2008: The Digital Rummage

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Just ordered the Criterion DVDs of Rashomon and Seven Samurai. Oh, well, you only live once, I suppose.

Never seen the former and very much looking forward to seeing the latter again.

If you get more into Kurosawa, get his autobiography: "Something Like an Autobiography". Quite worth reading. Rashomon is well worth watching (and the Richie commentary is good; after every watch of a Kurosawa film I review the appropriate section in Richie's "The Films of Akira Kurosawa, Third Edition"). I do think Mifune does overact a bit in that one though . I do own all the Kurosawa Criterion/Eclipse sets.

[Mike Thomason]

I noted at the IMDB that this was called DON'T PICK UP THE CELL PHONE in Australia. Could that be true?

Yet another reason why the IMDb has gone from being a great resource to one, like Wikipedia, that is suffering from its "make it up as you like, anything goes" user interfaced data modification. ONE MISSED CALL is called, in Australia...ONE MISSED CALL. "Don't pick up the cell phone" sounds like something an American would make up, as we don't call them "cell phones" (like the US) down here -- we call them mobile phones, or mobiles. Just more IMDb flights of fantasy, me thinks...

[cal42]

Impulse bought Tokyo Raiders when I saw it at a local newsagent's shop. I didn't want it, I certainly don't need it, and in the cold light of day I realise I'm probably going to hate it. But it was cheap.

What can I say? My will is weak.

[Brian Thibodeau]

. . . and in the cold light of day I realise I'm probably going to hate it.

Oh come now, such presumptuousness. Maybe it'll surprise ya! At the very least, you might wanna save your final final judgment until you've seen the sequel as well.

Another trip to the Music & Movie Cash & Carry today. More old $1 VCDs to fill in some gaps.

CLASSMATE PARTY (1988; Mei Ah)
MIDNIGHT IN EXPRESS IN ORIENT (1996; Universe) Saw this ages ago, but never wrote about it, so needed it again.
TWINKLE TWINKLE LUCKY STAR (1996; Mei Ah) Ditto
SPY GAMES (1990; Mei Ah) Ditto again
COHABITATION (1993; Universe)
TREASURE ISLAND (1993; Universe)
MODERN LOVE STORY (1993; Mei Ah)
HE COMES FROM PLANET K (1997; Mei Ah) Another classic JasonLau128 "suck my poo" review in the DB on this one ; along with Shelley Kraicer's much more reasoned analysis!
MYSTERY FILES (1996; Panorama)
BANANA CLUB (1996; Fitto)

and a couple of new ones that just looked interesting:

BESIEGED CITY (2008; Hong Kong; Mei Ah)
CHOCOLATE (2008; Thailand; IVL) No subs, but that didn't stop me from figuring out (and enjoying) ONG BAK many moons before a subbed DVD came out!

[ewaffle]

CHOCOLATE (2008; Thailand; IVL) No subs, but that didn't stop me from figuring out (and enjoying) ONG BAK many moons before a subbed DVD came out!

If you liked "Ong Bak"...

Yanin Vismitananda (or JeeJa Yanin) is as cute as a box of puppies and as deadly as a bag of scorpions. This was a lot of fun to watch.

A seach for Jeeja Yanin on YouTube shows some videos of her appearance on Thai talk shows--amazing stuff. If she continues her career she will be one of the greatest kickers in martial arts movie history.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...

INCREDIBLE HULK: like this more than Ang Lee's version, but it did feel slightly like a retread because Lee's film was so recent (and wasn't that bad to begin with). Better start to a franchise though, should they decide to go that way.

DARK KNIGHT Love the character, enjoyed the terrorism/homeland security /corrupt bureaucracy undercurrents, and like these two movies much better than the older four, but this was unnecessarily long, with supporting characters more interesting than the hero (something that practically defined the 90's films). Having Bale grunt his dialogue when he's in costume was not the wisest decision. And the joker's social experiment with the two ferries, and a lot of the dialogue that went along with it, was just too much preaching for my tastes. Overall, though, it provided enough kicks (and punches, and car chases, and explosions) to justsify the night out!

...

I'm a fan of Tim Roth, so looking forward for Hulk on DVD.

Finally saw THE DARK KNIGHT this weekend. I've read so much analysis and so much hype that I do not want to discuss this too much. It is worth watching. Bale's grunting was so annoying that several whom I was with got annoyed with it. I liked the gadgets and especially the bat bike. I certainly liked Heath's performance. Many of the supporting characters were underused. I find it funny that he was successful because of his homeland/security undercurrent (well we might as use it this once against the Joker). But, I really did like the film (this is why I hate too much hype like this is the greatest film ever etc...; I hear that almost everytime a new film that comes out for certain fanboys; this distracts from an otherwise good film).

