Dragon Fist = Eastern Heroes DVD vs Columbia Tristar DVD
Posted: 02 Nov 2006, 11:04
If I'm correct: Columbia contains the Cantonese reissue version (a more shorter version of the original). Despite the dubtitles, no extras or remastering (like 'Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin'), it's pretty decent having OAR anamorphic with Cantonese and English soundtracks put together. Image is fairly clean if overall soft with evident print damage, watchable.
Eastern Heroes apparantly released an English reissue version (likely known as a 2nd export international English version) which is the same length as the counterpart Cantonese reissue version. The latter features on the Columbia Tristar (and possibly Winners Video) DVD. The disc was withdrawn and the longer version released instead (not sure how long after) - this one is the longer version (you can tell by the artwork: Clothed JC = Shorter. Bare JC = Longer). Lots of frames cuts, no remastering, no Cantonese, quiet audio and no OAR. Most insultingly, the infamous '4:3 masking into 16:9' symdrome - except the credits which start in 2:35:1 squished into 1:78:1, the image (after about 10 minutes) starts to correct itself as the film moves in about 10 minutes (distortion gone) but cropping is still there sadly.
No winner. It's really upto you to decide. However if you can wait, the chances are possibly Brentwood, Dragon Dynasty, HKL (who didn't have it when I enquired - perhaps they do now) or definately Joy Sales will release the more definative versions using the new Fortune Star HD sources (which contain some frame cuts apparantly and a weak-coloured title card - but are still preferred none-the-less).
Eastern Heroes = R0 United Kingdom.
Columbia Tristar = R1 America.
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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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Eastern Heroes apparantly released an English reissue version (likely known as a 2nd export international English version) which is the same length as the counterpart Cantonese reissue version. The latter features on the Columbia Tristar (and possibly Winners Video) DVD. The disc was withdrawn and the longer version released instead (not sure how long after) - this one is the longer version (you can tell by the artwork: Clothed JC = Shorter. Bare JC = Longer). Lots of frames cuts, no remastering, no Cantonese, quiet audio and no OAR. Most insultingly, the infamous '4:3 masking into 16:9' symdrome - except the credits which start in 2:35:1 squished into 1:78:1, the image (after about 10 minutes) starts to correct itself as the film moves in about 10 minutes (distortion gone) but cropping is still there sadly.
No winner. It's really upto you to decide. However if you can wait, the chances are possibly Brentwood, Dragon Dynasty, HKL (who didn't have it when I enquired - perhaps they do now) or definately Joy Sales will release the more definative versions using the new Fortune Star HD sources (which contain some frame cuts apparantly and a weak-coloured title card - but are still preferred none-the-less).
Eastern Heroes = R0 United Kingdom.
Columbia Tristar = R1 America.
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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

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