Fox/Fortune Star Hong Kong DVD Thread

[LorenzoL]

I'm starting to track down most of the movies of this amazing series from Fox ever since I bought a copy of "The Magnificent Butcher" and "The Magnificent Warriors" in their bargain bin.

Wave 1
- The Magnificent Butcher
- The Magnificent Warriors
- City Hunter
- Naked Killer
- Hong Kong 1941

Wave 2
- Duel to the Death
- Eastern Condors
- In the Line of Fire 4
- Heart of Dragon
- My Lucky Stars

Wave 3
- Prodigal Son
- Young Master
- Royal Warriors
- Operation Scorpio
- Game of Death II

Wave 4
- Mr. Vampire
- Knockabout
- Battle Creek Brawl
- The Postman Fights Back
- Iron Fisted Monk

Wave 5
- Warriors Two
- Spooky Encounters
- Winners and Sinners
- Legacy of Rage
- Hand of Death

I like to thank Fox for releasing them uncut (with the exception of Naked Killer), remastered and 5.1 audio (I know they do not have their original audio nor any relevant extras but the way they are priced, has helped me forget the lack of extras).

Edit - Updated the list

[boston george]

I also love these titles, though I sometimes have a hard time finding them at B&Ms.

[LorenzoL]

Here in Canada, I have only seen them at HMV Downtown location for Wave 3.

Also, somebody at another forum has indicated that the image for "Young Master" is cropped.

[timmy o'toole]

I would like to see Mr. Vampire again.

[Joe Molotov]

I haven't seen any of the 3rd Wave at B&M stores yet, but I picked up City Hunter, Hong Kong 1941, Duel to the Death, and My Lucky Stars. For $5.50, how can you resist? So far Duel to the Death has been my favorite, that movie is a riot. :D

[cultshock]

I bought all of Wave 1 and 2 (with the exception of Heart of Dragon, which I never really cared for) but Wave 3 is proving to be tricky for me to find thus far. Wave 4 is looking pretty good too, especially the excellent Knockabout

These DVDs all look great, I guess with the exception of the apparently misframed Young Master, and the only other real missteps have been the cut version of Naked Killer and the lack of the original mono audio tracks (most of the 5.1 remixes are OK though, with the exception of Eastern Condors, which sounds terrible). And of course, the pricing is excellent. :up: I can live with the lack of extras and less than attractive cover art because its the films themselves that are the important thing.

After experiencing years of watching poor quality prints of these films, (bootleg tapes, ragged prerecords and poorly mastered laserdiscs), I have to give Fox an 8/10 for the effort and a big thank you, and hope to see more in the future.

[pat00139]

The biggest problem I have with them are the dubtitles. That makes me very skeptical about buying them. It's really, really annoying because the rest of the DVDs are great. Why not go the extra mile and put in good subs?

I only have one, Magnificent Warriors, and the subs are a bit funny sometimes. They don't always match what's being said, and sometimes nothing's being said and there are subs, both of which are very annoying. I ordered Operation Scoprio because I can't find it anywhere else. I didn't want the PAL HKL verison, and it's not available in Hong Kong for some reason. All the other movies I own from various companies except for Young Master, Battle Creek Brawl and Hong Kong 1941. The best of the bunch is probably The Prodigal Son or In the Line of Duty 4.

By the way, Knockabout is one of the best martial arts flicks around. I'm very happy Fox got their hands on it instead of Miramax or Columbia. Iron Fisted Monk is also great, which should be nice. I also hope they have better dubbing on Mr. Vampire than Tai Seng (Master Sifu? Come on...).

[LorenzoL]

Pat, I read in another DVD forum that the subtitles are done for worldwide release through different distributors therefore for example for the English subtitles they only use one for all English speaking countries.

From what I been told is that Fortune Star are the one responsible for the quality of the print, sounds and subtitles while Fox just distribute them here in Region 1. Fox is only responsible for distribution.

[Mondo Kane]

I hope they add Sammo's Close Encounters/Spooky Kind to the line soon!

[prince_of_saturn]

will BATTLE CREEK BRAWL use the ORIGINAL English language track, as filmed, or they will use the Cantonese Dubb?

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by prince_of_saturn
will BATTLE CREEK BRAWL use the ORIGINAL English language track, as filmed, or they will use the Cantonese Dubb?

My guess will be that it will be the Cantonese Dubb and not the original film track but I'm no expert therefore I will defer to somebody who can provide us with concrete information.

[D-Ball]

Originally posted by prince_of_saturn
will BATTLE CREEK BRAWL use the ORIGINAL English language track, as filmed, or they will use the Cantonese Dubb?

There is only an English track on Battle Creek Brawl according to this http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=11591

[LorenzoL]

Courtesy of Kungfucinema.com

Battle Creek Brawl (1980)
AKA: The Big Brawl

Premise: Jerry Kwan (Jackie Chan) is a street smart Chinese man in 1920's Chicago whose quick fists attract the attention of a mobster looking for a fighter for a free-for-all match in Texas. He forces Kwan into the competition, while a rival mobster plots to keep Kwan from winning.

Review: As an avid Jackie Chan fan who had yet to see Battle Creek Brawl, it came as a pleasant surprise to see that his first Hollywood crossover, which had been a box office failure was filled with Jackie's distinctive physical humor, great fights (considering who his opponents were), and an easily digestible story.

