2007: The Digital Scrounge

[Brian Thibodeau]

Shanghai Knights (USA) (DVD) (but only coz I found it for $9AUD)

Frighteningly enough, I thought it was better than the original!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

...and I agree with several previous comments, while I do enjoy the martial arts films, there was so much more to Shaw Brothers and some of their other films are brilliant, the contemporary films are excellent, whether comedy, drama, horror, musicals, all are fascinating. I gotta say I was very happy to find a copy of The Super Inframan, I really hope Danny Lee saves the world.

The contemporary films I also enjoy, I love the look of bell-bottoms and big collars from ANY territory as I find that sort of thing really fun anyway. Thing is, HK were (and still are to some extent) more focussed on the period pieces and there just seems to be so few contemporary pieces around.

While I've yet to watch many of the imposing piles of contempo Shaw titles that plague my apartment, I have seen the trailers for a great many of them and there's just something so appealing about stepping back in time and seeing what Hong Kong, and often its surrounding areas as in the BLACK MAGIC films, looked like back then, bell-bottoms and all. Certainly some areas haven't changed much, but in a city that evolved so much faster than seemingly any other on earth over the past 40 years, and in a cinema where many current productions are increasingly (though obviously not entirely) shot outside the city, it often feels like a rare treat, even if technically it isn't.

I guess one of the primary reasons I love the direct-to-video and shot-on-video cheapie pictures is the real-time, as-it-is use of inherently vivid city locations, often on the sly. Even some of the worst ones (HONG KONG SPICE GALS comes to mind) offer ample opportunities to ogle wonderful street-level environments untainted by the artiface of big-budget production.

[cal42]

A small digression, but has anybody used: http://stores.moviesville.com/ before? If so, are they any good?

I decided I couldn't live without Oily Maniac a second longer!

[Brian Thibodeau]

Interesting site.

The OILY MANIAC DVD is cheaper than the VCD. Pretty fair deal, it seems.

Has the SEVEN SWORDS wooden box edition gone out of print or something? Check out the price:
http://stores.moviesville.com/Items/1501721?

or the 23-movie Disney Collection for only $60. Somehow, I suspect they're selling some "mainland versions" of certain titles!
http://stores.moviesville.com/Items/1501717?

And their Hong Kong Action section apparently includes "action" of the horizontal variety!
http://stores.channeladvisor.com/movies ... %20Action/

[dleedlee]

$69 for Yellow Earth and Red Sorghum vcds? Good thing they are out of stock!

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/movies ... ms/1001293?

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/movies ... ms/1001784?

[Mike Thomason]

A small digression, but has anybody used: http://stores.moviesville.com/ before? If so, are they any good?

I decided I couldn't live without Oily Maniac a second longer!

Am really surprised you didn't use DDDHouse, since they still have it in stock...

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_deta ... uctID=3184

[cal42]

I haven't used them either yet. TBH, I only use yesasia if I can get away with it. Mind you, that DDDHouse looks ok - I'll have to have a look if I'm after something that's "temporarily out of stock" at yesasia .

[cal42]

Don't you just love double posts? But this one's on topic!

I decided to try out DDDHouse after that tip-off (well, it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?) so I forced myself to buy the following Shaw Brothers films:

Crippled Avengers - long OOS at yesasia!
Dead End - believe it or not, I haven't seen this yet!
The Big Holdup (1975) - not reviewed in the DB yet, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Is anyone else finding it hard to browse films these days without having to stop and think "Have I already GOT that, or not?" Looking through the DDDhouse films, I was convinced I hadn't bought Legendary Weapons of China yet on DVD, but I look up and there it is right next to me on the shelf .

Off to watch Human Lanterns tonight.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Is anyone else finding it hard to browse films these days without having to stop and think "Have I already GOT that, or not?"