The one thing I will say is that the first Batman is still one of my favorite films. I know that anytime something new comes out, the ceremoniously dissing of older films is normal (I had several huge arguments when Batman Forever came out, so many stated that this was the best Batman, well no one argued that when the next one came out ; I did not like the direction it took, away from the gothic and darker undertones), but several scenes (especially from the previous film) reference material from the first two (Burton ones). I believe the 1989 version is certainly important (that and the first Superman are probably the most important comic book movies to come out; proving that there is an audience, that you could cover dark material and especially with Batman, use more of a superhero anti-hero.)

[Brian Thibodeau]

The one thing I will say is that the first Batman is still one of my favorite films. I know that anytime something new comes out, the ceremoniously dissing of older films is normal (I had several huge arguments when Batman Forever came out, so many stated that this was the best Batman, well no one argued that when the next one came out ; I did not like the direction it took, away from the gothic and darker undertones), but several scenes (especially from the previous film) reference material from the first two (Burton ones). I believe the 1989 version is certainly important (that and the first Superman are probably the most important comic book movies to come out; proving that there is an audience, that you could cover dark material and especially with Batman, use more of a superhero anti-hero.)

I agree with you in principle about the dissing of older films, though I'm in the group that dissed the second, third and fourth films not long after I saw them. They just weren't my cup of tea even then, so the new movies had nothing to do with it. You're still right though, for some people, something new automatically trumps any earlier versions of the same thing. From a generational standpoint, I can see it. To a fifteen-year-old today, Burton's BATMAN is an old movie, the product of another, simpler (:lol:) era. Certainly the technology exists today to give these characters a reality we pretty much thought they were receiving the first time around, so who knows what a BATMAN reboot in 2028 will look like!

Burton's BATMAN is indeed an important movie. I'd say SUPERMAN was even more important as it truly opened the doors in an era when superheros were all but unthinkable on the big screen. By 1989, a lot had changed in terms of audiences being convinced by those kinds of characters. I certainly don't hate any of the original four BATMAN movies, and they're all marvels of technology and production design of the day, but they're just not my bag, I guess. These new movies are much more how I envisioned the character making the transition, so in that sense, they satisfy. I still wish they'd inject a bit of the Neal Adams-era Batman from the comic into this franchise. The tone can stay as dark as they want, but Batman could at least be something more than a grunty brawler with an limitless bank account. Give him a real mystery to solve, that might be cool.


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

On an somewhat unrelated note--though it's still a rummage of sorts--I spent several hours last night scoring some killer vintage Japanese movie posters from ebay. I swear, the Japanese seller, pops up every few months with a phenomenal collection of gems, must have been a projectionist or theatre owner in Tokyo who saved the posters for everything he ever exhibited, cause the collection he's sold off so far has covered every imaginable facet of Japanese cinema. And as a designer, I just can't resist this stuff. His first round of auctions a couple of years ago, I was just lucky to nab an awesome poster for CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD. His next round I completely missed until it was too late to get in on the bidding. This latest round netted me eight little gems, including some gorgeous Pinky style posters that I can't really display here, but not necessarily the ones I was really after, either.

Got most of these fairly early in the day, before the number of bidders increased I suspect, so my prices ranged from the $9.99 starting price to around $12. Only the first one shown here cost a bit more, at $21.50.

Three I can show:

Kokosei Burai Hikae (1972) (1972)


Last Days of Planet Earth (1974)


Yaju Shisubeshi: Fukushu no Mechanic (1974)



Some I can't show, but perhaps searching the names will bring up images of the posters:

Onna no Shinshitsu: Sukikurabe (1978)

Mibojin Geshuku: Iroiro Oshiemasu (1977) & Niiduma no Shitatari (1976)
2-poster auction

Inranna Kankei (1976)

I was fortunate that these (plus one other) only set me back about $100 shipped considering their vintage, but much more disheartening was the stuff I was outbid on, or knew I couldn't afford altogether. With the exception of the first one, most of these might not seem like they went for unreasonable sums, but unfortunately I was up against a couple of those wonderful ebay bidders who bid the starting price of $9.99 on these, then entered a maximum bids of, like $150 or something like that, so I knew I never had a shot, which really sucked:

Female Prisoner Scorpion : #701's Grudge Song (1973)
(this one just made me friggin' cry!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264049821

Female Convict Scorpion : Jailhouse 41 (1972)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264049254

Lady Snowblood (1973)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0254883755

Terrifying Girls' High School 1 (1972)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0254882115

School of the Holy Beast (1974)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264045653

Angel Guts : Red Classroom (1979)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264034332

Maruhi Hong Kong Jinniku Ichiba (1974)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0264022883

The Car (1977) Yes, the James Brolin flick. A personal favourite, and a poster I didn't get home in time to bid on!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0254788041

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

I agree with you in principle about the dissing of older films, though I'm in the group that dissed the second, third and fourth films not long after I saw them. They just weren't my cup of tea even then, so the new movies had nothing to do with it. You're still right though, for some people, something new automatically trumps any earlier versions of the same thing. From a generational standpoint, I can see it. To a fifteen-year-old today, Burton's BATMAN is an old movie, the product of another, simpler (:lol:) era. Certainly the technology exists today to give these characters a reality we pretty much thought they were receiving the first time around, so who knows what a BATMAN reboot in 2028 will look like!

