Bulgasari (lost South Korean monster film; 1962): Difference between revisions

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|title=<center>Bulgasari (1962)</center>
|title=<center>Bulgasari (1962)</center>
|image=Bulgasari62.jpg
|image=Bulgasari62.jpg
|imagecaption=The only known movie poster.
|imagecaption=The alleged movie poster.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
}}
'''''Bulgasari''''' (Korean: ''불가사리'') is a 1962 Korean dark fantasy-action monster film directed by Kim Myeong-Jae and starred Choi Moo-ryong, Um Aing-ran and Gang Mi-ae. It was the first time special effects were used in a Korean film making it Korea’s first science-fiction monster film.<ref>[http://www.cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=52373 Cine21 except from a 2008 news article about an event called ''Monsters vs. Encyclopedia: Korean Monsters'' which would be held at the Korea Film Archives.] Retrieved 26 Mar '20</ref>


'''''Bulgasari''''' is a 1962 South Korean monster film. The existence of the film is debated by some, as the poster may or not be a hoax. As with most South Korean monster films, there were few international releases, so there is no concrete way to tell if this is a real film. However, given that is recognized by the Korean Film Archive, it is more likely simply one of the many Korean films that were lost as a tragic side effect of war.<ref>[http://www.koreafilm.org/english/db_detail_eng.asp?p_dataid=00803 Korean Film Archive page.] Retrieved 30 Sept '16.</ref><ref>[http://kaijuphile.com/community/index.php?threads/obscure-kaiju-other-giant-monsters.804/page-10 Kaijuphile article about the film.] Retrieved 30 Sept '16.</ref>
==Summary==
During the later years of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), a talented martial artist is murdered. His anger and resentment make him be born again as Bulgasari, a monster that grinds and eats up iron. The monster takes his revenge on the traitors responsible for his death.


According to the Korean Film Archive, the movie took place during the era of the Goryeo Dynasty, and was about a martial artist who is murdered and reborn as the titular iron-eating monster, Bulgasari. He then sets off to get revenge on those responsible for his death. The plot is very similar to a 1985 North Korean film with the similar title of ''Pulgasari'', which also features a metal-eating monster and takes place in the same time period. Because of this, the 1985 film is generally assumed to be a remake.
==Reception/Availability==
Before the film was released, critics unanimously wrote negative reviews about the film. People in the 1960s thought historical films were the only spectacles worth watching, and this movie was treated as childish and trashy. Such a review can be found on the cultural section of the Chosun Illbo newspaper on December 7th, 1962.<ref>[https://newslibrary.chosun.com/view/article_view.html?id=1279819621207m1082&set_date=19621207&page_no=8 Page 8 of the Chosun Ilbo from December 7th, 1962, which had a review for ''Bulgasari''.] Retrieved 26 Mar '20</ref>


The only known piece of media related to the film is the poster, as it seems to have gone missing shortly after it was released.
The film is considered lost during the Korean War. It is listed on the List of lost films on the World Heritage Encyclopedia.<ref>[http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/eng/List_of_lost_films World Heritage Encyclopedia page on its "List of Lost Films".] Retrieved 26 Mar '20</ref> The image of the Bulgasari creature accompanying the review is the only known still from the movie to exist, although the image later reappeared in various posters said to be the originals. The image from the article was reused, mirrored, and modified, which leads some to believe the marketing materials that resurfaced on the internet are fanmade.
 
==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
File:Snpt.jpg|Review article.
File:Bulgasari (1962) - B&W Screenshot.PNG|A Black and white screenshot from the film taken from the review article.
File:Postr2.jpg|Black and white poster.
File:Bulgasari BW.PNG|Additional Black and white poster.
</gallery>
==External Link==
*[https://imdb.com/title/tt9815476/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl IMDb plot summary from ''Bulgasari''.] Retrieved 26 Mar '20


==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Lost films]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]

Latest revision as of 14:06, 23 February 2024

Bulgasari62.jpg

The alleged movie poster.

Status: Lost

Bulgasari (Korean: 불가사리) is a 1962 Korean dark fantasy-action monster film directed by Kim Myeong-Jae and starred Choi Moo-ryong, Um Aing-ran and Gang Mi-ae. It was the first time special effects were used in a Korean film making it Korea’s first science-fiction monster film.[1]

Summary

During the later years of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), a talented martial artist is murdered. His anger and resentment make him be born again as Bulgasari, a monster that grinds and eats up iron. The monster takes his revenge on the traitors responsible for his death.

Reception/Availability

Before the film was released, critics unanimously wrote negative reviews about the film. People in the 1960s thought historical films were the only spectacles worth watching, and this movie was treated as childish and trashy. Such a review can be found on the cultural section of the Chosun Illbo newspaper on December 7th, 1962.[2]

The film is considered lost during the Korean War. It is listed on the List of lost films on the World Heritage Encyclopedia.[3] The image of the Bulgasari creature accompanying the review is the only known still from the movie to exist, although the image later reappeared in various posters said to be the originals. The image from the article was reused, mirrored, and modified, which leads some to believe the marketing materials that resurfaced on the internet are fanmade.

Gallery

  • Review article.

    Review article.

  • A Black and white screenshot from the film taken from the review article.

    A Black and white screenshot from the film taken from the review article.

  • Black and white poster.

    Black and white poster.

  • Additional Black and white poster.

    Additional Black and white poster.

External Link

References

  1. ↑ Cine21 except from a 2008 news article about an event called Monsters vs. Encyclopedia: Korean Monsters which would be held at the Korea Film Archives. Retrieved 26 Mar '20
  2. ↑ Page 8 of the Chosun Ilbo from December 7th, 1962, which had a review for Bulgasari. Retrieved 26 Mar '20
  3. ↑ World Heritage Encyclopedia page on its "List of Lost Films". Retrieved 26 Mar '20
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