Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > DVD Discussions > International DVD Talk
Reload this Page >

OFFICIAL Newbie Help: HK DVD & Discussion

International DVD Talk Intl. DVDs, Region Free Players, RCE, Hong Kong DVDs & More

OFFICIAL Newbie Help: HK DVD & Discussion

Old 07-06-01, 06:16 AM
  #1  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
This thread is designed to serve to answer a few common questions about HK cinema. I will certainly try to edit this post to serve the needs of this forum (please suggest changes). This is no longer the One and ONLY thread as there is now a whole forum for this topic. There were 2 One and Only HK DVD threads that got very busy - many good discussions were held and at times I dominated the threads (sorry), but still they might hold some useful information that may not get repeated...

If you feel like checking them out (each thread reached 5 pages long), here's the links:
One and ONLY HK DVD Thread #1
One and ONLY HK DVD Thread #2

Please feel free to use this thread to ask questions

___________________________________________________
Q & A:

1. Q: I want to order discs from Hong Kong, any advice?

A: Well - There are a few things to watch for... First, if you live in the US, you most likely will not be able to play PAL DVDs since our televisions over here are NTSC (sparing you what that all means), so just make sure when you order that you're getting NTSC DVDs. It shouldn't be much of a problem since most HK films on DVD are NTSC... if you're getting a US film from a HK distributor - some of them may be PAL. Typically - most HK DVDs will play on any standard american player.

Second - make sure you're getting All Code DVDs. In the US, our DVD players can only view Region 1 DVDs (unless you have a region free DVD player) but ANY DVD player can play Region 0 (All Code, Region Free) DVDs. Most HK DVDs are Region 0 and can be viewed in any country. Sometimes a DVD will be Region 3 or another number, and you probably won't be able to play it on your DVD player unless it's been modified.

Third - sometimes when ordering overseas, customs may check out your package which may lead to some extra charges - this isn't the norm - it's more common to just recieve your package untouched, but be aware that it can happen. Also - many HK sites will show prices in HK dollars (which are worth roughly 7.4:1 USD)... if this confuses you, check out a currency conversion site like this one: http://www.xe.com/ucc

Fourth - Some sites will be selling VCDs - which aren't DVDs, but Video Compact Discs - make sure you're getting what you want. VCDs don't have as good a picture or sound as DVDs do, but some films are only available on this format and they are usually better quality than VHS. VCDs will play on most standard players, but some players can't handle them. Look on the front panel of your DVD player and it will probably list all compatible formats (DVD/CD/VCD/MP3/CD-R).

*It is also worth noting that if your DVD Player will handle VCDs, it will most likely handle both NTSC and PAL VCDs. It is supposedly built in to the VCD spec for all players to be able to handle both PAL and NTSC conversion. Good news if you can only find a VCD in PAL format and you don't have a multi-region player. As for multiregion players - do a search for "Malata" in this forum and you'll get youself a quick education on this stuff...

2. Q: I really liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon! What else will I like?

A: Well, don't expect all HK films to be exactly like that. In fact, none are exactly like that. HK films don't have quite as much money behind them as CTHD did - that doesn't mean they aren't top quality films... it just means to not expect the same experience you had when you watched CTHD. The films suggested below could be a good starting point - don't go off the deep end and order dozens of titles hoping to like them all... some people really love these films and some people just don't "get it". Many people who were into this genre before CTHD came out will tell you that CTHD wasn't all that great compared to the real thing. Having said that though - if you really liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - chances are you'll love many of the films that HK has to offer. For starters - try the selections from the list below. Iron Monkey (1993) seems to be the Akira of HK Kung-Fu films as it's the most recommended film to newcomers. Avoid the sequel.

3. Q: Subtitles vs. Dubs? What's the best way to watch? Do DVDs made in HK provide english dubs?

A: Up until recently, nearly all HK films were filmed with no sound - the sound was added later and all the dialogue was done in the various languages so the film could be distributed to nearby countries and also so it could be understood by everyone in China (as there are 2 main languages spoken in China). This technique is called "looping" and consists of voice actors watching the film and saying lines - trying to match the on-screen performance.

