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

[grim_tales]

Huh the cover art says Once Upon A Time In High School?



I agree the extras look pathetic for a PA DVD - in fact they're pretty poor for even a 1 disc release. Looks like Bey has definitely jumped ship then.

[Yi-Long]

OUATIAHS details are up:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=60413

OMG considering how feature packed ALL previous Premier Asia DVD have been this is sorely lacking. Not even Korean DTS.

I bet the price doesn't go down .

I doubt many people will be buying this movie at the RRP of 13 bucks or something, so I have no doubt that price will go down within a few weeks or certainly within a few months.

[bradavon]

Yep of course but the RRP should be cheaper and therefore the drop price will also be cheaper.

[tom2681]

http://www.hongkonglegends.co.uk/traile ... raight.mpg

This is new, isn't it ?

WARNING:
Watching this trailer may cause you to murder HKL employees.

[grim_tales]

What a crap trailer. That rap music is atrocious.
Cradle 2 The Grave/The Transporter were hardly "box office smashes"
(Cue Romero saying "but they made stacks of cash on DVD") but thats not what a "Box office smash" is. It will make most of its money at the BOX OFFICE (the cinema)

[thelostdragon]

Talking of romero... where the heck has this guy been during the past few weeks? (I'd never have imagined to be asking that.)

Will watch the trailer now.

[thelostdragon]

Awesome film... crap trailer... with music which can't even be described as rap. Rap is really something totally different and does not consist of simple "Yeahs" and "Uhs".

The voice-over man has never been more shitty.

Bring back Brian White I say!

[Keung]

Romero's got no PC, he's been using the work PC every now and then.

Shittin hell that trailer was disappointing, they could've come up with something better than that for this badass film! HKL are slowly going down hill.

Levi

[grim_tales]

I agree LD, not really a fan of rap though but that trailer music is surely the lowest form of rap.

[Risk]

Do HKL still send out their weekly newsletters? I think I have only recieved one since Christmas. Also are there any other good newsletters to subscribe to rearding HK/Asian cinema?

[Keung]

YesAsia send me updates now and then on new DVD releases.

Levi

[bradavon]

Do HKL still send out their weekly newsletters?

Yes. I've had 1-3 since Christmas.

[Yi-Long]

About the new 'She Shoots Straight' trailer; Holy...Shit... that....was....absolutely....horrible....

I guess the critics are right: rap music DOES inspire violence.

My god what a terrible, terrible trailer. WTF is up with the (really really bad) rapmusic? And what the hell is wrong with Voice Over man? I feel sorry for his wife if he talks like that when he's at home...

HKL has really really REALLY lost the plot. What a bunch of fucking idiots they have become.

[EvaUnit02]

HKL has really really REALLY lost the plot. What a bunch of fucking idiots they have become.

They're still better than Tartan UK though, when they're not releasing butchered international cuts that is (or rescoring films).

[bradavon]

Tartan are much better than you guys give credit. Name me a company who releases as many Asian films? They're relentless in their release schedule.

The fact is without Tartan another company would pick the title up such as Optimum or even MIA (if they still exist). Optimum are decent enough but they don't come close to Tartan. Funnily enough State side Tartan has a much better reputation. Just get the eventual R1 NTSC version, problem solved.

All the flack is over NTSC to PAL which granted isn't great but otherwise the AV is usually very good. I'd prefer NTSC to PAL than the dreadful cinema prints they used to use. Besides I get especially pissed off when you Eva and the likes of Yi-long moan when Holland, New Zealand don't even have any such distributor to compare to.

A ropey UK distributor is better than no bloody distributor at all.

The UK pretty much leads the way for Asian English friendly DVDs. There aren't many R1 distributors to speak of and only Madman in Australia. Considering the population and power of America they should be ashamed.

HKL has really really REALLY lost the plot. What a bunch of fucking idiots they have become.

You're right we should all start buying Dutch Asian DVDs oh wait THERE AREN'T ANY, certainly not any that come close to the calibre of HKL/Premier Asia.

Even what is left is considerably better than the competition.

Take "Once Upon a Time in a High School", a year or so ago it would've been a 2 disc release with commentary and DTS. Now it's only 1 disc, no DTS and a few select extras BUT the AV (the majority of the time) will be still first rate.

Sure 1/3 of a Premier Asia catalogue being altered isn't great but the 2/3 (so majority) which are left in tact and easily surpassing the competition barely get a mention.

[EvaUnit02]

Tartan are much better than you guys give credit. Name me a company who releases as many Asian films? They're relentless in their release schedule.

Fair enough.

Funnily enough State side Tartan has a much better reputation. Just get the eventual R1 NTSC version, problem solved.

I know, that's why I specifically mention Tartan UK in the previous post.

Besides I get especially pissed off when you Eva and the likes of Yi-long moan when Holland, New Zealand don't even have any such distributor to compare to.

