The Official "Dragon Dynasty" Thread!

[bradavon]

I dunno why Yi is moaning about OB - the R4 has the uncut/proper edit of the film and extras. Just ignore the international cut. The problem with that is?

dmit he's talking bollocks and lose face.

It will be better quality than his R4 and even include the Making of to boot.

I'm sure I remember that final part at the end where he reunites with the students too, that was on the MIHK VHS. Was it on the French DVD?

Yes. The MIHK video and French DVD are the same cuts.

[Yi-Long]

Best Ong-bak version: Subtitled Bootleg.

Bollocks!

Bootlegs are always compressed to fuck and even the DVD9 ones are poorly ripped (by even poor professional standards). How you can say a bootleg is better than the R4? You just won't admit there isn't much wrong with the R4, especially compared to a bootleg.

This is getting pretty sad, Brad,. You're just arguing for the sake of arguing, just disagreeing with everything I say.
I already said I'm not demanding perfect videoquality, so an uncut, subbed boot which is 'free' (remember, I already bought the thai original without subs, and the 2-disc PA for the making off, so I already paid twice for the movie) is obviously better than the movie cramped on a disc together with a different version.

You just dont understand, do you!? Most recent asian movies are perfect videoquality, yet many of these movies will still get an 'international cut' release in the west.

Calm down. We're not talking about a recent HK movie, so your point is moot.

Recent movies with alternate cuts almost always have high quality masters of each cut, that just isn't the case with FOL. It's well known the Taiwanese footage is rare and hard to get hold of.

Why are you so sure DD could even get it? Isn't the DD missing some of the footage?

Ehm.... we WERE talking about recent movies,. That was the whole point of the argument. You came up with the 'ow it's old and poorly stocked' argument, and I said Hollywood is treating recent movies still as poorly as those old one, release 'international' versions instead of the original uncut versions.

and OUATIC2 has a decent story but sadly the end-fight with Donnie is a bit disappointing.

Fair enough. I thought it could've been better but was still excellent.

Yeah, it's GOOD, no doubt about it.... but it could have been so much better. When I watch OUATIC2 I see wasted potential. When I watch FOL ('my cut'), I see absolute perfection for as far as martial arts movies go...

I do sympathise with Yi Long if he's got a version longer than the standard one out and has been used to it for years. As said, the best thing would be to include all versions using seamless branching and everyone would be happy.

Some like the standard Cantonese version (me and anyone else).
Some are curious about the original English dub (me).
Some want the longer Taiwanese edit and also with a Cantonese option (Yi Long and The Running Man)
Some may prefer the Dimension version (Ivan Drago).

Wouldn't that mean a multiple disc release? Which considering a disc is needed for extras (it's what's expected) would mean a high production cost and thus financial loss. Considering the film we're discussing I think we've been lucky to get what we have.

So the extra scenes added to the movie would have made you guys like it LESS!? I just find that very hard to believe, considering the quality of those scenes. You guys wouldnt have bought it if it would have had the extra scenes, or wouldnt have had an option to see it without those scenes!?

It just has the movie, uncut, subbed, original music. That's all I need.
The R4 also has that, but they decided to throw 2 versions cramped on 1 disc. Why would I wanna pay fullprice for such a release!?

You're not paying extra for it, just ignore it. The R4 is cheap nowadays.

How can you say a bootleg crammed on to a DVD5 is fine but the R4 also crammed on to a DVD5 is not (two cuts on a DVD9, effectively therefore a DVD5)?

Cause it's FREE, as opposed to having to pay for the movie for a THIRD time(!) I like Ong-Bak as much as the next guy, but I'm not gonna keep paying for the same movie until they finally get it right.
The bootleg is more than good enough for me, as it has all I ask (sound is a bit dodgy at times, but that's either a problem with my TV/DVd player/the movie itself, but all versions I have seen seem to have that problem)

The bootleg will do until they release a proper version.

I seriously doubt your beloved bootleg compares well to the R4. It's probably compressed to fuck (by professional standards).

Good enough.