What you end up with is a dub - no matter what language. Often times, the original actor wouldn't even do his or her own looping as they would be busy shooting another film (common for HK actors to do 5 - 10 or more films per year). Many purists would argue that the original language is the ONLY way to listen to the film. I tend to agree that it is a better experience to watch the film with subtitles listening to the original intended language - dubbed or not. It's the best candidate for voices matching up with lips and typically, the subtitles are more accurate than the english dubs.

Most english dubs are done in Europe and are piss-poor quite frankly. Occasionally a decent one comes along, but not often. It's rather common for meanings to get lost as english actors try to change the script in order to make their spoken words come out when the on-screen actor's mouth is moving. It's a scary thought.

Subtitles aren't perfect either as it is quite common to have mispellings and horrific grammatical mistakes. Sometimes with HK DVDs - the subtitles are burned into the print and can disappear when the scene is bright. Sometimes things being said aren't even translated. Sometimes subtitles flash by so fast even the fastest speed reader can't make them out (just watched a film where one subtitled statement was on the screen for only 4 frames).

Basically - 99% of HK DVDs do NOT come with english Dubs. There are a few that do and the dubs are usually decent. If you want a HK film with an English dub, you're going to have to look at US releases or UK releases. Tai Seng operates in the US and produces some fabulous DVDs as well as some terrible ones. Hong Kong Legends operates out of the UK and they (for the most part) produce awesome DVDs of HK films. Outside of that, some major US distributors occasionally release a Jackie Chan film or a Jet Li film with excellent transfers and English Dub ONLY... they often remove a lot of scenes for you as well, so beware. Bottom line is - it's preferred to order DVDs from HK and watch them in the original language with subtitles. They are cheaper from HK anyway.

4. Q: How are the quality of HK DVDs vs. American DVDs?

A:There are 3 main DVD distributors in HK - Mei Ah, Universe Laser, and Mega Star (there's a ton of others like Tung Ah, China Star, Rytek, DeltaMac, Thakral etc... but we're talking about the ones you would run across most often). Mei Ah DVDs are typically inexpensive and the transfer is the equivalent to a laserdisc. They are minimalists on extras and usually have burned-in subs. Only reason to get a Mei Ah disc usually is if there is nothing else available.

Universe Laser are a great company - usually they have some awesome DVDs with great sound and transfers with a few extras as well such as making of featurettes and press conferences and such. Some of their earlier releases weren't as good and they are a company that has been improving... they have been getting progressively better and their recent releases which include featurettes and other extras also include english subtitles for the extras! Great! They typically have Cantonese and Mandarin sound with removable english subtitles.

Media Asia are excellent as well - They usually provide outstanding transfers and fantastic digital sound. They seem to have a formula going and most of their menus are the same-looking. Menus include a movie still in the background and chapter stops, sound options, subtitle options, star files, trailers, coming attractions and start the movie along the side. They also usually provide multiple soundtracks with many subtitle options (removable).

In america - when a HK film gets picked up by New Line or Columbia Tri Star - they get cleaned up really well so the transfers kick ass all over most HK releases. The sound is almost always Dub with no other audio track available (except maybe french for the canadians occasionally). Recently, asian cinema has been gaining respect and these stuidos are starting to realize that the original language track is necessary along with subtitles - as an option at least. I predict these major stuidos will begin to treat these films even better than before with less cutting and more subbing.

Tai Seng, however is a mixed bag - sometimes they provide great transfers with a decent amount of extras (in english) and acceptable sound - and other times they provide garbage transfers with no extras and burned in subs that you can't see. In some cases, the Tai Seng release is the one to get (when there's a choice), while in other cases Tai Seng is the one to avoid. Be aware also that sometimes a Tai Seng release is just the HK release with a Tai Seng foil sticker on the sleeve... these re-packages are easy to spot because they'll say Media Asia or Mei Ah or Universe etc on the jacket but have a Tai Seng sticker on them. These are safe to buy, but just know you're probably paying a bit more than you could be if you were ordering the same DVD from HK.

5. Q: What are the differences between the (whatever) version of (movie) and the (whatever) version? Is there a way I could find out which DVD version to get of (whatever) film?

A: It's possible for several DVD publishers to get the rights to press the same film, and different publishers do things differently. The results can range from relatively minor such as cutting out a few seconds of a particularly gory scene to completely re-doing soundtracks, re-ordering of scenes, and some cases almost making a completely different movie! Differences in versions will also exist due to cultural norms and laws.

