News
Reviews
About
Links
Forum
DVDstore Directory
Oldboy Ultimate Limited
Edition
(handmade copper box) (Korea)
written by Juice / photos by Juice
Starmax brings us a truly unique LE. A handmade copper box edition of the international hit, "Oldboy", complete with 3 senitypes, and OST, 2 discs of extras, a booklet, and a ribbon topped box to house the contents. When this LE was announced, it caused a scramble across the internet, and drove prices on reseller sites up.
|
The Oldboy LE comes housed within a box that is a replica of the box showcased in the film itself. Built out of a thick, almost industrial grade cardboard, it is stiff and does not dent easily. A beautiful purple ribbon is attached to the top, and even though it does not wrap around the entire box, it does a wonderful job of re-creating the box shown in the movie. The back of the box lists not only the information stored on the 2 bonus feature dvds, but also has chapter lists for the movie and OST. A thin, clear plastic seal with some korean characters printed on it seals the box shut. I cut mine with an exact-o knife, but I believe you can peel it back if you're extremely careful. The box unfolds, exposing the copper tin housed inside. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The copper box is heavy, beautiful, and has an odd, greasy feel to it. Due to the natural make of the box, every box is unique. The wear and oil patterns on the metal of each box differ. Eight heavy rivets hold the hinge of the box to the case. The rivets are strong, there is no chance of this box falling apart. The copper is thick, and will hold up nicely. Embossed on the spine and front of the box is the title of the movie. DVD East, Show East, and Starmax all have their logos also embossed on the box. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The original release of this box came with a foam insert, which was created to fill the space inside the copper box as well as protect the dvd cases from the sharp edges of the rivets inside the box. Unfortunately, the foam insert was not placed correctly, and many purchasers (myself included) received boxes that held damaged cases. Some websites offered free replacements, and Starmax allowed you to email them in order for them to ship you replacements. With their replacements came a new insert, which wrapped around the contents of the copper box and protected the dvd cases from the rivets. uvalaw was kind enough to send me extra replacements he had received. As you can see above, the cardboard insert allows the dvds, OST, book, and senitypes to all sit inside and avoide damage. Above the images show the box closed, open with the new insert showing, open with the insert opened to show the contents of the box set, and then with the case completely empty, allowing you to see the hinge and rivet structure. The last image is of the LE number, which is embossed in the copper. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
As I've mentioned, the set contains the movie, 2 dvds filled with extras, an OST, 3 senitypes, and a booklet. A close up of the rivet, a close up of a damaged disc case, and the new cardboard insert that now protects them is all show above. Note the beautiful patterns on each DVD. These patterns are repeated on the inside of each DVD case, and are present in the movie. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Close-ups of the dvd cases (and OST) show that they are stills taken from the movie, all showcasing important events that occur. Excellent design, the paper is a nice, textured stock with a nice sheen to it. "Oldboy" is embossed in gold on the covers and spines of each case. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The three senitypes are stylishly presented, with information about each actor highlighted on the back. Although the information is all in Korean, you can tell it is a brief synopsis of the actors and actress, and even gives a list of their previos film experience. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Last but not least is the booklet in this set. It is hardbound, and fashioned in an irregular split fold layout. The hard, shiny textured outide matches the dvd cases. The inside pattern also follows the design style of the dvds and dvd cases. Opening the book, you immediately notice it is split into two sections, or sides. The left side is a tall, vertical booklet that gives you detailed storyboard sketches. It's excellent to flip through these and get into the mind of the storyboard artist as he sketched out what would later be translated to film. The right side is a full color booklet that is fairly standard. We see images taken from the movie, highlighting various scenes. The text in the book is Korean. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
It's no surprise that
the value of this set jumped the moment the pre-orders were gone. The
box is truly a stunner. Handmade per order, you can sense the quality
of it when you hold it in your hands. This is another stellar LE release
by our friends over at Starmax.
- Juice's Verdict -
- Build
Quality: 9 -
The only reason this box doesn't get a 10 is due to the damage
issue created since the rivets were fashioned improperly. The copper box
is fantastic, the hard cardboard exterior is wonderful, and the bow is
the icing on the cake.
- Content
and Extras: 9 -
2 extra discs, 3 senitypes, the OST, and the great hardbound book.
- Overall
Rating: 9 -
This is a beautiful set for a great movie.
All rights reserved.