So? We're consumers too who pay for their DVDs. We have a right to verbally complain about DVDs as much as you Brits do. Thanks to the internet bringing forth globalisation, physical borders are far more trivial than they used to be.

The UK pretty much leads the way for Asian English friendly DVDs. There aren't many R1 distributors to speak of and only Madman in Australia. Considering the population and power of America they should be ashamed.

Now you're under-estimating the US. The US labels who take live action Asian cinema seriously are very good. Eg Sony, Kino, Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock, Pathfinder, Criterion, (and the US arms of Tartan & Artsmagic). I'd say their output of Asian titles can easily rival the likes of Tartan UK, Artsmagic UK, Momentum and Artificial Eye.

But you're forgetting anime. There's many many quality anime distributors in the US which shit all over the international competition.

[Risk]

I think the whole discussion of distibutors cacking things up is all to do with expectation. With HKL (and other companies) we have seen that when they are at the "top of their game", their releases are absolutely steller and its yardstick that we measure them and other distirbutors by. As fans and consumers we all want and wish that each release by each comany is perfect because as fans we want to see our favourite films get the proper treatment it deserves so we can appreciate it in its full glory and as consumers we don't want a half baked release and we don't want to double dip when a subsequent "better" release is available as we don't want to "waste" our hard earned cash on essentially the same product.

If we were use to crap releases for a loose example dodgy VHS to DVD transfer with only dubbing and then we heard news about the new specs featured on Once Upon A Time In High School, we'd be jumping for joy. I was pleaseantly surpised when I first heard saw Drunken Master on DVD in my local Blockbuster as it was subbed (I wasn't too fussed about the audio track as long as it was in some form of Chinese) as my previous experiences of buying HK films were those dubbed Jackie Chan VHS and I hate dubbed!

But now especially with the internet and finding information about my favourite HK films I want to see each release being the optimum release it can be, will be and should be. Hence why I keep asking about different versions of the same film; I don't want to buy the same film twice (even though I have). I just want to buy one version of the film and be happy that nothing has been missed out and the presentation quality is brilliant. And after having seen some IMHO brilliant releases, (bar technical dificulties i.e. film print too damaged to restore) why can't every release be brilliant?

Just my tuppence worth.

But as Badavon says better to have a ropey distributor than no distibutor none at all. Anyway it gives me something to complain about and thats what I do best. I mean if it ain't the weather, its the buses, or the rush hour, or people talking on the Tube, tourists getting in your way...........

Do HKL still send out their weekly newsletters?

Yes. I've had 1-3 since Christmas.

I must have unticked a box or something then. Will probably sign up to YesAsia as well. Ta for that Keung94

[Yi-Long]

Besides I get especially pissed off when you Eva and the likes of Yi-long moan when Holland, New Zealand don't even have any such distributor to compare to.

What the FUCK does nationality have to do with anything? have I EVER said Holland does any better? Go and visit a Dutch forum and I'll bitch and moan about local releases as well when they're BAD. Not because they're Dutch releases, or English, or Thai or WHATEVER. Just because some dumb-ass company has failed to deliver. Nationality has absolutely NOTHING to do with it.

I'll even do you one better: I hardly buy ANY Dutch releases, and usually go for the UK versions, because of price, and because of the fact that I watch these movies with English subs... which is how I prefer my movies.

So basically, you're getting pissed off over NOTHING.

If HKL/PA/WHO-EVER does things right, I say so (Taegugki) and recommend everyone to go for their release. If they do it wrong (Ong-Bak), I'll tell people to go for a bootleg. Simple. I dont like wasting money on a mediocre DVD which was made by dumbass people who didnt do a good job, and I dont want others to pay money for inferiour releases either. But that has absolutely NOTHING to do with nationality. I cant even imagine how you could come up with such a stupid, ridiculous idea in the first place.

HKL has really really REALLY lost the plot. What a bunch of fucking idiots they have become.

You're right we should all start buying Dutch Asian DVDs oh wait THERE AREN'T ANY, certainly not any that come close to the calibre of HKL/Premier Asia.

Even what is left is considerably better than the competition.

Take "Once Upon a Time in a High School", a year or so ago it would've been a 2 disc release with commentary and DTS. Now it's only 1 disc, no DTS and a few select extras BUT the AV (the majority of the time) will be still first rate.

Sure 1/3 of a Premier Asia catalogue being altered isn't great but the 2/3 (so majority) which are left in tact and easily surpassing the competition barely get a mention.

Well... Ichi the Killer DUTCH dvd was better then the UK release ... but you're right... Holland doesnt have a good trackrecord when it comes to producing good quality dvd's.
Have I ever said they do? WTF are you on about then?
Again, when I bitch and moan about HKL or whatever company, I'm not even giving thought about the nationality thing. It's ridiculous to me to even consider that an argument to bitch about a DVD.

