ABT: R1 AB vs. HK IVL vs. UK MIA SE vs. ND SB vs. UK OA

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 01 Jun 2006, 11:53

Cheers Eva.

The IVL is the clear winner despite all that grain. I'll be sticking with the IVL box set and not bother getting the new UK UE.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 21 Oct 2006, 19:31

I took comparison shots from the new Nordic Scanbox John Woo collection box sets; It's a bit soft, but there's no digital enhancing nor any restoration for that matter.

Here ya go...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 00:08

Thanks again.

The IVL is easily the winner with the MIA SE easily the weakest (it's a mess). The Nordic is second with the AB third, both the AB and Nordic look virtually the same.

The Nordic and Optimum Asia UE look identical. I'd only pick that one up for the Bey Logan commentary.

This one I'm sticking with my IVL.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 Oct 2006, 00:50

So, the Nordic release has the original soundtrack?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Oct 2006, 00:56

In terms of picture quality, the IVL is the winner. If only their DVD of part 1 wasn't faulty, damn it. Hence, I'd upgrade as soon as I get a decent English or German subtitled version.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 01:10

Wouldn't therefore LD the Optimum Asia UE be worth getting?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Oct 2006, 01:23

I have heard that it has one huge fault, which I think was the wrong soundtrack or so.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 01:37

You have? I've not read any review which said that.

ABT review mentioning extreme cropping but no audio issues, the cropping seems to be exclusive to this review:

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/reviews/r ... User=35825

I'd say it's no better than the AB but at least it has some decent extras.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Oct 2006, 01:48

It has decent extras indeed, but I already own 4 versions of the film. I don't know if the full price for the UE is worth spending only for the extras.

As for the soundtrack, I think someone at the ADVDG confirmed that they used the infamous Cantonese track with the "Forrest Gump"-music edited in.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 02:19

You've heard of eBay right?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Oct 2006, 02:24

Just looked through it. Not available right now.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 02:36

LOL no get rid of 3 of your ABT DVDs.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 22 Oct 2006, 02:40

Nope. They all have different, exclusive extras.

gojensen · Post by **gojensen** » 22 Oct 2006, 09:50

The Gumpy soundtrack is prevalent in the "corridor" sequence right?

I can't seem to muster up any webinfo on exactly where the music was changed into what... apart from a note saying the assasination scene had "twangy taiwanese" music replaced with "synths" and that's not the case with these 2 discs...

As for extras on the Optimum, at least the JohnWoo feature is pretty interesting---especially if you don't know "everything" about Woo beforehand...

However... comparing the corridor/assasination scene on the Nordic/Optimum with the AB/MIA disc... they have different music!

So I decided to check with my MegaStar disc which supposedly should've been the fixed version... and it had the same soundtrack as the Scanbox/Optimum!

And neither of these soundtracks sounded Gumpy to me... :-/ So, do I really have to break out my old LaserDisc player to verify this?! Hm...

I remembered the IVL discs

It has the same soundtrack as the AB/MIA discs, so I'm guessing my MegaStar is faulty and both the Nordic/Optimum has the new "tweaked" soundtrack.

As for the framestutter on the ivl... annoying, and I can't understand how they managed that... It looks like (going frame by frame) that the 2 last frames before certain scene shifts got swapped...

So, does this mean that the AB is the best disc around?!!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 16:04

You've well and truly confused me I know that much

I don't remember reading anyone say the IVL has different music, as it looks to be even for both soundtracks how do we know which is correct?

Personally I just think (price aside which yes the Optimum UE is expensive) the Optimum UE wins overall IF the framing issue bothers you.

If not get the IVL.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 Oct 2006, 16:30

What a mess

It has been confirmed that Optimum does not have the original soundtrack.
IVL is unwatchable due to the frame issue IMO (couldn't even finish the dvd as far as I remember)
AB has audio drop out in the beginning
And now the nordic release seem to be fucked as well

Thank God HK Video will be releasing this one day.
(Dragon Dynasty has the rigts too in case someone is interested)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 17:33

HungFist wrote:It has been confirmed that Optimum does not have the original soundtrack.

