Hello guest, if you like this forum, why don't you register? https://forum.fanres.com/member.php?action=register (December 14, 2021) x


Hong Kong films-where to find information on the best versions

17 Replies, 1646 Views

These are all the other ones they had:
Swordsman
Fong Sai Yuk 1
Fong Sai Yuk 2
Full Contact
City on Fire-analog only
ABT1-analog only earlier issue
Once a Thief
Organized Crime and Triad Bureau-older pressing
Tai Chi Master
Righting Wrongs-This one was $50 and I think it was the defective copy.
Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader
Yes, I need to point out, that is how those films were seen in theaters, I experienced it myself in Hong-Kong.

It's like, would one be OK if the opening credits were removed from films, and replaced with subtitles? (I know, it happens on some discs like the recent Inglorious Basterds UHD). The burned-in, dual language subs were on all the prints, worldwide, that was the original presentation.

I'm a sucker for original theatrical presentation, and sadly, when it comes to HK films, these are gone forever. The majesty of the dual language subs (that sometimes went up and down and half off-screen) was part of the exotic charm!
(2021-11-05, 04:56 PM)Stamper Wrote: I suggest saving as many LDs as you can from the HK 80's era. As far as I am concerned, there's no suitable version of those films on home-video anymore because they used to be shown with burned-in dual language subtitles.

For more than a decade, that was the only presentation these films had, on VHS and LDs.

Then when DVD appeared, they began to release them with optional subs.

It takes away a lot of the charm, and also, many of the badly subs translations which sometimes were hilarious, got lost in the process.

You'll say, "well you would say that..." but I can't agree that the charm of Hong Kong Cinema was ever in bad subtitling. They may have provided unintentional amusement, but I think only a very tiny minority would ever advocate keeping them in favour of newly translated, literate and accurate subtitles. Keep LDs by all means, but do it for the audio, and the possibility of alternate cuts/footage.
Let's say it's a time capsule... That's how the tiny minority discovered them in real time!
I did go back and get Once a Thief, ABT1 and Bullet in the Head. I might get City on Fire later but it’s just the original analog only disc.

Speaking of City, what’s the best version with proper English subs and original mono for COF these days? Is it dvd since the BDs are upscales?
Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader
(2021-11-06, 12:34 PM)wongfeihung Wrote: You'll say, "well you would say that..." but I can't agree that the charm of Hong Kong Cinema was ever in bad subtitling. They may have provided unintentional amusement, but I think only a very tiny minority would ever advocate keeping them in favour of newly translated, literate and accurate subtitles. Keep LDs by all means, but do it for the audio, and the possibility of alternate cuts/footage.

I think it's a love-hate relationship. I do agree that it'd be nice to see the original subbing included in some form, but a newer, superior translation would be my preference if given the choice. Would be interesting to see the utilization of the aforementioned PGS method to retain the same font / style in the subs in general though.

(2021-11-06, 11:24 PM)captainsolo Wrote: Speaking of City, what’s the best version with proper English subs and original mono for COF these days? Is it dvd since the BDs are upscales?

Not sure about the DVD situation as the only release I am aware of in the States is my copy from Dimension which contains only a dubbed 5.1 remix and it is one of the worst audio tracks I've ever had the displeasure of hearing in my life (up there next to The Legend of the Red Dragon dub).
[Image: ivwz24G.jpg]
(This post was last modified: 2021-11-06, 11:51 PM by LucasGodzilla.)
It's strange how few HK movies have been released in HD, there were a huge amount of VHS and DVD releases in the UK alone and multiple releases of particular titles on DVD. I don't know if it's down to rights, lack of master materials or just a perception that they wouldn't sell
(2021-11-06, 11:24 PM)captainsolo Wrote: Speaking of City, what’s the best version with proper English subs and original mono for COF these days? Is it dvd since the BDs are upscales?

Obviously not brilliant, but the IVL R3 DVD is the best there currently is... and for the forseeable future. It has the original mono (sync would need to be checked though), is remastered (not a recent remaster, but one that dates back to the mid-00s) and optional subtitles (which I don't remember the quality of).

Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Exclusive Deleted Extended & Alternate footage from Analog Releases of Films Dahlia761 38 32,017 2022-04-10, 07:55 AM
Last Post: darkrage6
  [versions] Why SO many versions? (aspect ratios, colors, HDR, sound...) crumpled666 34 6,589 2022-02-28, 12:04 AM
Last Post: Typho
  [versions] Vintage Clint Eastwood films original audio preservation Stamper 61 7,854 2021-12-13, 08:20 AM
Last Post: dvdmike
  The platform for your favorite nested films and shows spoRv 0 358 2021-09-15, 02:46 PM
Last Post: spoRv
  TV Versions (Caddyshack, Vacation, & Porky's) gracie1979 1 691 2021-07-17, 07:26 PM
Last Post: dvdmike
  Godzilla vs Kong (2021) spoRv 9 1,763 2021-06-01, 08:14 PM
Last Post: tjmackey
  Highlander saga - different versions spoRv 35 19,966 2021-04-16, 09:13 PM
Last Post: bromichaelhenry
  [Help] Polish TV series "Mistrz i Malgorzata" 1990 help me find born113 3 2,380 2018-06-26, 09:30 PM
Last Post: born113
  Blade Runner (1982): color-timing; different versions; audio mixes Chewtobacca 30 24,434 2017-11-23, 09:53 PM
Last Post: Chewtobacca



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)