The Man From Hong Kong: R2 vs. R3 vs. NEW R4

[saltysam]

original oz release was cropped to about 1:78:1.new madman release is in the proper ratio and is a 2-disc set.

R2




R3




R4






R2


R3


R4


R2


R3


R4


R2


R3


R4


R2


R3


R4


R2


R3


R4


Edit: added DE caps. - HungFist

[Markgway]

R3 obviously has a better image.

[HungFist]

So it's now AU vs DE. Details on DE needed (Native PAL? Image quality? Which version? Real mono?)

[saltysam]

oz new release has english mono.

[chenlung]

German release is PAL>NTSC>PAL during the 'cut' scenes, but is otherwise fine (real mono, extras).

Aussie DVD is wider and those used to the softer blue look, etc, will probably like it. Otherwise, FS did a good job restoring it.

[bradavon]

PAL to NTSC back to PAL - WTF!

[HungFist]

German release is PAL>NTSC>PAL during the 'cut' scenes, but is otherwise fine (real mono, extras).

Great, thanks.

Is the picture quality better than AU?

[grim_tales]

Whats the film like? Is it like a spy/Bondish film or something?

[Killer Meteor]

I think its a great film.

I imagine this is genuine PAL. What's the running time Saltysam?

[saltysam]

runs 1:41:38 -doesn't have the golden harvest intro the region 3 has.

[HungFist]

R2 DE

Caps added to the comparison

The progressive transfer has lots of edge enhancement, but it's otherwise good. The disc runs 1:43:12, but that includes almost two minutes of black screen at the end of the film. The film running time, hence, is 1:41:26. There's no company logos before the film.

The English mono audio is good and in sync. English subtitles for the Mandarin bits are available, but the translation is based on I don't know what. On the commentary the director makes some references to the Mandarin bits and the (original?) subtitle translation, and it's obviously not the same translation we have here. It's not a big deal anyway as there isn't more than a minute or two worth of Mandarin dialogue. Notice that the commentary comes from a different source (original AU disc I believe) so he wouldn't be referring to this German edition anyway.

Extras:

Director's Commentary
Extras: German and English Trailers
Australian Movie Magazine video (58 seconds)
Australian Premire (85 seconds)
Photo Gallery
Wang Yu trailer show (11 trailers, unremastered, some in very poor condition)

Edge enhancement




Scene missing from the International version

[chenlung]

Subtitle translation is by Fortune Star (more accurate - namely what Sammo's character says).