I have fallen into this trap a few times, and usually I would be in a Chinese store somewhere trying to "visualize" the collection back home (three hours away, at the time)! It probably should have happened a lot more, but I'm usually pretty good with remembering cover designs. I did screw up recently with a Poker order that included the a VCD of DIAMOND HILL, which I'd bought at one of the bargain bins here not two weeks earlier! Must be gettin' old. Luckily they were both so cheap!

I've used DDD house for years and have never had a problem beyond the odd loose disc, which is to be expected when they're shipping half-way round the world. Prices are fair, but I usually wait until I can put together a significantly large order to get a better per-disc shipping rate.

[Bearserk]

Not at all, have been unfortunate to buy doubles from time to time myself, especially due to Buyoyo's rather strange naming for some of the titles. It just gets harder and harder, but at least I can blame it on age, at least according to my friends

Ordered some more movies, since I had to order some for someone else, whoever that might be might as well take the opportunity to add some more to my own collection



Deadly Past - Ben Ng, Lily Chung, Jackie Lui

Fatal Encounter - Bobby Au-Yeung, Lily Chung, Hugo Ng

Final Edge - Lily Chung, Ken Wong, Phillip Ko Fei

OCTB Case - The Floating Body - Lily Chung, Ben Ng, Yeung Yuk-Mui

Home For Erotic Ghosts 2 - Lau Sek-Ming, Lily Chung

Kill For Love - Luk Siu-Fan, Cheung Foo-Mei, Chiu Shu-Hoi

Killing Betrayer - Lily Chung, Tommy Wong, Vincent Wan

Payment in Blood - Yu Rong-Guang, Vincent Wan, Lily Chung

Spy Gear - Fan Siu-Wong, Lily Chung, Sze Hung-Bor

Super Normal 2 - Edward Lee, Joyce Ngai, Lily Chung

[Brian Thibodeau]

Good choice in FINAL EDGE. I wonder if our top-drawer photo gallery for that one was a factor? Definitely one that shouldn't have fallen through the internet radar, but at least it's found a little love here. In fact, Lily Chung's quite well represented in your latest haul. Which of course, should improve her entry in the database!

I've seen that Luk Siu-fan disc up at the bargain bins here, but I'm always hesitant because she kinda bugs me. Very attractive actress, but she's just a wee bit too...plucky...in some of her roles, like PINK THIEF and the SEXY LADY DRIVER. Perhaps that was the style in Taiwan at the time, but she plays it like she was in 1940's movie with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland! Shudder... KILL FOR LOVE does look intriguing, though. Hmmmm...

[Bearserk]

Hehe, well it certainly didn't harm So you noticed that there where a few Lily Chug movies, and I who thought I would throw you of with Kill For love mixed in with them

Decided to get some more of her movies when I went through Snake Lover, she deserved some more shelf place here

I actually liked Pink Thief when I watched it, and have actually thought of buying Sexy Lady Driver, it just slipped my mind this time
But I will have to give it a second viewing soon, going through it getting images at the same time isn't exactly the best way to form an opinion about a movie, but as free time is rather hard to come by at the moment, I sometimes just pop them in and get images as I see it for the first time.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I wonder if the SUPER NORMAL series is the precursor to LEGEND ABOUT HUNTING GHOST! Now I gotta get it!

[sharkeysbar]

I have fallen into this trap a few times, and usually I would be in a Chinese store somewhere trying to "visualize" the collection back home

I know this feeling all too well, trying to recall the cover and/or title of the DVD/VCD as I stand in a shop searching thru titles, no idea what others may make of a guy standing and staring into space,

Maybe my memory isnt' too bad as surprisingly I rarely "double up". How does everyone else go? Anyone have a system or method to avoid "duping"? It might be interesting to hear other ideas on this.

I have picked up a few more Hong Kong titles recently,

The Delinquent 1973
The Bride Napping 1962
The Generation Gap 1973
Sunset 1971
We Love Millionaires 1971
The Proud Youth 1978

And 3 Japanese films,

Sanshiro Sugata II 1945
Branded to Kill 1967
Female Yakuza Tale 1973

[cal42]

The Generation Gap is certainly worth a watch. And despite what I said in the review, I think I WILL probably go back to it - that ending's superb.

