Fox MA movie releases - Region 1

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 12 Jan 2005, 19:20

Sorry for the shameless plug for the Debate, but what's the odds these will be butchered versions with no extras and a crappy dub only?

http://www.dvddebate.com/modules.php?na ... =0&thold=0

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 12 Jan 2005, 22:55

Why would they be butchered? Except for "Naked Killer" which the MPAA cuts minutes out of they're all uncut I believe.

I take it you've not been following Fox's MA DVD range? No worries let me explain -

* They're all remastered from high definition Fortune Star transfers so the quality is excellent. The quality is far bette than most of HKL's DVDs.
* They've all had pretty respectful 5.1 soundtracks (DD5.1 on the first batch, DD5.1 and DTS on the next three batches).
* They've all featured the OST and and English dub.
* The first batch had some minor extras but the next three only had trailers (well pretty much some had minor deleted scenes).
* I hear batch 4 had proper subtitles but apart from that they've all been dubtitles
* They're all very cheap at under £5 each.

Now HKL are using HD transfers too these titles will become less exciting but up until now they have been gorgeous. Isn't HKL's soon to be released "Warriors Two" also going to be from an HD print?

Out of the five batches/waves only a handful of the titles I want. I own HK 1941 (and may get the HKL to for the extras if I like the film enough) and also ITLOD4.

The latter is definitely much nicer on the Fox DVD.

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 12 Jan 2005, 23:15

Is that all they are going to cost then?

If so, then that's not too shabby if the image and sound is up to scratch.

I think I was a bit harsh using the word "butchered" made it sound like it was going to be cut to ribbons where I more meant poor versions in compariosn to the rest of the world, ie poor subs or even just dubbed only.

But I will bow to your superior knowledge, if what you say is accurate I may be tempted by Legacy Of Rage at that price.

I did notice the Re-Mastered line on the covers as well, but I'm always wary of ANY company that states that without more details about them

Nice to see that other companies are giving HKL some competition then!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Jan 2005, 11:41

[quote][i]Originally posted by Laevolus[/i]
Is that all they are going to cost then? [/quote]
I would be very suprised if you can't get them for under a fiver.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Laevolus[/i]
If so, then that's not too shabby if the image and sound is up to scratch.[/quote]
The picture should be very good and depending on your feelings towards remixes (I think the last batch had mono to though) the sound is very good too.

[quote]I did notice the Re-Mastered line on the covers as well, but I'm always wary of ANY company that states that without more details about them

Nice to see that other companies are giving HKL some competition then! [/quote]
This was heavily discussed on the old Bullets site before that went down and many other sites. In this case the "remastered" tag is accurate. Check out the reviews of older discs using:

http://www.dvd-basen.dk/uk/home.php3?soeg=all&mvis=ok

DVD Times here list what titles they have released previously, check out the comments section:

Wave 5 + Info on Waves 1 & 2 - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=55769
Wave 4 - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=11603
Wave 3 - http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=10607

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Jan 2005, 12:17

Brad, I may get "Iron Fisted Monk" and "Hand of Death" from those lists but get HKL Warriors Two instead since they are using a HD print too (and will have decent extras).

I assume IFM is uncut?
IMO the cover art on some of those releases looks too simple. The bright blue background on the IFM cover for example detracts from the dark tone of the film.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Jan 2005, 14:35

Are HKL definitely using a HD transfer for Warriors Two?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Jan 2005, 16:17

Yes they are. Remember I pointed you to the news on the HKL site?

They mention that Warriors Two and Dragons Forever will be the first HD titles in an earlier news piece from last year.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 13 Jan 2005, 19:02

Iron Fisted Monk nees to be cut if you ask me, Rape is not needed in that film! it makes it feel dirty and nasty! we see enuff in the cut version, the full version just goes too far and its not nice!

but these dvds were about 3 quid from dvdsoon, not sure how much now the prices have went all over!

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 13 Jan 2005, 19:03

ohh yeah Warriors Two HKL is 6.99 at cdwow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Edited on 13-1-2005 by romerojpg]

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Jan 2005, 19:56

[quote][i]Originally posted by grim_tales[/i]
Yes they are. Remember I pointed you to the news on the HKL site?

