are these available in any worthy release?

[Mordib]

Fallen Angels (1995)
Arahan
House.Of.Fury
Swing.Girls
CHUNGKING_EXPRESS
Kaïro (aka Pulse)
The Quiet Family
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster.2
Shimotsuma Monogatari
Last Life in the Universe


I'm aware of the availability of a few of these, but not acceptable versions. by aceptable I mean with english subs and a video quality greater than vhs! Since i know many of you know 20 times more than I do about the current releases are far flung regions of the world i figured you might be able to advise!

m.

[Yi-Long]

Fallen Angels (1995)
Arahan
House.Of.Fury
Swing.Girls
CHUNGKING_EXPRESS
Kaïro (aka Pulse)
The Quiet Family
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster.2
Shimotsuma Monogatari
Last Life in the Universe


I'm aware of the availability of a few of these, but not acceptable versions. by aceptable I mean with english subs and a video quality greater than vhs! Since i know many of you know 20 times more than I do about the current releases are far flung regions of the world i figured you might be able to advise!

m.

The R2/4 australian release of Arahan is supposedly very good...
I wanted to order it from cd-wow a while ago but they didnt have it in stock anymore...

The R1 release of Chunking Express is supposedly very good, but you'll have to cope with Quentin's mug on the cover...
I read a lil while ago the R2 version of CE now has an improved Videotransfer, which makes it even better then the R2, but I cant be sure...

The korean release of My Wife is a Gangster and pt 2 are supposedly pretty good I believe!?

Cant help you with the rest 'm affraid...

[Mordib]

its a good start, thanks anyone else able to help with any of the others?

m.

[grim_tales]

The JP DVD of Swing Girls has excellent video (IMO) and very good English subtitles (My friend lent it to me the other day).

[bradavon]

If you want more detail ask:

* Fallen Angels (1995) - R4 is the best but I have the almost as good R1. Check out DVD Beaver.

* Arahan - R4. More extras than the UK R2, better cover art + DTS. Get the R4.

* CHUNGKING_EXPRESS - Artificial Eye UK R2 is the best but I have the R1 and it's nearly as good. Check out DVD Beaver.

* Kaïro (aka Pulse) - The HK R3 is very cheap and has 5.1 over the Japanese DVD which is only DD2.0. I'm happy with the PQ on the HK DVD but you may want the Japanese DVD.

[BiscLimpkit]

Arahan - Like what everyone else has said, the R4 seems like a decent option. The movie is tops, everyone does 'hadokens' all over the place (like Street Fighter).

House of Fury - Get the HK R3. Only version available AFAIK.

Swing Girls - If you can, get the bare-bones JPN R2. The extras on the other releases will be unsubbed.

The Quiet Family - I think the only English subbed version is the HK R0 DVD. Sadly I cannot comment on its quality.

My Wife is a Gangster - Great movie. Premier Asia will be releasing this shortly. Perhaps it's better to wait for this?

My Wife is a Gangster 2 - Another great movie. Best go for the Korean R3. I don't know of any others.

Shimotsuma Monogatari (aka Kamikaze Girls) - Awesome movie!!! Sadly no subbed version exists. R1 DVD should be coming soon.

Hope that helps and good luck in your quest.

[Lourdes]

Fallen Angels (1995) - R4 (R2J/NL/DE Unknown)
Arahan - R3K, UK and Aus discs are NTSC>PAL
CHUNGKING_EXPRESS - Undecided, any Western release.
The Quiet Family - R3K
Last Life in the Universe - Undecided (Need to see R1 and R2J)

By the way try to make the fact that you downloaded them in the first place less obvious.

[Mordib]

you would of course have no way of realising i havent seen any of these films before... but you're right, it's unlikely I would have heard of any of these if people didn't download stuff (and well spotted about the fact that i just cut and pasted the list ), the only difference being i'm asking here so that i know the best versions to buy

thanks everyone for your help, going onwhat you've said it looks like the following -

Fallen Angels & Arahan - R4
House.Of.Fury - R3
Swing.Girls - maybe not yet (I shy away from the expensive japanese releases)
CHUNGKING_EXPRESS - R1
Kaïro (aka Pulse) - ??
The Quiet Family - R3
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster - r3?
My.Wife.Is.A.Gangster.2 - r3 (though if i wait for the first one i dont want to already have seen the second)
Shimotsuma Monogatari - so not yet
Last Life in the Universe - r1?