[Shingster]

Now, I realize that I probably just gave Yi-Long more "ammo" in his argument against DD's release (everyone is entitled to their opinion, after all), but I'm just being honest.

Ah don't worry about that OPY, unbiased and honest accounts of the DVD is exactly what we need, no conjecture over what the original cut of the film is and no trying to 2nd guess the translation. Just a straightforward account of the edit and the differences in translation from estabished releases. That way the experienced fans and newcomers can make their own minds up.

I've not heard the Dimensiondub in years, IIRC it strays quite drastically from the original script doesn't it? Aside from dialogue niggles, does the DD translation alter the story in anyway?

EDIT: Okay, I just remembered something... it's slightly cut... it's missing the final few seconds of Chin Siu-ho running with the other Jing Wu students... crap...

That's a shame, after early reports of t being uncut. Is the Dimension release missing this footage as well?

[bradavon]

I didn't know you owned the Thai DVD.

I wasn't disagreeing for the sake of it. I was disagreeing with your assertion a bootleg is the best version of Ong-back out there.

Cause it's FREE, as opposed to having to pay for the movie for a THIRD time(!)

That's not really true now is it. You bought the Premier Asia DVD months after proclaiming you'd "never" buy it. You couldn't bought the R4 instead. Both were released around the same time remember.

So the extra scenes added to the movie would have made you guys like it LESS!?

Not me, but if it meant the DVD had changing quality it would make me like the DVD less.

[Yi-Long]

Well, this might piss people off...

I picked up the Fist of Legend DVD today, and everything was checking out fine (aside from the English opening and ending credits), and then I checked out one thing in the subtitles that I remember someone mentioning before... the ending...

If I no longer have a country, at least I can be with the woman I love

Despite this, the subtitles follow up with "Jing Wu Men didn't vanish afterwards; they expanded all over China; they even expanded to Singapore. As for Chen Zhen, he is unaccounted for"

Didn't he just "say" that he was going to be with Mitsuko? Now he's disappeared?

Plus, while the subtitles don't have the Japanese villain saying "The sign says Jing Wu Is Closed", there is an all caps text in quotes saying "JING WU MEN IS CLOSED". Come on, even by now everyone knows what that infamous sign says.

Upon further inspecting the subtitles, it seems like they start to lean more into dubtitle territory around the 80 minute mark (hence the two errors mentioned above). Before this, the subtitles would only vaguely match the English dub in terms of whatever they would talk about, sometimes being completely different, but when getting into the last 20 minutes or so, they follow the dubbed dialogue way too closely. I don't quite understand this. It's almost as if they were working on translating the film, gave up on the final reel of the film, and just went "eh, we'll just write the english dub here". Never seen this before, usually it's all proper subtitles or all dubtitles, not mostly proper subtitles, then ending with dubtitles.

It's too bad, as this was just inches away from being the perfect release of the film. All it took was just using the proper Chinese opening and ending credits, and taking a wee bit more time to translate all of the final 20 minutes of the film. The A/V quality is great and the extras are probably the most a DVD release of this film has ever had.

Now, I realize that I probably just gave Yi-Long more "ammo" in his argument against DD's release (everyone is entitled to their opinion, after all), but I'm just being honest. I still think this disc is worth a purchase, even with its faults. It could be better, sure, but I've still enjoyed checking this disc out since I got it, and have no regrets.

EDIT: Okay, I just remembered something... it's slightly cut... it's missing the final few seconds of Chin Siu-ho running with the other Jing Wu students... crap...

The original ending made it very clear that Chen was NOT going to go find Mitsuko and live happily ever after, but would continue the resistance against the Japanese somewhere else.

[chenlung]

That is a shame. I wouldn't miss that though.

Never mind, still a good release though .

t's a pity the subs are based on the dub for big parts of the movie. That example you give is completely different from what the proper subs say.

Yeah, such a great release Brad and we're so lucky .

I thought it had no English subs on the film either?

http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.537 ... etails.htm

Poorer quality, so I'd discard it.