Not so convincingly set in the 1920's, Battle Creek Brawl begins with a vicious prize fight that a hulking leftover from the early eighties professional wrestling circuit wins. Kiss, named for kissing his "victims" after beating the life out of them is being groomed for the Battle Creek Brawl, a no-holds barred slugfest held in Texas. We're then introduced to Jerry Kwan (Jackie Chan), a free-spirited young bruiser in Chicago who successfully fends off mobsters attempting to extort money from his father, a restaurant owner. He's noticed by the mob boss who decides to use Jerry as his fighter for the Brawl. Jerry's reluctance to sign up is quelled when his brother's girlfriend, fresh off the boat from China is kidnapped by the gangsters. To get her back, he has to win the competition, so he enlists the aid of his wily master, played with flair by the delightful Mako. Jerry is a sure winner as the Brawl begins until a minor plot by a rival mobster threatens to turn Jerry into cutlets. Of course, he ends up on top and finishes off Kiss, appropriately with a kiss.

This was Jackie Chan's first film produced in the United States in cooperation with Raymond Chow of Golden Harvest. It was a rough time for Jackie who was not adjusting to Hollywood filmmaking while Robert Clouse and his "slow" moving stunt team were not providing the best venue for Jackie's unique skills. In addition, he was waiting for trouble with director Lo Lieh and the triads to blow over back in Hong Kong. Actor Jimmy Wang Yu would come to his aid. In the meantime, Jackie was working on his English and trying his best to create a Hollywood breakthrough. Battle Creek Brawl did not provide this opportunity, but it can't be blamed on Jackie. The only thing that makes it work is his bubbling charm and potent skills which shine through the improbable circumstances found within the film.

Robert Clouse (Enter the Dragon) makes a mockery of the period setting by paying very little attention to costumes and props. You'll have no problem spotting bellbottom jeans or "modern" roller skating gear. The plot is thinner than most Taiwanese kung fu pics and most noticeably glosses over the kidnapping of the Chinese girl. This is the whole reason Chan goes to fight and he ends up giving the mobster responsible a thumbs up at the end, before he's even set her free! At least Lalo Schifrin's Ennio Morricone-inspired score both compliments the intended era and adds an appropriate tone to Jackie's high jinx.

Although Jackie has given the impression over the years that he had little control over this film, his signature is all over it. There's a lot of great humor and his relationship with Mako, one of my favorite Asian-American actors is terrific. You may have heard Mako as the voice of Aku on the hit Cartoon Network series, Samurai Jack. In this film, Mako plays Jackie's martial arts teacher who uses a cane as his weapon and scolds Jackie about the evils of women right before sneaking away to hop into bed with a rather large female. This Japanese born actor has been featured in numerous American martial arts films, including Bulletproof Monk with Chow Yun Fat.

There haven't been very many Hong Kong/Hollywood crossovers and for the time, this film does about as well as could be expected on a limited budget. Despite his slow-moving and immensely large opponents, Chan cuts in and out with flips, kicks, and his rapid punches. This is certainly not a showcase film for Chan. The Young Master, which came out the same year was light years ahead in terms of fight choreography. But, for Jackie Chan fans, Battle Creek Brawl deserves to be seen, if only to see how he humorously fights a bunch of muscle-bound gweilos. Its certainly one of his most unique screen efforts and had it been more successful, he might have forged a career in Hollywood long before Rush Hour came along.

[LorenzoL]

Courtesy of Kungfucinema.com

Knockabout (1979)
AKA: n/a

Premise: Yuen Biao and Leung Kar Yan are two con artists who decide to take martial arts instructions from Lau Kar-Wing, who turns out to be a ruthless criminal. Sammo Hung is a beggar who comes to their aid after their teacher turns on the pair.

Review: This is a terrific classical kung fu picture that has the distinction of starring Yuen Biao in his first leading role.

Zippo and Harpo, two brothers and misfit conmen with average kung fu skills manage to get into all sorts of trouble. When a seasoned martial arts expert named Old Fox outsmarts them, they convince him to teach them kung fu. After learning some skills they discover that their teacher is actually a criminal. To hide the truth, Harpo is killed, but Zippo manages to escape. Zippo meets up with a seemingly crazy beggar whose kung fu skills are superior. Zippo tricks the beggar into teaching him his kung fu to avenge the death of his brother but the beggar has his own intentions.

Yuen Biao really gets to shine in his first role with some excellent displays of acrobatics and kung fu. There are quite a few memorable and fun fights that Sammo uses to highlight Yuen's unique skills. After developing his kicking skills from the Old Fox, Yuen's character takes on all comers with unbelievably flexible and dynamic kicks that would leave any bootmaster such as Tan Tao-Liang jealous. Sammo does what has proven most successful and that is to play a comical supporting role that has similarities to his role in The Prodigal Son, also starring Yuen Biao. Hong Kong funny man, Karl Maka makes a short but entertaining appearance as the police official, wielding a pistol and massaging his trademark bald head like a madman.

Sammo plays up the humor to good effect with only a small bit of drama to play out Harpo's death. In fact, the whole film is filled with gags ranging from weasel-like characters stroking hairy moles to the very climax involving a great double-dutch match between Yuen and Lau while jump roping. You don't see that in film very often.

[LorenzoL]

Courtesy of kungfucinema.com

Mr. Vampire (1985)
AKA: n/a

Premise: n/a

Review: A pure classic by any standard! Produced by Sammo Hung, Mr. Vampire created a surefire combination of chills, humor and kung fu that spawned a successful franchise and numerous spin-offs and copycats. Enriched with classical Chinese folklore and energetic and moody atmosphere, the film is a treat to watch.