[Yi-Long]

Is the Premier Asia release of My Wife... already out?
You might wanna wait for that!?

Nothing wrong with downloading btw, especially when, evidenced by this case, it leads to buying the actual product...

[Mordib]

well actually I disagree, sort of there is something majorely wrong with downloading. its illegal. Whilst it does indeed lead directly or indirectly to people like me buying titles we otherwise wouldnt have heard of its still illegal. logically theres nothing wrong with it, legally there is

anyway, sorry i really didnt want this thread to go down this route, Lourdes was right I should have either typed out my own list or as i considered initially, simply done the research myself! however asking you guys has got me the answers quick enough so that if i order them now I should have all the available ones by my birthday

m.

[Mordib]

ok next question, its been so long since ive ordered R1 dvds from anywhere but cd wow, do dvdsoon ship items seperately so that you dont get hit by customs (assuming the single item is below the tax threshold)

m.

[grim_tales]

The PA DVD of My Wife.. is not out yet Yi, though PA have made their trailer for it.

[BiscLimpkit]

wtf?! How did illegal downloading make it into this discussion? I don't see it being obvious anywhere.

Mordib, CD WOW are still my preferred choice. DVD Soon ship out what's available to them. So it may be your entire order or some of it. I think there may be an option when you make the order.

Hey when's your birthday?

[Mordib]

well one I alreadyknew about as available region 1 is suicide club, but cdwow dont sem to stock it... so i thought i may as well just order all the r1's from the same place, but dont want to be hit by customs for ordering multiple items...

m.

[bradavon]

Next to CD WOW DVD Pacific are my faves and then there is DVD Import.

Why would Arahan R3 Korean be from a PAL source?

CHUNGKING_EXPRESS - R1

Nope the new UK R2 from AE. Most people have the R1 as it's older and decent too IMO.

Kaïro (aka Pulse) - ??

I only know of 2 titles both decent, you decide: HK or Japanese

[Lourdes]

No DON'T get the Arahan R4! Not ut yet but it was on the list bradly got about sources of upcoming releases, it'll be a horrid NTSC>PAL job. Korean disc is probably cheaper and is fairly decent. I'd shy towards the R2UK of "Chungking Express" too, there's some boosting going on but it does look better than the R1 (although that is a decent release). I'm undecided because I need to take a good look at several other European versions to see which 'feels' right.
I found some Kairo HK shots and they are poor, I would bet anything on the R2J being better.
Korean discs of "My Wife is Gangster" (and sequel) are okay and better than the HK ones but if Preimer Asia (it is them and NOT Optimum right?) are releasing the first film then I'd wait. YOu'll get an alright transfer and good extras.
The R1 release of "Last Life in the Universe" is from a crap company so the transfer might be screwed up, however it does have a Doyle commentary. The R3T is much too dark, dull, washed out and has motion artefacts. The R2UK has REALLY bad artefacting throughout the film. I still much prefer the R2UK, still has the intentional washed out look but has so much more detail and life. Although you might want to take a chance with the R1 as you get the commentary after all.

wtf?! How did illegal downloading make it into this discussion? I don't see it being obvious anywhere.

Look at the format of the titles in the OP.

[bradavon]

No DON'T get the Arahan R4! Not ut yet but it was on the list bradly got about sources of upcoming releases, it'll be a horrid NTSC>PAL job. Korean disc is probably cheaper and is fairly decent.

Which basically doesn't have subtitles and it says further up it's also NTSC to PAL besides it's well under a tenner from CD WOW or was anyway.

I found some Kairo HK shots and they are poor, I would bet anything on the R2J being better.

