Holy Sh*t Play have killed off HKL's website! ;-)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 11:07

Yep HKL release some DVDs very quickly (those which are all pretty much done e.g - Seoul Raiders) and some they delay for yonks.

Only The Grudge 2 interests me of their titles to come, that said you can no longer see the titles HKL haven't released yet on their website. That's dumb.

Neither of those look all that good.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 04 Jan 2006, 11:10

They do say "Specs and artwork subject to change" for MWIAG and OUATIHS. I think the subtitle for OUAT is "Spirit of Jeet Kune Do" (there's a picture of Bruce on the HKL cover which would explain it).

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2006, 11:11

"My Wife is a Gangster" and "Once Upon a Time in Highschool" will both be released as they are on the Premier Asia labels.

The only stuff HKL is going to release in the future is what they still have unreleased in their back catalogue. They are not acquiring any new stuff. Without Brian White and Bey Logan I am sure they neither will produce extras for these DVDs.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 11:15

What are the PE titles left to release?

The only stuff HKL is going to release in the future is what they still have unreleased in their back catalogue. They are not acquiring any new stuff.

I presume you mean Premier Asia?

Where did you hear they're not buying any more titles? That's a shame for such a promising label. Great way to kill off a great label.

Without Brian White and Bey Logan I am sure they neither will produce extras for these DVDs.

I feared that too. At least with the PA stuff only the commentary will be missing.

thelostdragon wrote:OK, my website did not officially re-launch, yet. It will soon though and I thought I'd post the first review of it here.

Fist of Fury: Platinum Edition

Cheers LD, good review.

I'll be getting FOF: PE on release I can't wait for it to come down in price.

It's a shame we didn't get Mandarin DD5.1 but I can understand why. I'll give the Mandarin Mono ago but will probably stick with the Cantonese DD5.1.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 04 Jan 2006, 11:48

thelostdragon wrote:"My Wife is a Gangster" and "Once Upon a Time in Highschool" will both be released as they are on the Premier Asia labels.

The only stuff HKL is going to release in the future is what they still have unreleased in their back catalogue. They are not acquiring any new stuff. Without Brian White and Bey Logan I am sure they neither will produce extras for these DVDs.

That's a shame. The extra's were usually the stuff that made the discs worthwhile. If they need someone to get the interviews etc with the HK people, I could do it. No problem

I might be living in Hong Kong after this summer anyway...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 12:51

I'm pretty sure LD is actually talking about PA (I hope so anyway) which much won't change as the extras are already there.

They'd be really dumb to hold back on HKL extras; PA has always really been a sideline.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:09

bradavon wrote:
The only stuff HKL is going to release in the future is what they still have unreleased in their back catalogue. They are not acquiring any new stuff.
I presume you mean Premier Asia?

No, I mean HKL. As for Premier Asia, they will continue to buy films as this label seems to be more profitable to the bosses at Contender Group.

Cheers LD, good review.

Thanks, mate!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:24

thelostdragon wrote:No, I mean HKL. As for Premier Asia, they will continue to buy films as this label seems to be more profitable to the bosses at Contender Group.

OMG!

I always thought Medusa did well with their HKL range (especially worldwide) before they sold the label. I guess on the upside this will mean all those titles people want them to release will now get released sooner but it will be a sorry day when HKL run out of titles. That won't be for a few years I guess.

Why kill off such a successful label???

That's really weird as up until the sale HKL was the big boy with Premier Asia lagging quite far behind. I'm equally surprised PA makes them more money than HKL does, it probably has a wider fan base though (the number of women buying HKL titles must be low for example).

How recent is this news? As they've recently picked up New Police Story and Seven Swords.

p.s - Where did you hear all this? Your friends in the know?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:40

I'd get HKL NPS (if they eventually release it).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 21:17

So will I (probably) I've not seen my HK DVD yet but it looks good.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 04 Jan 2006, 22:46

NPS was a real disappointment for me. I would rent/borrow it first if you can.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 04 Jan 2006, 23:26

HKL is overall a great label but I think we need a larger variety of films being released. Some old school would be great and less blowing money on gratuitous extras - though when their extras are good, they're very good!

I don't get why Bey can't still work for HKL - working for Media Asia and writing films like The Medallion never seemed to stop him

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2006, 23:55

I'm not sure I agree their catalogue of titles to release is extensive but I agree for those who like them they do release to few old school titles.

For me their biggest problem as far as titles go is the lack of non-action films. I can only think of HK 1941 that wasn't an action in some way. There are so many great dramas HKL should release.

