Swordsman 2: Mei Ah Remaster (R0HK) vs Optimum (R2UK)
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
Swordsman 2: Mei Ah Remaster (R0HK) vs Optimum (R2UK)
Minute 3. End of last shot before the credits.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 7. Michelle Reis praying for her horse. First frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 19. Arriving at the inn. Last frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 30. Jet jumps towards the beach. First shot of Brigitte Lin. Last frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
At the end, on the cliffside. Jet asks "who did I sleep with ?" She answers:
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Subtitle sample:
The "horse-grieving scene" early in the film.
Mei Ah remaster:
"-My poor horse, your death is miserable
You have contributed your life to me
How come you have to end up like this ?
I know it is hard for man to survive in this world
It is even not easy to be a horse too
-Don't be a horse again in your next life
but it's even harder to be a man
-I know that"
OPTIMUM subs:
"-My poor little dead horse.
Never any complaint all your life.
Deserted and all alone in the end.
You have been murdered without any reason.
It's not easy being a horse, let alone a man.
-Horse brother, remember not to be a horse in the next life.
You know what, being a man is worse.
-I knew that."
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 7. Michelle Reis praying for her horse. First frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 19. Arriving at the inn. Last frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Minute 30. Jet jumps towards the beach. First shot of Brigitte Lin. Last frame.
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
At the end, on the cliffside. Jet asks "who did I sleep with ?" She answers:
HK Mei Ah Remaster:
UK Optimum Asia:
Subtitle sample:
The "horse-grieving scene" early in the film.
Mei Ah remaster:
"-My poor horse, your death is miserable
You have contributed your life to me
How come you have to end up like this ?
I know it is hard for man to survive in this world
It is even not easy to be a horse too
-Don't be a horse again in your next life
but it's even harder to be a man
-I know that"
OPTIMUM subs:
"-My poor little dead horse.
Never any complaint all your life.
Deserted and all alone in the end.
You have been murdered without any reason.
It's not easy being a horse, let alone a man.
-Horse brother, remember not to be a horse in the next life.
You know what, being a man is worse.
-I knew that."
Last edited by tom2681 on 01 Jun 2006, 01:12, edited 4 times in total.
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
- grim_tales
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 22071
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
- Location: St. Albans, UK
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
Updated. Thanks Mark.
Agreed the UK OA is better BUT the Mei Ah looks to be minutely sharper and has minutely less grain too, there is "very" little in it, from those two though.
It's missing the Orange tint, not that I care it looks awful (why add a weird Orange tint?)
@ Mark / Tom: Any chance of a sutbtitle example? Typed will be fine. It doesn't really need to be from the same scene either tbh. How bad are they Tom?
@ Tom: For a 5.1 remix how good/bad is the DTS/DD5.1 remix? Is it a disaster or a decent remix? Pretending you like Remixes for a second.
p.s - Both are £7 so that's a moot point.
Agreed the UK OA is better BUT the Mei Ah looks to be minutely sharper and has minutely less grain too, there is "very" little in it, from those two though.
It's missing the Orange tint, not that I care it looks awful (why add a weird Orange tint?)
@ Mark / Tom: Any chance of a sutbtitle example? Typed will be fine. It doesn't really need to be from the same scene either tbh. How bad are they Tom?
@ Tom: For a 5.1 remix how good/bad is the DTS/DD5.1 remix? Is it a disaster or a decent remix? Pretending you like Remixes for a second.
p.s - Both are £7 so that's a moot point.
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
I think it's "Film-PAL", this sort of thing is usually mentioned. Mark?
I presume you mean Last Hero in China / Kung Fu Colt Master (called: Evil Cult in the UK)? If so those aren't OA DVDs. I hear they're decent and anamorphic but they're old DVDs and I'm sure they've bettered elsewhere.
Well in the case of KFCM anyway which has a HK Mei Ah Remaster. I don't "think" there is a better LHIC DVD.
I have LHIC and it will do for me.
There are? Which one's?Yi-Long wrote:There are also other Jet Li movies from OpAsia which are cheap. How's the quality on those?
I presume you mean Last Hero in China / Kung Fu Colt Master (called: Evil Cult in the UK)? If so those aren't OA DVDs. I hear they're decent and anamorphic but they're old DVDs and I'm sure they've bettered elsewhere.
Well in the case of KFCM anyway which has a HK Mei Ah Remaster. I don't "think" there is a better LHIC DVD.
I have LHIC and it will do for me.
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
OK, how about some of the "horse-grieving scene" early in the film ?@ Mark / Tom: Any chance of a sutbtitle example? Typed will be fine.
Mei Ah remaster:
"-My poor horse, your death is miserable
You have contributed your life to me
How come you have to end up like this ?
