Fortune Star - A Better Tomorrow Trilogy - WTF???

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 13 Feb 2009, 23:09

Might help disguise the crap image.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 13 Feb 2009, 23:20

You gotta love those massive 80s shades 8).

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 15 Feb 2009, 17:22

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 15 Feb 2009, 17:49

Beautiful box set, but unbelievably rudiculous French title. "Syndicat du crime"

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 15 Feb 2009, 17:55

Forgot to add, even if it's not perfect, it's the best version on DVD of all four movies (includes the alternate ABT 3) so far (and I doubt it will surpassed).

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 15 Feb 2009, 18:06

I'm assuming the transfers ain't all that great...

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 15 Feb 2009, 18:18

I'm guessing no English subs

Its a shame about the poor subs on ABT1 on the FS set, how do the ones used on the UK Tin set (with Bey Logan commentary) compare?

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 15 Feb 2009, 18:50

I'm sure if you know where to look you'll find a version with custom english subs

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 15 Feb 2009, 23:00

dvdvision wrote:I'm sure if you know where to look you'll find a version with custom english subs

But you shouldn't have to.

I like original DVDs on my shelf not downloaded DVD-Rs.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Feb 2009, 11:21

Same here

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Feb 2009, 14:40

If they're DVD-9s it's the same but agreed:

"Am I bovvered?".

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 16 Feb 2009, 16:41

Markgway wrote:
dvdvision wrote:I'm sure if you know where to look you'll find a version with custom english subs
But you shouldn't have to.

I like original DVDs on my shelf not downloaded DVD-Rs.

hey,

more fun for the rest of us then!

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 16 Feb 2009, 17:07

Dragon Dynasty might get a good version out of these (using Atlas masters), but I don't bank on it.

Best image: FS master (minus the frame-cut and duplication problems) - it looks to be the most vibrant.
Best audio: US DVD (or maybe LD) - because it's probably not as filtered as FS (?) and it'll be original.
Best extras: Optimum DVD - I'm sure other DVDs have good extras too.
Best subtitles: UK DVD - re-translated.

I prefer originals as they look nicer (I also pay for them too), but will accept customs if a shit job is put out.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Feb 2009, 17:12

Is the UK Tin worth buying for the new subs and commentary?
Does it use the HK or Atlas print?

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 16 Feb 2009, 18:21

grim_tales wrote:Is the UK Tin worth buying for the new subs and commentary?
Does it use the HK or Atlas print?

It uses the Atlas print - it's got the new soundtrack and title card.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Feb 2009, 18:43

If we're talking about ABT Tartan have never released it. I cannot see any company using that many sources to create a DVD.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 16 Feb 2009, 19:28

bradavon wrote:If we're talking about ABT Tartan have never released it. I cannot see any company using that many sources to create a DVD.

Sorry, I meant Optimum - corrected.

Good luck if companies do it right, I'm just listing what could become a good custom 8) .

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 16 Feb 2009, 22:37

What do you mean by new soundtrack Cheng?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 16 Feb 2009, 23:36

I hear the Optimum DVD sucks Grim. Thanks Chen.

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 16 Feb 2009, 23:46

The Cantonese soundtrack on some DVDs such as Optimum, is re-scored.

Overall, Anchor Bay's R1 DVD might be the more 'neutral' option because it's anamorphic, features 2.0 sound. Not sure about flagging or subtitles though. Of course, the image will look pants compared to FS, but it probably won't suffer from frame-cut/duplication issues.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Feb 2009, 00:26

I remember the AB DVDs being perfectly fine, it's not as if the FS is stunning (if better).

chenlung · Post by **chenlung** » 17 Feb 2009, 09:37

http://www.fareastfilms.com/reviewsPage ... -A-139.htm - Far East Film's review on the US DVD.
http://caps-a-holic.com/vergleich.php?vergleichID=506 - Caps-A-Holic comparison.

The MIA DVD actually has the best looking levels in some, but it is softer, interlaced and non-anamorphic. The next least offending levels-wise would be the Spectrum DVD. Although IVL is horribly more saturated and snips off the sides, it is progressive and has slightly better compression.

I'm not a fan of any. Perhaps the best thing would be to get the original camera negative and make a new master that'll look less grainy and will extract better detail and contain better levels - once and for all.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 17 Feb 2009, 14:25

Thanks Cheng.
I'm happy with the IVL for now - if the R2 Tin has the altered music I won't touch it.

Ray_Rogers · Post by **Ray_Rogers** » 14 Jul 2009, 09:04

I ordered A Better Tomorrow Trilogy last week/week before from DDDHouse, already shipped and has yet to arrive. It's the Joy Sales/Fortune Star release. I already own ABT I from the John Woo's Hero Collection, only seen the Anchor Bay release of II and the Universe or Deltamac of III.
At times I wish there were an A Better Tomorrow IV. Of course it'd be a sequel to II since III is a prequel to I. I do know about Bullet in the Head and own the Joy Sales/Fortune Star Two-Discer.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 14 Jul 2009, 15:23

They could do ABT4.

Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, and Dean Shek are still going... the latter two are getting on a bit though.

They could set it in an old folks home.

Think of the carnage!!!