Kau (Lam Ching Ying), a Taoist priest and his two goofy assistants, Choi and Chou are called upon to put an end to the Yam family's bad luck. Kau discovers the reason when the family's recently deceased grandfather is found to have been buried improperly by a Feng Shui master. When the corpse turns out to be one of the walking dead and escapes its Taoist bindings, Kau and the police go on the hunt while dead bodies begin to turn up. Things go wrong as Choi is infected by the walking corpse and Chou is haunted by a ghost who has fallen in love with him. Kau has to use all his Taoist tricks to save his apprentices and defeat the evil vampire.

The tales of vampires in Chinese folklore is just as popular and rich in tradition as their Western counterparts originating with Brom Stoker's Dracula. There are variations though on how to control or kill a Chinese vampire or walking corpse and Mr. Vampire is probably the best cinematic example on how to deal with them. From sticky rice to Taoist symbols, the principle hero, Kau wields a vast array of weapons to combat the undead.

What makes the film all the more entertaining is the almost comical direction akin to Ivan Reitman's Ghostbusters. The fact is that Chinese vampires are simply hopping, rotting corpses with more in common with mindless zombies from Night of the Living Dead than a suave Dracula who seduces women. The film's director, Ricky Lau was clearly aware of this and plays for more laughs than chills. The film also borrows from another homegrown hit entitled Encounters of a Spooky Kind starring Sammo Hung who introduced the world to the horror/comedy/kung fu genre. Ricky Hui plays the forlorn assistant with charm and Lam Ching gives a star performance as the vampire busting priest who left a lasting impression that he never shook right up to his death.

Cheap special effects, the fact that the only villain is a mindless corpse, and occasionally overplayed and crude humor adds to the camp factor but keeps the film from being more engaging. Also, there isn't nearly as much martial arts action as found in Encounters of a Spooky Kind. Nevertheless, Mr. Vampire is great fun and fans of the Evil Dead series should see where Sam Raimi, a Hong Kong film fan got some of his twisted inspiration from.

[LorenzoL]

Courtesy of kungfucinema.com

The Iron Fisted Monk (1977)
AKA: n/a

Premise: A young man known as Husker (Sammo Hung) trains at Shaolin to seek revenge on Manchus for killing his father. He ends up joining a hero of Shaolin (Chan Sing) and dye factory workers in their struggle against a cruel Manchu official.

Review: The Iron Fisted Monk is an innovative and entertaining kung fu classic which bears the distinction of being Sammo Hung's directorial debut. It also contains a wealth of reference points for avid kung fu fans.

Sammo plays a character named Husker who is also known among students of Cantonese folklore to be Jun Bai Lo, one of the famous Ten Tigers from Kwantung. After his father is killed by Manchus who rule over Husker and his fellow Han, he joins Shaolin Temple where he learns kung fu with the intention of getting revenge. He leaves and meets up with Shan Teh (Chan Sing), a famous monk whose exploits were also portrayed by Gordon Liu in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Teh persuades the young man to teach kung fu to Han workers at a dye factory. At about the same time, one of the dye workers named Liang (Lo Hoi Pang) discovers that his sister has been raped by a Manchu. He rushes out and kills the wrong Manchu which draws the attention of the real rapist, a local Manchu official (Fung Hak On) who suspects the dye factory is involved. The official hires two Northern kung fu experts and plots the destruction of the dye factory. After a massacre leaves all of the workers dead, Husker and Teh storm into the official's home in search of justice dealt at the end of their fists.

For his first directing gig, Sammo created a remarkably polished film, especially considering the state of the Hong Kong film industry at the time which valued quantity over quality. Sammo put into practice many of the tricks and ideas he had amassed over the years while working primarily as an action choreographer for Golden Harvest. The use of creative camerawork, clouds of "Power Powder" and under-cranking to add impact to kicks and punches, and an eye for mixing drama and humor all would become staples of Hong Kong cinema in the years to come, but were still relatively new at the time of this film's release.

The fights are the main seller here. Sammo mixes it up with a number of excellent battles involving various weapons and kung fu techniques such as Fung Hak On's excellent northern Mantis Fist and Chan Sing's various southern boxing forms. Although the action doesn't reach the technical brilliance of Warriors Two (1978) or The Prodigal Son (1982), the climatic and bloody final bout featuring both Sammo and Chan Sing must be seen by even casual fans. Another highlight is a brothel skirmish involving Sammo and some of Hak On's thugs who end up crawling under Sammo's legs while piled on top of one another.

While the filmmaking techniques and choreography are innovative, the story which was co-written by Sammo's mentor Wong Fung fails to break any new ground, except in being offensive. There are two scenes of rape, one pointless scene of sex and nudity with Wu Ma involved which alone is offensive, and scene after scene of all Manchus portrayed as child bullying, fornicating, and murderous bastards. Sammo's desire to marry humor and drama also works against him in this film. Its hard to go from a brutal rape to a light-hearted fight at the brothel and not feel uncomfortable. While Sammo would continue to ride a fine line between fun and tragedy in his films, this one seems slightly out of control in that regard.

Overall, Sammo hits the right notes in this film with uniformly terrific kung fu action. For his level of creativity and genius when it comes to action, the film enjoys the distinction of being one of the best of its kind from the era and is certainly a landmark title. With Chan Sing in a memorable role that aptly features his rugged skills and a cast of familiar faces, many of whom would go on to stardom in the future, The Iron Fisted Monk deserves recognition as a true classic of the genre.

