Dragon Fist = Eastern Heroes DVD vs Columbia Tristar DVD

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 02 Nov 2006, 11:04

If I'm correct: Columbia contains the Cantonese reissue version (a more shorter version of the original). Despite the dubtitles, no extras or remastering (like 'Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin'), it's pretty decent having OAR anamorphic with Cantonese and English soundtracks put together. Image is fairly clean if overall soft with evident print damage, watchable.

Eastern Heroes apparantly released an English reissue version (likely known as a 2nd export international English version) which is the same length as the counterpart Cantonese reissue version. The latter features on the Columbia Tristar (and possibly Winners Video) DVD. The disc was withdrawn and the longer version released instead (not sure how long after) - this one is the longer version (you can tell by the artwork: Clothed JC = Shorter. Bare JC = Longer). Lots of frames cuts, no remastering, no Cantonese, quiet audio and no OAR. Most insultingly, the infamous '4:3 masking into 16:9' symdrome - except the credits which start in 2:35:1 squished into 1:78:1, the image (after about 10 minutes) starts to correct itself as the film moves in about 10 minutes (distortion gone) but cropping is still there sadly.

No winner. It's really upto you to decide. However if you can wait, the chances are possibly Brentwood, Dragon Dynasty, HKL (who didn't have it when I enquired - perhaps they do now) or definately Joy Sales will release the more definative versions using the new Fortune Star HD sources (which contain some frame cuts apparantly and a weak-coloured title card - but are still preferred none-the-less).

Eastern Heroes = R0 United Kingdom.
Columbia Tristar = R1 America.

------
EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

------
EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

------
EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

------
EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

------
EASTERN HEROES:

COLUMBIA TRISTAR:

------

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 02 Nov 2006, 11:27

Quite a good film. The EH disc is a mess visually whilst the Columbia is a mess narratively - entire fight sequences and an important plot point are gone completely!

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 03 Nov 2006, 12:50

I liked this movie too, JC's Kung Fu sucked every time from Fearless Hyena ('Wildman' Kung Fu in which he goes crazy and attacks are boring and frustrating - like in 'Dragon Lord' when he just throws wild attacks and gets thrown around the place).

Thank god the original still exists and we're not stuck with the reissue prints only.

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 03 Nov 2006, 13:31

I like Jackie's Wildman routine - the problem is Fearless Hyena is a VERY poor movie. The Young Master is great though! Undecided about Dragon Lord.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 03 Nov 2006, 13:50

The only thing I liked about 'Fearless Hyena' was the comedy parts with the tranny and English dub which could kill your bassbox

. 'Dragon Lord' = a whole bore. Young Master = lots of fun (wildman but has a little bit of traditional in it too).

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 03 Nov 2006, 16:21

Dragon Lord suffers from not having much of a clue about what it's trying to be.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 10 Nov 2006, 18:07

What the hell has happened to the original images?!