Burton's BATMAN is indeed an important movie. I'd say SUPERMAN was even more important as it truly opened the doors in an era when superheros were all but unthinkable on the big screen. By 1989, a lot had changed in terms of audiences being convinced by those kinds of characters. I certainly don't hate any of the original four BATMAN movies, and they're all marvels of technology and production design of the day, but they're just not my bag, I guess. These new movies are much more how I envisioned the character making the transition, so in that sense, they satisfy. I still wish they'd inject a bit of the Neal Adams-era Batman from the comic into this franchise. The tone can stay as dark as they want, but Batman could at least be something more than a grunty brawler with an limitless bank account. Give him a real mystery to solve, that might be cool.
...

I have no idea how you could group Batman Returns with the next two (I would definitely like to hear you opinion on that). The dark tone disappears in the third and progressively gets worse to the fourth adding more kitsch. Different director from Burton to Schumacher meant the atmosphere went from Burton's gothic doleful vision to a populist entertainment. Batman Returns was certainly too "Burtonesque", but it also stayed true to his auteur vision of a lone crusader (many fanboys were upset with the apparent killing of the clown by attached dynamite (I never thought about this until years later, well after watching many extras on this film). Burton's use of models, sets is so much more aesthetically pleasing compared to Schumacher use. Burton's BATMAN was never about reality though. It was contained in its own universe.

I had to add SUPERMAN (1978) in there because it was truly unique for its time period; however, it took until 1989 for BATMAN to truly revitalize the comic book hero genre on the big screen. FYI Superman grossed 130m while Batman grossed 251M (American box office). Even taking inflation in account both were true blockbusters.

Do we really care what a 15 year old thinks (unless he/she is our own kid)? Since we are more culturally and cinematically adept, we have no problems with black/white, subtitles, silent (this group of films is the hardest for me to get across to others, even people in their 50s). I did win a few battles on the silent front though: got my gf into silent Ozu and my Dad into Buster Keaton, but I digress.

But I don't want to sound like I dismiss this latest Batman. I did enjoy it. I agree with you about the grunting. Funny last night I was discussing this film with another person and that was one annoyance that he mentioned . So many people have talked about that annoying grunting voice.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I have no idea how you could group Batman Returns with the next two (I would definitely like to hear you opinion on that).

I didn't, though that probably wasn't clear in my post. I was, however. dismissing all three of them. RETURNS for one set of reasons, FOREVER and & ROBIN for another set. If you forced me to pick, I'd pick RETURNS, but very grudgingly. As I said, they're not how I wished to see Batman on the big screen. The first one was good, but I just wasn't keen on seeing more of "that" style of Batman, so RETURNS, despite all it's visual beauty, just didn't do it for me.

The third and fourth films were just silly.

I had to add SUPERMAN (1978) in there because it was truly unique for its time period; however, it took until 1989 for BATMAN to truly revitalize the comic book hero genre on the big screen. FYI Superman grossed 40m while Batman grossed 251M (American box office). Even taking inflation in account, Batman was a true blockbuster.

Donner's SUPERMAN made over $130 million in the U.S. in 1977 (check your stats), through the Christmas season no less, so it was a true blockbuster as well, especially by 1970's standards. The whole concept of the summer/Christmas blockbuster was only two or three years old at that point. That puts the box-office takings a little more in line. By the time BATMAN rolled around, the world's moviegoers were very much attuned to the concept of Big Summer Blockbuster movies every single year. BATMAN had nearly 13 years of successful blockbuster marketing techniques behind it when it opened. SUPERMAN did not. I'd say SUPERMAN pulled off the bigger feat in delivering a realistic, believable comic book super hero to a mass audience that, by and large, probably never thought a comic book character, especially one that flies, could be done justice on the big screen. BATMAN, on the other hand, walked through an open door, and did so with style to burn. BATMAN made $400 million worldwide. SUPERMAN made $300 million worldwide. That practically makes them equal.

Do we really care what a 15 year old thinks (unless he/she is our own kid)? Since we are more culturally and cinematically adept, we have no problems with black/white, subtitles, silent (this group of films is the hardest for me to get across to others, even people in their 50s). I did win a few battles on the silent front though: got my gf into silent Ozu and my Dad into Buster Keaton, but I digress.

