I Am In Hong Kong. What Should I Buy? Any Recommendations?

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 13 Oct 2007, 07:57

Hi guys.

I'm in HK now for an indefinete period. Is there anything I should pick up or look out for whilst I'm here? Any versions of certain films that are superior here than R2/R1/R4 releases or anything I should avoid because one of the Western labels have picked up the rights and should be doing a good job. I've seen HKL, Tarten, Dragon Dynasty (with UK looking age certificate, they also had them in Australia) and even some of the Eastern Heroes Jackie Chan ones here in HMV.

Things on my mind are:
Aces Go Places boxset
Project A boxset (IVL)
Lee Rock boxst (Panasia)
Casino Tycoon boxset (Celestial)
Fight Back To School boxset
One Armed Swordsman Collection (Shaw Brothers)
Shaolin Kung Fu Mater Collection (5 Shaolin Masters, Executors from Shaolin, Shaolin Temple, 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Return to 36th Chamber, Disciples Of 36th Chamber, Eight Dragon Pole Fighter, Martial Arts Of Shaolin) (Shaw Brothers)
Swordsman 2/East Is Red Collection
Black Mask
Once Upon A Time In China Boxset (not the HKL which I already have, worth double dipping?)
Men Suddenly In Black
Random Korean films, will the comedies be picked up by the Western labels?

I like this message board as its a good sized community with characters so I'd appreciate any feedback. Also any recommendations for what to do or see would also be greatly appreciated!

At the moment there are two films that I've seen advertised doing the rounds; The Drummer (Jaycee Chan) and LustCaution (Tony Leung).

I've seen the trailer for the Drummer and it looks alright, whilst a friend has said LustCaution is worth seeing.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 13 Oct 2007, 12:10

Try picking up My Sassy Girl. Hyped Korean rom-com that Western labels (English ones anyway) haven't touched despite their being a demand.

Another one is Korean melodrama Il Mare, same situation as above.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Oct 2007, 12:54

Aces Go Places boxset -- IVL has remixed 5.1 only

Project A boxset (IVL) -- best editions so far

One Armed Swordsman Collection (Shaw Brothers) -- only way to get RETURN and NEW at present, but the Dragon Dynasty is better for the original

Shaolin Kung Fu Mater Collection (5 Shaolin Masters, Executors from Shaolin, Shaolin Temple, 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, Return to 36th Chamber, Disciples Of 36th Chamber, Eight Dragon Pole Fighter, Martial Arts Of Shaolin) (Shaw Brothers) -- some quality films, but DD's 36th Chamber is better and they have the rights to a couple of others.

Swordsman 2/East Is Red Collection -- UK disc for Swordman II is better, not sure about TEIR.

Black Mask -- censored, but otherwise the best version with subs.

Once Upon A Time In China Boxset (not the HKL which I already have, worth double dipping?) -- yeah, IVL's set is the best.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Oct 2007, 14:57

Warner's 2 Disc Who Am I
IVL's Police Story Trilogy box set

EvaUnit02 wrote:Try picking up My Sassy Girl. Hyped Korean rom-com that Western labels (English ones anyway) haven't touched despite their being a demand.

I don't the HK DC is really the DC. Get the Korean DVD.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Another one is Korean melodrama Il Mare, same situation as above.

The HK DVD is non-anamorphic, again you want the Korean DVD.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 13 Oct 2007, 20:19

MY Sassy Girl was pretty hard to find when I was there. Plus like Brad said, it isnt the Korean DC version. It's either a cut version, or an uncut version but with a different soundtrack, I believe. (no pun intended)

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 13 Oct 2007, 20:37

How is DD's version of "36th Chamber" better? I have the IVL and think its fine TBH

Killer Meteor · Post by **Killer Meteor** » 13 Oct 2007, 20:56

The mono tracks on IVL's Once Upon A Time In China are out-of-sync

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 14 Oct 2007, 00:00

grim_tales wrote:How is DD's version of "36th Chamber" better? I have the IVL and think its fine TBH

Original mono track, progressive NTSC image.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 14 Oct 2007, 00:02

Ivan Drago wrote:The mono tracks on IVL's Once Upon A Time In China are out-of-sync

I never noticed that. I keep meaning to check.........

The images are also better than HKLs.

Only the HKL extras (and maybe the subs??) are winners.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Oct 2007, 00:13

Ivan Drago wrote:The mono tracks on IVL's Once Upon A Time In China are out-of-sync

I've never noticed either.

Markgway wrote:Only the HKL extras (and maybe the subs??) are winners.

I think OUATIC Part 1 has the same subs, it was an early HKL release.

Markgway wrote:Black Mask -- censored, but otherwise the best version with subs.

Once Upon A Time In China Boxset (not the HKL which I already have, worth double dipping?) -- yeah, IVL's set is the best.

I second these two.

Black Mask HK DVD is great quality, the AV is easily the best. To clarify it's not cut in the strictest sense but as Mark says censored. The only fully uncut DVD is the Taiwanese DVD and the AV absolutely sucks.

