Fox MA movie releases - Region 1

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 18 Jan 2005, 18:01

I think the Fortune Star 5.1 soundtrack to Police Story sounds nice and fresh

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jan 2005, 20:41

I've only seen the PS3 DVD from that box set (Bruce lent it to me) and it was great. There is no beating a really thumping 5.1 soundtrack.

Islandguy · Post by **Islandguy** » 19 Jan 2005, 12:15

Hi.
Im the guy from the other forum, and i can tell you the re-mix on the new HKL Warriors Two is bad....
I have like all of HKL 5.1 mixes as they have not meddled with the sound too much but on this disc the music is too quiet and more disturbingly added sound fx such as punches etc have been added on loudly.....if you are familiar with the film you will notice it straight away.
Its a shame because the picture and extras are superb.
I think we should contact HKL and say (nicely) that we are not happy with this....they are obviously getting these mixes from Fortune Star and they spoil this film for me anyway...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Jan 2005, 13:18

TBH Island Guy that sounds like an improvement to me.

I'm not a fan of HKL's 5.1 mixes they're mostly dull and lifeless. I've so far preferd the FS remasters.

Are you saying it's messed up like say the HK Tai Chi Master DVD with the voices etc . . . out of all 5 speakers? If so that is indeed bad but otherwise it sounds like good news to me.

I've not heard the DVD though so I'm only guessing.

Islandguy · Post by **Islandguy** » 19 Jan 2005, 13:41

No, its as if someone has added there own punch fx etc to the mix and it sounds totally out of place.
For instance, for those of you who know the film, the part where casanova wong does a double palm strike to the face of an opponent during the end fight....the original mix has the hit sound which has a repeated echo to it...very effective...in the new mix it is replace with a loud hit sound and thats it, spoiling the effect...im sure when you see and hear the disc you will know what i mean.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Jan 2005, 19:58

In your opinion are any other FS 5.1 remasters also as bad?

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 20 Jan 2005, 17:32

[quote][i]Originally posted by Islandguy[/i]
No, its as if someone has added there own punch fx etc to the mix and it sounds totally out of place.
For instance, for those of you who know the film, the part where casanova wong does a double palm strike to the face of an opponent during the end fight....the original mix has the hit sound which has a repeated echo to it...very effective...in the new mix it is replace with a loud hit sound and thats it, spoiling the effect...im sure when you see and hear the disc you will know what i mean. [/quote]

I haven't seen the film but I can imagine exactly what you mean, and that is well harsh. I've heard sound effects like that in other HK films and if that was replaced with just a punch sound, it would totally spoil it.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 21 Jan 2005, 16:47

Yeah I know what you mean, loads of old school classics (Mag Butcher, Drunken Master, Prodigal Son) have a sort of "echoey" noise for the final punch dont they? (if you mean what I think you do). The "echo" increases the impact (IMO).

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 22 Jan 2005, 19:21

been watching this, well, first five mins as I dozed off after a busy day at work

Have to say, first impressions, image is stunning, easily the best I've seen from HKL in a long time!! It is a Fortune Star print, at least it has their logo before the film.

Can't comment on the sound yet, not watched enough to really judge it.

Same goes for the extras as well

Gimme a couple of days, my review will be up at the Debate site, soon enough.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Jan 2005, 19:21

I await your review Laev, TBH I think I'll end up getting the HKL, the sound won't affect me in the same way someone who knows the film

Sorry if someone already said this but does the Fox/FS "Iron Fisted Monk" have subtitles or dubtitles and is uncut?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Jan 2005, 19:37

Any news on a comparison review Laevolus?

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 25 Jan 2005, 19:52

Well i decided to pick up the Fox Royal Warriors dvd yesterday since its deffintly the best dvd of that particular film, and i also wanted to test out the general quality of the Fox MA releases.
I have to say i'm pretty happy with it, despite the remix 5.1 track and no option for the original mono. The soundtrack is not overly butchered and new/changed sound effects are kept to a fairly low level. The picture is naturally awesome seeing as how its a Fortune Star print.

As much as i love HKL in general, i think i'm going to be getting the Fox ITLOD4 disc as well.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 25 Jan 2005, 21:00

I'm hating the Fox dubtitles, especially when they appear when nothing is said...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Jan 2005, 23:57

[quote][i]Originally posted by ReconFive[/i]
s much as i love HKL in general, i think i'm going to be getting the Fox ITLOD4 disc as well. [/quote]
I to own the Royal Warriors DVD and think the same. Although I can't notice and don't know what I'm looking for regarding new foley effects.

The dubtitles are well dubtitles.

As for ITLOD4 only the Donnie Yen interview is any good and it alone isn't enough to get the HKL DVD. The commentary is pretty lame, it doesn't feature Bey Logan. The AV on the Fox DVD is much better. I used to own the HKL. I then bought the Fox DVD as a test to see how good the FS remasters are and I kept the Fox DVD.

ReconFive · Post by **ReconFive** » 26 Jan 2005, 00:15

In my opinion, the thing that makes this so difficult to choose is the fact that the Fox discs have a better picture due to the FS remaster, but the HKL 5.1 tracks always seem to be much closer to the original mono.

I don't really think of myself as a 'purist', but i just don't like added or changed generic sound effects that sound out of place and unnatural levels of bass being put into the soundtracks of these old movies.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Jan 2005, 12:39

I heard the newer Fox DVDs also have mono. I could be wrong though.

Laevolus · Post by **Laevolus** » 02 Feb 2005, 00:54

Soory for the delay, I've been ill all week, but I finally managed to get my review of Warriors Two posted over at the Debate.

Brad, Chris is trying to get hold of the Fox discs for a comparision review, I'll let you know when i hear more news.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 Feb 2005, 13:08

Thanks. Nice review.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Feb 2005, 02:31

If, like me, the hideous Fortune Star remixes bother you, best wait for the Fox release of Warriors Two in April. They will be using the same remastered print as the HKL and, going by the last batch, have the original Mono track. No extras, but so what? And it'll only cost a few quid from DVD Soon. I see no point in complaining about the HKL DVD and then buying it anyways...

Islandguy · Post by **Islandguy** » 18 Feb 2005, 13:00

The problem with the fox / fortune star mono tracks is that there out of synch!
Knockabout is slightly out and police story 3 also....seems we loose out either way

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Feb 2005, 19:39

[quote]
The problem with the fox / fortune star mono tracks is that there out of synch! Knockabout is slightly out and police story 3 also....seems we loose out either way
[/quote]

Really? I didn't notice on Knockabout when I watched it. Must've been very slight. Fox didn't release PS3. Do you mean IVL? I thought that was the only one that was actually in sync in that box? I just got Iron-Fisted Monk (Fox) and although I only watched a few mins, I din't notice anything untoward.

Islandguy · Post by **Islandguy** » 18 Feb 2005, 19:58

I mean the Police Story 3 from the IVL box set....watch the scene in the Chinese training acadamy...its out of synch and noticeably so.........Knockabout is slightly out of synch, perhaps im sensitive to such things!!!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Feb 2005, 22:14

[quote]
I mean the Police Story 3 from the IVL box set....watch the scene in the Chinese training acadamy...its out of synch and noticeably so.........Knockabout is slightly out of synch, perhaps im sensitive to such things!!!
[/quote]

I didn't buy the IVL box because of the sync issue... I just only heard conplaints about Pts 1&2... most posters said the 3rd film was fine. Maybe you are sensative to the sound, because I honestly don't recall any problems with Knockabout. Regardless I hope the upcoming batch (I also want Hand of Death) is perfect!