I know it is hard for man to survive in this world
It is even not easy to be a horse too
-Don't be a horse again in your next life
but it's even harder to be a man
-I know that"
Can't remember. I'll have to watch it on my home-cinema setup to check.@ Tom: For a 5.1 remix how good/bad is the DTS/DD5.1 remix?
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 8616
- Joined: 26 Oct 2004, 13:46
- Location: Alkmaar, Holland
Thanks Brad.bradavon wrote:I think it's "Film-PAL", this sort of thing is usually mentioned. Mark?
There are? Which one's?Yi-Long wrote:There are also other Jet Li movies from OpAsia which are cheap. How's the quality on those?
I presume you mean Last Hero in China / Kung Fu Colt Master (called: Evil Cult in the UK)? If so those aren't OA DVDs. I hear they're decent and anamorphic but they're old DVDs and I'm sure they've bettered elsewhere.
Well in the case of KFCM anyway which has a HK Mei Ah Remaster. I don't "think" there is a better LHIC DVD.
I have LHIC and it will do for me.
So what UK company released KFCM and Last Hero?
And since you have Last Hero, how would you rate the AV quality? Good? Average? OK-ish?
I have the VHS of Last Hero so I've watched the movie quite a few times, and really enjoyed the movie. Didnt found it as silly as some of Wong Jong's other stuff. It might even rank among my favourite Wong Fei Hung flicks, as I felt both OUATIC 1&2 (and 3 as well) were pretty boring. I dont really care all that much about the WFH character I guess, or about Aunt Yee, or any of the other characters.
About Swordsman 2; Mei Ah seems to look better I guess. A bit sharper and brighter. The R2 seems a bit dark and dull.
I was there, the big BNB blackout of november, 2008. We lost many that day...
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
Could you have a quick gander please?Tom2681 wrote:Can't remember. I'll have to watch it on my home-cinema setup to check.
Those subs don't look to bad. I was expecting misspelling and bad grammar or punctuation.
MetrodomeYi-Long wrote:So what UK company released KFCM and Last Hero?
Average but I'll recheck as it's been ages and I can give you a better idea now I have a HD LCD TV. I'll check later on.
The HK DVD according to the rear cover art is 108 minutes and the UK DVD is 104 minutes 44 seconds which with 4% off (103.68) makes it look to be proper PAL and also "likely" to be uncut:Yi-Long wrote:So is the UK DVD uncut
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classifie ... EE0039ED99
Last edited by bradavon on 31 May 2006, 20:23, edited 3 times in total.
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
Subtitle samples added to first post.
Can't right now, there's a cat sleeping on my center speaker.
Yep, I'll check tomorrow.Could you have a quick gander please?
Can't right now, there's a cat sleeping on my center speaker.
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
Where did you get those UK subs from? You're right the UK subs are MUCH better.
You let your cat sleep on your speaker? Fair enough. Please have a quick look (at some of the punchier scenes) and report back.
I suspect I'll get the UK DVD as those subs are much better but I am intrigued about the 5.1 remix.
I'm moving out next year and am look forward to getting a cat again. Up until a few years back I've had a cat since I was a kid but I now live next to a busy road and my last cat was run over (she was fine until she got braver and lasted a few weeks).
You let your cat sleep on your speaker? Fair enough. Please have a quick look (at some of the punchier scenes) and report back.
I suspect I'll get the UK DVD as those subs are much better but I am intrigued about the 5.1 remix.
I'm moving out next year and am look forward to getting a cat again. Up until a few years back I've had a cat since I was a kid but I now live next to a busy road and my last cat was run over (she was fine until she got braver and lasted a few weeks).
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
Kloofy's. I don't know if they really are from the R2UK, but I think so.Where did you get those UK subs from?
They're obviously based on the HK subs, but they make more sense.You're right the UK subs are MUCH better.
I call it "cat", but it's more like a lion. I got no choice, really.You let your cat sleep on your speaker?
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
It's a really close call for this one. On the one hand I dislike that orange tinge but on the other hand the Mei Ah is definitely sharper (the OA probably a DVD-5).
The Mei Ah is a bit to bright but then the OA is a bit to dark???
I'll probably opt for the OA though for the improved subs. Assuming they are better, Mark?
The Mei Ah is a bit to bright but then the OA is a bit to dark???
I'll probably opt for the OA though for the improved subs. Assuming they are better, Mark?
That's no bad thing.They're obviously based on the HK subs
Does it say they're from the UK DVD?Kloofy's. I don't know if they really are from the R2UK
- Markgway
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 20177
- Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04
Look at the last cap of Brigitte on the mountain. The UK is much sharper, with improved colours. I think it's the darkness which maybe disguises this in earlier caps. The Mei Ah is far too bright, glarish even. I'm happy with what I have.
OPTIMUM subs:
My poor little dead horse.