Since HK movies might be distributed to several different countries such as Malaysia, China, Taiwan, etc, different scenes might have to be removed and/or changed to conform with that country's culture and laws. Also, sometimes scenes can be added as well. Sometimes the only difference that exists between two versions might be that one is in widescreen format while the other is in full-screen format or pan & scan or in widescreen but a slightly different aspect ratio. Other variables can be sound quality (5.1, 2.0, digital mono, etc...), print quality (less grain, more grain, too dark, too washed out, etc...), burned-in subtitles vs. removable subtitles, or extras available (or lack thereof).

There are in fact resources available that can help in all this confusion. Asian DVD Guide is the best resource and it's the most complete. Recently it was removed by the creator for reasons I won't go into, but has been put back up and is now available again. Let's hope it stays that way. Please see the bottom of this post for links to this site and others. If you can't find an answer, just ask the folks here and we will do our best to answer you.

6. Q: What is with all these acronyms and initializations I see in everybodys posts?

A: Yes, it can be confusing trying to keep up with all the HK (Hong Kong ) shorthand. Here is a list of some of the more common ones in use around here and elesewhere:

CTHD - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (but you probably already knew that)

C/T - Columbia Tristar. A US based company that has been releasing HK films on DVD.

CYF - Chow Yun Fat. A popular Hong Kong actor that has recently starred in several western movies.

DM - Drunken Master. An early Jackie Chan film

DM2 - Drunken Master 2. A sequel to DM by Jackie Chan. Also re-released as Legend of the Drunken Master.

HK - Hong Kong. 'natch

HKL - Hong Kong Legends. A UK (United Kingdom) based company that re-masters HK films onto DVD.

JC - Most commonly refers to Jackie Chan. Could also refer to actor Jackie Cheung

LODM - see DM2

OUATIC - Once Upon A Time In China. A very popular movie series.

OUATIC&A - Once Upon A Time In China And America. A particular movie from the OUATIC series.

7. Q: I have checked out the popular suggestions and I want more! Where do I start from here?

A: Good Question. There are a few ways to go about it. Look at your favorite HK films so far. See who you like in that film. Check out other films with that person in them. Stephen Chow has dozens of films under his belt and many of them are good. Also - if you like the style of a film, find out who produced and/or directed it and see more films produced and/or directed by that person. Johnny To is an excellent director, but his name doesn't come up as often as John Woo or Tsui Hark. Odds are, if you've seen most of the stuff in the list below - you've seen a film he's done. Another thing to do is check out review sites. HKMDB (when it's working) is a great resource for reviews. There are dozens of other sites for reviews of HK films that I didn't even list - try doing a search for the title of a movie you like and the word review. Several websites will pop up with a review for that film and most likely other films from HK. This is where it all gets so addictive... DVDs from HK are typically less than 10 bucks each so it's easy to pick up a bunch of them at a time sight unseen. If all else fails - simply request a review from someone else in this forum.

___________________________________________________

Here's a list of films recommended to those who want to get into Asian cinema, but don't know where to start. I didn't make the list up by myself as most of these films were recommended to me:

== Good Kung-Fu/Wire-Fu ==

Iron Monkey
(1993) - This is the MOST recommended title. This perhaps should be the first HK DVD you buy.
Tai Chi II - underrated
Dragon Inn (1992) - excellent
Fire Dragon (1994) - underrated - amazing special effects for the time
The Blade (1995) - Not yet on DVD in Region 1 or 0 but is available on a mediocre Mei Ah VCD and Tai Seng VHS - Tsui Hark directed. Highly recommended, but not typical of HK films.

== Michelle Yeoh ==

Butterfly and Sword
(aka Comet, Butterfly & Sword)
Wing Chun
Heroic Trio
Supercop II
(US Title) (Project S - HK title)

== Jet Li ==

Swordsman II
No need to see the first one, but it's good too - Jet is not in the first one or the third one (East is Red).
Fong Sai Yuk 1 and 2 (a.k.a. The Legend & The Legend 2) - Many people's favorites - they have comedy, drama, outstanding action and great performances by Jet and supporting cast.
Tai Chi Master (a.k.a. Twin Warriors) - great wire work and very much like Fong Sai Yuk in spirit.
Once Upon a Time in China 1, 2 and 3 - Jet is said to have been born to play the character in these films (Wong Fei Hung)
Fist of Legend - Best film to showcases Jet Li's unassisted talent. The film isn't all that great, but the fighting is among the best ever recorded on film.
Kung Fu Cult Master - Outstanding film, but ends abruptly leaving some disappointed.