I really just meant it's harder to get hold of and not the offical uncut cut. Shingster said it better.

You can ask a fan. Dragon Dynasty have done that a few times.

True but won't some cuts require separate discs, no?

No, all 4 cuts onto the one dual-layered disc would work I believe.

Granted but I thought what we've been given isn't crap, pretty good in fact, no? If it was crap I'd be agreeing more with your point.

What's been reported is poor and fixable.

Fair point. It is worth remembering licensing often rears it's ugly head, something quickly forgotten when something isn't quite right. That's just a general comment btw.

Unless someone explains the reasons, there's no reason to not complain.

[Yi-Long]

Let's hope if DD ever grabs Drunken Master II that they take the time to reinstate the original ending! Although, that's a bit longer than just several seconds.

Personally I couldn't stand that ending. Dimension were right to chop it. It ranks with "that" scene in Naked Weapon as being completely disgusting and poorly decided upon.

What's so disgusting about it. They just joke that the booze has turned Jackie retarded. Everyone knows the story of Wong Fei Hung, so it was just a comedy ending. Didnt find it disgusting at all. A bit oversensitive, are we!?

[Old Pang Yau]

I've not heard the Dimensiondub in years, IIRC it strays quite drastically from the original script doesn't it? Aside from dialogue niggles, does the DD translation alter the story in anyway?

The ending, mainly. The original translation basically has Chen leaving to basically find "the next fight", while the DD translation is taken from the dub... in which Chen doesn't "have a country", but is happy as long as he's with Mitsuko.

That's a shame, after early reports of t being uncut. Is the Dimension release missing this footage as well?

Yeah, I haven't seen it in years, but I remember it fading out during the freeze frame on the car as it drives off.

[Yi-Long]

I didn't know you owned the Thai DVD.

I wasn't disagreeing for the sake of it. I was disagreeing with your assertion a bootleg is the best version of Ong-back out there.

For ME, it's the best version out there now, as I already paid for the movie twice.

But I guess for everyone else, a good proper bootleg is better than paying for a release that isnt totally worth the money cause they made the decision to compremise the videoquality in order to also include a very poor american edit on the same disc. On principle alone, I wouldnt buy nor recommend that release to anyone.

Cause it's FREE, as opposed to having to pay for the movie for a THIRD time(!)

That's not really true now is it. You bought the Premier Asia DVD months after proclaiming you'd "never" buy it. You couldn't bought the R4 instead. Both were released around the same time remember.

Nope, I said at the time that the making-off/extras would be the only thing worth buying the release, but that I'd never buy it full-price.

The R4 has never been an option for me, purely out of principle.

So the extra scenes added to the movie would have made you guys like it LESS!?

Not me, but if it meant the DVD had changing quality it would make me like the DVD less.

For me, it wouldnt have mattered. Ofcourse it would be a shame if some scenes are better quality than others, but if that's what it takes to get the version I know and love, so be it.

[Shingster]

I don't know the circumstances at DD, but some people aren't doing their jobs right.

Issues about subtitles and missing scenes aside, when it comes to releasing multiple versions of HK films on DVD, i'd say someone at DD is doing their job right: Release the official cut on DVD and leave any extra scenes for a deleted scenes section. MUCH more cost effective and MUCH less time consuming. You also don't have to go through the complicated process of Seamless branching. Regardless of ADV's comments to you, it isn't easy to seamlessly synch up one edit of a film to another when you're dealing with different audio for each print. There's also the rumoured problem of actually pressing seamlessly branched discs and compatability issues with some players (IIRC, maybe just older players).

Asian DVD labels are going bankrupt because the money simply isn't there in the market anymore. Much as we'd all love a release of all the classics with all the bells and whistles attached, it's never been economical - moreso now than ever.

As Yi always says (and occasionally forgets ), the one unmalleable standard for any DVD distributor should simply be: Uncut, good translation, good A/V. Anything else is just a luxury.

[Yi-Long]

Btw, I NEVER said the Dragon Dynasty release is CRAP.
I said they 'fucked' up, which means that after all these years, it isnt as good as it could and thus SHOULD have been.

