Crime Story / Heart the Dragon - Best versions? Any good?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 May 2006, 22:12

1. Is Crime Story HKL the best English subtitled version?

2. Is Heart the Dragon HKL the best English subtitled version? or is the R1 Fortune Star Fox better? Am I correct in guessing it's a case of better PQ on the Fortune Star Fox BUT Dubtitles.

3. Is Dragon Lord HKL the best English subtitled version?

* Are the above any good Jackie Chan action?

I've put "Dragon Lord" last as I have very little interest in it. The box set I'm about to mention has 4 separate keep cases so I could just trade this.

In my local Choices Video store (the store version of ChoicesDirect.com - Bath and Stokeham only) they had the following Jackie Chan box set for £5.99 in their sale:

http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/866495/J ... oduct.html

I didn't end up getting it as I already have plenty of Jackie Chan action I own not watched yet but I was thinking that was a mistake considering the £5.99 price. They only had two, one looked a bit scruffy, rattled and was open but the second was sealed and brand new.

I'm going back to Bath on Saturday and I thought I might pick it up if they've not sold it.

The cheapest online is £10.99 and funnily it's £16.99 from the actual ChoicesDirect.com website.

p.s - The box set contains:

Dragon Lord / Crime Story / Heart Of The Dragon / Heromakers (4 Discs)

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 23 May 2006, 22:29

1. Is Crime Story HKL the best English subtitled version?

Probably, yes. Some ppl have complained about PQ, but overall the HKL is fine.

2. Is Heart of the Dragon HKL the best English subtitled version? or is the R1 Fortune Star Fox better? Am I correct in guessing it's a case of better PQ on the Fortune Star Fox BUT Dubtitles.

Both are equally crap in terms of subtitles.
In terms of PQ: the FOX has an extremely low bitrate resulting in bad compression artefacts.
Overall I'd say that the HKL is much better.

3. Is Dragon Lord HKL the best English subtitled version?

I'm thinking yes. It's grainy but it's an OK disc.
Although there's a korean remaster out there somewhere... but I don't know how good it is.

* Are the above any good Jackie Chan action?

-Crime Story is probably Jackie's best film ever. It's a dark police film (kinda like a mix between City on Fire and Police Story).
-Heart of Dragon (no "the") is a drama film with Jackie and Sammo. There's only two action scenes, but that's not what the film is about.
-Dragon Lord isn't perfect, but it's a very interesting transitional film. It's where Jackie decided to move away from kung-fu movies and start doing action comedies. Lots of fun action scenes, martial arts and sports included.

JinMode · Post by **JinMode** » 23 May 2006, 22:39

Unfortunately, no mono on Heart of The Dragon HKL dvd, which is a reason why I get most of their dvds. hopefully, Joy Sales will make that up.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 May 2006, 22:44

JinMode wrote:Unfortunately, no mono on Heart of The Dragon HKL dvd, which is a reason why I get most of their dvds. hopefully, Joy Sales will make that up.

Neither does the Fox so they cancel each other out. I'd guess the HKL 5.1 remix is the closest to Mono out of all the soundtracks on the HKL/FOX. If you get what I mean.

Tom2681 wrote:Probably, yes. Some ppl have complained about PQ, but overall the HKL is fine.

1. It hasn't got any respectable English subtitled competition as far as I can tell so people can moan all they like it's doesn't mean much to me.

Both are equally crap in terms of subtitles.

2. Are both dubtitles? How do you mean?

In terms of PQ: the FOX has an extremely low bitrate resulting in bad compression artefacts.

2. Any capture comparison? I was assuming this was a case of Old School Fortune Star whipping HKL's ass (like In the Line of Duty 4)

-Heart of Dragon (no "the") is a drama film with Jackie and Sammo. There's only two action scenes, but that's not what the film is about.

Is it any good? I was wondering about the THE. You'd have no idea about the drama aspect by the cover (I didn't).

-Dragon Lord isn't perfect, but it's a very interesting transitional film. It's where Jackie decided to move away from kung-fu movies and start doing action comedies. Lots of fun action scenes, martial arts and sports included.

I hated Drunken Master and Prodigal son what's the likely hood I'd like it? They badly needed humour so maybe this will help, still it's old school and that's not a good thing when it come to Jackie in my book.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 23 May 2006, 22:51

-Both are equally crap in terms of subtitles.
2. Are both dubtitles? How do you mean?

Yes, the HKL uses poor dubtitles as well.

In terms of PQ: the FOX has an extremely low bitrate resulting in bad compression artefacts.
2. Any capture comparison?

I'll do one later.

-Heart of Dragon.
-Is it any good?

It's a very touching drama. Unfortunately some ppl don't like Sammo acting like a retarded kid and they have given this movie a bad reputation.

I hated Drunken Master and Prodigal son what's the likely hood I'd like it?

