It usually takes quite a while for American audiences to see just how good Asian cinema can be, doesn't it? Although Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) was recognized fairly quickly (with 4 Academy Awards to boot), equally stunning films like Hero (2002) floundered in relative obscurity. Although it's not quite up to the level of these two, Korea's Sword in the Moon (Cheongpung Myeongwol, 2003) is a fast-moving martial arts/swordplay film that deserves some time in the spotlight. The story may not be incredibly original, but there proves to be enough stunning visuals and action to satisfy most lovers of the genre.

Set in 17th century Korea, Sword in the Moon centers around the story of two friends---Choi (Min-su Choi) and Yun (Jae-hyeon Jo)---who also serve in a high-ranking group of Imperial guards. It's hard to describe the events that follow without spoiling the plot, but a series of violent events suddenly pits each of these men against one another. There are plenty of other twists and turns along the way, but the driving force behind Sword in the Moon is simply "good vs. evil". Sometimes, though, it's harder to tell the two apart than you might think.

With such a simple story, the film relies more on visual flair and action to entertain the audience. This is what mainly keeps Sword in the Moon from reaching the heights of the previously-mentioned imports, but there's no reason this film can't be enjoyed on its own merits. The cinematography is especially worth mentioning---trust me, it's worth viewing just for the visuals---but the film's pace also helps to keep things moving. Action sequences are fast and unpredictable---often grounded more in reality than the wire-fu of Hero and Crouching Tiger---and are much more graphic than both. It's not as gratuitous and over-the-top as, say, Ichi the Killer, but multiple decapitations and generous bloodflow all but guarantee that this one isn't for the squeamish.

Still, it wouldn't be fair to dismiss the other faults found in Sword in the Moon. For starters, the casting isn't all it could have been: while Choi and Jo do and admirable job of bringing these characters to life, they don't quite have the charisma and presence that audiences might be hoping for. This could be the fault of the script, though: very rarely are they given real depth when the fights are over, often times coming across as slightly wooden and generic. It's not as bad as your typical Hollywood flavor-of-the-month popcorn flick, but it still keeps the film from being truly great. Additionally, all but the most ardent action-lovers may also find that Sword in the Moon is almost too action-packed: after a while, the fights almost seem to blend together.

Despite a few shortcomings, Sword in the Moon is an entertaining film that deserves a wider domestic audience...it's almost two years old already, for cryin' out loud! Unfortunately, the road to DVD has proven to be quite bumpy, as this all-region release from Tai Seng isn't nearly as good as it could have been. With a questionable technical presentation and no real bonus features, the only real noteworthy aspect of this release is a reasonable price tag. Those with the benefit of region-free players may be able to find a better option, but it looks like Region 1 audiences are stuck with this below-average effort for the time being. With that said, let's see how this disc stacks up, shall we?

More problems arise with the film's audio mix, though there's plenty of choices here. The original Korean track is featured with separate DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 options, and there's also Cantonese DD 5.1 and Mandarin DD 2.0 Surround mixes as well (I alternated between the Korean tracks for the bulk of the viewing). Don't get me wrong: there's a nice amount of direction and atmosphere to be found, and dialogue is generally quite clear...but there's a handful of scenes that sound incredibly tinny and washed out. I would hope this isn't a source material issue, but it's a fairly distracting problem. To make matters worse, the optional English subtitles are not 16:9 friendly, meaning that widescreen TV owners who need the subtitles will have to settle for a compressed image. Below, you'll see how the film will appear on 16:9 sets (entire image) as opposed to a 4:3 sets (center of image):

The 1:33:1 fullscreen menu designs may be static and slightly dull, but at least they're easy to navigate. This 99-minute film has been divided into a scant 9 chapters, and no layer change was detected during playback. Packaging is fairly standard, as this one-disc release is housed in a black keepcase with bi-lingual text descriptions, somewhat questionable grammar and no insert.

No bonus features have been included here, except for a collection of Trailers for other Tai Seng releases (including The Duel, Musa, and New Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, though I don't see what's wrong with the old one). I wasn't expecting much in the way of extras, but a few featurettes or an audio/subtitle commentary would have been helpful. Overall, it's just more proof that a bad DVD can really hurt a halfway decent film.

The story may not be the real selling point, but plenty of great action and stunning visuals help make Sword in the Moon a step up from your average swordplay adventure. It's too bad Tai Seng's DVD couldn't have supported the film any better; with a non-anamorphic transfer, a spotty audio presentation and no real bonus materials, there's not much that makes this disc worth holding on to. Until a better Region 1 version of the film rolls around---which, unfortunately, may never happen---fans of the genre should give Sword in the Moon a weekend look at best. Rent It.