== Jackie Chan ==

Drunken Master 2
(a.k.a. Legend Of Drunken Master)
Who Am I?
Supercop (US Title) (Police Story III - HK title)
Operation Condor (US Title) (Armor of the Gods 2 - HK Title)
Rumble in the Bronx
Gorgeous
Miracles
(US Title) (Mr. Canton and Lady Rose - HK title)
Project A
Young Master (old-school Jackie Chan)

== Steven Chow ==

God of Cookery
- Hilarious! (Iron Chef-fu)
Shaolin Soccer - Excellent! (CGI Soccer-fu)
Royal Tramp 1 & 2 - Hilarious! (Period kung-fu comedy)
King of Comedy - Hilarious! (Wanna-Be-Actor-fu)
King of Beggars - Very funny (Reversal of Fortune-fu)
Justice My Foot! - Hilarious (period courtroom-fu)
Forbidden City Cop - Hilarious (Period Fantasy-fu)
Tricky Master - Funny (Gambling-fu)

Click here for a Steven Chow discussion thread

== Chow Yun Fat == - <small>usually paired with John Woo & his films are typically very bloody w/ tons of gunplay.</small>

The Killer
Hard Boiled
A Better Tomorrow 1, 2 and 3
City On Fire
- Is said to be the Inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs

== Old-School Kung-Fu Suggestions ==

The Five Deadly Venoms
The Master Killer
(aka Shaolin Master Killer)
Kid With The Golden Arm
Five Fingers of Death
Chinese Super Ninja (5 element ninja)

Check out this thread for more discussion and info

[b]== Gun-Fu or Explosive Action ==

Tokyo Raiders
Running Out of Time
Purple Storm
Gen-X Cops
Shiri
- Korean - really bloody
Time and Tide - Tsui Hark directed... beautiful!
Fulltime Killer - Johnny To directed

== Comedy/CatIII ==

Electrical Girl
- funny "soft" porn/romance love story
Sex and Zen - Classic period sex comedy (S&ZIII is decent as well, but not that funny)
Story Of Ricky - Super Gory HK film - Based on a Manga. Only funny because it's so outrageous. A Must Have!
Naked Killer - Silly HK version of La Femme Nikita (sort of) with nekkidness.
Robotrix - Poor special effects, but has plenty of naked female cyborg action.

== Romantic Comedy/Romance ==

Fighting For Love
Love on a Diet
Comrades, A Love Story
Feel 100%
And I Hate You So...
Shuzou


== Drama ==

In the Mood for Love
Yi Yi
Peking Opera Blues
- Fantastic film! Plenty of action as well.
Emperor and the Assasin
Farewell My Concubine


== Horror/Fantasy ==

Visible Secret
- New release/ Not too scary, but good example of contemporary Chinese horror/ghost films. Click here for a review
Evil Dead Trap - (Japan Horror)
The Ring 1 & 2 - (Japan Horror)
Chinese Ghost Story 1 & 2 & 3 - classic love story
Green Snake - Fantasy
Bride With White Hair - Fantasy with a dash of Horror and plenty of swordfighting action. Well loved title - sequel is not as good.
Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain - Fantasy - Accused of practically starting the whole flying kung-fu fantasy genre - Tsui Hark directed.

== High Production Values & CGI ==

Bichunmoo
- Korean. Very stylish. More violent than CTHD. Love and Swords.
A Man Called Hero - A bit slow, contains CGI, based on a Manga
The Duel - Andy Lau - contains CGI, mixed reviews
Storm Riders
Legend of Zu

The people with their own sections above obviously aren't the only stars in HK obviously... there are many others that often find themselves attached to great films (including many of the films listed above)... For example, Brigitte Linn, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Mui. After watching several HK films, you'll begin to develop favorite actors and actresses just like with American film actors and actresses - and you'll gravitate towards their other films.

Get to know the names of some of the directors of your favorite films as well, and then go seek out more of their movies... Tsui Hark, Corey Yuen, Yuen Woo Ping, John Woo, and Wong Jing have all been known to produce some great films. They've all worked on films in the U.S. as well.