Obviously, for many, the DD release of the movie is their best (only) option.

For me, loving the 'taiwanese' cut, it is NOT an option. Cause I knew it would just annoy me missing those scenes.

[Yi-Long]

I wasnt talking about videoquality but movies being released 'CUT!' (or 'international versions, as they are also known)

This is absolute lunacy. DD and HKVideo have released the correct cut of Fist of Legend on DVD. It is not the "International Cut" at all, it is an extended cut that made it out to Taiwan and various other Asian territories (and Australia?). How you can keep arrogantly stating that the Taiwanese edit is the "uncut" is beyond me, have you never heard of HK films having longer edits in other Asian territories before? Do you go about saying the Taiwanese edit of The Killer is the true cut? Do you go about saying the same about Ashes of Time?

I wasnt talking about Dragon Dynasty, and I wasnt talking about FOL, when I made that statement. I was talking in general, that we in the west still mostly get international cuts of movies that DO have proper UNCUt masters. Which was in reply to Brad to some shitty remark or another.

TBH, I dont KNOW what the 'REAL' cut is for Fist of Legend. I dont know how it was originally released in HK theatres, how the director wanted it to be released, if there were already different cuts in HK theatres and tapes, etc. Let's hope we'll find out, of only to have clarity on the matter.
It just seems weird to me that a director would willingly cut out those scenes, considering they arent 'filler' and do really ADD to the movie. But we cant be sure.

I NEVER said that the Taiwanese Cut IS THE uncut version. I said it wouldnt surprise me, and I said it is MY preferred version and that I always THOUGHT it to be the uncut version. NOWHERE did I state that it IS the 'uncut version' as opposed to 'extended' version.

And while we're talking about "Director's Vision" Ashes of Time is a perfect example, as when WKW finally released his preferred edit of the film, he cut loads of footage out - footage that most fans of the film think is absolutely essential! That's one DC that's clearly shorter than the Taiwan cut!

It sucks that your preferred cut of the film hasn't made it to DVD fully remastered yet, but all you're doing now with your petulant moping and labelling the Taiwanese edit as "uncut" is spreading misinformation. Pure and simple.

Ignore Brad's goading and stick to your VHS, but don't expect to see that same cut of the film making it to HD in any official capacity in the near or foreseeable future. Why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE OFFICIAL CUT OF THE FILM.

Again, I didnt state anywhere as a FACT that the Taiwanese version is the UNCUT version. Just to be clear on that.

About WKWL: WKW is most likely one of the most insecure directors in the history of filmmaking. He hardly EVER knows what his movie is gonna be REALLy about when he;s making it, and afterwards he ALWAYS has a very hard time making it into the movie he wants to make it into.
So WKW is a nice director to bring into the argument, but he's also an exception.
He made Ashes of Time. Released his best version at the time. After the release, he has doubts, and now has re-edited it into a new cut. Ask him 10 yeras from now, and he'll cut it into another movie again. 20 years later? Again a different cut.

I'm also pretty sure that he wouldnt mind re-editing most, if not ALL, of his movies.

Personally, I'm not excited about these re-cuts. I loved the movies the way they were. WKW is always going to want to re-edit them.

[grim_tales]

I had no problem with the Drunken Master II ending TBH, it was fine with me A comedy ending showing the effect of drinking too much, thats all.

[chenlung]

Issues about subtitles and missing scenes aside, when it comes to releasing multiple versions of HK films on DVD, i'd say someone at DD is doing their job right: Release the official cut on DVD and leave any extra scenes for a deleted scenes section.

The point of the release was to release the Cantonese cut, not cut around the Dimension dub. If they wanted a dub, they should have put the original English dub which is the same length and in simple mono like the others.

In addition, the problems with worsening a decent image isn't someone doing a job correctly.

MUCH more cost effective and MUCH less time consuming. You also don't have to go through the complicated process of Seamless branching.

It's easier yes, but you must put some effort in to please all your markets.

