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

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Apr 2006, 15:41

I'll make one big anti-Contender/HKL/PA rant and be done with it.

[Rant mode on]

How can we possibly have any respect for a company that:
-crops its DVDs to hide print damage.
-frequently uses dubtitles despite having a team of skilled linguists.
-uses the same interviews over and over again.
-uses too much grain removal (makes the picture soft).
-frequently replaces title cards.
-uses rap music in its trailers.
-lie to their customers in their trailers (saying that Jackie is the star of My Lucky Stars / That Volcano High is an action film).
-would rather use an international print than the original cut.
-asks Maggie Q to say that Dragon From Russia is a brainless action flick. (she isn't even in the bloody film !).
-frequently puts the films they haven't been able to sell in boxsets.
-releases some of its films in the wrong aspect ratio (Project A 2, Police Story, Police Story 2).
-is willing to release censored films (if the BBFC want to cut it, then HKL should have the balls to say "We're not releasing it, then").
-use misleading covers (The Lucky Stars trilogy / Heart of Dragon).
-rescores films.

[/Rant mode off]

Just because they have released some must-have dvds doesn't tip the scale IMO.

Goodbye, HKL. Goodbye, Premier Asia.
Go to hell, Contender Group.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 05 Apr 2006, 15:55

Forgive me but what was wrong with Project A 2? I have that DVD (I havent seen it in a while though).
Yeah, HKL have gone downhill IMO

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 05 Apr 2006, 16:37

Project A 2 is stretched or something, isn't it?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:00

Vertically squished, yes. Just like Police Story 1.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:14

Tom2681 wrote:Just because they have released some must-have dvds doesn't tip the scale IMO.

More good than bad IMO.

I own about 15 and there are 2-3 more I want but I'm not a mega big fan of HK cinema anyway so it doesn't hugely bother me. I have much more interest in the Premier Asia range, which of course isn't doing to well either. I have even more interested in Tartan's releases.

Tom2681 wrote:I'll make one big anti-Contender/HKL/PA rant and be done with it.

Now if only Yi-long would

Tom2681 wrote:-frequently uses dubtitles despite having a team of skilled linguists.

They don't still do this do they?

Tom2681 wrote:-asks Maggie Q to say that Dragon From Russia is a brainless action flick. (she isn't even in the bloody film !).

Huh?

Tom2681 wrote:-is willing to release censored films (if the BBFC want to cut it, then HKL should have the balls to say "We're not releasing it, then").

And that makes sense???

Tom2681 wrote:-uses rap music in its trailers.

Do you really care? I think this is a good idea in some ways, it will probably make people want to see it more (Joe Public). A trailer is a form of advertising.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:22

bradavon wrote:
Tom2681 wrote:Just because they have released some must-have dvds doesn't tip the scale IMO.
More good than bad IMO.

I own about 15 and there are 2-3 more I want but I'm not a mega big fan of HK cinema anyway so it doesn't hugely bother me.

I have much more interest in the Premier Asia range.

Tom2681 wrote:I'll make one big anti-Contender/HKL/PA rant and be done with it.
Now if only Yi-long would

I pretty much agree with the stuff Tom has mentioned, of which some things bother me more then others...
I have alot of HKL's which I'm satisfied with, but they have also fucked up bigtime with a bunch of releases, and lately they seem to have made a habbit out of this...

Too bad. They had so much potential. Why cant those people in charge overthere be any smarter!?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:26

TYG news:

"Warrior King Coming Soon!
03/04/06
Bak...With A Vengeance

Tony Jaa is back and this time he is really pissed off! The star of 'Ong Bak' returns in a with some awesome Muay Thai action, prepared to be amazed as the action just getting bigger and better.

Out in the cinemas in the Summer, take a sneak peek at the movie poster!"

http://www.premierasia.co.uk/index.php?category_id=1

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:32

i really hope that there will eb different release of this also, i was gonna get the thai release, but i wanted to show my aunt this movie, and well i think enlgishsubtitles are needed for this...the PA ongbak is ok , but i really hope that they wont use that poster as their cover....

