French DVDs and Blu-Rays of Asian Movies

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 01 Jun 2006, 18:57

Ta muchly Tom.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 01 Jun 2006, 21:07

Since I'm bored, tired and too stupid to go to sleep, I took a few caps from HK Video's Street Fighter Box set. Transfers are not perfect, but still very good. Colors could be a bit stronger at times (I remember Toei's Sister caps looking slightly better) but that's hardly a problem. The audio is, like PQ, very good but not perfect (at least part 2 sounds very, very slightly hollow).

The Street Fighter

Return of the Street Fighter

Street Fighter's Last Revenge

Sister Street Fighter

I wonder why HK Video skipped the Sister sequels.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 02 Jun 2006, 03:05

HungFist wrote: Transfers are not perfect, but still very good.

And you were expecting perfect transfers for 20-30 year old films that have only cult followings? Be thankful you're not getting non-anamorphic letterboxed laserdisc-sourced or pan&scan VHS-sourced material.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 02 Jun 2006, 12:49

EvaUnit02 wrote:
HungFist wrote: Transfers are not perfect, but still very good.
And you were expecting perfect transfers for 20-30 year old films that have only cult followings?

No. I just said the transfers are not perfect. Because I own older cult films with better transfers.

EvaUnit02 wrote: Be thankful you're not getting non-anamorphic letterboxed laserdisc-sourced or pan&scan VHS-sourced material.

Why should I?

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 02 Jun 2006, 13:09

Don't pay attention. He's always like that, Hung

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 02 Jun 2006, 13:41

grim_tales wrote:Don't pay attention. He's always like that, Hung

I know.

I'm also always like this.

He knows it. I know it. It's nothing serious

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 08 Jun 2006, 20:50

SFLV HK Video review: http://www.hkcine.com/rw_fiche-6443-.php

Looking forward to Tom's comparison

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 10 Jun 2006, 12:50

You'll have to wait a week or two.

Haven't ordered it yet.

Apparently the HK Vidéo picture is said to be more colourful than the korean edition (whatever that means).

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 10 Jun 2006, 13:35

http://www.kurosawa-dvd.fr/

For anybody interested in the new wave of Kurosawa films about to be released by Wild Side.
There's a ton of info about the restoration processes, extras and even video clips from the restored films.

To watch a clip:
Click on the cover of the movie, then "Voir Extrait".

Basically they say these DVDs will shit all over those crappy-looking Criterions.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 13:48

How good is Criterion's Hidden Fortress really? I hear it's very good, but that what everybody said about their Ran, too :x

I've been buying more unsubbed dvds than I can handle. I know there there's a lot more to come, so now I'm willing to get a slighly inferior version if it comes with subs. I only want to get those Wild Sides that are clearly better than their subbed counterparts.

Tom, could you please give us a list of those Kurosawa titles in english.
http://www.kurosawa-dvd.fr

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 10 Jun 2006, 14:21

Let's see...

Le Château de l'araignée (Spider's Castle) = Throne of Blood.
La Forteresse Cachée = The Hidden Fortress.
Dodes' Kaden = Dode's Kaden.
Les Salauds dorment en Paix = The Bad Sleep Well.
Sanjuro = Sanjuro.
Barberousse = Red Beard.
L'Ange Ivre = Drunken Angel.
Vivre dans la Peur = I live in fear.
Chien Enragé = Stray Dog.
Entre le ciel et l'enfer = High and Low.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 14:22

HungFist wrote:How good is Criterion's Hidden Fortress really? I hear it's very good, but that what everybody said about their Ran, too :x

What's wrong with the Criterion of Ran?

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 14:39

EvaUnit02 wrote:
HungFist wrote:How good is Criterion's Hidden Fortress really? I hear it's very good, but that what everybody said about their Ran, too :x
What's wrong with the Criterion of Ran?

The image looks too red
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=59810

Interestingly, out of the million review sites dvdtimes was the only one to mention the problem. Everybody else just ignored it and gave it 5/5 ratings. That's why I sometimes hate american review sites. Similiar thing happened earlier with Animeigo's Lady Snowblood. The disc was crap, but received only positive reviews.

Criterions Ran isn't bad. But it's nowhere near as good as 95% of the reviews say it is.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 14:44

Ouch. I'd still buy it for the higher no. of extras though.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:13

I don't care about extras myself, so...

But like I said, it's not a bad disc. I changed my color settings a bit and the image turned out pretty good. But of couse it's disappointing when a new release has worse PQ than the old ones. Also note that the UK disc is now OOP (you can still get it of course, but the price is about the same as the Criterion). I', not sure, but FR, UK and AU releases may be ports of each other. AU is unfortunately remixed, so it seems like FR is the winner again...

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:23

HungFist wrote:I', not sure, but FR, UK and AU releases may be ports of each other.

I can confirm that they are. The R4 & R2UK use the French Studio Canal master. Hell, the R4 even had the opening credits in French.

AU is unfortunately remixed

For what it's worth, it's a very good remix.

HungFist wrote:Also note that the UK disc is now OOP

You can get it off Amazon Marketplace.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 15:32

EvaUnit02 wrote:
HungFist wrote:I', not sure, but FR, UK and AU releases may be ports of each other.
I can confirm that they are. The R4 & R2UK use the French Studio Canal master. Hell, the R4 even had the opening credits in French.

So does Criterion

ericf · Post by **ericf** » 10 Jun 2006, 17:42

Has anybody tested the subs for The Blade on kloofy's? Is the translation "accurate"? It seems to be good english but wether it's from the UK release or not, I don't know.

Thanks.
ericf

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 10 Jun 2006, 17:56

hey,

am currently working from that translation and it defo seems to be the original Engrish translation. On many accounts, it sucks pretty badly compared to the MIA.

The Field Of great Hold is for instance translated on MIA's disc as the world of violence, among other things.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:11

I was just gonna add those kloofy subs to my dvd. Maybe I shouldn't do that afterall?

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:16

hey,

No, you shouldn't.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Jun 2006, 18:21

Okay, thanks, I'll go back to subbing Hideo Gosha movies then

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 12 Jun 2006, 12:50

The Dodes' Kaden Wild Side DVD is screwed-up (bad picture).
That's one less DVD to buy.

Anxiously awaiting The Hidden Fortress...

tom2681 · Post by **tom2681** » 16 Jun 2006, 11:41

Update:

HK Vidéo from July to September:

July 5th: Full Contact (Ringo Lam - Chow Yun-Fat)
July 5th: The Uninvited (Jeon Ji-Hyun)
August 10th: Sex and Zen 1 & 2
September 5th: The Lovers (Tsui Hark) and Love in the time of Twilight.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 16 Jun 2006, 15:26

How is HK Video's Prodigal Son? HKL is cropped, Universe looks like shit, and Fox is remixed...