Their sales are made up of the commercial market, so it's a shame they can't do a great deal more to go further.

Regardless of ADV's comments to you, it isn't easy to seamlessly synch up one edit of a film to another when you're dealing with different audio for each print.

If you have a plan on what you're doing, I don't think it should be a problem. I experimented with it in DVD Studio Pro.

There's also the rumoured problem of actually pressing seamlessly branched discs and compatability issues with some players (IIRC, maybe just older players).

You just copy the data as is, I don't see how they'd be a problem.

These cheap players should stop being made as they're holding us back from quality. At worse, a little pause for those who have them perhaps.

Asian DVD labels are going bankrupt because the money simply isn't there in the market anymore. Much as we'd all love a release of all the classics with all the bells and whistles attached, it's never been economical - moreso now than ever.

Some things that are easy to fix, aren't.

The image keeps getting messed around with the levels (Police Story being the worst case).

As Yi always says (and occasionally forgets ), the one unmalleable standard for any DVD distributor should simply be: Uncut, good translation, good A/V. Anything else is just a luxury.

No, it's more the opposite:

The luxury should be the extras. However, it's getting the film right that's becoming luxury whilst extras are the standard.

[bradavon]

Btw, I NEVER said the Dragon Dynasty release is CRAP.
I said they 'fucked' up, which means that after all these years, it isnt as good as it could and thus SHOULD have been.

I don't see how:

* Original audio without foley added - Check
* English dub - Check
* Official Uncut print - Check
* PQ in decent shape without the problem TCM has - Check
* Second disc of extras - Check
* Deleted Taiwanese scenes (granted one missing) - Check

That's a pretty damn good release. Sure it's not the Extended Cut you wanted but that doesn't mean anyone fucked up, they just didn't give you what "you" wanted.

I appreciate not all these are important to you but they are generally considered the basis for a good disc, or at least some of them are.

No offence but your "after all these years" talk gets so boring. What did you honestly expect? Don't you think you're just being a little picky? Did you expect DD to release a 3 Disc SE? Given that a second disc of extras is a given and seamless branching is something that simply is just not used too often.

Fine you prefer the Extended Cut, I can appreciate that (honestly I can) but not getting it doesn't mean the DVD is fucked up. It's still ticked a lot of the boxes most people wanted.

Granted they could've done better but then what DVD company couldn't? What other company has made any effort to release FOL? Only HK Video (the French company), despite it must be open for purchase in so many countries, if you take away the need for English subs for a second.

Isn't saying the DVD is fucked up and the company fucked up essentially the same thing?

Yeah, such a great release Brad and we're so lucky .

The alternative is no release, taken that perspective yes I'd say we're lucky.

That's the crux of what most who moan seem to forget. It's not like half the time there is any better alternative. Sure have your moan but ultimately it's futile and you still end up having to choose which version to own, of the bad bunch.

You can ask a fan. Dragon Dynasty have done that a few times.

That doesn't mean they can always do it.

Unless someone explains the reasons, there's no reason to not complain.

Of course but when people moan for years, it really gets futile. The points raised in this thread have been repeated so many times of the years. What has it got people? Fuck all.

What's so disgusting about it. They just joke that the booze has turned Jackie retarded. Everyone knows the story of Wong Fei Hung, so it was just a comedy ending. Didnt find it disgusting at all. A bit oversensitive, are we!?

No not really. I just don't find deliberately making fun of the less fortune to be funny, that's all.

He hardly EVER knows what his movie is gonna be REALLy about when he;s making it, and afterwards he ALWAYS has a very hard time making it into the movie he wants to make it into.

That's what makes him so exciting, case in point against this "My Blueberry nights". Although I'm the only person who enjoyed it.

[chenlung]

Official Uncut print - Check

Nope, it's missing the final training scene just so the Dimension dub could be there.

Old Pang Yau:

"Okay, I just remembered something... it's slightly cut... it's missing the final few seconds of Chin Siu-ho running with the other Jing Wu students... crap..."