Never any complaint all your life.
Deserted and all alone in the end.
You have been murdered without any reason.
It's not easy being a horse, let alone a man.
Horse brother, remember not to be a horse in the next life.
You know what, being a man is worse.
I knew that.
OPTIMUM subs:
My poor little dead horse.
Never any complaint all your life.
Deserted and all alone in the end.
You have been murdered without any reason.
It's not easy being a horse, let alone a man.
Horse brother, remember not to be a horse in the next life.
You know what, being a man is worse.
I knew that.
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 9101
- Joined: 08 Feb 2005, 14:39
- Location: Wellywood, Kiwiland
- Contact:
- thelostdragon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 7059
- Joined: 29 Oct 2004, 23:36
- Location: Basin City
- Contact:
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
Good spot there Mark. I've also just noticed looking at the same capture the rock behind looks completely smeared on the Mei Ah but on the OA it looks like rock.Markgway wrote:Look at the last cap of Brigitte on the mountain. The UK is much sharper, with improved colours. I think it's the darkness which maybe disguises this in earlier caps.
But overall I still think the Mei Ah is sharper, look at capture 1.
Last edited by bradavon on 01 Jun 2006, 13:58, edited 1 time in total.
- bradavon
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 24430
- Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 20:30
You reckon, look at the building in the background.
I'll just wait to see what Tom thinks of the 5.1 remix before finally deciding? -
"For a 5.1 remix how good/bad is the DTS/DD5.1 remix? Is it a disaster or a decent remix? Pretending you like Remixes for a second."
Now we have a proper subtitle comparison there isn't a huge amount in it (those kloofy subs were better) but yes the OA has it.
I'll just wait to see what Tom thinks of the 5.1 remix before finally deciding? -
"For a 5.1 remix how good/bad is the DTS/DD5.1 remix? Is it a disaster or a decent remix? Pretending you like Remixes for a second."
Now we have a proper subtitle comparison there isn't a huge amount in it (those kloofy subs were better) but yes the OA has it.
-
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 5577
- Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 16:18
- Location: Where you'll never find me
OK, here's what I think:
The Mei Ah is generally sharper in slow-moving scenes thanks to a better print. It looks soft in fast-moving/detailed scenes because of its low bitrate.
Shot 1:
The Mei Ah wins. Despite a loss of detail in the whites, shadow detail is awesome.
Shot 2:
Mei Ah wins. It's sharper and brighter.
Shot 3:
Same as shot 1. Loss of detail in the whites, better blacks. Mei Ah is sharper too, look at the trees.
Shot 4:
Mei Ah is blurry, UK is grainy. Depends on your personal preference.
Shot 5:
Fast-moving detailed scene. UK wins.
Overall I prefer the look of the Mei Ah (despite its many flaws). I think the UK disc is way too dark.
*Checking the remix*
@Brad:
There's a 2.0 cantonese track on the Mei Ah, but it's way out of sync.
About the 5.1 tracks: it's a wild remix (like lots of Mei Ah discs) with foley effects flying all over the speakers but it sounds good. The dialogue track is a little muffled, but not too bad. I think it works well, especially for a wire-fu flick.
The Mei Ah is generally sharper in slow-moving scenes thanks to a better print. It looks soft in fast-moving/detailed scenes because of its low bitrate.
Shot 1:
The Mei Ah wins. Despite a loss of detail in the whites, shadow detail is awesome.
Shot 2:
Mei Ah wins. It's sharper and brighter.
Shot 3:
Same as shot 1. Loss of detail in the whites, better blacks. Mei Ah is sharper too, look at the trees.
Shot 4:
Mei Ah is blurry, UK is grainy. Depends on your personal preference.
Shot 5:
Fast-moving detailed scene. UK wins.
Overall I prefer the look of the Mei Ah (despite its many flaws). I think the UK disc is way too dark.
*Checking the remix*
@Brad:
There's a 2.0 cantonese track on the Mei Ah, but it's way out of sync.
About the 5.1 tracks: it's a wild remix (like lots of Mei Ah discs) with foley effects flying all over the speakers but it sounds good. The dialogue track is a little muffled, but not too bad. I think it works well, especially for a wire-fu flick.
I used to be "the man who loves the movies you hate".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
Now I'm just "that weird french guy with a cat avatar who comes to BnB once a year for no reason and then disappears again".
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11704
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
So, it's Optimum for me. Thanks for the info.Tom2681 wrote:
@Brad:
There's a 2.0 cantonese track on the Mei Ah, but it's way out of sync.
About the 5.1 tracks: it's a wild remix (like lots of Mei Ah discs) with foley effects flying all over the speakers but it sounds good. The dialogue track is a little muffled, but not too bad. I think it works well, especially for a wire-fu flick.