[BlackBeauty92]

i'm waiting for "Yes, Madam" (police assassins or In The Line of Duty 1)

:D

[LorenzoL]

Does anybody know if Fortune Star or Fox has rights to "Wheels on Meals". I will like a Fox/Fortune Star R1 release for this movie.

[Gore_Hound_X]

I believe Disney owns Wheels on Meals.

Also, I wanted to know from people who have more HK Film expertise then me, but all of the FOX/FS dvds include the Uncut version of the film and a Cantonese track w/English Sub(or Dub)titles except Naked Killer and Game of Death II

[pat00139]

LorenzoL, thanks for the reviews and the info. It seems very strange, though, that Fortune Star would spend any money for the English dub. Also, if Fortune Star is responsible for the subs, then they didn't do a very good job. Rather different at times. They don't change the overall story, mind you, but they're still different.

BlackBeauty, unfortunately Disney owns Yes Madam (which, incidentally, is actually In the Line of Duty 2, Royal Warriors is In the Line of Duty, and it's even more confusing when you know that Yes Madam came out _before_ Royal Warriors).

Gore Hound, as far as I know all the Fox DVDs are uncut.

[Linn1]

"It seems very strange, though, that Fortune Star would spend any money for the English dub."

Most of the original dubs are not owned by Fortune Star, so they could not put them on many of the releases so far.

"as far as I know all the Fox DVDs are uncut."

Naked Killer was cut and any of them will be cut if they exceed an "R" rating. The Game of Death 2 Fox dvd is the best in the world for length, as it includes the long international print of the film. The film has never been available completely uncut, as the Korean version of the film has footage not seen anywhere else except the original Korean release on video in the '80s. BTW, you ain't seen nothing yet, there's a good 50 or so films that Fox has lined up for release with more to come, and some HUGE special releases in the very near future.

[BlackBeauty92]

Damn Di$ney :mad:

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by Linn1
BTW, you ain't seen nothing yet, there's a good 50 or so films that Fox has lined up for release with more to come, and some HUGE special releases in the very near future.

Please tell me that you work for Fox or Fortune Star or you have reliable sources since this will be an awesome news personally.

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by Gore_Hound_X
I believe Disney owns Wheels on Meals.

Thank you for the information. I guess is a shame since if they ever release the movie for R1, we can expect to be cut, revised and dub without the original language track just like the Jet Li movies and Iron Monkey.

I tried watching the "Twin Warriors AKA Tai Chi Master" of the R1 release and could not get through it anymore because of the dubbing and cuts. I have been spoiled by Fox/Fortune Star releases.

[Linn1]

"Please tell me that you work for Fox or Fortune Star or you have reliable sources since this will be an awesome news personally."

Well, I work for a couple of other labels looking to get films that they haven't picked up from Fortune Star and in the process, found out much of what Fox has. I've written liner notes for about 15 martial arts dvds, pieces for the Hong Kong Film Archive, newpapers, etc., so I know what I'm talking about. :)

[texasgator]

Other than being mis-framed -- is the Young Master a good movie? I just won a copy from Green-Cine, so I am curious (I was unfamiliar with this series of releases from Fox until now).

Thanks.

[Tarantino]

Great! I love The Postman Strikes Back (Chow Yun Fat).

[Joe Molotov]

Originally posted by LorenzoL
Thank you for the information. I guess is a shame since if they ever release the movie for R1, we can expect to be cut, revised and dub without the original language track just like the Jet Li movies and Iron Monkey.

I tried watching the "Twin Warriors AKA Tai Chi Master" of the R1 release and could not get through it anymore because of the dubbing and cuts. I have been spoiled by Fox/Fortune Star releases.

It's even more disgusting when you figure in that the Fox/Fortune Star releases are like $6 and you get the original audio, a dub, occasionally a few extra features, and the film presented in a generally uncut fashion. The Disney Corp. releases are like $15-20 and the only "extra features" on them usually are the crappy dubs and a cut version of the film. That's of course when Disney decides to actually release the film at all.

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by Linn1
"Please tell me that you work for Fox or Fortune Star or you have reliable sources since this will be an awesome news personally."

Well, I work for a couple of other labels looking to get films that they haven't picked up from Fortune Star and in the process, found out much of what Fox has. I've written liner notes for about 15 martial arts dvds, pieces for the Hong Kong Film Archive, newpapers, etc., so I know what I'm talking about. :)

Any hints of the titles of the future releases might be :eyebrow:

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by texasgator
Other than being mis-framed -- is the Young Master a good movie? I just won a copy from Green-Cine, so I am curious (I was unfamiliar with this series of releases from Fox until now).

Thanks.

This one is considered one of his better movies. I'll highly recommended.

[LorenzoL]

The review for "The Postman Strikes Back" courtesy of Kungfucinema.com

The Postman Strikes Back (1982)
AKA: The Postman Fights Back

Premise: Leung Kar-yan plays Ma; the titular postman who is approached by the shifty Hu (Eddy Ko) to transport a number of intriguing cases which he is not permitted to open. He and a number of companions (including gambling cheat Fu Jun played by a young Chow Yun-fat) embark on a journey filled with danger, deception and ‘dynamice!'

