Asian Movies in HD!

[Markgway]

What kind of stuff do they have the rights to?

The entire Shaw Bros catalogue (excluding many co-productions).

[hanshotfirst1138]

Who has a lot of the post-Shaw classic stuff-Chan, Lee, Hark, Ching, Yuen etc.? That stuff is in a seriously dire state of affairs on video.

[Markgway]

Who has a lot of the post-Shaw classic stuff-Chan, Lee, Hark, Ching, Yuen etc.? That stuff is in a seriously dire state of affairs on video.

Fortune Star (and most of what they supply is upscales).

[grim_tales]

Fortune Star are a very poor company for BD, they couldn't care less.

[hanshotfirst1138]

And I'm guessing there isn't an chance of the rights lapsing to anyone else?

[Markgway]

And I'm guessing there isn't an chance of the rights lapsing to anyone else?

Nope.

[luckystars]

Jet Li's Badges of Fury has been given a UK release on DVD and BD. The label looks super-budget but at least someones releasing some HK stuff!! Will rent this at some point and see what the disc is like.

[grim_tales]

Is that a new movie? I'd never heard of it.

[luckystars]

Is that a new movie? I'd never heard of it.

Newish. Didn't get much fanfare. Prob one to rent rather than buy but surely worth a look

[saltysam]

It's awful...one of Jet's worst ever

[luckystars]

It's awful...one of Jet's worst ever

[grim_tales]

Hey,
Are there any BD releases of the One Armed Swordsman films that are worth buying? I was mostly thinking of getting the 1st two (maybe making my own combo pack with the DD release of One Armed Swordsman) The only stumbling block is the cost, I thought HK BDs can be very expensive?
Thanks!

[Markgway]

The German Mediabook/BD of NEW ONE ARMED-SWORDSMAN is recommended... but very expensive.

The HK BDs are reportedly wide mono so probably decent if you're not a total purist.

[HungFist]

Hey,
Are there any BD releases of the One Armed Swordsman films that are worth buying? I was mostly thinking of getting the 1st two (maybe making my own combo pack with the DD release of One Armed Swordsman) The only stumbling block is the cost, I thought HK BDs can be very expensive?
Thanks!

Why the first 2 only? The third is bloody aweome!

[grim_tales]

Thanks Mark, Hung
I say the 1st two as I actually already have the German Mediabook of NOAS (sorry for not being clearer).
What does Wide Mono mean? Is that a remix?

[Markgway]

What does Wide Mono mean? Is that a remix?

It was KFC's Spannick that coined that term so I'm not exactly sure how you would class it. I would SUGGEST that it's a 5.1 version of mono. I haven't heard it myself so can't comment further.

[hanshotfirst1138]

And I'm guessing there isn't an chance of the rights lapsing to anyone else?

Nope.

I'm guessing they have a death grip on the rights? Remember when they seemed to be what we'd been hoping for? That went away fast! I kept hoping that shifts to another distributor might improve things, but even when the Weinsteins didn't get it, a usually great company like Shout! even managed to mess up? Is there any possible solution? It's not looking like it .

[Markgway]

Seven Warriors (Well Go)

Image: Proper HD from an uncut Mei Ah source; nothing to do with Fortune Star, so relax.

Audio: Two Cantonese tracks.
1. 5.1, multi-channel mono.
2. 2.0, dual mono.
The tracks basically sound the same, except the 5.1 is louder.
It's definitely worth mentioning that the source track hasn't been remastered.
There's a distracting distortion present that leaks into the stereo speakers.
So whilst all the dialogue, music, Foley, etc., plays through the centre, there's a separated distortion that comes from left and right (I monitored this using headphones so it may be less irritating thru regular TV sound).
An audiophile could no doubt explain it better than me.

[luckystars]

Seven Warriors (Well Go)

Image: Proper HD from an uncut Mei Ah source; nothing to do with Fortune Star, so relax.

Audio: Two Cantonese tracks.
1. 5.1, multi-channel mono.
2. 2.0, dual mono.
The tracks basically sound the same, except the 5.1 is louder.
It's definitely worth mentioning that the source track hasn't been remastered.
There's a distracting distortion present that leaks into the stereo speakers.
So whilst all the dialogue, music, Foley, etc., plays through the centre, there's a separated distortion that comes from left and right (I monitored this using headphones so it may be less irritating thru regular TV sound).
An audiophile could no doubt explain it better than me.

Nice.

Hows the subs and did you like the film?

[Markgway]

Didn't watch the film. Just checked the disc out to make sure it wasn't a POS.

[luckystars]

Didn't watch the film. Just checked the disc out to make sure it wasn't a POS.

Cool. I've had the Ocean Shores VCD for YEARSSSS but don't remember sitting through the whole thing

[saltysam]

Uk disc of Chinese Zodiac turned up today.forgot to cancel it ages ago as i assumed it'd be the cut international version.Well accordning to the rear packaging it's the uncut 2hr 4min version complete with Mandarin language option

[grim_tales]

Be sure to let us know if the film is any good

[Markgway]

Be sure to let us know if the film is any good

It isn't.

[saltysam]

it isn't but it's better than most of Jackie's recent output. it's a rare surprise that Universal have gone down this route,well done to them for a change.