The alternative is no release, taken that perspective yes I'd say we're lucky.

I could have gotten a bootleg of the French disc and added subtitles, but I waited for this one.

[Yi-Long]

Btw, I NEVER said the Dragon Dynasty release is CRAP.
I said they 'fucked' up, which means that after all these years, it isnt as good as it could and thus SHOULD have been.

I don't see how:

* Original audio without foley added - Check

Not verified yet

* English dub - Check

Never cared for. Supposedly the worst of the two english dubs.

* Official Uncut print - Check

Misses Chin Siu Ho running at the end.

* PQ in decent shape without the problem TCM has - Check

Perfect.
[/quote]* Second disc of extras - Check[/quote]
Always said I didnt care for the extras as long as the movie itself wasnt done as good as possible

* Deleted Taiwanese scenes (granted one missing) - Check

Not where they should be, but that debate is already behind us so let's agree to disagree.

That's a pretty damn good release. Sure it's not the Extended Cut you wanted but that doesn't mean anyone fucked up, they just didn't give you what "you" wanted.

Yes it's a good release. No it isnt as good as it could and should have been. Thus 'they fucked up'

I appreciate not all these are important to you but they are generally considered the basis for a good disc, or at least some of them are.

Yes. Good disc. Not great. Which is what I've been saying all along. Still dont 'get it', do you, Brad!?

No offence but your "after all these years" talk gets so boring.

1: it wouldnt have become boring if they hadnt let us wait for so many years. Not MY fault that they kept putting back the release of a HK classic.
2: It's not me, but mostly YOU who always (over the last few years) brings up this discussion. So 'no offense', but if it bothers you so much, you would have to be pretty damn STUPID to keep bringing it up. Wouldnt you!?

What did you honestly expect? Don't you think you're just being a little picky? Did you expect DD to release a 3 Disc SE? Given that a second disc of extras is a given and seamless branching is something that simply is just not used too often.

I've never EVER even uttered 'seamless branching'. I never even asked for a 2nd disc, let alone a 3 disc SE(!) All I ever wanted was uncut, original mono, decent videoquality. No fuck ups.

Fine you prefer the Extended Cut, I can appreciate that (honestly I can) but not getting it doesn't mean the DVD is fucked up. It's still ticked a lot of the boxes most people wanted.

I didnt say the DVD is fucked up. said THEY (DD) fucked up, by releasing a good DVD but not as good as it could and thus should have been. -sigh-

Granted they could've done better but then what DVD company couldn't? What other company has made any effort to release FOL? Only HK Video (the French company), despite it must be open for purchase in so many countries, if you take away the need for English subs for a second.

For a long time. Miramax had the exclusive world-wide rights. I dont know how that situation is now. But that has kept other countries from releasing the movie on DVD, apart from France who somehow got the rights, but werent allowed english subs I guess.

Isn't saying the DVD is fucked up and the company fucked up essentially the same thing?

Nope.

Yeah, such a great release Brad and we're so lucky .

The alternative is no release, taken that perspective yes I'd say we're lucky.

That's the crux of what most who moan seem to forget. It's not like half the time there is any better alternative. Sure have your moan but ultimately it's futile and you still end up having to choose which version to own, of the bad bunch.

Or you stick to your principles by not buying and thus not supporting a version that isnt as good as it should be. Like I said, I still have the VHS. Fine for me.

Unless someone explains the reasons, there's no reason to not complain.

Of course but when people moan for years, it really gets futile. The points raised in this thread have been repeated so many times of the years. What has it got people? Fuck all.

The reason we have to keep repeating ourself, is mostly because you just dont 'get it' the first time. Instead of getting bored with the same old answers each and everytime, why not take the time to NOT post the same dumbass remark or question AGAIN, but instead scroll back to the first 5 times you made that remark or asked that question. You'll find those answers there.

What's so disgusting about it. They just joke that the booze has turned Jackie retarded. Everyone knows the story of Wong Fei Hung, so it was just a comedy ending. Didnt find it disgusting at all. A bit oversensitive, are we!?

