to sit through as it was in Yongary '99.

[BS Digital Q]

Took a look at the trailer on YouTube. It was...underwhelming. It wasn't a particularly good trailer to begin with, but the bd-by-today's-standards CGI just sorta sealed the deal. Its better than Yonggary, but thats not saying much.

[Orga777]

I can tell that the CG is mediocre just by looking at the pictures. But the synopsis gives me a little hope for the story which will hopefully make up for the bad CGI.

[kpa]

I checked the trailer on YouTube and that's a D-WAR promo that was released in 2003. There's been three years of work since then, and half of the scenes in the trailer aren't even in the finished film.

[BS Digital Q]

Really? Interesting.

Do they have a more current one available at the D-War site?

[kpa]

Really? Interesting.

Do they have a more current one available at the D-War site?

I don't know about the official site, but there's a Korean news report about the American Film Market D-WAR screening that has new footage (plus scenes from THE HOST): http://nv.empas.com/sbs/2006/11/04/200169232.asf

[Monsturra-Jake]

I looked at the article, and I feel a little underwhelmed by the story. Oh well, if it ever comes to America, I probably watch it. Now, if I enjoy it will be another story.

[Enshohma]

Unless Kpa says otherwise, the Kaiju Shakedown has reported a major road block for D-Wars. Namely its been delayed...again...drats!

http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/11/dwar_delayed.html

[kpa]

Unless Kpa says otherwise, the Kaiju Shakedown has reported a major road block for D-Wars. Namely its been delayed...again...drats!

http://www.kaijushakedown.com/2006/11/dwar_delayed.html

I read at the Hollywood Reporter article Kaiju Shakedown's report is based on, and nothing has changed. My article on SciFi Japan includes:

"Showbox is hoping to sell US rights to an American distributor who will give D-WAR a wide theatrical release supported by a strong advertising campaign. After a US deal is made, they will turn their attention to Europe and Asia. “Everybody is asking about D-WAR, but we’re focusing on getting a deal with a US distributor first,” Jeong said.

"Showbox is hoping for a theatrical launch in the summer of 2007."

The Hollywood Reporter said the exact same thing: Showbox wants a US release first, and all other countries will follow America. They're hoping for US launch in summer 2007, but that depends on if/when D-WAR is sold and how the buyer decides to release it here.

[kpa]

Still no word on a US or international release, but D-WAR was screened last week at film festival in Berlin. Variety reviewed the film, and their opinion was the same as mine from the AFM screening:

"D-War," a feast of A-grade f/x married to a Z-grade, irony-free script. After some eight years in planning, production and post, and just over two years since live-action shooting wrapped, South Korea's biggest-budget production by far (reportedly $70 million) looks likely to end up the most expensive cult movie on DVD."

Link to Variety review: http://tinyurl.com/yozhmm

There's a 5:30 minute video montage of scenes from D-WAR at http://tinyurl.com/3yyu32 . The nice special effects, lack of interest in what the characters are saying, and the "trying to be dramatic but coming across as silly" English text are a pretty good representation of the entire film.

[Zillamon51]

Still no word on a US or international release, but D-WAR was screened last week at film festival in Berlin. Variety reviewed the film...

Link to Variety review: http://tinyurl.com/yozhmm


Wow, I'm surprised a big-time outfit like Variety would publish such a poorly-written review. It's like it was written by a kid, or whole sections of the reviewer's hastily-scribbled notes where posted verbatim w/o any additional polish. It's almost Engrish in spots.

I was really looking forward to D-War back when the first trailer hit. All these years later, it's hard to get excited again. I think it's a toss-up whether it gets any kind of theatrical release, or goes straight to DVD / cable. Hopefully it will be settled sometime this year.