Your source? No review I've read mentions it, Gojensen says the IVL is the same music, so also messed up no?

HungFist wrote:AB has audio drop out in the beginning

That's the least of it's problems, besides it's a FEW SECONDS. The AB DVDs are flipping ancient anyway, they'd do a better job today.

HungFist wrote:Thank God HK Video will be releasing this one day.
(Dragon Dynasty has the rigts too in case someone is interested)

Oh yeah good point DD cool.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 Oct 2006, 17:46

bradavon wrote: Your source?

kfccinema wrote: btw, fuck this dvd. i finally popped it in and its GARBAGE!!! They changed the fucking music man. the quality isnt even that good and ive seen the interviews....ARGH!!!!

FUCK THIS DVD!

(thanks)

- http://www.kfccinema.com/xtemplex/index ... 0053&st=25

asiandvdguide wrote: Well, I just received my copy of Optimums new region 2 release of A BETTER TOMORROW in the mail. Now, to put this mildy: Anyone even REMOTELY considering buying this dvd, stay as FAR away from this crappy release as possible! Do NOT support what is nothing less than the most horrendous BUTCHERING of this classic that I have ever had the displeasure of viewing! First of all, the picture quality is nothing short of atrocious if you ask me. It may look better than the previous UK MIA release, but compared to IVL it's pretty much bottom of the barrel! Heavy grain and overall VERY disappointing picture quality! Definitely not REMASTERED, as the case states, and definitely not an ULTIMATE EDITION qualitywise. What's more, the film is not in its original aspect ratio (1.85 as far as I recall), with some irritating cropping, especially during the opening credits.

To add further insult, the print used for this dvd is the INTERNATIONAL one distributed by Atlas, so the opening credits are all in English and the title card looks horrendous! If this wasn't bad enough though, the original soundtrack is NOT contained / included on this release either! Instead we get a horribly altered soundtrack, with different and inferior music that lessens the impact of the film, and added sound effects!

I'll stick with my IVL, despite dropped frames! The Optimum one goes straight into the garbage bin!

Norfaust

- http://adg.invisionzone.com/index.php?s ... r+tomorrow

I thought this was discussed here too.

bradavon wrote: Gojensen says the IVL is the same music, so also messed up no?

Gojensen said IVL has the same soundtrack as AB and MIA, not Optimum.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 22 Oct 2006, 18:10

Hung, don't automatically assume that everyone here reads every major Asian DVD news/review site and visits every major Asian film forum under the sun.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 22 Oct 2006, 18:20

EvaUnit02 wrote:Hung, don't automatically assume that everyone here reads every major Asian DVD news/review site and visits every major Asian film forum under the sun.

When did I assume so?

I said "I thought this was discussed here too" meaning I didn't bring this up before because I though this had already been discussed here at bullets (in the ABT Ultimate Edition thread).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2006, 19:43

Thanks Hung most informative.

My bad the Nordic, Megastar and Optimum has messed up audio with the AB, IVL and MIA SE having the correct audio.

I guess this makes the AB (if the framing bothers you) or IVL (if it doesn't) the best. Personally I found the IVL in the real-world to have much better PQ to the AB.

I said "I thought this was discussed here too" meaning I didn't bring this up before because I though this had already been discussed here at bullets (in the ABT Ultimate Edition thread).

It may have been tbh but that's an old thread and if it had been I forgot.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 27 Oct 2006, 13:18

The IVL has the correct music I'm sure.
AFAIK there were 2 AB DVDs - one with Cantonese 5.1 and one with MONO. The MONO DVD is the correct music (no Terminator/Gump).
I know because I once recieved the infamous 5.1 AB DVD and was not happy

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 27 Oct 2006, 19:09

I have the old MIA disc which is non-anamorphic and with forced subs and trimmed end credits. However, it has the original score so it will do until Joy Sales/Dragon Dynasty have a go