The western is primarily an American genre with its focus on remote areas with unfriendly individuals, typically involving conflict between those enforcing and those outside the law. Though rooted in the period of expansion west in the United States and utilizing the distance from organized or “civil” society to tell drama-filled adventure tales, the genre does not belong to U.S. filmmakers. One of the most beloved trilogies of westerns, known both as The Dollars trilogy and The Man with No Name trilogy, was directed by Sergio Leone and is dubbed a spaghetti western as it was shot in Spain and Italy. In 2008, Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon (Cobweb; I Saw the Devil) released his own take on the genre with The Good, the Bad, the Weird (좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈), a tale he refers to as a kimchi western, which utilizes the volatile period of 1930s Manchuria to house a rousing and frequently hilarious action/adventure story of greed and revenge. While it’s been available on different formats since its release, Arrow Video is releasing a first-time 4K UHD edition in both the U.S. and U.K. that includes both the international and Korean versions of the film, several legacy features, and new features in a limited-edition release.
Manchuria Before World War II: While attempting to retrieve a presumed treasure map from a Japanese officer on a train, hired gun Park Chang-yi (Lee Byung-hun) runs into an unexpected obstacle when he’s beaten to the punch by thief Yoon Tae-goo (Song Kang-ho). Complicating things further, bounty hunter Park Do-won (Jung Woo-sung) interjects in an attempt to capture Chang-yi, which allows Tae-goo to get away. With the map in-hand, Tae-goo is now a target for every gang, killer, and officer in the Manchurian, Japanese, and Korean forces who think that going where the map leads will turn the tides in all their fortunes. Thus begins the three-way battle for possession of the map between Chang-yi, Do-won, and Tae-goo and only one victor will remain standing.
The following review is based on a check disc copy of the two-disc 4K UHD edition provided by MVD Entertainment Group. Because of this, no direct insight or confirmation can be provided regarding the packaging or physical bonus materials. Unfortunately, this means that we can’t relay what to expect from the retail edition as it relates to what’s been advertised versus what you will actually receive.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD expanded packshot. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video.
What can be discussed and commented on is the on-disc presentation and the bonus features. With this being a 4K UHD release, let’s start there.
According to the included press materials, the 4K master used for The Good, the Bad, the Weird was approved by Kim and this certainly looks and sounds like it. From a technical perspective, the bulk of the film maintains a steady bitrate in the mid-70s (Mbps) with occasional jumps into the 80s. There are a few dips into the 20s and jumps into the 100s, but the former is usually in a transition shot that’s all black and the latter during a close-up. At no point do either the video or audio elements present any noticeable issues when the bitrate drops or improvements when it rises, which is as complementary as one can be. The film is beautiful and makes great use of the HDR (Dolby Vision that’s HDR10 compatible). Though the whole of the film utilizes a rustic color palette, focusing on reds and browns, the enhanced range of color enables the audience to better delineate one object from another, especially in dark sequences (such as when Tae-goo tries to initially escape from the Ghost Market gang). Kim doesn’t paint this world as entirely rural, finding ways to incorporate colors via outfits, set dressing, and other production materials. Nothing is overtly heightened (except the drama), which gives the whole film an elevated-yet-realistic feel. The enhanced detail of the 4K allows the audience to see details they may not otherwise notice on past HD or SD releases, such as the subtle wear on Tae-goo’s leather, denoting it’s a well-worn outfit. Likewise, we can make out the small details in Chang-yi’s black suit, which helps to convey several details about the character such as his status compared to the other two leads (it’s all refined to match the controlled and capable persona) and that it was a style indicative of gangs in China around that period (helping to separate the Korean character from his fellows). Like the video elements, which show no wear, grime, or blemishes, the audio elements are equally clear and crisp. The balance, in particular, is noticeable when screening with a 5.1 surround system, wherein the explosions don’t overpower the dialogue or score (important when the chaos reaches a zenith in the action-packed race to the climax) and audio plays exactly where one expects given the direction of the action. Both versions of the film are reportedly available to screen in DTS-HD MA 7.1, but as we only have 5.1, thoughts cannot be offered.
In terms of bonus features, Arrow Video has pulled together a mighty collection of new and old materials that are separated between two discs: a 4K UHD disc with both versions of the film along with some features and a Blu-ray disc that contains the rest of the features. To be clear: there is no Blu-ray version of the film in this set. The 4K UHD edition contains both the International Version and Korean Version of the film with one brand-new commentary track from film critic James Marsh and film critic and producer Pierce Conran on the International Version, as well as a brand-new introduction to the film featuring Kim himself. It’s a brief 90-second video wherein he explains what the term “kimchi western” means and what he sought to accomplish by merging cinematic cultural languages. He does not indicate that the International Version of the film is his preferred version, although reports indicate that he had stated as such with a previous CJ Entertainment physical release of the film. If you’ve not seen either version (such as this reviewer), start with the International Version if only to get the film that Kim prefers and sees as being as close to his vision of a story as possible. The Korean Version incorporates more elements of story that focus on the Korean Resistance Fighters and a shift in the ending that fills in a few gaps after the three-way showdown between Do-wan (The Good), Chang-yi (The Bad), and Tae-goo (The Weird). Also on the 4K UHD disc are two previously available commentary tracks, one for each version of the film, with director Kim and actors Song (Cobweb; JSA: Joint Security Area), Lee (I Saw the Devil; K-Pop Demon Hunters), and Jung (Cobweb; A Moment to Remember) for the International Version and director Kim, cinematographer Lee Mogae (I Saw the Devil; Exhuma), lighting director Oh Seung-chul (I Saw the Devil; A Tale of Two Sisters), and art director Cho Hwa-sung (I Saw the Devil; Lady Vengeance) for the Korean Version.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD reversible cover art. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video.