Review: With Chow Yun-fat’s subsequent superstardom, director Ronny Yu’s recent Hollywood success and Leung Kar-yan’s solid cult status after genre classic Legend of a Fighter, The Postman Strikes Back reads as a recipe for a forgotten gem. Unfortunately this is not the case, however the film still contains enough character and quirkiness that may work for some Hong Kong film fans. This kung fu road movie has been fittingly dubbed an ‘Eastern Western’ given its fusion of history and action and the beautiful yet treacherous wilderness it is set in. However, instead of our heroes roasting under the sun and roaming a golden dessert, Chow and company freeze their way across the icy plains and snow smothered forests of the southern Korean landscape. Even if tranquil scenery such as this doesn’t do much for hardened kung fu film fans, this does make a welcome change from the understandably overused New Territories of Hong Kong. Not only does this perilously cold location help us care for our characters, this is also one of the many ways Ronny Yu tries to make this potentially formulaic kung fu film notable.

While The Postman Strikes Back contains its fair share of martial arts movie clichés, Yu has injected several novel ideas and concepts. The standout action sequence takes place on a frozen lake and features the dispatching of spear wielding, ice skating assassins. One of the film's other noteworthy innovations is the bizarre ‘piggy back’ kung fu technique employed by the two bounty hunters tracking Fu Jun. Choreographer Yuen Cheung-yan also mixes up the action by implementing explosives and projectiles such as Fu Jun’s underhand dart gun and even Fu Yun’s scarf makes for an effective weapon. Unfortunately, while these elements make the action sequences different there are no prolonged exchanges of intricate kung fu technique that the Yuen Clan’s involvement with the film suggests. Both Leung Kar-yan and Chow Yun-fat bust some moves, and though they handle their movements adequately, the fights are too short and lack the inventive choreography that Leung would exhibit the same year in Legend of a Fighter.

Another problem with the film is Leung Kar-yan’s character's lack of charisma. To be fair to Leung, his character does him little favor. Ma is a fairly lonely character who has to come to terms with the fact that the new railroad will make his occupation obsolete. Children run away from him thinking his packet of melted chocolate resembles something else, and the villagers he delivers to equally view him as the bearer of bad news as well as good. Leung does give a few cool, silent glances here and there and I personally felt quite a bit of sympathy for his character, but for some he may appear too tragic to care for. Consequently, Chow Yun-fat is perhaps a better candidate as the film's lead as he effortlessly steals the movie away from Leung, exhibiting all the charm that would later become his trademark. His character is essentially on the run with a troubled past, making him the more interesting character of the group. The rest of the supporting players turn in fine, if undistinguished performances, with the burly Fan Mei-sheng (The Magnificent Butcher) being the most recognizable to most kung fu movie fans. Even if the characters don’t inspire the audience to care, Yu uses the cases being delivered by Ma as a device to stimulate the audience’s curiosity, pulling them toward the film's finale. Yu also adds the revelation of Yao Jie (Yeun Yat-Choh), the unraveling of the mysterious Miss Li character, and the appearance of a ninja in an attempt to keep the movie interesting.

Thematically, the film presents a China in transition with the postman seemingly undertaking one last, long distance delivery before the eventual emergence on the railroad. The film emphasizes his determination to complete his task against all the dangers he faces on the way. Midway through the film he appears to be caught between his duty as a postman (guarding the cases and respecting his promise not to look inside them) and his duty as a supporter of the revolution. Naturally, no kung fu film would be complete without an element of revenge, and while the film leaves its inclusion late, the postman does indeed ‘strike back.' The film itself is generally well crafted with the cinematography complementing the epic scenery, while the guitar-based score neatly fits the chivalrous premise. Elements of the plot are foreshadowed and set up well in advance going against the trend of thrown-together spontaneity seen in other kung fu films. For example, at the end of the film the audience is finally treated to the payoff of an intriguing and ingenious weapon we see Mei-sheng crafting throughout the journey. The historic backdrop of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolution lends a credibility to the film even if the exploits of our protagonists clearly take center stage. Also, the historic rooting of the film begins to excuse the film's latter plot development when the film begins to get excessively brutal.

Overall, much like the plot of the film (a small portion of the Chinese revolution), the film itself also hints at something greater. The Postman Strikes Back is in some ways as ambitious as it is disappointing, packing a lot of ideas into its modest hour and a half, only without fleshing them out fully. Still Ronny Yu makes this film notably distinct, lifting it slightly above average. Kung fu fans however should look elsewhere for their 'fists of fury' fix as this was clearly never the film's priority. That said, even though the film's lack of furious martial arts is for many of us perhaps its biggest disappointment, it may very well be someone else’s saving grace, as the film has plenty of other aspects on offer besides the varied action scenes. Unfortunately, it seems Yu had neither the time nor budget to expand the film and produce what may have been a memorable epic. Fans of Leung Kar-yan may still want to check this out, just as the prospect of some rare, early Chow Yun-fat fight footage may prove tempting enough to earn a rental from his loyal followers. -

[LorenzoL]

Images of the covers courtesy of www.kungfucinema.com http://www.kungfucinema.com/images/dvdcovers/battlecreekbrawl_fox.gif http://www.kungfucinema.com/images/dvdcovers/ironfistedmonk_fox.gif http://www.kungfucinema.com/images/dvdcovers/knockabout_fox.gif http://www.kungfucinema.com/images/dvdcovers/mrvampire_fox.gif http://www.kungfucinema.com/images/dvdcovers/postmanstrikesback_fox.gif

[Gore_Hound_X]

I wish they could come up with better artwork for these releases, most of the covers suck.

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by Gore_Hound_X
I wish they could come up with better artwork for these releases, most of the covers suck.

Actually, I don't mind the covers that Fox is using and If I'm not mistaken, these are similar covers used for the DVDs releases by Universe, Mei Ah or whoever Hong Kong publishers have rights for these movies. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong.