Yeah but it's uber cheap and I know to most people PQ is far important than SQ (or it seems that way) but the Japanese R2 only has DD2.0!

Korean discs of "My Wife is Gangster" (and sequel) are okay and better than the HK ones but if Preimer Asia (it is them and NOT Optimum right?) are releasing the first film then I'd wait. YOu'll get an alright transfer and good extras.

Yes Premier Asia but I don't think anyone in the UK has the sequel.

Look at the format of the titles in the OP.

Huh?

Many have decent DVDs now or at least very acceptable ones.

[Lourdes]

Err the Korean release of Arahan does have subtitles and it isn't NTSC>PAL because it's a NTSC release. You're getting confused with the R2UK release, although that has subtitles... No reason to get the inferior R4. Only EE title I'd ever buy wuld be "Violent Cop" - if I liked it, and after seeing the R2J. No tell a lie, I might pick up their release of the Kurosawa docu although only because I haven't looked into other releases of it.

Kairo is supposed to be in stereo, the HK disc doesn't have the original audio and out of all the HK upmixes I've heard only 3 have been worth hearing. Incidentally I just noticed a Korean release on YesAsia, no Eng subs listed but it's from EnterOne so it should be a R2J port with Eng subs. I'll be getting that at some point I expect.

[bradavon]

Err the Korean release of Arahan does have subtitles and it isn't NTSC>PAL because it's a NTSC release.

Oops I meant it basically doesn't have subtitled extras.

Huh you say it's NTSC to PAL but then say it's NTSC? Why would a Korean DVD in an NTSC country for a Korean film have anything to do with PAL?

You're getting confused with the R2UK release, although that has subtitles... No reason to get the inferior R4.

It has DTS and more extras + the UK R2 I hear is also NTSC to PAL + it wil be twice the price.

I'm sure I'd be happy with the R4.

Only EE title I'd ever buy wuld be "Violent Cop" - if I liked it, and after seeing the R2J.

You're right Violent Cop looks really good.

I don't own any tbh but will pick up "Breaking News" it's looking better than the HK DVD. I may pick up "The Eye" if it goes cheap oh and "Silmido" but that already has an English subbed extras DVD and looks decent.

Kairo is supposed to be in stereo, the HK disc doesn't have the original audio and out of all the HK upmixes I've heard only 3 have been worth hearing.

Are you sure? It's a recent film.

True HK remixes from the days of old were awful but today they're fine. The Hard Boiled remix is great.

Incidentally I just noticed a Korean release on YesAsia, no Eng subs listed but it's from EnterOne so it should be a R2J port with Eng subs. I'll be getting that at some point I expect.

Of Kairo?

What's the spec. please?

[Lourdes]

Umm (couldn't use err again), read your post again. Your post reads as saiying that the Korean DVD is NTSC>PAL, I corrected this.
The extras are nothing special, I watched them with a Korean, and from the specs the EE disc appears to be missing all the good extras.

- Audio Commentary
1. Ryu Brothers - Director Ryu Seung-Wan & Actor Ryu Seung-Bum
2. Critics Commentary
- Mind Master
- The Changes of Martial Art Films in 1960~80's
- Making Film
- Interview with Cast
- Interview / Commentary with Crew : Production, Director, Action, Art & CG
- Deleted Scenes
- Trailer, Int'l Trailer, TV Spot, Poster, Premier

That's all you get on the R4 disc. Pitiful making of, three shorts interviews + fluff.

Stereo sound for Japanese films isn't at all uncommon, I'd actually say that it's the norm outside of big films which Kairo certainly isn't. And yes it definitely was in stereo originally.
Kairo (Korean Version). I haven't seen Kairo yet but if I find out that I like it I will get this DVD and be pleasently surprised by the English subs and R2J transfer. Although I'd first check that the YesAsia release date is correct as it's not on ANY Korean site. I'll get in touch with a Korean retailer.

[Mordib]

well i had problems finding Arahan, am duly waiting for the PA dvd of My Wife... Ordered chungking express R1, and Last Life in the Universe R3 simply because i was drawn in by the low price which allowed me to budget in Suicide club R1 as well.