How did you feel about Young Master ? Seeing as Dragon Lord is pretty much a sequel of Young Master, that'd be a good way of knowing.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 23 May 2006, 22:59

"Dragon Lord" is the film where Jackie has put outtakes in the credits for the very first time. It is one of my favourite earlier Jackie films. While I think the main part is quite funny, I think that it can become boring to people who expect non-stop action. But the rooftop scene and the showdown are worth owning this film. The final fight in the barn has some of the best basic stunt work I have ever seen (like Mars flipping from the first floor, over Jackie who is on the ladder and onto the floor with his back).

My brief "Dragon Lord"-review:
http://www.asia-on-dvd.com/ftr/reviews/ ... gon%20Lord

My brief "Crime Story"-review:
http://www.asia-on-dvd.com/ftr/reviews/ ... me%20Story

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 May 2006, 23:11

Thanks guys. Great Short Reviews idea LD.

I'm tempted as £5.99 it's a bargain but I've only interest in Crime Story from the box set. Buying DVDs literally because they're cheap and so therefore it could be years before I see them seems a bit stupid.

Hmmm not sure.

Tom2681 wrote:How did you feel about Young Master ? Seeing as Dragon Lord is pretty much a sequel of Young Master, that'd be a good way of knowing.

I was so bored by Drunken Master I skipped to the end after 45 minutes in the hope the last battle would be fun IT WAS NOT. Man I reckon DM has to be one of the most boring films ever made. I prefered Prodigal Son much more but still it bored me. I watched that to the end.

Put simply I've stayed clear of Old School Jackie (or I should say Old School from that era) so haven't seen Young Master.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 23 May 2006, 23:30

bradavon wrote:Thanks guys. Great Short Reviews idea LD.

Thanks, but I was actually inspired to do this by the quick-takes on Ken's website.
http://www.sogoodreviews.com/reviews.htm#qno

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 May 2006, 23:57

I prefer "Mini Review" myself but it's all same at the end of the day. I'm sure Knetan spends his entire life sat in front of his TV watching HK Films.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 May 2006, 00:39

Yeah... sad for him (maybe even not) and good for us.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 24 May 2006, 07:41

The audio on the HKL DVD of HOD is very weak. I suggest you wait for a genuine mono release from Joy Sales. Ditto Dragon Lord. Besides the changed title card, I found HKL's Crime Story quite good

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 May 2006, 15:21

The colours have been manipulated on HKL's CRIME STORY, desaturating hues, as happened with CITY ON FIRE.

dragonhero005 · Post by **dragonhero005** » 24 May 2006, 15:48

bradavon wrote:Dragon Lord / Crime Story / Heart Of The Dragon / Heromakers (4 Discs)

Heromakers?

I guess it´s some kind of documentary. Has anyone seen this?
Is it just available in that boxset?

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 24 May 2006, 16:04

Heromakers was on the Red Wolf set I think

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 May 2006, 16:20

I've decided not to bother £6 is £6 and when it's for a box set I have little interest in other than price it seems a bit daft.

It's a documentary that is also available separately, it was dirt cheap at HMV. It's not really a proper release like say "Jackie Chan Stunts/Story".

They tend to throw it in free in the JC box sets.

I don't know for sure but would be surprised if it was Ivan it's a full length documentary. I don't think it's that good or at least only okay.

Markgway wrote:The colours have been manipulated on HKL's CRIME STORY, desaturating hues, as happened with CITY ON FIRE.

Thanks but TBH Mark it doesn't bother me as like many other films we can moan but will end up getting it anyway as it's got no competition.

These sorts of discussions usually hold little interest to me when I've not got anything viable to compare it against.

The same goes for HOD I SERIOUSLY doubt the Joy Sales will beat the HKL or Fox. I'm betting it will be similar to those crappy/overrated Deltamac letterbox DVDs a few years back but please prove me wrong.

I'm not a purist like many so aren't going to get my knickers in a twist over such issues especially when I don't even have anything to compare it against. I've never seen any of the films in this box set.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 24 May 2006, 16:45

6 pound! bargain for 3 great films, you could have bought it and sold it for more than that.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 May 2006, 17:30

Good point but tbh I find it boring and a hassle enough selling/trading DVDs I own that I want rid of. I've spent literally hours in one night on DVD forums asking if people want a particular DVD.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 26 May 2006, 16:13

crime story is worth double the £6 alone,cracking movie.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 16:22

hey,

I'm sure Knetan spends his entire life sat in front of his TV watching HK Films.

Gee, whatever gave you that idea?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 16:27

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 18 Jun 2006, 02:58

Universe is a good disc! It contains accurate subtitles and a great remix (honestly) with nice separation.

All discs have their unique attributes so there's no winner.

But yes, no DVD contains mono audio so it's off to purists projects

!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Jun 2006, 15:15

Joy Sales will be releasing both 'Heart of Dragon' and 'Crime Story' sometime in the future, and if the specs for their first batch are anything to go buy, they'll be anamorphic, mono 2.0, with new subtitles.

Bullets 'n' Babes

Crime Story / Heart the Dragon - Best versions? Any good?

Crime Story / Heart the Dragon - Best versions? Any good?

Re: Crime Story / Heart of the Dragon - Best versions? Any good?

Surprisingly!