LD can say better than me but I think he's pissed off more than anything Ivan.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 05 Jan 2006, 13:57

Seven Swords Teaser Trailer

Hope you guys can see it:
http://partner.mymovies.net/asx_partner ... Associates

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jan 2006, 13:58

I get page not found.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 05 Jan 2006, 14:00

OK, try again.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Jan 2006, 14:02

mms://MEDIA-PARTNER.MYMOVIES.NET/filmmedia/film/fid4942/trailers/trid1964/wm/bb.asf

Direct streaming link.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Jan 2006, 14:13

Nice trailer.

Here's a mirror for those who don't like streaming:

http://rapidshare.de/files/10444460/Sev ... s.wmv.html

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 05 Jan 2006, 14:17

Tom2681 wrote:Here's a mirror for those who don't like streaming:

So you actually mean everybody.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Jan 2006, 15:00

Any news yet on which version of Seven Swords they will release!?
The version released in the summer in HK was cut (and many reviews of the movie mentioned the (cut) movie was a bit of a mess), and it was announced at the time that a longer (3 or 4 hour long) version would be released later on DVD... !?

About HKL stopping: quite dissapointed at that: just when they finally seem to 'get' the idea we all want the original soundtracks etc (mono), they decide to quit.

I dont know who does the decision making over there, but it's apparent that there have been serious mistakes made over the years, most recently the exclusion of the original soundtrack in Ong-Bak (and I watched the market-chase scene with the new music, and it just isnt the same without that classic great score

(sorry Brad... can't stop myself from bitching about it

), and the decision now to stop production of new HKL releases, is a bit sad, especially since the PA label hasnt brought us all that much good (cut versions, international versions, etc).

It's kinda frightening to see how the asian cinema industry in the UK will be without HKL. Just look at the other labels producing Asian movies, and it looks a bit bleak.
I certainly hope those times of Eastern Heroes won't return. Scumbags making a living by selling cheap VCD-rips for a high price.

Let's hope Tartan keeps improving... and perhaps Eastern Eye (MadMan -R4) also improving and getting the ditribution rights to more great movies. Madman has done great things for anime, so it would be nice if they could now do the same for asian cinema.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jan 2006, 15:17

Yi-Long wrote:Any news yet on which version of Seven Swords they will release!?

I'm betting it will be the theatrical cut. I doubt they'll release the extended cut now.

Yi-Long wrote:most recently the exclusion of the original soundtrack in Ong-Bak

From a money point of view was that a mistake though???

Yi-Long wrote:sorry Brad... can't stop myself from bitching about it

. I'm the same about certain issues.

Yi-Long wrote:especially since the PA label hasnt brought us all that much good

There are some gems amongst the DVDs many dislike. TBH it never seemed to get off the ground, the label has so few titles it's silly really.

I guess it will mean they're going to buy more HKL is being killed off, which like I said won't in reality be for a few years. All can change in that time.

Yi-Long wrote:It's kinda frightening to see how the asian cinema industry in the UK will be without HKL. Just look at the other labels producing Asian movies, and it looks a bit bleak.

That's a bit over the top. Tartan and Artificial Eye in particular are doing "overall" a decent job.

I see where you're coming from though.

Yi-Long wrote:and perhaps Eastern Eye (MadMan -R4) also improving and getting the ditribution rights to more great movies. Madman has done great things for anime, so it would be nice if they could now do the same for asian cinema.

I guess with only 25 million people at most being marketed for (Australia and New Zealand) they don't consider it worth it but Madman need to have more respect in their Eastern Eye range.

To many discs lack the extras, DTS etc . . . they should.

p.s - I wasn't all that impressed with Madman's Spirited Away (ignoring DTS). I used to own it and the R1 I kept the R1.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Jan 2006, 15:52

I'm betting it will be the theatrical cut. I doubt they'll release the extended cut now.

I'm affraid so as well. Can't say i will be buying it then, which is a shame cause from most reviews that I've read about it, it seemed promising, yet the cuts made it a incoherent mess at times. I watched the trailer in HK a few times (they play trailers of movies outside the cinemas) and it looked pretty decent.

From a money point of view was that a mistake though???

Maybe, maybe not. There will always be many people buying this movies purely based on word-of-mouth, or who dont read reviews, or dont care much about a movie being cut or having a different soundtrack or even (shock! horror!) only having a dub...
PA is also now in the position it can RE-release it WITH the right soundtrack, and some people will buy it again (I'm one of them)
I bought the PA release, but only when it was only 6.99 and pretty much purely for The Making and extras, which were absolutely great and worth the money.
I did recommend other people to NOT buy the PA DVD if they could get a subtitled bootleg with the original soundtrack instead, just because the original soundtrack (in my mind) is way better.

Point being: If they had released this with the proper soundtrack, it would have gotten a much better word of mouth, people like me would have bought it for full price instead of in a sale, etc etc. So perhaps they did lose money. From me, they could have sold it to me for 15 pounds if it would have had the right soundtrack (or even just a CHOICE of soundtracks), instead of selling it to me for 6.99, and the bad word of mouth I have now given it.