Todays challenge, to find and order the remaining ones that have been identified as suitably available on the list. oh and i also ended up ordering Kung Fu Hustle R3 and preordering Danny the Dog R3 as well.. tis my favourite time of year this

Ooh, new title to add to the list - Fighter in the Wind.... anyone care to comment on whether this film is any good?

[bradavon]

Umm (couldn't use err again), read your post again. Your post reads as saiying that the Korean DVD is NTSC>PAL, I corrected this.

I still say why would a Korean film be in Korean? How did you correct me?

NTSC to PAL and NTSC>PAL mean the same thing!

Is it PAL or not?

That's all you get on the R4 disc. Pitiful making of, three shorts interviews + fluff.

I'd prefer pitiful "English" subbed extras to an extras disc that is basically a coaster but maybe it's just me?

Stereo sound for Japanese films isn't at all uncommon, I'd actually say that it's the norm outside of big films which Kairo certainly isn't. And yes it definitely was in stereo originally.

IMO so what it was originally in Stereo.

The fact is 90% of the time DD5.1 sounds better for many reasons so for me the fact the HK DVD has 5.1 and the Japanese doesn't it means the HK DVD wins in the sound department.

In this case Kairo is the sort of film that can make use of 5.1 also helps.

[bradavon]

well i had problems finding Arahan

I'd e-mail CD WOW they used to stock it for about £6-8 I can't quite remember.

-

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/779654 - I'd recommend these guys
http://atlanticdvd.com.au/index_stuffer ... m?id=13477
http://www.dvdorchard.com.au/product.as ... PND=115330

Reviews:

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Re ... sp?ID=5839
http://www.dvdbits.com/reviews.asp?id=2715

Some quotes:

"The video quality is excellent, and is only marred by some mild artefacts."

This says it all really:

"On this basis the Region 3 version of the disc is the winner if you like flashy packaging and/or can speak Korean. If you only speak English the local version is probably a better choice. I will go with Region 4 on that basis."

Ordered chungking express R1

Was the UK R2 to expensive?

Ooh, new title to add to the list - Fighter in the Wind.... anyone care to comment on whether this film is any good?

I suspect many will say the Korean DVD but I'm saying the UK DVD even if the extras are minimal they at least have English subs:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=57237

[Lourdes]

No DON'T get the Arahan R4! Not ut yet but it was on the list bradly got about sources of upcoming releases, it'll be a horrid NTSC>PAL job. Korean disc is probably cheaper and is fairly decent.

Which basically doesn't have subtitles and it says further up it's also NTSC to PAL.

Err the Korean release of Arahan does have subtitles and it isn't NTSC>PAL because it's a NTSC release.

I have no idea what you're going on about with "why would a Korean film be in Korean" and "Is it PAL or not?" You're not making any sense.

I'd prefer a good quality transfer with plentiful unsubbed extras to a crap transfer and a laughable amount of ported extras.

IMO so what it was originally in Stereo.

The fact is 90% of the time DD5.1 sounds better for many reasons so for me the fact the HK DVD has 5.1 and the Japanese doesn't it means the HK DVD wins in the sound department.

In this case Kairo is the sort of film that can make use of 5.1 also helps.

Nonsense, especially where HK releases are concerned. You can typically get better results using DPLII then you can from HK discs. Original audio > * unless a mix has been done by an engineer that doesn't just do a one-click upmix as they do in HK. It's not like Kurosawa couldn't have produced a surround mix had we wanted to, this isn't an old film.

[Lourdes]

Some quotes:

"The video quality is excellent, and is only marred by some mild artefacts."

This says it all really:

"On this basis the Region 3 version of the disc is the winner if you like flashy packaging and/or can speak Korean. If you only speak English the local version is probably a better choice. I will go with Region 4 on that basis."

This is MichaelDVD, their reviewers don't know **** even though many have excellent equipment. Just take a look at any review of Madman/EE titles. Same applies to other Australian rview sites sadly. I've purchased a couple of discs based upon their reviews in the past and they were horrible discs.