Switching to the Blu-ray disc, here’s where the bulk of the special features reside. For the archival materials, there are 13 featurettes that explore sound and space, provide three different behind-the-scenes looks at the film, various interviews, movie/storyboard comparisons, deleted and alternate scenes, a Cannes highlight reel from 2008, four trailers, a photo gallery, and more. In terms of new materials, there are two brand-new featurettes. The first, the 26-minute “Corralling Chaos in the Desert,” is a sit-down interview from 2024 with director Kim in which he talks about the making of the film as he looks back it from nearly 20 years ago. The second, the 15-minute “Dusty Dust-ups and Sweaty Saddles,” is a sit-down interview from 2024 with martial arts coordinator Jung Doo-hong (G.I. Joe: Retaliation; Cliff Walkers) that allows viewers to gain greater insight into the various stunts that make up the film from the seizing of the train; the attack on Tae-goo by the Ghost Market gang; the shoot-out between Chang-yi’s gang, the Ghost Market gang, and tenuous partnership between Tae-goo and Do-won. Considering the stunt work is a highlight of the film, having the chance to listen to Jung discuss the work that went into creating them is a fabulous opportunity.
Speaking as someone who had tried to view The Good, the Bad, the Weird years ago (before film criticism crept in professionally and before children) and who couldn’t get into it, sitting down more than 10 years later to screen this, the reaction is quite different. Over the last 10 years, I’ve not only increased my international cinema consumption, but, more importantly, my understanding of global history. Westerns have never been something I could latch onto despite trying different films over the years, including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), but, viewing the film through the lens of the Korean-Japanese-Chinese conflicts that occurred before World War II into the present, one starts to understand the subtext that director Kim includes as a plot point throughout the film and that enables the Japanese Army to be looming throughout and the Korean Resistance within Manchuria to have originally played a much larger part in the Korean Version. Much in the way that American Westerns often utilize the class struggles and cultural conflicts between indigenous peoples and U.S. expansion to create tension, director Kim and co-writer Kim Min-suk (Monsters) ensure that the audience never forgets the discord which exists between the three principles and the fact that military action is always one bad day away from catching up with you. Add in some captivating performances from the three leads and appearances from other Korean notables (hi, Don Lee!!) and you’ve got a picture that’s more than earned its reputation.
To that end, considering the difficulty in acquiring a physical edition of The Good, the Bad, the Weird for a reasonable price these days and the inconsistency of digital access, this edition is one that’s easy to recommend. If you’re a fan of the title, it’s a pre-given that you’re going to pick this up, but rest assured that it also looks and sounds wonderful. If you’re not familiar, it may be worth waiting to see if Arrow Video releases a standard edition once the limited edition sells out, as seems to be the case with other titles like Desperado (1995) and Dark City (1998). Either way, if you’re any kind of fan of Korean cinema or enjoy westerns at all, you’re going to enjoy this ride.
The Good, the Bad, the Weird Special Features
2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
- Perfect bound collector’s book featuring writing by Darcy Paquet, Kyu Hyun Kim, Cho Jae-whee and Ariel Schudson
- Three postcard-sized artcards
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
DISC ONE – FEATURE PRESENTATIONS (4K ULTRA-HD BLU-RAY)
- *NEW* 4K master approved by director Kim Jee-woon
- *NEW* 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Includes both the International and Korean versions of the film presented via seamless branching
- DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio on both cuts of the film
- Optional English subtitles
- *NEW* Audio commentary by film critic James Marsh and film critic and producer Pierce Conran (International Version)
- Archival audio commentary of the International Cut by director Kim Jee-woon and actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung
- Archival audio commentary of the Korean Version by director Kim Jee-woon, cinematographer Lee Mogae, lighting director Oh Seung-chul, and art director Cho Hwa-sung
- *NEW* Introduction to the film by Kim Jee-woon (1:30)
DISC TWO – BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY)
- Corralling Chaos in the Desert, an interview with director Kim Jee-woon (25:57)
- Dusty Dust-ups and Sweaty Saddles, an interview with martial arts coordinator Jung Doo-hong (14:52)
- Thirteen (13) Archival Extras
- Five (5) Alternate Endings
- Four (4) Trailers
- Image gallery
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray September 30th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video The Good, the Bad, the Weird webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group The Good, the Bad, the Weird webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Recommendation
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