[WillyShatsWig]

Originally posted by texasgator
Other than being mis-framed -- is the Young Master a good movie?

After his exceptional comparison review for The Prodigal Son (which can be seen here (http://www.dvddebate.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4292&mode=flat&order=0&thold=0)), Geoff De'arth has taken the trouble to offer us a highly detailed, indepth comparison review of the recent US release and the current UK release of Jackie Chan's The Young Master.

Click here (http://www.dvddebate.com/modules.php?name=AllNews&op=onecolumnnews&column=US News#The Young Master - UK Region 2 vs US Region 1 Comparison Review) to see if Fox's May 25th US budget release, is as good (or better) than Hong Kong Legends' 2002 release; and more importantly to see if the movie is actually any good.

Snippet:
There’s only one winner here, and it’s the HKL DVD which has soundly beaten its American counterpart in every department. The HKL disc features a very satisfying video transfer, faithfully remixed sound and solid extras. In comparison the Fox version has a very rough looking video transfer, jarring remixed sound and nothing worthwhile in the extras department, so avoid it if you can.

[LorenzoL]

I finally purchased Prodigal Son and have to say that I'm very pleased with the way that it looks. In regards to the audio, I'm little dissapointed with the remixed 5.1 since in some parts of the movie, dialogue pops in and out like a sound effects.

Overall, I'm really happy to have it in my collection since is one of my favorite Kung Fu movies.

[Fok]

Is this the same studio that remastered the Bruce Lee films? Hopefully they get to R1 soon :(

[LorenzoL]

Just want to give a heads up to all Toronto boardmembers that the Music World at Sherway Gardens is having a 2 for $16 sale (it probably carries over to other Music World locations) which includes some of the Fox/Fortune Star titles like:
- Duel to the Death
- Eastern Condors
- In the line of duty 4
- My lucky stars
- Heart of Dragon

Also Future Shop (website and BM stores) carry the following titles:
- Prodigal Son
- The Young Master
- Operation Scorpio
- The Game of Death II
They are priced at $9.99 each

Lastly, HMV has Magnificent Butcher and Magnificent Warriors at $7.99 each.

Happy shopping to anybody interested.

[Krayzie]

Where can find these in the states for $6? The website for bestbuy and Circuit City both have them all listed as $9.99. I remember all the Wave 1 movies were discounteded to $6 when I worked at Circuit City but that was about a year ago... Thanks!

[LorenzoL]

As far as I know that the wave 1 movies were found in the Wal-Mart $5.88 bins but I haven't seen the newer waves in the bins yet.

[tidwell]

Could someone give me a quick heads up to the best of each wave? So far I have Magnificent Butcher and In the Line of Duty 4...both of which were well worth the 5.50 I paid for them.

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by tidwell
Could someone give me a quick heads up to the best of each wave? So far I have Magnificent Butcher and In the Line of Duty 4...both of which were well worth the 5.50 I paid for them.

With those prices, why not buy them all! J/K

I guess is very subjective which one are the best but I'll list my favorites from each series:

Wave 1
- Magnificent Butcher
- Magnificent Warriors

Wave 2
- Eastern Condors
- In the Line of Fire IV

Wave 3
- Prodigal Son

Edit - I still need to buy Royal Warriors and Operation Scorpio since I heard that they are very good but I have never watch them before.

[tidwell]

I'm with you on just buying them all. If only I watched them as fast as I buy them!
I appreciate the list - thanks!

[LorenzoL]

Well, Wave 4 is being released on 09/07/04.

Anybody else buying them?

[Mondo Kane]

I've yet to check out the Mr. Vampire movies, but if they're good as everyone says they are then I'm sure to pick up the first one.

I never knew Lam Ching Ying was that good of a martial artist!

[LorenzoL]

I bought all of the released movies of Wave 4 today. It took me a while to find it but I did it.

I have to wait untill the weekend to start watching them.

[Krayzie]

were they all $10 each?

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by Krayzie
were they all $10 each?

Yes, I was able to find them for $9.99 Canadian.

[mcharro3]

Please Lorenzo! Tell me where you found them! No Future Shop or Best Buy I went to today had them. Neither did the local mega HMV...

[Krayzie]

ah they're $9.99 us over here.. =/

[cultshock]

Originally posted by LorenzoL
Yes, I was able to find them for $9.99 Canadian.


Futureshop? The previous wave showed up there (for that same price), but not many other places in my area.

[LorenzoL]

Originally posted by mcharro3
Please Lorenzo! Tell me where you found them! No Future Shop or Best Buy I went to today had them. Neither did the local mega HMV...

If you live in Toronto or the surrounding area, you will be able to find copies of the Wave 4 at the Sherway Garden. The store name is Hollywood Video (I'm not 100% sure) but they are located upstairs beside the food court and Sporting Life. They had all of them at $9.99 with the exception of Knockabout which I took the last copy yesterday. They may have more copies at the back but don't quote me on it.

Forget Best Buy since I already checked and don't have any in stock nor does the people working there know what you are talking about. In HMV, you can only special order them but it cost $11.99. I haven't checked Future Shop but I was able to get some of the Wave 3 last time at $9.99

Good luck.

[LorenzoL]

Fox/Fortune Star have added the original Mono Cantonese audio to the Wave 4 releases.

One of the biggest complain that people had was the lack of the original audio and just being stucked with the remixed 5.1 DD audio.

Nice to see that they have listened to our request. Now if they could only add a little bit more extras to the releases...