I care what 15 year-olds (and 20-year olds, and 25 year-olds) collectively think, since people their age represent the bigger portion of the revenue these blockbusters rake in than the 30+ crowd (my crowd). Granted, I don't get much out of reading posts by teenagers in movie-related forums, because I've been there, and I've done that, but they're voices still count. Many of them may be film geeks, especially in relation to their peers, but they'll change and grow the same way we did, and they'll do it while seeing theatrical releases that are much more technologically advanced than what we watched at the same age. Naturally, when they become us, we'll be even further along the path to cinematic nirvana, but that's no reason to discount their collective buying power or the considerably more techno-savvy age into which they were born.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...
Donner's SUPERMAN made over $130 million in the U.S. in 1977 (check your stats), through the Christmas season no less, so it was a true blockbuster as well, especially by 1970's standards. ...

My mistake on the stats: Superman made around US 134,218,018 (that sounds about right; I picked the wrong stat (this bums me out much more than you probably realize); I knew that initially sounded wrong. Oh well, problem with doing too much at once and not rechecking) I kind of wish they did more stats with ticket sells as opposed to gross (because of inflation; then of course the top two would be Star Wars and Gone With The Wind; it is insane how many Gone With The Wind sold). I also really wasn't trying to argue against Superman since I've been a fan of it (including the first sequel) and recognize it's true place in cinema history.

Batman Returns was too much Tim Burton for most people, going towards his personal aesthetics instead of thinking of the audience. I just felt it was a much more well-made film than the two that followed it (if you want I can go into more details), but I can certainly understand people not liking it (I have a harder time accepting people liking the fourth film).

I certainly do not discount this "considerably more techno-savvy age into which they were born" partially because it is how I make my money. I certainly cannot dismiss their "discount their collective buying power" but I can certainly criticize their choices of popularity (and they can criticize mine) though for the most part I tend to not care too much. I can criticize populism if I want to. Sometimes I feel there is too much CGI (which is funny, I often get criticized by older peers for liking certain films with CGI elements) and I have enjoyed many optical effect films like Thief of Bagdad (1940). They don't always become us though. They often eschew films that are difficult, foreign, old etc... (or maybe I've just become a pretentious bastard).

[Brian Thibodeau]

Batman Returns was too much Tim Burton for most people, going towards his personal aesthetics instead of thinking of the audience. I just felt it was a much more well-made film than the two that followed it (if you want I can go into more details), but I can certainly understand people not liking it (I have a harder time accepting people liking the fourth film).

I would actually agree with you here, only we both fall on different sides of the fence for largely personal reasons. BATMAN 2 is a far more satisfying film than either of the two that followed, so even when I say it wasn't for me, I still found plenty to admire, not least of all the very distinct style of its director. Schumacher is a actually a good director given the right material, although his "style" has been much more adaptable across his filmography than has Burton's, and therefore less unique as a whole, but I think with BATMAN 3 and BATMAN 4, the marketing machine probably wanted someone who they knew could camp it up a bit after Burton's gloomier entries, and when Burton declined, Schumacher must have seemed like someone who could expand the franchise in a more upbeat, bubblegummy direction, which of course was the wrong direction for the character altogether. No worries about the stat thing by the way. Not sure if you were using them, but the IMDB charts can be kinda weird at a quick glance.

(or maybe I've just become a pretentious bastard).

Bah, we all do sooner or later! No one truly gets us.


Incidentally, I actually thought SUPERMAN RETURNS was strong, classy entertainment, even though I completely understand the issues people had with it (particularly the ending). Go figure.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Batman ... No worries about the stat thing by the way. Not sure if you were using them, but the IMDB charts can be kinda weird at a quick glance.

(or maybe I've just become a pretentious bastard).

Bah, we all do sooner or later! No one truly gets us.

Incidentally, I actually thought SUPERMAN RETURNS was strong, classy entertainment, even though I completely understand the issues people had with it (particularly the ending). Go figure.

Yes, I was using the IMDB. It felt wrong but I went off and did some work . I should have known since I've seen so many Superman documentaries including Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman recently (the separate version; not the one in the steel box, though I have that too).

Looking at Joel Schumacher's oeuvre http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001708/ , I keep forgetting he directed several of those films (like THE LOST BOYS and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) though I always remember about FALLING DOWN which seems a bit atypical for him. I've still yet to see several like TIGERLAND, PHONE BOOTH and FLAWLESS so I think FALLING DOWN is my favorite (with old school feelings towards THE LOST BOYS and FLATLINERS).

I am still not sure how I feel towards SUPERMAN RETURNS, so I eventually want to see it again. I wonder how Tom Welling would do in a big screen role as Superman (yes I've seen him in THE FOG, no I didn't like it ).

And to keep from straying too far in this thread I bought:

Wong Kar Wai Collection (As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Fallen Angels / Chungking Express / Happy Together)
2046

I know Chungking Express will be coming out on Criterion, but I got this lot for too good of a price.

