Holy Sh*t Play have killed off HKL's website! ;-)

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 Jul 2005, 11:47

Thanks LD. Only "The Master" out of that lot interests me and purely because of Jet Li.

I hear it's tosh, right? "Maybe" Dragons Forever too.

How does "Dragons Forever" compare to "Project A"?

Am I right in saying only "Warriors Two" and "Duel to the Death" have competition? (i.e - IVL or Fox). Which out of those are better HKL or IVL/Fox?

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 02 Jul 2005, 12:01

bradavon wrote:Thanks LD. Only "The Master" out of that lot interests me and purely because of Jet Li.

I hear it's tosh, right? "Maybe" Dragons Forever too.

How does "Dragons Forever" compare to "Project A"?

Am I right in saying only "Warriors Two" and "Duel to the Death" have competition? (i.e - IVL or Fox). Which out of those are better HKL or IVL/Fox?

The Master is the worst film on that list! You should definitely see Dragons Forever and Warriors Two!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 Jul 2005, 12:12

Are you saying it's bad though?

Warriors Two is old school so enough said for me to avoid it. I'll probably check out some Shaw Brothers films one day though.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 02 Jul 2005, 12:56

bradavon wrote:Am I right in saying only "Warriors Two" and "Duel to the Death" have competition? (i.e - IVL or Fox). Which out of those are better HKL or IVL/Fox?

The HKL version of "Duel to the Death" is definitely better than the FOX version.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 02 Jul 2005, 14:24

Duel to the Death is total crap dont even bother, its a turd I felt shamed for paying for it, even I was gutted I spend 3 quid!

Odd Couple is the best on that list, stunning film.
Warriors Two is a wonderfull film too, old school means nothing at all! you throw them in categories too much Bradavon. Categories where they do not belong in my mind! people lump them in stupid catergories and think all the film in that section are going to be crap if they dont like 1 of them, thats bollocks.

I have heard wankers say I hate Shaw Brothers films

dicks they are, as there are soo many different Shaw Brothers films thats an ignorant thing to even think, its like saying I hate Films from Hollywood, basically its a dumbassed thing to say. :shock:

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 Jul 2005, 17:53

Each to there own Mr Romero!

Thanks LD

p.s - How does "Dragons Forever" compare to "Project A"?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 03 Jul 2005, 00:27

romerojpg wrote:Duel to the Death is total crap dont even bother, its a turd I felt shamed for paying for it, even I was gutted I spend 3 quid!

Which version did you get? The Fox one? Anyways... no matter which version, the film is simply awesome in my opinion. In the review on my website, I gave it 4.5/5 and that's the film, not the DVD. It's funny how tastes can be different. Not that I'm surprised. I know people who think that "OldBoy" is crap.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 03 Jul 2005, 14:19

Anyone care to answer my question please?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 03 Jul 2005, 15:47

Not really brad, but here we go...

As "Project A" is one of my favourite Jackie Chan films, I find "Dragons Forever" to be inferior to it. However, I'd give it a 4/5. Great fights and the finale on its own would be a definite purchase for me.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 03 Jul 2005, 16:01

Duel to the Death just isnt entertaining for me, too much pathetic bad wire work and people flying in the air for minutes at a time tottally ruining all the fights, esspecially the apualing end fight

if they didnt fly about so unrealistically then the film would have been better thats for sure. I guess if people like people flying about and acting silly then you will like it more, I just like more grounded gravity, real fighting.

Dragons Forver watched it last night, an average JC film really, but some cracking action, a bit like most films from the era.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 07 Jul 2005, 09:22

Hey,

With thanks to Cooey on Imports Forum 8) Not sure where he got these but here are the specs for Taeguki - released by PA on 5/9/2005:

-Features on this two-disc set include:
-Anamorphic Widescreen
-Dual Language Format (English Dubbed and Korean Language with re-mastered English subtitles)
-DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
-Audio-commentary with Asian Cinema Experts, Bey Logan and Mike Leeder**
-Tears of Fire: an explosive ‘making-of' documentary for Korean cinema's most successful movie ever
-History through the Lens: on-location featurette detailing the challenges of bringing Brotherhood to the big-screen
-Captain's Orders: an exclusive interview with action-director, Jung Doo-hung
-Battle Plans: an animated gallery featuring the production's original storyboards
-The Colours of War: an evocative animated photo gallery
-Don't look back in Anger: a retrospective documentary featuring Korean War veterans and archive footage*
-1950 Re-lived: a historical black & white featurette covering the effects of the Korean War*
-Honoured in Dispatches: Interviews with acclaimed cast members
-Brotherhood: a behind-the-scenes featurette exploring the themes of friendship in the midst of conflict
-Special Operations: a featurette detailing the logistical challenges of Korea's biggest ever movie production
-Trailer Gallery