It's not difficult to get into Asian cinema - the hard part is being able to stop.



___________________________________________________
Best online stores for import HK DVDs and VCDs:

Please use DVDTalk's Links when they exist - Supporting this will encourage the sites to issue coupons.

Hong Kong based:

DDDHouse - *favorite* Usually the cheapest & best customer service! (HK)
HiVi Zone - Second most popular HK retailer. (HK)
DVD Shelf - click on "English" in upper left (HK)
Coolala - slow loading, but good selection and decent prices(HK)
Yes Asia - Beautiful site - modeled after Amazon - has TONS and TONS of stuff! (HK)
3D Express - Slow loading, but tons of stuff. (HK)
Hong Kong Movie - on the expensive side, but may be cheaper than US retailers. (HK)

Let me tell you something - Don't be afraid to order from a HK distributor. 99% of the titles will play on ANY machine and the ones that won't are clearly marked on most sites as Region 3 or 2 or whatever. DDDHouse and the others are very reputable and have good customer service and are experienced in dealing with US customers. I've personally ordered over 200 DVDs from HK and have had no problems with credit cards or packages getting lost or held up. That's not to say it won't happen ever, but it's just the same as ordering from a US retailer. So - don't be shy - just start ordering. I'd start out with a 5 or 6 DVD order from one of the retailers above and see how it goes.

US Based:

<a href="http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/aid.007782/qx/home.htm"'>hkflix.com - slick site design. Support DVDTalk(US)
Homay.com Support DVDTalk(US)
Asian Discs - professional looking site with fair prices - they carry VCDs as well. Currently running a special - buy 4 get one free
Poker Industries - Large selection/higher prices. Free shipping over $50. Also sells on Amazon Zshops, half.com and ebay. (US)
Five Star Laser - similar to poker. (US)
Asiafilm - not easy to order from, but decent prices. (US)
AsianXpress - easy to use, not the cheapest (US)
Blue Laser - carries a few hard-to-find items (US)
DVD Asian - Nice site - modeled after express.com (US)

VCD Zone: <small>Some sell DVDs also, but others deal pretty much only in VCDs - beware of bootlegs at some of these places - buyer beware. Chances are, if the item can only be found at one place, it's quite likely a bootleg. VCDs are considerably cheaper than DVDs but the quality can be sketchy - usually about as good as a VHS tape. Thing is, many films can only be found on VCD. Most DVD players will play VCDs.</small>

Absolute Music - Music and VCD movies
All VCD - Name says it all
Cool VCD
Get VCDs
Sensasian - slow delivery, but great prices and selection
Video CDs
DVD Video CD - Karaoke heaven! (US)
Sasa VCD - Hentai, porn, adult, anime, etc... (US)

Other:

Best Prices - US retailer carries US releases of HK films and are cheaper than many places. Especially with Anime. (US)
Amazon - Carries many imports as well as US editions of HK films. (US)
Reel Love - Carries alot of stuff and price most things 30% off or more. (US)
DVD Empire - carries imports. (US)
DVD Planet - also Ken Kranes. (US)

___________________________________________________
Other Resources:

*Asian DVD Guide - The resource for information on which DVD version of a movie to get (ie. Tai Seng, Mei Ah, Universe, etc...)
*Hong Kong Movie Database - for a resource of reviews and other info on nearly ALL HK films... it's IMDB for HK cinema. Best resource, but the site is often down.
Korean Film - HKMDB of Korean cinema
The Blade - Anime and Import info
Bullets and Babes - Fantastic resource for international DVD buyers. Info on Everything.
Love and Bullets - Hong Kong DVD review

Last edited by Trigger; 02-21-02 at 09:38 PM.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-07-01, 04:22 AM
  #2  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Originally posted by Yellow Hammer

I decided to set up a table of shipping prices to North America for 4 of the major Hong Kong online retailers. Dollar Amounts are in Hong Kong Dollars.

Notes: Coolashop only allows a maximum of 12 DVDs per shipment. Hivizone only allows 20 DVDs per order for credit card orders.