DVD releases like Fist of Legend and Drunken Master 2 sell ok/well, I'm sure... but I bet GOOD releases of these movies would sell even much better.

So yeah, I guess money-wise it was a bad decision to not at least include the original soundtrack. Especially since the new soundtrack probably cost them some moey and effort as well, while the original one was already included and great as well...

Artistically, I feel they should have left the movie intact. All movies even. Even if it means some people MIGHT not buy it. (Other people WILL buy it for it being the definite version, plus you get a very good word-of-mouth, which is good marketing for future releases of other movies...

God... that answer was much longer then I initially intended it to be

There are some gems amongst the DVDs many dislike. TBH it never seemed to get off the ground, the label has so few titles it's silly really.

I guess it will mean they're going to buy more HKL is being killed off, which like I said won't in reality be for a few years. All can change in that time.

Ow I agree they have released a couple of good discs. I still wanna order Taegugki one of these days. But the bad releases did make me read a bunch of reviews to make sure it's a good disc. If it would have done all their releases justice, I could have blind faith in them, and probably would have bought a couple of their releases at first sight, instead if questioning the quality, reading reviews, and reconsidering it...
So a questionable/variable reputation means less impulse buying.

Also, it should be very easy to release a movie propely. Forget all that bullshit about localisation and shit: A good movie will do well.
They are trying to market GENRE movies, to a mainstream market. But by doing that, they ALIENATE their own (genre) market ... which is ALWAYS a big mistake.
If it's a good movie, just release it as it was originally supposed to be released. Most international cuts/versions are not as good as the original movies, the mainstream market isnt gonna become genre-fans when they see a mediocre short cut of what once was a good movie, plus the genre market isnt gonna buy the cut version, but is gonna import the original version.

Musa could and should have done much better if they would have released the right version. So would many other movies. They underestimate the viewers, thinking we won't get cultural references or wont 'get' long fightscenes or whatever. Those low-level movieviewers are just gonna spend their money on a Vin Diesel movie anyway, so why take them into consideration!? Market the movies to a mature, open-minded audience, cause that openmindedness is usually the reason they fell in love with the genre in the first place.

Damn... I'm ranting again...

That's a bit over the top. Tartan and Artificial Eye in particular are doing "overall" a decent job.

I see where you're coming from though.

I agree partly. Artificial Eyes WKW releases were far from pefect (mandarin soundtrack, bad AV), and tartan has had some bad releases as well.
Some very good as well though, like Old Boy.

I just fear those days of Eastern Heroes will come back. Back then we relied in Made in Hong Kong to release decent videos, and nowadays equivelant of MIHK is HKL... so it's a shame to see them go.

I guess with only 25 million people at most being marketed for (Australia and New Zealand) they don't consider it worth it but Madman need to have more respect in their Eastern Eye range.

To many discs lack the extras, DTS etc . . . they should.

p.s - I wasn't all that impressed with Madman's Spirited Away (ignoring DTS). I used to own it and the R1 I kept the R1.

Madman should realize their market COULD be MUCH bigger then just 25 million. If they make great PAL discs of great movies, companies in R2 will probably buy those releases to sell them over here, instead of having to make their own discs. Also, with Australia obviously being an english-speaking market, it can do great with exporting their movies, cause it already has english subs so it's easily accesible for many.
So it SHOULD be worth it. Especially since the prices are also decent.

I quite liked their Spirited Away release. Didnt find much fault with it, but then again, i dont care much about DTS anyway, as I cant play it... so never listen to those soundtracks anyway. I listen to all my sound through my TV. But if it could have been included, it should have been included.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 05 Jan 2006, 16:36

I just got an e-mail from HKL saying I've won a signed Ong Bak t-shirt!

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:28

gasteropod wrote:I just got an e-mail from HKL saying I've won a signed Ong Bak t-shirt!

did they cut of the sleeves and replace it with Brian White's socks!?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Jan 2006, 17:28

they play trailers of movies outside the cinemas

They do in Thailand too, it's a cool idea.

Point being: If they had released this with the proper soundtrack, it would have gotten a much better word of mouth, people like me would have bought it for full price instead of in a sale, etc etc. So perhaps they did lose money.

Agreed and they did lose sales.

The thing is they must've bought the original track to alter it to the one they gave us.

Artificial Eyes WKW releases were far from pefect (mandarin soundtrack, bad AV), and tartan has had some bad releases as well.

To correct you those are Tartan titles.

I quite liked their Spirited Away release. Didnt find much fault with it, but then again

Compared to the R1 it's not great, decent enough but not great. I don't normally notice it but I'm sure it's NTSC to PAL.

I owned both once and decided to keep the R1.

Madman have done this for some of their Eastern Eye titles.