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:35

Weinstein owns the R1 and R4 so it maybe the best DVD out there or more likely the Korean DVD.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 05 Apr 2006, 17:53

hey,

this may not look like much of a cover crime but believe me, no one having watched Peacock King feels this cover echoes anything in it (few may not even remember it fondly either but it has its moments):

http://www.play.com/play247.asp?pa=pba& ... tle=917879

As is often the case, the director's name gets one of its many versions. Should be along the lines of Lam Nam-choi. I believe HKL got that right for their Story Of Ricky cover so...

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Apr 2006, 18:39

Why doesnt PA just release a dvd witha double-sided cover for TYG? One with the English name (Warrior King

) and one with the original name on it!?

Not that it would matter much, cause looking at the current batch of covers from HKL, it will probably be shite to look at anyway...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 18:41

. It's just not something they do, except for The Killer.

The only long shot is to post over at the HKL forum.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 05 Apr 2006, 18:42

there are no releases out there with the english subs? the hong kong has english dub, but i despise dubbing

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 18:46

What film are you talking about? TYG has English subs on the Korean DVD.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 05 Apr 2006, 18:51

yeah TYG, where can i find the korean release?

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 05 Apr 2006, 19:27

Shen wrote:yeah TYG, where can i find the korean release?

i got mine from yesasia

if you've got a few bob and are desperate movietyme.com have it available on their next day delivery service at £21.99

bear in mind once the film lands in oz 20 minutes in 60-70% of the dialogue is in english anyway.

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 05 Apr 2006, 19:34

thanks sam, dont think i will be going for the £22 one, can barely afford £10 a dvd lol

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 19:49

£22 WTF! It's £15 from:

1. http://www.koreandvds.com/dvddetail.html?id=28798
2. http://www.dvdfromkorea.com/shop/p_detail.asp?idx=3532
3. Yes Asia but with Free Making Of. VCD (or at least it was?): http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=60840

I don't know which is cheapest but £22 WTF!

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 05 Apr 2006, 19:55

Yesasia doesnt stock it anymore and according to Tonyjaa.org the korean DVD is out of print...

Shen · Post by **Shen** » 05 Apr 2006, 19:58

bollocksm oh well, *waits for the PA release*

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 05 Apr 2006, 20:01

My god that was quick. It looks to be in stock at KoreanDVDs and DVDfromKorea. Maybe, try ordering.

Shen wrote:bollocksm oh well, *waits for the PA release*

Yee of little faith:

http://www.dvdasian.com/cgi-bin/dvdasian/20368.html

That's 3 possible places to get it. I doubt it's actually OOP just yet.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 05 Apr 2006, 22:00

Just checked the Premier Asia-site. Why the hell is Contender releasing "Initial D" on the Premier Asia-label although it is a HK film? Guess they are only using HKL now to quickly release their back catalogue.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 06 Apr 2006, 09:53

To be fair I cant remember the last time HKL have used dubtitles on their DVDs Tom

Though HKL are not as good as they were, as Brad says its more good than bad.

"Is willing to release censored films" - WTF? ALL companies have to abide by the rules set down by the BBFC, if a film is cut because of animal or child cruelty, or something, which is against the laws of the UK, tough. This is hardly HKL's fault is it?

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 06 Apr 2006, 10:43

Yi-Long wrote:Yesasia doesnt stock it anymore and according to Tonyjaa.org the korean DVD is out of print...

Wow, damn. I was planning on getting that when i'm in Korea later this month..now i'm worried

It was such good news that it had english subs so i didn't have to deal with all these bullshit domestic releases like Ong-bak.
Hopefully it will still be available.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Apr 2006, 11:13

I took the Initial D thingy to be just advertising.