Additional purchases I can remember:
Larisa Shepitko: Eclipse Series 11 (Wings / The Ascent)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition) (1938)
Arsenic and Old Lace
Challenge of The Masters (Shaw Brothers) HK (the Tokyo Shock version)

and totally looking foward to this book:
China Forever: The Shaw Brothers and Diasporic Cinema (Pop Culture and Politics Asia PA) by Poshek Fu

[Brian Thibodeau]

Yes, I was using the IMDB. It felt wrong but I went off and did some work . I should have known since I've seen so many Superman documentaries including Look, Up in the Sky - The Amazing Story of Superman recently (the separate version; not the one in the steel box, though I have that too).

It's funny, writing that comment about Superman yesterday caused me to flip through the Steel box late last night just to see if I'd actually watched everything in it yet. Turns out I'd missed that other documentary disc "You Will Believe". Figured I could have a look at that on the weekend, since it looks rather revealing about the original series. That set's quite nice, but SUPERMAN III and IV were never really repeat views (the commentary on IV is amusing though), and now that I have RETURNS on Blu-Ray and don't really care about the Bryan Singer diaries, I'd say nearly half of what's in that box I don't need.

though I always remember about FALLING DOWN which seems a bit atypical for him.

That was a decent movie, since it seemed to tap into existing, ugly cultural undercurrents of the day (riots, road rage, racism, etc.), and I really enjoyed it as a thriller, but I wished they hadn't made Michael Douglas' character such a crew-cut, bespectacled asshole right from the outset. When we first see him in the movie, he's clearly already at his breaking point, yet from appearances we don't quite know whether to sypmathize with him. Thus, I found I could sympathize with his predicatments, but I couldn't sympathize with him, which is what the filmmakers seemingly wanted everyone to do.

and totally looking foward to this book:
China Forever: The Shaw Brothers and Diasporic Cinema (Pop Culture and Politics Asia PA) by Poshek Fu

Bookmarked. Thanks! It's nice to finally see a book of scholarship that isn't priced over $75! I've been thinking of organizing the hundreds of Shaw DVDs and VCDs I've bought over the years into chronological order when I finally get down to watching them (many moons from now, no doubt), just so I can watch the styles evolve over the years. I'd like to have a few books on hand for reference when that time comes, and this looks like an ideal one.

Once again, so many contribs there who could probably turn in excellent audio commentaries for Hong Kong movies, including Fu himself. But who keeps hogging the spotlight? Well, it goes without saying, really . . .

[Brian Thibodeau]

Picked up 6 in the recent "3 for $10" sale at Amazon. Shipped free, too, which was cool.

WASABI
RIDE THE WILD SURF
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (90)
THE BLOB ('88 )
BLIND FURY
SILENT RAGE

All but the first two have been seen before, though only on VHS, so thought the price was right to revisit these lesser entries before deciding which ones can be traded to DVD Planet for nearly what I paid here.

Also picked up two items (so far!) in the "Buy One Get One Free" sale of Image Boxed Sets at Deep Discount. These two cost me $26.99 in total .

CALIGULA: 3-DISC IMPERIAL EDITION
FOUR SWORDS COLLECTION: Set of four Shaw flicks: Vengeance Is a Golden Blade / The Water Margin / The Wandering Swordsman / Have Sword Will Travel. (Already have two of these from the Celestial/IVL series, but again, DVD Planet pays $12, so I can always take what I need, and flip it without much of a loss)

Deep Discount's site seems to be on the fritz as I type this, but the sale runs until Sept. 9 and has a lot of cool stuff that might interest folks here. I'll try and post a working link tomorrow. Otherwise, just go to the main page, and refresh until you see it come up in the main promo window top and center.

Also have some goodies on the way from Hong Kong, but should wait to see if they get here safely before adding to the list.

[cal42]

Wong Kar Wai Collection (As Tears Go By / Days of Being Wild / Fallen Angels / Chungking Express / Happy Together)

I know Chungking Express will be coming out on Criterion, but I got this lot for too good of a price.

Is that a R1 set? I don't think we have that in this country or I would have snapped that up in an instant. I've only got these on VHS except for Chungking Express, which had a VERY disappointing DVD release in this country (basically a VHS port - very shabby. Tartan at their worst). I could have bought other versions but I've been holding out for better.

Chungking Express is coming out on Criterion?? Woo-hoo! I've watched my Seven Samurai Criterion DVD now and I think I'm going to marry it.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Deep Discount Buy One Get One Free Sale on Image boxed sets (as promised):
http://www.deepdiscount.com/DVD---Image ... 1G1IMG0808

.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...
FOUR SWORDS COLLECTION:[/b] Set of four Shaw flicks: Vengeance Is a Golden Blade / The Water Margin / The Wandering Swordsman / Have Sword Will Travel. (Already have two of these from the Celestial/IVL series, but again, DVD Planet pays $12, so I can always take what I need, and flip it without much of a loss)
...