No not really. I just don't find deliberately making fun of the less fortune to be funny, that's all.

Geez(!) Yeah, Jackie is really making a mean below-the-belt joke at the expense of retarded people(!) Get real, Brad. people dont turn retarded by drinking too much (they usually drink too much cause they are already half retarded, but thats a different discussion). It's jackie making funny faces and acting like he has gone 'mad'. Nothing more.

He hardly EVER knows what his movie is gonna be REALLy about when he;s making it, and afterwards he ALWAYS has a very hard time making it into the movie he wants to make it into.

That's what makes him so exciting, case in point against this "My Blueberry nights". Although I'm the only person who enjoyed it.

Yeah Blueberry Nights would be the exception (and maybe his very first movie), as supposedly he followed the script very tightly. (surprising he even had a script) But you know what I mean. WKW isnt a director who can really do a director's cut, cause 2 years later he could come up with another DC, and 3 years later again, and again and again.

[Markgway]

How can anyone be offended by the end of DM2? He's drunk so much industrial alcohol it's fried his brain. Shows you the consequences of heavy drinking!! Have I missed something? Where is Jackie making fun of handicapped (or 'less fortunate' as Brad puts it) people?

Funny how changing one line of dialogue at the end of FOL can change the essence of a character - originally Jet chose his country, in the dub he chooses his lover. I'm not saying which is better, just highlighting the difference a dodgy translation can make.

DD used the 122m Japanese cut of POLICE STORY 2 - more's the pity because even the 106m HK version is too long. The 96m int'l cut (only available dubbed, alas) is the best IMHO.

[Old Pang Yau]

DD used the 122m Japanese cut of POLICE STORY 2 - more's the pity because even the 106m HK version is too long. The 96m int'l cut (only available dubbed, alas) is the best IMHO.

I'm not sure if DD is contractually obligated to use Fortune Star's prints or not. If that's the case, we can blame Fortune Star for that one, as they remastered the wrong cut (which I didn't even know still existed on film until its 2004 release from IVL). I guess we'll find out when Police Story 3 comes out. Actually, now that I think about it... Crime Story was also previously a Dimension release, but I think DD used the Fortune Star print (still haven't seen that DVD myself)

[chenlung]

The aim of 'Fist Of Legend' was to get the Hong Kong cut on there I assume, not cut it to surround the shitty Dimension cut.

I'll say it again for the possibly 7th time, the bird noises were meant to be there as it's in my old tape.

DD will strike their own print for 'Police Story 3'.

They used a Fortune Star source for 'Crime Story'.

Yes, I believe DD are contractually meant to use whatever FS spits at them, but I would have preferred all 4 cuts seamlessly branched:

English.
Cantonese.
Japanese.
Taiwanese (understandable as sources may not be around anymore, but I have a 4:3 clip).

[eon]

My FOL has now shipped from DVD Pacific, woohoo, can't wait to get it. I've already got a boot-legged divx (taken from the French DVD I think), which is pretty decent quality, so if it's as good or better than that, I'll be happy.

[grim_tales]

I still get this disc, I cant see the abscence of the last shot bothering me THAT much. I remember the MIHK tape of Police Story had an end coda that wasnt present in any other versions, not even the Fortune Star remaster.

[Shingster]

The aim of 'Fist Of Legend' was to get the Hong Kong cut on there I assume, not cut it to surround the shitty Dimension cut. Wonder if Harvey wanted that

Is it the same edit as the Dimension cut, or was there more than just the final shot removed from the Dimension?

[Killer Meteor]

It was probably simpler for DD to use their existing materials, which is why the Dimension print was used

[bradavon]

I could have gotten a bootleg of the French disc and added subtitles, but I waited for this one.

I meant from an official perspective .

I've never EVER even uttered 'seamless branching'. I never even asked for a 2nd disc, let alone a 3 disc SE(!) All I ever wanted was uncut, original mono, decent videoquality. No fuck ups.

To get your cut it would have to include seamless branching or multiple discs. Don't get it yet Yi? .