You honestly think I would have bitched LESS about Ong-Bak's altered score if it had been done by a dutch idiot working for a dutch company?
Are you fucking kidding me? If the company would have been nearby I probably would have gotten on my bike and thrown a brick through their window! I'm serious. I was one of the biggest complainers about Dutch Filmworks when they started releasing asian movies on DVD-5's, wrongs aspect-ratio, wrong language, non-anamorphic etc. And gradually they have become better and better.

BTW: Didnt someone calculate that 2/3's of PA releases were screwed up, and only about 1/3rd is 'good'?

I'm sorry kid, but if you think I bitch and moan about HKL or any other company because they're not DUTCH, you're severely clueless (also check out my 'I wanna emigrate cause I fucking hate Holland thread') and a bit thick in the head as well, I might add.
The ONLY thing that I care about when we're discussing DVD's, is the quality: Is it uncut? subbed? anamorphic? original sound and soundtrack? etc etc.
I dont give a shit about what company releases it, or from what nation it comes.

Hell, Osama Bin Laden himself could start up his new MA label and make Drunken Master 2 uncut and subbed, and I'll write him a check and a thank you note!

[bradavon]

I'll read and reply properly tomorrow cheers guys it being 1am and I should be in bed. I'm interested in your responses.

But quickly:

Well... Ichi the Killer DUTCH dvd was better then the UK release ... but you're right... Holland doesnt have a good trackrecord when it comes to producing good quality dvd's.

That's a HKL DVD too from the Dutch arm of HKL

It was only better because of BBFC NOT HKL cuts.

BTW: Didnt someone calculate that 2/3's of PA releases were screwed up, and only about 1/3rd is 'good'?

Yeah me but I got mixed up over my previous calculation. It's definitely 1/3 bad, 2/3 good.

It's something like 4 bad and 8 good. Premier Asia has only released about 12-13 titles.

I think the whole discussion of distibutors cacking things up is all to do with expectation. With HKL (and other companies) we have seen that when they are at the "top of their game", their releases are absolutely steller and its yardstick that we measure them and other distirbutors by.

Good point.

How much Internet text is taken up with what these companies do well and when they get things right over when they get things wrong and do badly?

You virtually never see people praise Premier Asia titles such as The Grudge or Bang Rajan.

Both the ultimate, definitive, perfect (AFAIK) versions of said films for English subtitled people. Even Thais would want Bang Rajan as I'm pretty sure the Thai DVD is a 1 disc rubbish affair.

[Yi-Long]

It was only better because of BBFC NOT HKL cuts.

I know, but that still makes it better, doesnt it? Holland totally RULEZ cause those dumbasses in the UK have the BBFC

Nah j/k

[bradavon]

I know, but that still makes it better, doesnt it?

Yep of course.

Holland totally RULEZ cause those dumbasses in the UK have the BBFC . Nah j/k

Actually the BBFC cut far less than people think (animal cruelty and headbutts oddly aside) now a days.

People forget the MPAA love cutting films to shreds too.

Young Adam uncut in the UK, cut in the USA. Rules of Attraction cut in the UK BUT crucially cut in the USA too. The R1 is as much a cut DVD as the UK R2 is.

HOFD cut in the UK yes but cut way worse in the USA.

Basic Instinct cut in the USA but uncut in the UK, Monster's ball uncut in the UK but cut in the USA (hence the need for the silly Unrated DVD). Battle Royale released uncut (would it get an R rating who knows, it's still not been submitted). Nine Songs passed uncut, this would never get an R rating.

[gasteropod]

Plus the MPAA cut films before they're even released theatrically, I remember watching a documentary on the The Fast and the Furious DVD about it.

[thelostdragon]

Besides I get especially pissed off when you Eva and the likes of Yi-long moan when Holland, New Zealand don't even have any such distributor to compare to.

Do you feel personally offended by Eva and Yi bitching about HKL or why are you replying in a manner so unusual of you?

You're right we should all start buying Dutch Asian DVDs oh wait THERE AREN'T ANY, certainly not any that come close to the calibre of HKL/Premier Asia.

Brad, are HKL representing the UK in your opinion or why are you so pissed? Nobody talked bad about the UK here, so why the comparison àla Holland (USA) vs. UK? Sorry, but that was an unjustified and incoherent remark from you. Personally, I think HKL/PA have done wonderful throughout their career. Things ARE going downhill right now though and I can see where EVA and Yi (a.k.a customers) are coming from.

[bradavon]

Plus the MPAA cut films before they're even released theatrically, I remember watching a documentary on the The Fast and the Furious DVD about it.

Yeah I saw that too.

The first thing I thought when seeing that is, so "The Fast and the Furious" DVD isn't really the director's cut if you will at all.

The idea of a DC doesn't really exist.

[Markgway]

The BBFC don't routinely cut headbutts anymore. Only occasionally for lower categories if strong.