I've read your reviews, by the way - I think I'll give Mad World of Fools a miss, then .

[Mike Thomason]

Ad-Lib Night (South Korea) (DVD)
Apartment (South Korea) (DVD)*
Daisy (South Korea) (DVD) (Korean 3-disc Domestic/Director's cut edition)

* curse you, Mr Thibodeau, with your positive reviews!

[Brian Thibodeau]

* curse you, Mr Thibodeau, with your positive reviews!

Wow! I'm shocked. Never thought I'd be a motivator in your purchasing decisions! Of course, if you ever feel that rare urge to look further back into Ahn Byeong-ki's filmography, you might find his previous three entries rather entertaining, in spite of my criticisms in the other thread and the generally dismissive reviews he often gets for them. The guy knows precisely how to string along the audience for maximum tension and scares, and has since NIGHTMARE MOVIE; he just has a tendency to put too much into his films, and in that regard, A.P.T. is no exception, as he could have dropped at least one ghost subplot and devoted a little more time to his characters. As such, though, it's still a fun chiller.

Maybe my memory isnt' too bad as surprisingly I rarely "double up". How does everyone else go? Anyone have a system or method to avoid "duping"? It might be interesting to hear other ideas on this.

Good call. I'd be curious. I've read posts at other home-theatre type forums where the occasional person will mention that they keep track of their films via spreadsheets, recipe cards or written lists, but for some reason, that just seems so pedantic to me (with apologies to those who utilize those methods). I suppose those "DVD list"-type websites might be handy, but I KNOW there isn't a one of them that has EVERY title available in the world, and when you're supplementing a healthy diet of mainstream stuff from various countries (including Hong Kong) with an unhealthy diet of bargain bin titles like those featured in this thread (such as the wonderful B-movies Bearserk and I have been finding), you're pretty much forced to keep tabs in your mind!

[Brian Thibodeau]

I watched a movie called MIDNIGHT CALLER tonight. It appears on this thread somewhere over the last eight pages as one of my bargain bin DVD pickups. And without a doubt, it is one of the most underrated 90's Hong Kong movies I've seen.

All four of our reviewers in the database missed the boat on this one, I think, although a couple rightly suggest the film's bubblegum factor. Nearly all of them, however, claim the filmmakers couldn't DECIDE what they wanted the film to be, a comedy or a thriller. If there's one kind of review (NOT the reviewers, mind you ), here or elsewhere, that tears it for me, it's the kind where, since the viewer doesn't like the fact that genres have been mixed, they deduct points from the filmmakers for not making it easier for them to classify the production as one or the other. Now, anyone who's watched even a small but wide-ranging cross section of Hong Kong cinema KNOWS these two genres—comedies and thrillers—go together more often than not, and not just in Hong Kong, but pretty much everywhere in the world. There are tens of thousands of entertaining comedies that, by design, hinge on elements native to straight-up thrillers, action films, horror movies etc. And filmmakers in those genres, too, add dashes of levity to heighten the realism of either the characters or the environments they inhabit.

When genre mixing really looks like its the result of two different movies being forced into the same running time, you can just tell, because less experienced hacks tend to block out such movies in ways that the action/thriller/horror stuff is almost entirely self-contained from the more comedic moments—it's like they really are afraid of cross-contamination. But in my experience, this tends to happen way WAY down in the low-low-budgeters more often than it does up top, because that's where hack work finds a welcome home, and that's not always a bad thing, as we know. But whenever I DO see genre-blending, especially in the anything-goes world of Hong Kong cinema, and even more especially in the upper-mid-range budget level of MIDNIGHT CALLER, I can almost always safely assume that the filmmakers intended this blending to take place right from pre-production. It happens by design, not by accident, especially in a film this tightly made by a filmmaker with a strong history in just such mixing and matching.