OUATIC Box set is much better from Fortune Star. OUATIC Part 1 was one of the first HKL DVDs and it shows, part 2 and 3 look much better but aren't up to Fortune Star's efforts, the HKL commentaries are ace though. I've kept my HKL DVDs for them.

The OUATIC IVL box set easily wins with a choice of 5.1 and the Original Mono.

Yi-Long wrote:MY Sassy Girl was pretty hard to find when I was there. Plus like Brad said, it isnt the Korean DC version. It's either a cut version, or an uncut version but with a different soundtrack, I believe. (no pun intended)

The re-release DVD is labelled the DC but like you say doesn't feature the same music. I think it's safe to say the Korean DC DVD is the DC.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 14 Oct 2007, 01:41

bradavon wrote:Black Mask HK DVD is great quality, the AV is easily the best. To clarify it's not cut in the strictest sense but as Mark says censored. The only fully uncut DVD is the Taiwanese DVD and the AV absolutely sucks.

Mandarin dub only.

I think the French version might be uncut and Cantonese, but no subs.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 14 Oct 2007, 02:12

It also has burnt in English and Chinese subs of VCD quality. Yep not one to consider.

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 20 Oct 2007, 10:39

Thanks guys for the input. I just watched My Sassy Girl today on VCD. It is pretty enjoyable.

After reading the other thread where you can get HKLs for 1.50GPB via CD-Wow (and I was thinking that 2-4GPB was good on the official website when they had their sales), I checked some of the other websites like DDDHouse and it seems to be cheaper online (including shipping) than in HMV except for a few items, so I'm going to take my time in purchasing the above. No rush now!

Is it a pipe dream to find the Infernal Affairs Trilogy 5hr cut here in Hong Kong? I don't mind either the 8 disc set or the 2 disc one.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Oct 2007, 14:59

That is often the case but it's still fun to pick up DVDs in the native country and blow the cost, within reason.

Is it a pipe dream to find the Infernal Affairs Trilogy 5hr cut here in Hong Kong? I don't mind either the 8 disc set or the 2 disc one.

It will be mega hard. The 8 disc box set is OOP and the 2 disc I've only ever seen on DDD. Ask around.

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 21 Oct 2007, 18:28

Started to venture further than just Hong Kong Central. Went to Nathan Road today. I asked around for some of the boxsets but they either don't seem to understand my English (probably because I mutter) or there doesn't really seem to be a collectible culture with DVDs here. I saw one place where prices were comparable to DDDHouse. I've earmarked some things they had for tomorrow's session.

Is Pedicab Driver easy to find online or otherwise. I can't seem to find it on the net or on the streets.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Oct 2007, 18:51

I saw one place where prices were comparable to DDDHouse. I've earmarked some things they had for tomorrow's session.

I did something similar while in Vietnam but when I went back I couldn't find the ruddy shop again, doh!

Is Pedicab Driver easy to find online or otherwise. I can't seem to find it on the net or on the streets.

As strange as it sounds I don't believe Pedicab Driver has ever been released on DVD. Except that is for a 2 Disc or 1 Disc USA version, disc 1 looks to be the same.

doesn't really seem to be a collectible culture with DVDs here.

I think it's pretty small compared to Korea or Japan. I guess most don't want to pay LE prices.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2007, 01:25

I've split the thread off so as to keep it on topic for Risk.

Discussion on Pedicab Driver, Panmedia and word the Panmedia USA DVD is considered a bootleg can be found here:

https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... php?t=4035

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 22 Oct 2007, 17:59

Arrrgghh just type long arsed post before pressing back.

Thanks for the replies Brad. Sorry can't be arsed to type it all again. Will be checking out the other thread.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Oct 2007, 18:34

I hate when that happens, usually Bullets caches it though.

Casino Royale R3 is also the worlds best.

Risk · Post by **Risk** » 26 Oct 2007, 17:19

Back in Beijing now (for how long who knows?), took the 24hr train up. Suitcase is packed and it broke in transition whilst I was carrying it (wheels were already broken). Thanks for the help guys on the choices.

Will have to see what Dragon Dynasty and the other labels are going to release. With regards to new films, it seems they are going for action films right with Dragon Squad and the obligatory latest Jackie Chan film Rob-B-Hood. Like Eva said no one seems to be picking up My Sassy Girl and there seems to be a lot of Korean romance/comedy films about especially ones with teachers as a theme.

How many Shaw Brothers do Dragon Dynasty or any of the other Western labels have rights too? Maybe this question should be in another thread.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 26 Oct 2007, 18:11

I suspect these labels are still worried about releasing romantic comedies, even ones such as MSG which has a larger than normal following.

Are you using a suitcase you pull with wheels? I'm no fan of those myself preferring a backpack you can easily move around with you, on and off trains etc... They're bloody heavy though.

When my friend from Japan was over she brought with her an enormous suitcase with wheels and handle except the handle was designed for Asians so I struggled to pull it

and it was a nightmare on the train as it was muggins who lugged it through the carriage (it was too wide to pull).