"Gingko Bed, The" Review (1996)

"The Gingko Bed" is a Korean fantasy, time travel romance from Kang Je-Gyu. Kang is later known for his Korean blockbusters "Shiri" and "Taeguki". Just as those later films were heavily influenced by Hollywood (Taeguki) and Hong Kong (Shiri) films, "The GIngko Bed" is also similar overall to 90s Hong Kong commercial films directed by Tsui Hark and Ching Siu Tung. In fact, "The Gingko Bed" is very similar to Ching Siu Tung's "The Terracotta Warrior". Both deal with a love that would not die and both deal with one person being reincarnated and another traveling through the supernatural world to find that love.
"The Gingko Bed" does have its Korean-ness if you will though. Just like no one produces spectacles like Bollywood, no one produces melodramatic but effective tear jerkers like the Koreans. Witness the popularity of K Dramas. In this aspect, "The GIngko Bed" does have an interesting love triangle about a Princess, an evil but infatuated General and a sensitive court musician. Korean star Han Suh-Kyu does a good job playing the sensitive court musician and in a dual role, the re-incanated modern artist. The film does look dated and the special effects are quite poor. Worth a look as one of the earlier Korean blockbusters before the Korean Film Industry became hot. Just don't expect greatness.
Rated R for strong cartoon violence, sexual content and nudity
Aspect Ratio: 1.85
Korean