Is it ten-out-of-ten perfect? Probably not, but honestly, I'd probably only deduct a point or two because no movie featuring both Diana Pang Dan and Michael Wong has a right to be this entertaining and unpredictable all the way through, and that really makes me feel like a cheat down deep inside. This is just a fun, suspenseful confection made by people who know how to keep the thriller elements from getting too gory and serious, and the comedy elements from getting too ridiculously over the top.

Most reviews you'll find make reference to the film's climactic suspense sequence, in which Pang Dan dances lead in a gawdy musical number where she dresses like a sexy cat and gets chased around an elaborate, color-blasted stage by guys in tribal outfits and masks wielding rubber spears, except one, who's wielding a REAL spear with which he intends to kill her. Sloppy cop Michael Wong, with whom she has a like-hate relationship throughtout the film as he tries to track down the psycho bomber/serial killer who routinely calls her late-night radio phone-in show before each of his attacks, races to the scene and then.... well, that would be spoiling the fun.



But there's another fun scene that should go down in the history books. Mid-film, Wong and his tomboy partner Joyce Ngai leave Diana's apartment, encountering big, creepy masseuse Liu Fan on her way out of the elevator. Moments later at heaquarters, they come across information that leads them to believe she may, in fact, be the psycho killer bomber, so they race back to the apartment, where Liu indeed appears to be about to commit some nefarious deed to Diana's head, and proceed to trash the entire apartment in a knock-down, drag-out, punches-to-the-face brawl that impresses on several counts, not least of which is the hulking Liu Fan's ability to give and take abuse on the richter scale, and an infamous full-frontal peek at Diana's assets as her towel, for the second time in the film, is ripped from her body.



But those highlights aren't the only goodness on display here. Michael Wong is actually good in this. Seriously. He's dubbed, but the voice fits, and he's visibly speaking the greater portion of his dialogue in Chinese, and still managing to create a well-rounded comedy character (and a welcome antithesis to his role in FINAL OPTION) and an ideal foil to the snooty Diana, herself no slouch in this, and keenly aware of her own image and more than willing to make fun of it. Obviously, much of the credit goes to director-writer-producer Raymond Wong, a comedy-hybrid veteran who, unlike many directors who've worked with either of them before and since, clearly knew these two could be golden if the right movie was built around them.

Obviously, a psycho-thriller cop movie with towel-dropping, door-slamming humour—and all of it precision timed, and beautifully photographed to boot—is not out to win awards. Or anger critics who wish it was one thing or another, and nothing in between. It's also not a thrown-together excuse for a few seconds (well, frames, really) of Diana Pang Dan peek-a-boo, like so many of her other films in which she's starred. This one clearly has a lot more going on.

I found this movie cheap. You can too. Show it some love.

Guess I'm done rambling now. I now return you to your regularly-scheduled shopping trips.

[Mike Thomason]

* curse you, Mr Thibodeau, with your positive reviews!

Wow! I'm shocked. Never thought I'd be a motivator in your purchasing decisions!
Of course, if you ever feel that rare urge to look further back into Ahn Byeong-ki's filmography, you might find his previous three entries rather entertaining...

And that, indeed, was why I purchased this new one! I have all of those movies and enjoyed them in their own way...
Plus, you seem as interested as me in Korean cinema, so better to take a punt on a movie from a likeminded soul than lots of negative reviews by folk who have shown a predisposition towards not liking Korean movies...

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Maybe my memory isnt' too bad as surprisingly I rarely "double up". How does everyone else go? Anyone have a system or method to avoid "duping"? It might be interesting to hear other ideas on this.

...

Sanshiro Sugata II 1945
Branded to Kill 1967

My biggest problem has been buying for other people and trying to memorize their collections (but if they have it I tend to keep it for myself). For online purchases it is easy for me to keep track since all films watched that I own I keep in an Oracle database.