They mention that Warriors Two and Dragons Forever will be the first HD titles in an earlier news piece from last year. [/quote]
Thanks I couldn't remember which titles would be the first to use HD. So does this mean ALL titles will be HD from HKL now?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 14 Jan 2005, 09:58

Yes, I think so.
£6.99 Romero? Are you serious?

In that case I'm definitely ordering it!

I may wait a bit though as we're in the middle of moving house now (sort of).

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 14 Jan 2005, 10:05

[quote][i]Originally posted by romerojpg[/i]
Iron Fisted Monk nees to be cut if you ask me, Rape is not needed in that film! it makes it feel dirty and nasty! we see enuff in the cut version, the full version just goes too far and its not nice!

but these dvds were about 3 quid from dvdsoon, not sure how much now the prices have went all over! [/quote]

I initially thought that when I first saw the uncut version, but then I thought the rape is supposed to be unpleasant and hard to watch, if it makes you feel uncomfortable then guess what.. Sammo did his job as Director.

Like most Sammo films though it seemed to alternate between a fun MA film and quite dark, and adult (for the type of film) themes.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 14 Jan 2005, 10:16

Romero where is Warriors Two £6.99? I can only find it on the CD-WOW rental site???

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 14 Jan 2005, 12:10

[quote][i]Originally posted by grim_tales[/i]
Romero where is Warriors Two £6.99? I can only find it on the CD-WOW rental site??? [/quote]it's listed in the region 2 pre-release section at £8.99 obviously cunning use of vouchers will bring that down a bit..

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 14 Jan 2005, 14:37

Ah.
Even without vouchers its a great price for a new release IMO.
I'll see if my older £3.99 voucher works again, it might do.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Jan 2005, 20:16

LMK if it does Grim old bean please.

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 14 Jan 2005, 22:43

Apparently I'm getting the HKL Warriors 2 disc for review for the debate, so I'll be able to comment on the image for it.

But £8.99 is a tempting price anyway!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 15 Jan 2005, 11:18

Any small chance you could get hold of Fox's DVD too? A comparison review showing how the two companies treat the same transfer would be awesome.

If not please comment how (if at all) the AV is superior to previous HKL DVDs especially their most recent titles.

[Edited on 17-1-2005 by bradavon]

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 16 Jan 2005, 22:32

Chris is going to see if he can get the Fox discs for me, and another copy of Warriors two from HKL as he lost the first one , the loon

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Jan 2005, 12:35

Nice one!

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 17 Jan 2005, 19:55

reported on another forum guy has a copy of the hkl warriors two and while the transfer is stunning it has an awful sound remix according to him.no original mono option.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Jan 2005, 20:15

Thats funny most HKL 5.1 remixes arent that bad, unless HKL are getting their sound mixes from Fortune Star too (which are supposed to be bad).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Jan 2005, 21:45

Firstly NO HKL DVD has the original mono so that's a mute point and secondly is the guy biased towards remixes? It is any different from all their others?

I wonder if they're using Fortune Stars HD for the audio too. Which I could believe.

Which IMO isn't a bad thing. On the whole I prefer their 5.1 soundtracks. They're real 5.1 and not fake 5.1 from HKL (i.e - Technically they're 5.1 but they may as well be DD2.0 Surround) but then again I'm a fan of faithful re-mixes.

p.s - Thanks though Salty.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 18 Jan 2005, 00:42

HKL's Heart Of Dragon is a Fortune Star print, is that not a high def one then?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 18 Jan 2005, 10:08

No it isn't. (Don't think so anyway).
Oh don't let Mark hear you say that about FS's soundtracks Brad.

I'd prefer the original ones to ones that have been tampered with (listen to the 5.1 on Fortune Star's "Police Story" to see what I mean), at least HKL try to stick as close to the original track as they can.
No HKL DVD has a mono soundtrack AFAIK but in the early days some had Cantonese stereo on them (2.0), which in some cases would have been the "original" soundtrack.