I had already bought the four, so it didn't make much sense to buy that. THough I might buy it for my brother. Have you watched the two that you do have?

I bought Kiss of Death (HK: 1973) at Best Buy this weekend: so I'm caught up again on the Celestial/Image R1 releases. I believe I have all the R1 Shaw Brothers releases now (with Image putting out the majority of them).

...
Is that a R1 set? I don't think we have that in this country or I would have snapped that up in an instant. I've only got these on VHS except for Chungking Express, which had a VERY disappointing DVD release in this country (basically a VHS port - very shabby. Tartan at their worst). I could have bought other versions but I've been holding out for better.

Chungking Express is coming out on Criterion?? Woo-hoo! I've watched my Seven Samurai Criterion DVD now and I think I'm going to marry it.

Yup, Kino put out the set (more known for their silent cinema) for R1, the Chungking Express is the Miramax version though. Looking forward to the Criterion version. It will also be coming out on Blu-ray. It will also mean the Criterion now has two non-OOP HK releases.

I also recently bought Darby O'Gill and the Little People and WC Fields Comedy Collection Vol. 1.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I had already bought the four, so it didn't make much sense to buy that. THough I might buy it for my brother. Have you watched the two that you do have?.

Nope. I'm saving all the Shaws (except BLACK MAGIC 2, COME DRINK WITH ME and a couple of others I couldn't resist) for a more concentrated viewing/reviewing effort down the road. I'm strangely tempted to actually view them in chronological order so I can perhaps put them in some kind of context with each other in the correct timeline since some of what's written by fans online tends not to do that, and I can't really afford all the HKFA books that do. I've got enough of them now that it might be worth trying out. As for this new four pack, I really just needed something else that cost the same as the CALIGULA set, and this fit the bill perfectly. Even if it only contained the two movies I don't have, $13 (shipped) for the pair would still be cheaper than importing from DDD House or wherever.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

...Nope. I'm saving all the Shaws (except BLACK MAGIC 2, COME DRINK WITH ME and a couple of others I couldn't resist) for a more concentrated viewing/reviewing effort down the road. I'm strangely tempted to actually view them in chronological order so I can perhaps put them in some kind of context with each other in the correct timeline since some of what's written by fans online tends not to do that, and I can't really afford all the HKFA books that do. I've got enough of them now that it might be worth trying out. As for this new four pack, I really just needed something else that cost the same as the CALIGULA set, and this fit the bill perfectly. Even if it only contained the two movies I don't have, $13 (shipped) for the pair would still be cheaper than importing from DDD House or wherever.

I do think watching too many Shaw Brother's films in a row might cause insanity though. With their efficient use of the studio system, sometimes many plots, sets, actors etc... are reused Ad Nauseum. This reminds me when I watched too many Alfred Hitchcock films in a row and got numb to certain factors. When they found a successful formula, they certainly milked it. Obviously there are many great films from them, but many, many similarities between movies.

[cal42]

Yes, that's true. I watched so many David Chiang films at one point I thought it must be unhealthy...and you do start to recognise the same sets getting recycled.

I'm surprised you're going for Come Drink With Me, Brian. I wouldn't have thought it'd be your cup of tea. Great film, though.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Yes, that's true. I watched so many David Chiang films at one point I thought it must be unhealthy...and you do start to recognise the same sets getting recycled.

I'm surprised you're going for Come Drink With Me, Brian. I wouldn't have thought it'd be your cup of tea. Great film, though.

We (me and Brian) talked a bit about the commentary in another thread so I knew he had already watched it. It is such an important Shaw Brother film that I could easily see him watching it early. I haven't seen Black Magic 2 so I cannot comment .

Plus ultimately how many Shaw Brother films do you want to watch Brian?

[Brian Thibodeau]

I do think watching too many Shaw Brother's films in a row might cause insanity though. With their efficient use of the studio system, sometimes many plots, sets, actors etc... are reused Ad Nauseum. This reminds me when I watched too many Alfred Hitchcock films in a row and got numb to certain factors. When they found a successful formula, they certainly milked it. Obviously there are many great films from them, but many, many similarities between movies.

I think I phrased myself poorly in that last post. You're right in thinking that I'd probably be asking for it by watching nothing but Shaw flicks for an extended run, regardless of genre (but expecially martial arts films).

The plan would actually involve watching the Shaw stuff in chronological order WHILE still watching everything else from everywhere else.