On the Japanese films: I have not heard much good about Sanshiro Sugata II (esp. after reading Donald Ritchie's essay on it), but would definitely like to hear what you think of Suzuki's Branded to Kill as well as that Kurosawa film. Also is there a good DVD of Sanshiro Sugata II available?

Asian films bought this weekend:
Spirited Killer -- Thai (BCI)
Born to Fight -- Thai (DD)

[Bearserk]

Some more, blame Fan



Dark Tales - (Rachel Lee, Adam Cheng, Perry Chiu) - Stageplay, but I have to have it, blame it on Fan

Esprit D'Amour - (Rachel Lee, Julian Cheung, Nelson Cheung)

Everlasting Love - (Andy Lau, Irene Wan, Rachel Lee)

Flying corpse - (Kenny Bee, Wu Kwan)

The Flying Mr B - (Kenny Bee, Cherie Chung, Rachel Lee)

Killing End - (Andy Lau, Rachel Lee, Simon Loui)

Love is Butterfly - (Rachel Lee, Charmaine Sheh, Nicola Cheung)

My Troublesome Buddy - (Patrick Tam, Rachel Lee, Pinky Cheung)

Nightmares in Precinct 7 - (Andy Hui, Rachel Lee, Simon Loui)

Ordinary Heroes - (Rachel Lee, Lee Kang-Sheng, Anthony Wong)

Silly Kung Fu Family - (Wong Yat-Fei, Rachel Lee, Kenneth Chan)

A Wondrous Bet - (Eric Tsang, Rachel Lee, Nicola Cheung)

Suzuki's Branded to kill sure is special, bought that and Tokyo Drifter some years ago, and popped Branded to Kill into the DVD player, the movie left a lasting impression on me you might say. I have yet to open the packaging on Tokyo Drifter But I probably will have to watch it sometime, give him a second chance

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Suzuki's Branded to kill sure is special, bought that and Tokyo Drifter some years ago, and popped Branded to Kill into the DVD player, the movie left a lasting impression on me you might say. I have yet to open the packaging on Tokyo Drifter But I probably will have to watch it sometime, give him a second chance

I felt the same way after watching his Gate of Flesh. I found it weird how ex-military man (Joe Shishido though I think he actually does not do the killing) decides to slaughter (for real) a cow in the middle of the film for the band of prostitutes to cook and eat. And I was annoyed by the pulp melodrama.

Just noticed he has six films on Criterion and about 55 total directoral efforts.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Nightmares in Precinct 7 - (Andy Hui, Rachel Lee, Simon Loui)

More Simon Loui. See what I mean? It's impossible to avoid him. And this is one of his writing gigs as well! In fact, it's pretty good, with some atmospheric visuals and a couple of good jolts. Another Andy Hui movie I rather enjoyed from around the same period was INTERACTIVE MURDERS, a gimmick-reliant crime thriller that might've pleased William Castle. Not great, but you had to give them kudos for trying something different in those days. I believe SHARP GUNS with Alex Fong was part of the same "series." Another Hui favourite is YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE aka A LOVE STORY, although it might not be a good fit with your usual acquisitions. It's a bit on the mushy side.

I've seen THE DARK TALES at a couple of my bargain bin places and have always avoided it because it was a play. Now I'm dying to know what secrets Fan told you...

Suzuki's Branded to kill sure is special, bought that and Tokyo Drifter some years ago, and popped Branded to Kill into the DVD player, the movie left a lasting impression on me you might say. I have yet to open the packaging on Tokyo Drifter But I probably will have to watch it sometime, give him a second chance

Oh, you have GOT to open TOKYO DRIFTER! It's way better! Not as offbeat perhaps—which sounds like it could be a good thing for you—but the mood-swinging use of colour, modular scene compositions, and snazzy music elevate it several notches above the overrated BRANDED. It took me days to get the tune the main killer whistles out of my head. Mind you, a friend of mine prefers the earlier film (perhaps he's a sticky-rice-sniffing perv, too, I don't know), but I was definitely more impressed with DRIFTER, which can rightly be called pop art with a kick.