 

HK Online Store Shipping Prices

# of DVDsCoolashop Air MailCoolashop RegisteredDDDHouse 1st TimeDDDHouse RepeatDVDShelf Air MailDVDShelf CourierHivizone RegisteredHivizone Speedpost
1$29$42$30$30$150$145$39$116
2$51$64$50$50$150$145$62$116
3$73$86$70$60$150$145$81$116
4$99$112$90$70$150$145$101$163
5$121$134$105$80$150$145$124$163
6$144$157$120$90$235$225$143$163
7$170$183$135$100$235$225$167$209
8$192$205$150$110$235$225$190$209
9$214$227$160$118$235$225$213$209
10$241$254$170$126$235$225$233$209
11$263$276$180$134$315$285$256$209
12$285$298$190$142$315$285$279$209
13  $200$150$315$285$283$260
14  $210$158$315$285$287$260
15  $220$166$315$285$291$260
16  $230$174$315$285$291$260
17  $240$182$315$285$240$306
18  $250$190$315$285$240$306
19  $260$198$315$285$240$306
20  $270$206$315$285$283$353
21  $280$214$385$365  
22  $290$222$385$365  
23  $300$230$385$365  
24  $310$238$385$365  
25  $320$246$385$365  


Originally posted by Trigger

Thought I'd do this in US funds for everyone... I had to frickin do it by hand cuz I suck. Thank Yellow Hammer for creating this table in the first place - I just changed the numbers using a calculator.

This information is subject to change daily due to currency exchange rates which may vary (not by much though). Check with your credit card company if you're concerned.

 

HK Online Store Shipping Prices

# of DVDsCoolashop Air MailCoolashop RegisteredDDDHouse 1st TimeDDDHouse RepeatDVDShelf Air MailDVDShelf CourierHivizone RegisteredHivizone Speedpost
1$3.72$5.39$3.85$3.85$19.23$18.59$5.00$14.87
2$6.54$8.21$6.41$6.41$19.23$18.59$7.95$14.87
3$9.36$11.03$8.98$7.69$19.23$18.59$10.39$14.87
4$12.69$14.36$11.54$8.98$19.23$18.59$12.95$20.90
5$15.51$17.18$13.46$10.26$19.23$18.59$15.90$20.90
6$18.46$20.13$15.39$11.54$30.13$28.85$18.34$20.90
7$21.80$23.46$17.31$12.82$30.13$28.85$21.41$26.80
8$24.62$26.28$19.23$14.10$30.13$28.85$24.36$26.80
9$27.44$29.11$20.52$15.13$30.13$28.85$27.91$26.80
10$30.90$32.57$21.80$16.16$30.13$28.85$29.88$26.80
11$33.72$35.39$23.08$17.18$40.39$36.54$32.82$26.80
12$36.54$38.21$24.36$18.21$40.39$36.54$35.77$26.80
13  $25.64$19.23$40.39$36.54$36.29$33.34
14  $26.93$20.26$40.39$36.54$36.80$33.34
15  $28.21$21.28$40.39$36.54$37.31$33.34
16  $29.49$22.31$40.39$36.54$37.31$33.34
17  $30.77$23.34$40.39$36.54$30.77$39.24
18  $32.05$24.36$40.39$36.54$30.77$39.24
19  $33.34$25.39$40.39$36.54$30.77$39.24
20  $34.62$26.41$40.39$36.54$36.29$45.26

Last edited by Trigger; 08-14-01 at 10:33 PM.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-09-01, 05:01 AM
  #3  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
I added a bunch more stuff again - I think it's actually starting to be informative. Since I'm trying to do this on my own - I'm sure some of my information is wrong or confusing or something. It would be nice if someone would jump in and help me. I hope someone finds this thread useful.

edit: Thanks Geoff.

Last edited by Trigger; 07-11-01 at 03:11 AM.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-09-01, 12:20 PM
  #4  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Wood-Ridge, NJ USA
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some other movies worth a mention would be THE MISSION and A HERO NEVER DIES.
The MISSION brings a bunch of guys together from different backgrounds to protect a gang boss.
A HERO NEVER DIES is about honor among two rival triads. It's difficult to explain this one without giving the story away.
Also, for an over-the-top Kung Fu, gore movie, the STORY OF RICKY is very good.

Vanian
Vanian is offline  
Old 07-09-01, 09:10 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Great suggestions - I'll impliment some of them the next time I do an update...