[Mondo Kane]

What was with the subtitles on Prodigal Son? The words were tiny (And often mispelled) compared to the few other Fox/Fortune Star DVDs I own. Has anyone else come across any other problems?

[Krayzie]

damn i just watched The Iron Fisted Monk and Battle Creek Brawl and those two movies were pretty bad...
I hope Mr Vampire is as good as Knockabout or Postman Fights Back

[LorenzoL]

To all of the Canadian shoppers that have yet to buy the latest wave, Futureshop.ca has the following titles for $7.99. They have them in stock as of today 09/19/04 and its free shipping.

- Knockabout
- The Postman Fight back
- Iron Fisted Monk
- Battle Creek Brawl (you have to search using the English name of "Big Brawl"

Unfortunately, they don't carry Mr. Vampire.

Also Futureshop.ca does not ship items to the US.

Happy shopping.

[Edison]

Just a note, I picked up Postman Fights Back, and Battle Creek Brawl last weekend at Wal-Mart in the $5.50 dump bin.

[Chris Camfield]

Originally posted by pat00139
I only have one, Magnificent Warriors, and the subs are a bit funny sometimes. They don't always match what's being said, and sometimes nothing's being said and there are subs, both of which are very annoying.

Annoying as that may be, if it's any consolation, the sound on the HK release (well, the one I bought) was incredibly, incredibly, INCREDIBLY bad. The North American release of MW is much better overall.

[cultshock]

Originally posted by LorenzoL
To all of the Canadian shoppers that have yet to buy the latest wave, Futureshop.ca has the following titles for $7.99. They have them in stock as of today 09/19/04 and its free shipping.

- Knockabout
- The Postman Fight back
- Iron Fisted Monk
- Battle Creek Brawl (you have to search using the English name of "Big Brawl"

Unfortunately, they don't carry Mr. Vampire.

Also Futureshop.ca does not ship items to the US.

Happy shopping.

The Futurestop B&M stores have them on sale for that price too. (but for some strange reason, I couldn't find Mr. Vampire there either). I picked up KNOCKABOUT there last week because that film is pretty well the best of the bunch. I'm not really interested in getting the other 3 right now, but would like to find MR. VAMPIRE.


It's nice that Fox has finally done away with "dubtitles" on these, and have included the original mono soundtracks. :up: I just hope that the next wave has some better films.

[Dai]

I wanna see Sammo's "Ghost Punting" with all the others!

Pity we'll probably not see it as this hasn't even seen a HK DVD release!

[Mikko Rasinkangas]

Was going to buy Iron Fisted Monk and Knockabout, but then I read some reviews and discussions about the discs and now I'm on the fence whether I should buy or not. It seems that the mono tracks are out of synch and the 5.1 mixes have new sound effects that are somewhat out of place...

Anyone have more information?

[JJE-187]

Is the Battle Creek Brawl DVD not-OAR? I picked it up at Wal-Mart today and the back says 1.78:1 but I could swear this movie is 2.35:1 Am I ok to open it or should I take it back?

[LorenzoL]

DVD Answers have posted new information in regards to the upcoming wave

"20th Century Fox has released the artwork for three upcoming Sammo Hung discs. Unfortunately we don’t have any details on release dates or retail prices yet, and we’re not sure if these will be new versions of the films, or simply re-releases of the old DVDs. Obviously we’ll bring you more information as soon as it’s available, but until then here’s a look at the artwork for Winners and Sinners, Spooky Encounters, and Warriors Two."


Artwork link (http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=5135&n=1&burl=)

[pat00139]

Chris, the problem with the R1 MW release is that it's dubtitled. I just wish Fox had started off with real subs from the beginning. I've got two of their dubtitled DVDs (MW and Operation Scorpio) and I find them really annoying. I'm really glad that they did do away with them altogether. The mono track is a little less important for me, but I'm really glad they're showing respect to their buyers. Probably the only company doing that now.

JJE, you're right, Battle Creek Brawl's OAR is 2.35:1, but the DVD is formatted at that ratio. Maybe the box is wrong. I don't have the DVD but I've seen screencaps.

Winners and Sinners and Spooky Encounters are definitely a nice addition to their library. Sammo Hung is great and I'm glad they're releasing those flicks. I haven't seen Warriors Two yet but I've heard good things.

If they could actually find and release Pedicab Driver, I'd be through the roof. Another HK movie not even released in HK.

[UAIOE]

Yeah, Pedicab Driver!

I need to replace my VHS copy of it.

[Mondo Kane]

Spooky 'Counters!!!!!

So I guess it's safe to say that Fox/Fortune Star is acquiring the Golden Harvest library.

[LorenzoL]

Review of "Warriors Two" from Kung Fu cinema:

Warriors Two (1978)
AKA: n/a

Premise:
After discovering a plot to kill the headman in Fu Shang, Cashier Hua finds himself on the run from the conspirators. He hides out with a renowned Wing Chun instructor who agrees to teach him kung fu and Hua eventually confronts the villains.

Review:
How do you know you're watching a good kung fu movie? Just compare it to Warriors Two and see if it even comes close to the peerless quality of one of the greatest martial arts epics of all time.

Leung Kar Yan gives the best performance of his career as the elder Mr. Tsang, a doctor and master of Wing Chun, whose martial lineage traces back to the style's founder. He is grudgingly persuaded by Fei Chun (Sammo Hung), his lead student to teach kung fu to Cashier Hua (Casanova Wong), a patient hiding out at his residence. Hua had previously overheard a businessman named Mo (Fung Hak On) and several of his men plotting to take over the town by killing the town's headman. Unfortunately, Hua made the mistake of warning Mo's wormy henchman and a trap was set that nearly cost the poor cashier his life. While in hiding, Hua sends Fei Chun to warn the headman. The headman ignores the advice and is later attacked by Mo's men, although its unclear whether he escapes or is killed after a protracted fight.