[Bearserk]

More Simon Loui. See what I mean? It's impossible to avoid him. And this is one of his writing gigs as well! In fact, it's pretty good, with some atmospheric visuals and a couple of good jolts.

Hehe, well, he is somewhat a bonus you might say
But he has been busy, so he pops up everywhere.

Another Andy Hui movie I rather enjoyed from around the same period was INTERACTIVE MURDERS, a gimmick-reliant crime thriller that might've pleased William Castle. Not great, but you had to give them kudos for trying something different in those days. I believe SHARP GUNS with Alex Fong was part of the same "series."

I already got Interactive Murders, even finished taking images and add them to the DB a while back. Nice movie

Another Hui favourite is YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE aka A LOVE STORY, although it might not be a good fit with your usual acquisitions. It's a bit on the mushy side.

I can stand mushy so see if I don't pick it up during the summer if I get the time, got a bit to watch you might say

I've seen THE DARK TALES at a couple of my bargain bin places and have always avoided it because it was a play. Now I'm dying to know what secrets Fan told you...

Just different opinions about an actor

Oh, you have GOT to open TOKYO DRIFTER! It's way better! Not as offbeat perhaps—which sounds like it could be a good thing for you—but the mood-swinging use of colour, modular scene compositions, and snazzy music elevate it several notches above the overrated BRANDED. It took me days to get the tune the main killer whistles out of my head. Mind you, a friend of mine prefers the earlier film (perhaps he's a sticky-rice-sniffing perv, too, I don't know), but I was definitely more impressed with DRIFTER, which can rightly be called pop art with a kick.

Well, if you talk that highly of it, I may have to push to the top of my Criterion list, got a few which I simpy haven't had time to see, but just a couple of weeks till summer now so will have some spare time then

[Brian Thibodeau]

but just a couple of weeks till summer now so will have some spare time then

It's a shame you'll have to spend soooo much time indoors this summer...

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Added the following this weekend (probably paid too much for Heaven and Hell but I was at Best Buy and had a coupon; damn use of coupons have cost me too much):

Heaven and Hell (1978) Shaw Brothers HK - Image/Celestial
Elimination Pursuit (1983) Taiwan - Rarescope
Love and Sword (1979) Taiwan - Rarescope

[Brian Thibodeau]

My copy of Mill Creek's Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack arrived from Deep Discount on the weekend. Probably be a looooonnnng while before I get to it, but there's some fun-looking stuff on there, including at least one Weng Weng feature (woo-hoo!). For only $13.17 (at the time) I know I should be ashamed of myself for scraping the bottom of the transfer-quality barrel like this, but I just couldn't resist.
http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewproduct ... Id=5785830

I also just finished watching Classic Media's restored version of the original Japanese GOJIRA (1954). I'm not even the biggest Godzilla fan, but it's like a five-fold improvement over the U.S. version with Raymond Burr, though that's probably a foregone conclusion. It "reads" much deeper, obviously, but it's staggering to see just how much excellent, culturally-specific material was removed to make the U.S. edition. Excellent commentary track as well, loaded with


.
.
.


A bit off topic, but I also won three Blue Underground DVDs of classic Italian thrillers last night on ebay for the grand total of about $11:
FORBIDDEN PHOTOS OF A LADY ABOVE SUSPICION
BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA
THE BIG RACKET
Nice.

[cal42]

I couldn't see a title list with that pack, Brian. Is there a link to it somewhere?

I know it's highly unlikely, but has anyone got this?

I know what you're all thinking , but what I actually want it for is Virus. Does anyone know if this is the really long version? It says uncut, but I can't see a running time on there.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I know what you're all thinking , but what I actually want it for is Virus. Does anyone know if this is the really long version? It says uncut, but I can't see a running time on there.