I've seen enough non-Shaw Hong Kong films and direct-to-video Hong Kong stuff to apply some context no matter where a film falls in the timeline, but the Shaw stuff is a largely unexplored territory to these eyes. I saw tons of them dubbed on TV when I was young, but can barely remember them now, and besides they were all martial arts films, so this will be like starting fresh with a much wider variety of genres to manouvre within (thus no extended blocks of just musicals, just comedies, just martial arts, etc.).

Nevertheless, I'd still be watching plenty of other stuff in between the Shaw stuff to keep my brain from locking up.

I'm surprised you're going for Come Drink With Me, Brian. I wouldn't have thought it'd be your cup of tea. Great film, though.

That was actually the very first Shaw DVD I purchased when Celestial/IVL launched the line, and I couldn't resist playing it to see how a Shaw film should actually look after all those years of crappy pan n' scan "chopsocky" versions that plagued us in the west.

Haven't picked up too many in this year's rummage, but the similar threads for last year and the year before are loaded with purchases. Right now, I'm kinda waiting on this one legit retailer in town to drop the prices on the massive selection of Shaw DVDs and VCDs that have been just sitting there for months/years now. I go there weekly, but so far no luck. Though I do usually end up leaving with another pile of $1 VCDs.

We (me and Brian) talked a bit about the commentary in another thread so I knew he had already watched it. It is such an important Shaw Brother film that I could easily see him watching it early. I haven't seen Black Magic 2 so I cannot comment .

Plus ultimately how many Shaw Brother films do you want to watch Brian?

I'd estimate I've got somewhere just over 400 Shaw DVDs and VCDs so far, stored away in a two or three big plastic storage totes (outta sight, outta mind, for now), so that would be my range I guess. Probably more if the store mentioned above starts blowing them out. Probably take awhile to get through 'em, but winter's coming and Canadian winters make me an indoor person, so that might help. I think the earliest one I have right now is Diau Charn, so I'd probably start with that one and move along through the years. Pretty geeky, I know, but we'll see how far I get doing it that way . . .

I'm sure I've got a blend of classics and crap in there, but whatever I don't keep will either go to the local library's A/V collection here or be used for trades, etc.

(incidentally, I do remember discussing that commentary, and ultimately, I think you were right about it. I've now read a couple of online reviews that made mention of the fact that Logan and Cheng re-recorded it for the U.S. release (presumably to get rid of Marsha Yuan's pervasive microphone problems?)

[cal42]

That was actually the very first Shaw DVD I purchased when Celestial/IVL launched the line, and I couldn't resist playing it to see how a Shaw film should actually look after all those years of crappy pan n' scan "chopsocky" versions that plagued us in the west.

Yes, I remember you talking about the commentary now. That doesn't mean that I won't be surprised next time you say you like Come Drink With Me, though!

The crappy pan 'n scan (if you were lucky!) versions were a blight on my life and I, too, was thrilled when the announcement was made to release this stuff. Although I was excited about seeing the classics I knew from old like Chinese Boxer, 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Dirty Ho and especially Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, I actually ended up seeing far more stuff I actually had no idea even existed - like most of Chang Cheh's films, who I only knew from Blood Brothers.

Haven't picked up too many in this year's rummage, but the similar threads for last year and the year before are loaded with purchases. Right now, I'm kinda waiting on this one legit retailer in town to drop the prices on the massive selection of Shaw DVDs and VCDs that have been just sitting there for months/years now. I go there weekly, but so far no luck. Though I do usually end up leaving with another pile of $1 VCDs.

I'd actually make them an offer, you know. Especially if you're a regular.

I'd estimate I've got somewhere just over 400 Shaw DVDs and VCDs so far

Have you written a will? I mean, God forbid and everything, but you never know. And I'd hate them to fall into the hands of someone who wouldn't appreciate them...

[Brian Thibodeau]

The crappy pan 'n scan (if you were lucky!) versions were a blight on my life and I, too, was thrilled when the announcement was made to release this stuff. Although I was excited about seeing the classics I knew from old like Chinese Boxer, 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Dirty Ho and especially Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, I actually ended up seeing far more stuff I actually had no idea even existed - like most of Chang Cheh's films, who I only knew from Blood Brothers.

While I was extremely happy to see the martial arts titles get their day to shine, I was even more thrilled to finally be able to see (and buy) everything else the Shaws were making over the decades: musicals, thrillers, horrors, comedies, youth pictures, cop pictures, romances and the like. I don't know for sure, but I'd say that a good half of the ones I have so far fall outside the martial arts genre.

I'd actually make them an offer, you know. Especially if you're a regular.

This is so tempting now that you mention it. Part of me wants to. The other part of me hates to be such a cheap-ass for stuff they probably hoped would sell a lot better. Then again, it's not moving at $20-some dollars a DVD and $10+ a VCD, and they must know by now that I'd leave with a fairly large bundle. Hmm . . .

Have you written a will? I mean, God forbid and everything, but you never know. And I'd hate them to fall into the hands of someone who wouldn't appreciate them...

