Which DDDHouse Weekly Cheapo should I get?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 19:18

Okay so I'll finally be getting "My Father is a Hero: Remaster" and want something to go with the order?

Preferably (but not crucial) anamorphic DVDs:

A to K - http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/ind ... goryID=137
L to Z - http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/ind ... goryID=138

For HKD $40-45 it seems like a good idea (two DVDs bump the shipping by $20).

p.s - Unless there is a standard HK DVD I've missed?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2006, 19:29

How about "I Love Maria" ?

From Film Workshop, with a young Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tsui Hark, Sally Yeh and John Sham.

Recommended if you enjoy the crazy Workshop films from the eighties.

http://www.dragonsdenuk.com/reviews/i_love_maria.htm
http://www.kungfucinema.com/reviews/ilovemaria.htm

If you want some more Jet Li, there's the Fong Sai-Yuk films.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 19:36

I've no idea which is why I asked

. I barely recognise anything on that list. Thanks

Feel free to also offer non-Cheapo DVDs I may have missed.

I considered "Taxi" (the French film) which strangely despite being non-anamorphic is the best English friendly version.

I have the FSY films thanks. Speaking of FSY/2 why are there no HK Video DVDs? It's a pity Dragon Dynasty did take those with them from Disney.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 May 2006, 19:37

Brad have you seen Metade Fumaca? I believe thats $20 or something.
What about "Who Am I"?

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2006, 19:39

Speaking of FSY/2 why are there no HK Video DVDs?

They've been announced but not yet released.
2007 maybe, with a Chinese Ghost Story trilogy and a Better Tomorrow trilogy.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 19:41

grim_tales wrote:Brad have you seen Metade Fumaca? I believe thats $20 or something.

I've never heard of it, what's it about?

grim_tales wrote:What about "Who Am I"?

I have the (anamorphic) Japanese DVD thanks

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2006, 19:44

Metade Fumaca:
1999 triad film with Nic Tse, Eric Tsang and Anthony Wong.
Highly recommended.

http://www.hkdvdheaven.co.uk/MetadeFumaca.htm
http://www.sogoodreviews.com/reviews/metadefumaca.htm

$30.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 May 2006, 19:51

No worries Brad.
How much is the Japanese DVD BTW? Expensive I bet.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 20:02

hey,

off-beat and touching film, not so much another triad story that Metade Fumaca. Still waiting for Riley Yip to return. Btw, one of those early, early reviews of mine I could do a whole makeover on but I'd like it to represent how crap I was then and how slightly less crap I am now.

Some random recommendations:

- The Taiwanese Double Vision (starring Tony Leung and David Morse) is a good deal considering it has the unrated edit on there as well. More gore, some alternate and extended stuff as well.

- Hail The Judge is my favourite Stephen Chow movie. Some wonderfully well-timed stuff in there. A taste of Chow's verbal skill but it mostly reaches us Westerners as well.

- Even though you woudn't notice, the Universe dvd of the otherwise recommended I Love Maria features way different music (although the original cues were mostly stolen anyway) and out of synch effects. No good dvd as the Megastar made dvd that came out in Japan has added foley as well. It is based on the "original" track though.

- Inner Senses is well-produced and acted, despite the crappy cover art. Leslie's last film.

- Law With Two Phases, directed and starring Danny Lee. The beginning of his cop typecasting but it's a good drama with some gritty violence here and there.

- Lifeline. Hong Kong's version of Backdraft blows that particular movie completely away. Some overwrought drama from Johnnie To but a killer 45 minute climax that I dubbed "the Hard Boiled of fire fighter movies!".

- The Mission. You'll know if Johnnie To's preferred cinema style is for you or not after seeing this film. There won't be another HK dvd by the looks of it now and be prepared for sub-par quality. French dvd looks excellent but is of course unsubbed,

- Spiritual Love. can rarely go wrong with a little Chow Yun-Fat/Cherie Chung pairing.

- Sworn Brothers. VERY violent Andy Lau movie.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 20:02

hey,

How much is the Japanese DVD BTW? Expensive I bet.