I picked that up for exactly the same reason! The VIRUS in that set is indeed the subtitled, widescreen, uncut Japanese version! I believe it's been properly licenced as well. Bit too long, actually, but astronomically better than the horrid public-domain versions we've had to make to with up to now. Buy that one with confidence!

BUT...

HKflix is advertising it like it's a 3-disc set for one movie, when it's actually three movies on three discs, the other two being GOLGO 13, which I've never seen, and BULLET TRAIN, which is quite a good thriller and an obvious progenitor of Jan DeBont's SPEED. BULLET TRAIN is also widescreen, subtitled, but it is cut I believe. Although the shorter running time isn't necessarily a bad thing as it was a tremendously talky movie. I believe the HK R3 release of BULLET TRAIN may be the full length Japanese version, which I recall is the reason I kept it after I got the Chiba Action pack..

Better info at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Sonny-Chiba-Actio ... 081&sr=1-4


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

here's the titles in the 50 movie pack, swiped from one of the reviews at Amazon (cast names are from there as well, so no need to correct any boo-boos here):

The Big Fight (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1972) - Roc Tien/Cheung Chin Chin
Black Cobra (Italy-1987) - Fred Williamson/Eva Grimaldi
Black Cobra 2 (Italy-1988) - Fred Williamson/Nicholas Hammond
Black Cobra 3 (Italy-1988) - Fred Williamson/Forry Smith
Black Fist (1975) - Richard Lawson/Dabney Coleman/Philip Michael Thomas
The Black Godfather (1974) - Rod Perry/Damu King
The Brave Lion (1977) - Wei Tzi Yung
Breakout From Oppression (1978) - Fonda Lynn/Alan Tam
Chase Step By Step (China-1982) - Chee Fung/Wong Gwan Sheong
City Ninja (1986) - Wai-Man Chan/Chia Che Fu
The Deadly Duo (Hong Kong-1971 aka 2 Great Cavaliers) - Chen Sing, John Liu
Death Machines (1976) - Ronald L. Marchini/Michael Chong
Death Of A Ninja ("Black Magic Wars") (Japan-1982) - Hiroyuki Sanada/Sonny Chiba (in support)
Fighting Mad ("Death Force") (USA/Philippines-1978) - Jayne Kennedy/Leon Isaac Kenndey (both minor roles)
Four Robbers (Hong Kong-1987) - Charlie Cho/Feng Ku
Four Shaolin Challengers (Homg Kong-1977) - Charlie Chan/Phillip Ko
The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu (Hong Kong-1981) - Sally Chen/Fei Meng
Hands Of Death (Hong Kong-1987) - Richard Harrison/Roc Tien
The Head Hunter (Hong Kong-1982) - Rosamund Kwan
Heroes of Shaolin Part 1 (Hong Kong-1979) - Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang
Heroes of Shaolin Part 2 (Hong Kong-1979) - Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang
Image Of Bruce Lee (1978) - Bruce Li/Chang Leih
The Impossible Kid (Philippines-1982) - Weng Weng
Infernal Street (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1973) - Feng Chang/Wan Hsi Chin
Karate Kids USA ("The Little Dragons") (1980) - Charles Lane/Ann Sothern
Kung Fu Arts (Taiwan-1980) - Carter Wong/Sing Chen
Kung Fu Kids Break Away (Hong Kong-1980) - Au Dai/Cheung Hoi Fan
The Master (series): "Max" (TV-1984) - Lee Van Cleef/Timothy Van Patten/Sho Kosogi/Demi Moore (bit part)
The Master (series): "Out-Of-Time Step" (TV-1984) - Charles Collins/Dick Durock
Ninja Champion (Hong Kong-1985) - Bruce Baron/Pierre Tremblay
Ninja Death I (1987) - Alexander Lou/Fei Meng
Ninja Death II (1987) - Lo Yiu/Fei Ming
Ninja Death III (1987) - Lo Yui/Fei Ming
Ninja Empire (Hong Kong-1990) - Mike Abbott/Marko Ritchie
Ninja Heat (1988) - Chan Sheng/Chan Wai Mang
Ninja The Protector (Canada/Hong Kong-1986) - Richard Harrison/Jackie Chan
The Real Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) - Bruce Lee/Bruce Li/Dragon Lee
Return Of The Kung Fu Dragon (Hong Kong-1976) - Sing Chen/Tao Chen
Return Of The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Sonny Chiba/Yôko Ichiji
Shadow Ninja (Hong Kong-1983) - Roy Chiao/Wei Tung
Shaolin Deadly Kicks ("Flash Legs") (Hong Kong-1977) - Tao-liang Tan/Lieh Lo
Shaolin Temple (Hong Kong-197? ??) - Judy Lee
Sister Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Hiroshi Miyauchi/Sanae Ohba
Snake Fist Dynamo (Homg Kong-1984) - Erik Yee/Dick Lee
The Snake, The Tiger, The Crane (Hong Kong-1975) - Carter Wong/Nan Hsi Yen
Spirits Of Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) - Michael Chan/Poon Lok
The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) - Sonny Chiba/Waichi Yamada
Tiger Love (1977) - Hu Chin/Lieh Lo/Ya Wang
T.N.T. Jackson (Philippines/USA-1975) - Jeannie Bell/Stan Shaw
The Weapons Of Death (1982) - Eric Lee/Bob Ramos

Amazon Listing:
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007DBJUU

Mill Creek has about ten of these 50-movie packs available in different genres. Mostly crap transfers although there are occasional surprises of excellent quality, widescreen etc. Mostly just tolerable, though. I think if you type in "50 movie" at Amazon you'll probably see most of them.

[cal42]

I picked that up for exactly the same reason! The VIRUS in that set is indeed the subtitled, widescreen, uncut Japanese version! I believe it's been properly licenced as well. Bit too long, actually, but astronomically better than the horrid public-domain versions we've had to make to with up to now. Buy that one with confidence!

Woo-hoo! *Gets credit card out*

BUT...

HKflix is advertising it like it's a 3-disc set for one movie, when it's actually three movies on three discs, the other two being GOLGO 13, which I've never seen, and BULLET TRAIN, which is quite a good thriller and an obvious progenitor of Jan DeBont's SPEED. BULLET TRAIN is also widescreen, subtitled, but it is cut I believe. Although the shorter running time isn't necessarily a bad thing as it was a tremendously talky movie. I believe the HK R3 release of BULLET TRAIN may be the full length Japanese version, which I recall is the reason I kept it after I got the Chiba Action pack..

Hmm. I saw a trailer for Bullet Train on the Street Fighter DVD and it looked a bit interesting in the old "Disaster Movie" mould. I'll probably watch it in this format and then if I like it I might look for the full version.

That list of films is quite something. I've only seen a couple on there I think. NINJA THE PROTECTOR stands out, I've definitely seen that. Let's just say I didn't rush for a repeat viewing . Oh and of course, the Jackie Chan listed isn't THE Jackie Chan, obviously.

[Mike Thomason]

The latest acquisitions...

The Coast Guard (South Korea) (DVD)*
Cold War (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Dark War (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Gangs 2001 (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Hanbando (South Korea) (DVD)
Homicidal Maniac (Hong Kong) (DVD)
IQ Dudettes (Hong Kong) (DVD)
The Perfect Couple (South Korea) (DVD)
Operation Makeover (South Korea) (DVD)
Sound From The Dark (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Sworn Revenge (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Twilight Garden (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Vampire Controller (Hong Kong) (DVD)
Violent Cop (Hong Kong) (DVD)

* that'll teach me to watch my DVDs quicker! The copy I've had sitting around forever got watched the other day, and proved to be faulty! So this one is a replacement for what proved to be an excellent film.