*These could actually be very interesting if done properly, looking at the real Korean War and historical background of the film.
**This means another jokey commentary I'm sure...

memetic · Post by **memetic** » 07 Jul 2005, 10:06

Except for the commentary and the DTS, it seems identical to the R1. Might be missing the multi-angled storyboards tho.

R4 comes out the same month as this too I think.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 07 Jul 2005, 13:43

Memetic what more could they add?

DTS being enough for me to wait. Considering PA's track record on PQ I'm sure the R1 and R2 will be the same PQ wise.

I have to agree Grim the commentary will probably be weak. Bey is great on HKL releases but I wish they'd hire someone else for PA DVDs (or better yet spend the money on subtitling the original!).

p.s - DVD Times Grim!

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 07 Jul 2005, 17:21

Today's special is Crime Story/Heart of Dragon for £15.

Latest news:

LATEST NEWS
Dungeon Master
Ching Siu-tung, the director of the groundbreaking Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy, is continuing to build his Hollywood profile in the light of the worldwide acclaim he received for his amazing work on Zhang Yimou’s Hero and House of the Flying Daggers. The venerated master of ‘Wire-fu’ has been officially named as action-director for Uwe Boll’s forthcoming live-action film version of the ‘sword and sorcery’ video game sensation, Dungeon Siege.

Principal photography begins on Sunday in Vancouver, and stars Jason Stratham (Snatch, The Transporter), Leelee Sobieski (Eyes Wide Shut), Burt Reynolds and lady terminator, Kristanna Loken. Everyone at Hong Kong Legends would like to extend their very best wishes to Director Ching for his latest project. Check him out on the forthcoming Special Collector’s Edition of A Chinese Ghost Story 2.

The Myth
Action-superstar, Jackie Chan, has just completed production on his epic, historical adventure, The Myth. Jackie will play an intrepid adventurer, in the style of Indiana Jones, who gets mysteriously transported back to a previous life when he embarks on a quest for a valuable treasure. Director Stanley Tong (Rumble in the Bronx, Martial Law) shot many exciting sequences in Karnataka, India as well as in Shanghai, Xian, Lanzhou, Guaizhou and Yunnan in China. Chan’s co-stars include Bichunmoo leading-lady Kim Hee-seon, Tony Leung Ka-fai (The Lover, A Better Tomorrow 3) and sultry Bollywood sensation, Mallika Sherawat. The movie will feature a musical number with Chan and co-star Sherawat, and marks Chan and Tong’s first movie collaboration since First Strike in 1996.

How the hell is Uwe Boll?
I hope AGCS II is released soon, been waiting for it for years.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 07 Jul 2005, 18:41

Crime Story/Heart of Dragon for £15. is not that good a bargain

Crime story was under 3 pound on CDWOW months ago

and Haert of Dragon I got on release date from cdwow for 5.99

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 07 Jul 2005, 19:04

A quick check shows both are cheaper on Play (£14.98) and that's without a proper look across the e-tailors.

Grim no offence but I have wondered why you post these newsletters. Everyone who is interested can subscribe like you and I.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 07 Jul 2005, 19:16

I got HoD for £5.99 as well Romero, I'm just saying.

£3 for Crime Story? Bloody hell...

That IS (er, was) a good bargain!.

OK sorry Brad. Maybe other people (who dont subscribe) want to read them though

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Jul 2005, 03:56

Is anyone else getting annoyed at HKL deciding to let mods read each post before it gets uploaded? It's starting to get on my nerves.

A: It means the mod decides what is appropriate without consulting anyone else or see if it offends anyone
B: It's not right posts should get read before they're uploaded. It's like saying we'll hang this man before he does the crime. If someone posts something they shouldn't it's best for it to then get removed and they get told off.
C: My posts are getting changed around in the way I didn't type them.

