Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
List Price: $14.94
Our Price: $9.99
You Save: $4.95 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $4.90 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Dae-han Ji, Jong-ho Kim (II), Jung-young Kim (II), Min Choi, Yeo-jin Ha
Brand: Sony
Primary Contributor: Jong-ho Kim (II)
Primary Contributor: Yeong-su Oh (II)
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: Korean (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 103 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-07
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures

Movie Reviews of Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

Movie Review: Disappointing --
Summary: 3 Stars

Though visually attractive I can't say it's spectacular -- up to the material as intended. Zhang Yimou can visually represent the seasons well beyond that shown here (see his "The Road Home").

The acting is also problematic: the two boys, when each in different "seasons" are being cruel to various animals, "giggle"; it is as if they know they are doing wrong, and the director felt that needed to be broadcast so the viewer didn't miss the fact of cruelty, and that they knew it was wrong. The story, though, indicates that they are both too young to realize they are being cruel, or doing wrong, so they wouldn't be essentially snickering with guilty pleasure as if beleiving they are getting away with fooling the adult monk.

As well, their acting is not in either case convincing: each is obviously acting -- "faking" the "evil"-sounding giggling.

I've been a student of Buddhism for decades; this doesn't achieve the sublimitely or subtlety implied by the DVD artwork, and the rave reviews here.

In short: much too obvious and somewhat heavyhanded handling of that which should have been delicate. At least as delicate as the actress who, by sheer coincidence, with her mother, showed up out of nowhere, without explanation, with some unknown illness, became "pliant," and thereby became the means for the main character to "learn a lesson the hard way".

And another convenient coincidence. The monk warned the main character, about that relationship: "Lust leads to the desire to possess. And the desire to possess leads to murder." Not too much leaping to extremes in that, eh? And, sure enough, years later the monk is reading a newspaper -- the only time in the film he happens to do so, with no explanation where he got it -- and sees the main character's photo, and a report that he's being sought for killing the woman. Karma is one thing, but predicting it in advance is a bit much, when Buddhism puts one's fate not in the stars but in one's own hands.

I wish I could overlook those flaws, but they are simply too blatant to be ignored.

Summary of Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

In a tranquil & timeless setting of a temple floating atop a manmade lake in a forest surrounded by mountain spires that cut the monastery off from worldly concern an old monk teaches his young disciple the wisdom of buddha over the many seasons of their lives. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 02/26/2008 Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R
Working miracles with only a single set and a handful of characters, Korean director Kim Ki-Duk creates a wise little gem of a movie. As the title suggests, the action takes place in five distinct episodes, but sometimes many years separate the seasons. The setting is a floating monastery in a pristine mountain lake, where an elderly monk teaches a boy the lessons of life--although when the boy grows to manhood, he inevitably must learn a few hard lessons for himself. By the time the story reaches its final sections, you realize you have witnessed the arc of existence--not one person's life, but everyone's. It's as enchanting as a Buddhist fable, but it's not precious; Kim (maker of the notorious The Isle) consistently surprises you with a sex scene or an explosion of black comedy; he also vividly acts in the Winter segment, when the lake around the monastery eerily freezes. --Robert Horton

Art House & International DVD Video

DVD Video
Movies most talked about in Buddhist Movies
Peace Is Every Step-Meditation In Action: The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hanh ImagePeace Is Every Step-Meditation In Action: The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hanh
Release date: 2005-12-13; DVD
Best price: $19.07
Price in other shops: $24.95
Wheel of Time ImageWheel of Time
Genius; Release date: 2005-10-25; DVD
Best price: $12.47
Price in other shops: $19.95
The Tibetan Book of the Dead ImageThe Tibetan Book of the Dead
Koch International; Release date: 2009-05-05; DVD
Best price: $17.78
Price in other shops: $29.98
10 Questions for the Dalai Lama Image10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
Release date: 2007-10-23; DVD
Best price: $7.59
Price in other shops: $24.95
Zen Buddhism: In Search of Self ImageZen Buddhism: In Search of Self
Victor; Release date: 2007-03-06; DVD
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops: $19.95
Travellers & Magicians ImageTravellers & Magicians
Release date: 2005-10-25; DVD
Best price: $17.98
Price in other shops: $29.99
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring ImageSpring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
Sony; Release date: 2004-09-07; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops: $14.94
Enlightenment Guaranteed (Original German language with English or French Subtitles) ImageEnlightenment Guaranteed (Original German language with English or French Subtitles)
Published: 2000; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Little Buddha ImageLittle Buddha
Release date: 1999-08-03; DVD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops: $9.99
Kundun ImageKundun
YESHI,TENZIN; Release date: 1998-10-14; DVD
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops: $9.99
Similar DVD Movies
Amongst White Clouds ImageAmongst White Clouds
Release date: 2007-06-26; DVD
Best price: $18.79
Price in other shops: $24.95
Eat Drink Man Woman ImageEat Drink Man Woman
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2002-03-05; DVD
Best price: $7.72
Price in other shops: $14.98
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series) ImagePan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $3.18
Price in other shops: $26.98
Raise the Red Lantern (MGM World Films) ImageRaise the Red Lantern (MGM World Films)
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-07-24; DVD
Best price: $12.21
Price in other shops: $19.98
2046 Image2046
sony pictures; Release date: 2005-12-26; DVD
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops: $14.94
Oldboy ImageOldboy
OLDBOY; Release date: 2005-08-23; DVD
Best price: $12.98
Price in other shops: $22.95
Chihwaseon (Painted Fire) ImageChihwaseon (Painted Fire)
Release date: 2004-02-03; DVD
Best price: $16.85
Price in other shops: $29.95
Lust, Caution (Widescreen Edition) ImageLust, Caution (Widescreen Edition)
Universal; Release date: 2008-02-19; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
Tae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War ImageTae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War
Sony; Release date: 2005-02-15; DVD
Best price: $5.47
Price in other shops: $14.94
3-Iron Image3-Iron
Sony; Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $7.45
Price in other shops: $19.94
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners