anyone know when is Sha Po Lang DVD coming out?

[Gitaroo]

the movie came out a while ago right? But I cant find any info about the dvd.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Is anyone here certain this movie has played in Hong Kong yet? I notice the database entry doesn't list a release date, so I'm wondering if they're still touring it around the film festivals to get the word-of-mouth foaming before releasing it in Hong Kong and perhaps the rest of the world.

SPL would actually make a great pickup for a smaller studio-bound genre label like Dimension (the new version, sans Weinsteins, of course) or a larger indie like Lion's Gate. They wouldn't make a hundred million on it, but they'd EASILY make back the cost of the U.S. distribution rights and have a nice little profit. Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung are known enough entities among action aficionados (thanks to stuff like IRON MONKEY, FLYING DAGGERS and, ahem, MARTIAL LAW) that positive word of mouth and internet response would at least allow a smaller company to squeeze a week or two out of a large-ish theatrical run (a la IRON MONKEY) before the DVD streets. Hell, stick Tarantino's name on it, for all I care (though SPL hardly needs the patronage). Just let the people SEE it!

Man, just thinking about that movie has me absolutely DESPERATE to see it again, preferably on the big screen with a Midnight Madness style crowd who actually respect the material, but a nice 2-disc DTS DVD will do me just fine.

Amazing. Just amazing.

If only I had the money...

[Brian Thibodeau]

Just stumbled across the official website (I think). Perhaps DVD info will eventually be posted there.

Very cool intro (and the music IS from the movie)

http://www.sharpa-image.com.hk/spl/en/opening.htm

[magic-8]

November for the theatrical release.

If you ever need Asian cinema info, go here:

http://www.kfccinema.com/index.php

[Brian Thibodeau]

I've used that site for years, but have never actually done a search of it, as there doesn't seem to be a search function. How would one discover the SPL release info there?

[dleedlee]

According to the Daily Fluff site, it opens in theaters on Nov. 17th. (HK, I assume).

SPL (SHA PO LANG)
Can : Sat Por Long
Lit : Kill Break Wolf
d. Wilson Yip Wai Shun
Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Simon Yam Tat Wa,
Wu Jing, Sammo Hung Kam Bo,
Timmy Hung Tin Ming, Wai Tin Chi
Opening November 17 2005

[Brian Thibodeau]

Then I guess a HK DVD might follow within the next two to three months after that, unless they release a no-English-subs version or some other such aberration first to keep international distribs happy. Now that would really suck.

[dleedlee]

It's not a mainland production (is it?) so I don't think that will happen.

Johnnie To's Election opens soon, Oct. 20., too.

And I'm not sure but it looks like Purple Butterfly gets an upcoming HK release, or is it a rerelease, so maybe a decent DVD version will eventually appear?

[PAUL MARTINEZ]

Brian, you mention "see it again" how did you see it the first time?

[Beat TG]

anyone who went to see it in Toronto Film Festival?

[Brian Thibodeau]

Paul and Tony

I saw it at the Toronto Film Festival "Midnight Madness" premiere. The big screen was great, but this film will equally impress at home.

[magic-8]

Producers delayed this release. It was in the can a year ago.

[Brian Thibodeau]

One can only hope they did this because they knew they had a real crowd-pleaser on their hands, one that could travel across cultures. Donnie Yen's oft-quoted comments regarding ONG BAK would seem to indicate that he, certainly, set out to contribute to something memorable.

Colin Geddes, who introduced the movie at the Toronto Festival, made reference to the difficulty even he had in getting SPL into this year's lineup, and how the deal fell into place at a very late date. That could've been his attempt to stoke the collective interest, but it sounded off-the-cuff enough to be believable...

[PAUL MARTINEZ]

I can't remember the last time I was so anxious to see a film.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Of course, my big fear is that I'm subconciously overhyping this thing and everyone will skewer me when they finally see it. The reviews so far, however, have been promising.

Just keep in mind, there are only two major fights in this film: Donnie vs. Jacky and Donnie vs. Sammo, plus various bits where Jacky slices up assorted characters who aren't his martial equals, and a whole lot of the kind of violence audiences have come to expect from Hong Kong's darker police procedurals. It's just the fact that nobody's done all of it on this near-mythical level in so long that gets me so amped up.

The funny part is that I expected THE MYTH, my other pick at the fest, to be a better film for some reason (bigger budget, Jackie's first wuxia, international cast, who knows?). I also figured the Korean film SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE, the one choice I couldn't score tickets to, might be a better film than SPL, and while I was initially pissed not to get tickets to it, I have to say SPL has gotten consistently better reviews by those who did see it.

My other big regret is that more mainstream critics don't cover the Midnight screenings. Every bloody year it seems that the big name Eberts of the critical press are in bed by 10 p.m., which means it takes that much LONGER for these films to seep into the mainstream consciousness.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Hey, Variety liked it. Cool.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928518?categoryid=31&cs=1

[Brian Thibodeau]

If anyone wants to see how NOT to make a movie trailer, check out this new English trailer for SPL. It's pretty grainy, which makes me question it's legitimacy, but if it's for real, we should all be very, very worried:

http://www.donnieyen.us/gallery/displayimage.php?album=225&pos=3

What an absolute piece of garbage. If that trailer gets out, SPL is f***ing FINISHED, done, straight to video obscurity, baby! And check out that appalling voiceover that sounds like its compiled completely from lines taken from trailers for Steven Seagal and Van Damme movies. Disgustingly bad. The wise marketer, in light of all the internet raves about the films choreography, would DOWNPLAY the fight sequences and PLAY UP the atmosphere, the performances, the dark nature of the film, and maybe tease a little bit of the fight scenes at the end of the trailer. THIS travesty makes it look like yet another cheap-jack chop-socky gangster picture. What a way to kill one of the classiest Hong Kong pictures of the past couple of years!

I honestly hope it's the work of some fanboy who desperately needs attention. It sickens me to think that this horrid trailer might actually be seen by western eyes. Hell, I'll probably regret posting the link, but there you have it.... My fingers are crossed that whoever bought the North American distribution rights to SPL is working on a REAL trailer in secret.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Just noticed this dreadful news posted via Variety at Donnieyen.us.

The Weinstein company bought the rights to SPL for the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland.

Wasn't there ANY other company that had reps at the Toronto festival and saw the market for this film, even on DVD? I know the Weinsteins aren't with Miramaxe anymore, but they WERE at least partly responsible for sitting on Asian movies that remain sat on to this day!

Just ONCE, I'd like to read some good news regarding this film! First that shite trailer, which was obviously some amateur hack job, and now this.

http://www.donnieyen.us/article282.html

Thank heavens they don't have distribution rights in Hong Kong. At least we should be able to get a nice DVD from there when it becomes available, rather than potentially waiting until 2010 for it to come out in North America!

Wonder if all this has anything to do with Donnie's pal Bey Logan getting a job with The Weinstein Company. Hmmm...