Following on from Ice's post about the missing WOTD DVD I posted asking where it can be bought and adding you can still get it at Choices Direct.

The mod decided to upload only the first half of my post saying he had to remove info from another website. Which is daft as you can't even by it on HKL's website (well you kinda can but it's a reasonable

£35).

No other forum on the planet runs this way!

I should add to be fair he's been helpful in trying to source the DVD.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Jul 2005, 03:57

I doubt I'll post much longer. I assumed we'd hear from HKL and get extra info on new DVDs as that isn't happening there is little point posting.

You can find out more about HKL from the likes of DVD Times anyway.

memetic · Post by **memetic** » 08 Jul 2005, 04:33

bradavon wrote:Memetic what more could they add?

DTS being enough for me to wait. Considering PA's track record on PQ I'm sure the R1 and R2 will be the same PQ wise.

I have to agree Grim the commentary will probably be weak. Bey is great on HKL releases but I wish they'd hire someone else for PA DVDs (or better yet spend the money on subtitling the original!).

I wasn't implying they should have more, just pointing out that despite the different names they sound like the same extras from the R1.

I'm not really sold on the idea of having DTS and two DD5.1 for this film. If you do the maths, the video bitrate will be pretty average unless they use half bit-rate DTS.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Jul 2005, 04:38

My bad I didn't realise they had changed the names. I hate when they do this. It makes things confusing.

I'm sure they will use half-bitrate DTS. As I'm sure you know generally speaking full-rate is rarely used. I just know PA will doing a sterling job AV wise there previous DVDs (I own Bichunmoo and Musa) have been outstanding. In the case of Musa it's far superior to all the competition.

I suspect either the dub or Korean DD5.1 will be the lower bit-rate. In the case of Musa the English dub is 448Kbps and the Korean is 384Kbps although strangely the Korean DD5.1 sounds better (I don't mean the dubbing of course).

memetic · Post by **memetic** » 08 Jul 2005, 07:03

bradavon wrote:I'm sure they will use half-bitrate DTS. As I'm sure you know generally speaking full-rate is rarely used. I just know PA will doing a sterling job AV wise there previous DVDs (I own Bichunmoo and Musa) have been outstanding. In the case of Musa it's far superior to all the competition.

I'm not a big DTS fan, but it's a shame to be using half bit-rate DTS. IMO, DTS as a format is fine only because it's uncompressed; DTS as a compressor technically SUCKS. As an algorithm, DTS compresses worse than DD in general, thus IMO DD5.1 is better than DTS5.1 at half bit-rate. Half bit-rate is possibly more of a way to put the DTS selling point on the disc.

I should add... I don't have a DTS setup - I'm only going by "on paper" theory. Since it sounds like you have such a setup I'd be interested in your thoughts on how they compare.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 08 Jul 2005, 17:05

I havent joined the HKL site as its not exactly great at the moment. Maybe if it ever picked up and they didnt edit posts too

Its no9ce to know its there mind you.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 08 Jul 2005, 17:18

Where did you read DTS compresses worse than DD? As I'm sure this is not the case from many sources I've read over the years.

Ignoring everything else for a minute half bit-rate DTS (768Kbps) is nearly double full-rate DD5.1 (448Kbps) and is double low bit-rate DD5.1 (384Kps). That has to account for something.

80% of the time I can notice an improvement between DTS and DD5.1 if the source material is there (i.e - comedies sound the same, there isn't enough to work with). Sometimes it's subtle and you don't notice any difference at first but other times it's immense.

DTS does on the whole is louder than DD5.1 but even if you turn up the volume to compensate it still sounds superior. Put simply the argument it's just louder isn't true IMO.

There are times however where they sound identical. "The Two Towers: EE" is a fine example. I would swear the DTS is a duplicate/clone of the DD5.1 (or visa versa) if my DVD player and amp didn't say otherwise.

Basically as the majority of the time I can notice either a subtle or dramatic difference I always opt for the DVD with DTS (unless say it happens to also be non-anamorphic but the DD5.1 DVD isn't).

Half bit-rate is possibly more of a way to put the DTS selling point on the disc.

I'd agree with you to an extent there.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 08 Jul 2005, 19:41

Is anyone else fed-up with getting crappy HKL e-newsletters that contain mince offers and no new info?