I was shopping around for some DVDs and stumbled across these two apparently-successful Korean films. Both seem interesting enough and I can get them imported at a good price (as I'll be importing other discs as well). Shiri is region-free and JSA seems to play on region 1 & 3 players, and both discs seem to be decent (anamorphic video, DD & DTS audio, English subs, etc.).
Do you have any comments to make on the movies themselves, or at least a yes/no recommendation on ordering them?

yes.
1. swiri(pronounced shiri heh) is considered the first blockbuster of korea. I guess this has a value to itself. also, the scenario is a bit ... half movie, half animation-like. for example, the ending is a bit like the ending of the 3rd (and last) episode of R.O.D (read or die) - i'm not gonna tell you ... haha i'm a firm believer of anti-spoils. But one thing, swiri came out first .. heh heh.
2. JSA gives people with no background info or a bias against N.korea a fresh point of view. It centers on the "human" side of life... meaning ideology don't mean shit if you're friends... heh..
both movies have a common theme.. (n.k., friendship..love)
well, i cautiously recommend the two titles.. but with confidence..(an oxymoron?? ) because i think you'll appreciate the movies.
so to make my long post short, yes.
leo

I picked up both special edition discs (damn sweet job on both, with DTS tracks and JSA being a Superbit disc), but I've only seen Shiri at this point.
Without going into it, I can say that I liked it, quite a bit actually. I hadn't seen too many recent films from Asia that had both style AND substance (Time and Tide is a good example of something that lacks the latter), and was pleasantly surprised. I only had minor problems with it (such as the incredibly bad miniature effects during the explosion), but nothing too major. And I was definately impressed with the DVD quality, having seen what Hong Kong-based companies like Tai Seng and Mega Star have offered in the past.
That movie alone has me a bit more interested in seeing what films Korea has to offer, and I'll definately be watching JSA sometime soon. I guess a follow-up question would be: do all Korean films, or at least the majority of them, focus on the tension or problems between the North and the South? I can understand why many of them would choose to include such a topic, even as a background piece, but I'd hope for a little more variety in topics.
On a side note, I was kinda shocked to see Shiri (the non-SE DVD) IN STOCK at my local Hollywood Video, right in the new release section (along with the current crop of Hollywood blockbusters). Now if only the other movie-related businesses in the area (*cough* Hoyts theaters *cough*) started doing the same, I'd be impressed.