Out of print for some time and yes, quite expensive.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 26 May 2006, 20:04

Knetan wrote:
- The Mission. You'll know if Johnnie To's preferred cinema style is for you or not after seeing this film. There won't be another HK dvd by the looks of it now and be prepared for sub-par quality. French dvd looks excellent but is of course unsubbed,

That's why I made subs for it

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 20:06

hey,

And I will be set up with those regardless to go along with the original...case.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 20:57

Thanks Knetan

- The Mission. You'll know if Johnnie To's preferred cinema style is for you or not after seeing this film.

Why do you say that?

I was looking at this one. Isn't there a better English subtitled international version? DVD Compare have this to say: http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=7340

I reckon I'll get this one unless someone comes up with something better by the morning.

- Inner Senses is well-produced and acted, despite the crappy cover art. Leslie's last film.

There is a decent anamorphic/dts/extras Madman R4 and also an eventual Tartan (possibly NTSC to PAL though) so I won't get this one. I like the cover art.

- The Taiwanese Double Vision (starring Tony Leung and David Morse) is a good deal considering it has the unrated edit on there as well. More gore, some alternate and extended stuff as well.

It's tempting but to much as a bumper to my order.

grim_tales wrote:How much is the Japanese DVD BTW? Expensive I bet.

Yep but you don't think I'm stupid enough to buy it? Bruce was kind enough to give me a copy.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 21:08

I was looking at this one. Isn't there a better English subtitled international version?

No, sir. No one cares in Hong Kong enough to search out a good print and give the small audience The Mission remastered format. The French does but that we all know.

There is a decent anamorphic/dts/extras Madman R4 and also an eventual Tartan (possibly NTSC to PAL though) so I won't get this one. I like the cover art.

Wasn't aware of a R4 release. Would be interested in that as the making of is unsubbed on the HK dvd. As cheap as it is, it looks and sounds good though.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 21:12

The R4 "should" be Native-PAL too. FYI the Tartan keeps getting delayed but it's not a big deal as it will probably be NTSC-PAL and has exactly the same extras announced that are already on the R4.

The HK DVD is also non-anamorphic. Thanks again Knetan.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 26 May 2006, 21:43

Brad, I recommend you to get TF1's The Mission. Mei Ah is supposed to be really bad. I'll post a few TF1 caps to the french thread.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 21:49

Please do. The thing is I went to the effort to add English subs to Thai Chi Master as it was worth it but I don't want to do it to often and French DVDs are expensive most of the time.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2006, 21:59

The TF1 edition of The Mission can be found at 13€.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 22:03

hey,

and having seen caps from the French dvd, I finally got to appreciate that the cinematography really is a lot like the Johnnie To/Cheng Siu-keung style evident before and since. Mei Ah dvd doesn't exactly reflect that.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 26 May 2006, 22:27

I'd say "Attack the Gas Station", but unfortunately, the HK disc is in full screen. It has better subs than the Korean disc, though. It's a great film.

There is "Drunken Angel" as well. Anybody who has read my comments in another Kurosawa conversation here, knows that I think that this is Kurosawa's best non-samurai film. Toshiro Mifune plays a gangster boss with tuberculosis and Takashi Shimura plays the alcoholic doctor. The whole thing takes place in 1948 and is a film about moral, honour and friendship.

Brad, I urge you to get "Drunken Angel" as long as it is that cheap and still in print.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 May 2006, 22:43

Thanks LD. I'm wary of Kurosawa when it comes to HK DVDs, most are awful. It's not got a 5.1 remix has it? Surely there's a much better international version?

Maybe I shouldn't get The Mission then if the AV is that bad.

What about Big Bullet?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 26 May 2006, 22:55

Big Bullet is good action entertainment. I own it.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 26 May 2006, 23:15

hey,

it is but sadly the film blows its wad well before the finale and turns highly annoying by the end.

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 26 May 2006, 23:19

You can get Flying Dagger if you're in the mood for some silly wire-fu. Maggie Cheung, Jackie Cheung and Tony Leung Kar-Fai are in top form.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 27 May 2006, 00:33

LOL, ordered "Flying Dagger" from Amazon.de for €4,99.

Brad, you don't need 5.1 on "Drunken Angel". All you need for a film that old is mono.

Nevertheless, "The Mission" is a great film, too. I hope you'll be able to live with the bad subs.

But then again, I don't know how the subs are of "Drunken Angel".