Something's up with your post elengineer - it makes the page stop loading... strange. I wonder if this post will even be visible.

edit: Thanks.

Last edited by Trigger; 07-11-01 at 03:12 AM.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-11-01, 04:29 AM
  #6  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Ok - I made a few changes and did some updating... Thanks for the suggestions. If anyone has any questions - feel free to ask them here. If you have suggestions for this thread - feel free to suggest.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-11-01, 01:56 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: West Coast
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For Violence and T&A (CAT III) go for Naked Killer and Robotrix.
axolotls return is offline  
Old 07-11-01, 01:58 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: West Coast
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, Asiandvdguide is back up and it's being UPDATED
axolotls return is offline  
Old 07-11-01, 08:37 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
First - a typographical comment - the first reference to "Iron Monkey" in the text should say "Iron Monkey (1993)" to distinguish it from "Iron Monkey (1977)" which is also an HK Kung Fu movie, and thus could be mistaken by the newbie.

Second - another typographical comment - The Master Killer should be changed to say The Master Killer (aka Shaolin Master Killer) (because that is what the DVD is called and in fact the Chinese name has "Shaolin" in it, so it's not a bad name change).

Third - You should have The Bride with White Hair in the Horror/Fantasy section, as well as Zu... (even though they are in the CTHD section).

Fourth - You should have The Five Deadly Venoms in the "Old School" section - it was certainly one of the handful of most popular HK films in the US and Europe.

Fifth - Seven Blows Of The Dragon is not available in any video format, so it is pointless to have it on your list (even though it is well thought of by those who remember seeing it in a theater). Five Master Of Death is not listed in any database, however a famous and popular early 70's Kung Fu movie was named Five Fingers of Death and that is probably what was meant by the person who suggested it.

Sixth - I can't imagine two more opposite films than Crouching Tiger... and Storm Riders ! They have zero in common (other than that both have Chinese elements) - I can't imagine why Storm Riders is in your CTHD section.

Seventh - Take Zu... and add Jet Li, adult jokes, wire fu and strange characters (like comedic vampires) and you have the amazing (and controversial) Kung Fu Cult Master which is definitely on my top 10 HK list. I'm not sure which section it goes in - use your judgement. (This film is often listed in top 5 and top 10 lists.)

Last edited by HepDude; 07-12-01 at 02:43 AM.
HepDude is offline  
Old 07-14-01, 09:31 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
HepDude - I'm sorry I didn't respond right away - I was planning to update the thread again in a few days hoping to see a few more suggestions from folks. I'll certainly consider your suggestions.

I agree that Kung Fu Cult Master should be in there if that's what you're saying. I think it ended wierd so many people don't like it. I loved it and wanted more. I'll change the old school section to whatever you guys want becaus I don't really like the same old school films that most of you guys like. The CTHD section is hard to do because there's many films with elements of it in them, but none that are just like it. I chose Storm Riders because of the production value and it's not boring like A Man Called Hero. It's a section that doesn't have to contain films that are like CTHD, but films that people who are CTHD fans should like. I added it because many people constantly suggest it to people who ask the question "I liked CTHD, what should I get?" I'll update in the next few days. Thanks alot for the suggestions.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-15-01, 09:17 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Concerning CTHD and Storm Riders -- I thought that Storm Riders has more in common with Pokemon, Power Rangers, Transformers, etc. - all of the high sounding talk is gobbledygook that is just meant to sound impressive.

Ang Lee who directed "Sense and Sensibility", directed CTHD, and many people consider it "Iron Monkey" meets "Sense and Sensibility".

Of course, Storm Riders has absolutely nothing in common with "Sense and Sensibility", it is simply the opposite feel.