I have one, but it probably needs an upgrade to factor in all these damned discs. Mind you, if I survive long enough to get through them all, most will end up being sold, traded or donated. I've always only had so much room, and the "permanent collection", as it were, keeps getting refined

[cal42]

Back on the subject of the Rummage, the last (and I almost mean it now) DVD I'm buying before I go to NY was this on ebay:



It appears to be a Chinese version but with English subs. I bid 1p and was surprised that no one bid higher. Did I screw up?

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

Back on the subject of the Rummage, the last (and I almost mean it now) DVD I'm buying before I go to NY was this on ebay:



It appears to be a Chinese version but with English subs. I bid 1p and was surprised that no one bid higher. Did I screw up?

Yes, you should have got the Criterion version . Michael Jeck commentary included on that one. I'm not sure of the quality differences. The Criterion one is quite good though.

[Brian Thibodeau]

Back on the subject of the Rummage, the last (and I almost mean it now) DVD I'm buying before I go to NY was this on ebay:



It appears to be a Chinese version but with English subs. I bid 1p and was surprised that no one bid higher. Did I screw up?

Tough to say, but there's a good chance it's a bootleg, even with the little holo-sticker, etc. Does it come with a cardboard slipcase as well? Sometimes that's a clue, too, but those little holo-stickers adorn some of the better-quality bootleg packaging I've seen around here; the pirates probably think it lends an air of authenticity to have it there. The film itself might be taken from one of those old Mei Ah Kurosawa DVDs from years ago, some of which had no English subs (though I think this one did), or it could very well be a rip of the Criterion edition. The artwork's definitely from Criterion, and many of their Japanese titles (Ikiru, Samurai trilogy, Rashomon, etc.), including this one in the exact same packaging, turn up in endless quantities in the boot shops here, so the price you paid was probably fair, in that context. Of course, if it's got all those Criterion extras that Shawn mentions . . .



.

[cal42]

You're probably right - although the guy does make a point of saying it's not a bootleg. If it is, I'm going to get a bit pissed off, to be honest. I've just been stung with a bootleg Drunken Master 2. It's a long story, but someone was advertising the "Thakral" disc for £9.99 (I know, I know, I should have known better) with the genuine pic on the site. What came through was clearly a boot. I exchanged a few friendly emails but he was adamant it wasn't a bootleg. Next thing I know, I get an email from eBay saying the item is withdrawn (someone obviously blew the whistle) and removed all trace of the transaction from My Ebay, leaving me with no evidence that the transaction ever took place.

[dleedlee]

Well, it seems quasi-legit:

http://www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/Produc ... br=8926572

[Brian Thibodeau]

Well, it seems quasi-legit:

http://www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/Produc ... br=8926572

Quasi for sure. There might be a legitimate company behind these, in the sense that they also have legally-owned stuff in their catalogue.

I'm still skeptical that Criterion would let any company anywhere, least of all China (all things considered in regards to piracy), just use their specially-commissioned artwork like that. Another example here (which turns up in boot shops here):
http://www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/eng/Produc ... br=2598689

A few years back, I read a Criterion rep's response to queries in some forum somewhere (Criterion forums?) about a bunch of Korean DVDs that turned out to be professionally-pressed Criterion rips with new disc art and slightly modified sleeve art (Korean text integrated into tweaked Criterion Art). I was interested in this because I'd picked up three of them (Hitchcock's NOTORIOUS, Resnais' NIGHT AND FOG and Powell's LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP) fully expecting them to uniquely licenced versions, for better or worse in terms of print quality. But in playing them, I discovered the disc content was Criterion to the letter, with no Korean studio logos or anything. On this forum, the Criterion rep flatly stated that they never re-licenced their titles or artwork to foreign territories.

That's why I get suspicious when I see Criterion sleeve art on a Chinese disc. I just don't think that's kosher. If the content on Cal's disc turns out to be Criterion, then I'd say there's a zero chance it's legit. If it's a repackage of the old Mei-Ah disc, even that would seem suspicious, though less so. Still, a "Criterion" for 1p? I wouldn't necessarily complain.

EDIT: Speaking of Ebay, a few months back I was thinking of selling off my long-OOP disc of THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY and checked eBay for a few weeks to see what kind of money people were getting compared to what New Town Video was offering to pay for a used one (around $47US). There were SO MANY listings for bootlegs on there that anyone selling a legit one was unlikely to get more than $10 or $20 for it. There are far fewer MITTY listings on Ebay these days, so maybe they pruned some of the pirate sellers, but the few listings that do still pop up, such as this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-The-Secret-Life ... dZViewItem
are bootlegs. No Chinese lettering on these ones, but they differ from the original cover design in such minute ways that the uninitiated could easily be fooled.
(authentic sleeve art here: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Walte ... 6305047529)