Another way of putting it is that while many females like CTHD, I can't imagine any females liking Storm Riders, unless they are "tomboy" types.
HepDude is offline  
Old 07-16-01, 01:24 AM
  #12  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
So why don't you come up with a list of films for people who loved CTHD? Personally, I didn't care for Storm Riders as much as everyone else seems to. I just stuck it there because it's what people have historically suggested when the thread pops up saying "what do I get now since I liked CTHD?" It's not my opinion - other than that I agree to the extent that Storm Riders has a higher production value and looks slicker than some of the older classic early 90's stuff. Like I said - it may not be the same film, but it's one people suggest. Come up with a better list and I'll consider. Perhaps Storm Riders needs to be moved to the fantasy section... but what do I put in its place?
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-16-01, 01:28 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Actually, I'd suggest putting Bride with White Hair in both the CTHD section and the fantasy section.
HepDude is offline  
Old 07-17-01, 07:56 PM
  #14  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it's obviously that you're against STORMRIDERS. trigger can recommend others whatever he thinks is good, no need to get over him for any reasons. you can always make your own list of recommendations.
wonton is offline  
Old 07-17-01, 09:32 PM
  #15  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
To be fair, I wasn't all that impressed with Storm Riders... However, I felt that since it's so popular and commonly suggested to those who like CTHD - it belonged on the list. Thanks though.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-18-01, 05:42 PM
  #16  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: West Coast
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by HepDude

Another way of putting it is that while many females like CTHD, I can't imagine any females liking Storm Riders, unless they are "tomboy" types.
Umm.. women/girls like this movie (in my opinion) because of Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok. 'nuff said.
axolotls return is offline  
Old 07-19-01, 01:51 AM
  #17  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
STORM RIDERS is one of the best and most well-known hk movies, some people are just too picky. i personally like it better than CTHD and i have some friends that do too. in my opinion, they cant be compared cus CTHD is made with more money as a bigger production, it's a taiwanese movie not hk, and it was released world wide. so chances are those that like CTHD might not like hk cantonese (original language) movies cus CTHD is a taiwanese movie, if you want to get that specific.
wonton is offline  
Old 07-26-01, 05:23 AM
  #18  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
I will totally add that next time I update - which will be soon I think...

I'll also add links to some popular threads - suggestions?
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-27-01, 10:54 AM
  #19  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is a totally awesome thread to those who love martial arts flicks. Thanks so much for the great info.

dvd-fisherman is offline  
Old 07-27-01, 03:15 PM
  #20  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
You're very welcome. I had lots of help myself.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-28-01, 02:20 PM
  #21  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Where the sky is always Carolina Blue! (Currently VA - again...)
Posts: 5,167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Good thread, but you should add something specific for John Woo and/or Chow Yun Fat.

Woo's great films aside from Hard Boiled and the Killer include: A Better Tomorrow (I, II and Too), Bullet in the Head (incredible), and Once a Thief (haven't seen it yet).

Tuan Jim
Tuan Jim is offline  
Old 07-28-01, 03:01 PM
  #22  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Will do...
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-30-01, 12:37 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I guess comedy varies from person to person. I saw "King of Comedy" and it's one of my least favorite HK films. I have a good sense of humor, but I did not laugh once during that film (although the satire of martial arts films was well done).

I'm going to try one more of his films, as this one did not get all that good a rating by Amazon customers, so maybe it was the wrong one of his to start with...

Also, I just saw "The Blade" as well, and I think that it was excellent, but nevertheless definitely should not be in a "newbie" thread.

Last edited by HepDude; 07-30-01 at 12:42 AM.
HepDude is offline  
Old 07-30-01, 12:40 AM
  #24  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 23,466
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Originally posted by HepDude
I guess comedy varies from person to person. I saw "King of Comedy" and it's one of my least favorite HK films. I have a good sense of humor, but I did not laugh once during that film.

I'm going to try one more of his films, as this one did not get all that good a rating by Amazon customers, so maybe it was the wrong one of his to start with...

Also, I just saw "The Blade" as well, and I think that it was excellent, but nevertheless definitely should not be in a "newbie" thread.
Try God of Cookery if you haven't yet.

Why do you think The Blade doesn't belong here? Cuz it's not out on DVD in Region 1 or 0? I think it's a fantastic film and it deserves attention.
Trigger is offline  
Old 07-30-01, 12:50 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Blade shouldn't be on a newbie list because it is so extreme. It is atypical of HK films - seeing it doesn't give you any sense of what HK films are like.

Add to that the very extreme violence, torture, etc. plus the fact that there is no good version available in terms of image quality, and you have basically have an excellent film that is only for those who have already seen a few HK films beforehand.

In a similar way, if someone had not already heard all of Bjork's regular albums, I would not suggest that they start with a live bootleg of marginal sound quality.

If you want to keep everything together, perhaps an extra category "films for later" or "films for HK aficianados" would do the trick.
HepDude is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.