Meanwhile, Tsang runs Hua through an elaborate and entertaining series of Wing Chun training sessions before he falls victim to a vicious trap set by Mo who has learned of Hua's whereabouts. With nothing left to lose, Hua, Fei Chun, and another student split up to use specific Wing Chun styles against Mo's leading fighters. Trouble mounts when its discovered that Fei mixed up the fighter's names and each of Tsang's students have to improvise in order to win against their opponents.

Warriors Two is a film Sammo Hung can be supremely proud of. As the film's director, co-choreographer, and co-star, Sammo is as the very peak of his game and gives evidence of his measured and masterful control of the action that is nearly impossible to duplicate. Only The Prodigal Son (1982), with a more "realistic" approach to the action reaches the same lofty heights of martial bliss and its a toss-up as to which is better. The direction and fight choreography are simply flawless. The opening credits set the tone with a stunning bout between Leung Kar Yan, who is wearing credible age-enhancing makeup and Casanova Wong in a bamboo forest as smoke gathers about them. Sammo is really an outstanding director and choreographer who hasn't received as much credit for these skills as his more distinctive peers like Yuen Wo Ping and John Woo have. The camera is constantly moving and cutting, but also allows enough time to actually see the stars performing their stunts. Some wirework is employed, more noticeably towards the end, but its checked in favor of showing off the stars' ample abilities.

Although I'm no expert on Wing Chun, its clear that Sammo Hung is going to great lengths to highlight the style. The training sequences are done exactly as they should be, by actually showing how an activity is teaching the student a particular skill. Leung Kar Yan is brilliant in his role as the teacher. He adds just the right amount of austerity and presence without overdoing it. Its also obvious why he was chosen for this role over an older actor. To the layman, he really looks like a Wing Chun expert and his physical grace is undeniable. Casanova Wong doesn't seem to perform as much Wing Chun style which focuses mainly on upper body work, but he is a very strong kicker who possesses a vibrant personality onscreen. He does a leaping, spinning kick over a table near the end that must be seen. Sammo's own performance is played mostly for laughs, which is what he was known for at the time. Yet, he does give himself plenty of quality screen time and reminds us that you don't have to be thin to be agile. Fung Hak On, who plays the lead villain is a small disappointment in that he only fights at the end. He seems to become an almost supernatural fighter with a Dracula hair cut and some partial levitation mantis-style kung fu that brings the fun factor back into the film. Sammo also couldn't resist throwing in a humorous side-fight against the film's token weasel right near the end that provides a nice break from the increasing intensity of the main finale.

For a "classic kung fu" title of the '70's, Warriors Two has one of the most polished looks of any production. The sets are detailed and elaborate while the outdoor settings are picturesque. Its clear that a lot of effort went into this film and it pays off big time. With top performances, action and humor, I guarantee you will not walk away from this film disappointed!

Mark Pollard

[feloosa]

just a heads up...

dvdsoon is having a crazy sale right now. among hundreds of other titles they have all the Fortune Star discs for $6.66 CAD a piece. That's $5.50 US.

free shipping too.

[Edison]

I noticed today that Big Lots (B&M) has all of wave 2 as part of their $5.88 dvd section.

[LorenzoL]

DVDAnswers.com has unveiled information for the next wave of Fox/Fortune Star movies to be released on April 5th.
The wave consists of The Hand of Death starring Jackie Chan, Legacy of Rage starring Brandon Lee, Spooky Encounters starring Sammo Hung, Warriors Two which also stars Sammo Hung, and lastly Winners & Sinners which stars Jackie Chan.

Here is the link for the cover images:
COVER ARTS (http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=1&c=5571&n=1&burl=)

[tidwell]

Looking forward to Wave 5. Is anybody still able to find the previous releases. I only have one from each wave and am looking to get some more.

[LorenzoL]

So is anyone else picking up some or all of the titles next week?

I'm particularly interested in Warriors Two, Spooky Encounters and Winners and Sinners.

[LorenzoL]

To all Canadians interested in purchasing the next wave, I ordered all 5 titles at Futureshop.ca for $8.99 each plus is free shipping.

Edit - However, the movies are indicated as fullscreen. However, I believe this is the website error since only one version of the Fox/Fortune Star DVDs are released. I'll find out when I get them.

[Fielding Mellish]

Yeah, Pedicab Driver!

Third dat. In fact, at this point, I'd say that it's the single biggest missing jewel in my DVD collection.

I hate my damn Tai Seng VHS copy... but I still watch it often.

[Kingsigy]

First time poster, but a very prominent kung fu buyer. While looking online for DVD info, I've recently found out Hong Kong Legends uses Fortune Star prints for their new DVDs. and During this info search, I've found HKL's 5 newest DVD releases, being Odd Couple (76), Duel to the Death (80), Iceman Cometh (89), Millionaire's Express (86) and Dragon's Forever (88). Sorry if some of the dates are wrong, Im a bit off on newer kung fu. Regardless, since Fortune Star is doing the prints for these, aren't Fox releases inevitable? Wouldn't you all agree that these next 5 movies might be foxes Wave 6 of DVDs? Id enjoy it very much, since Ive been looking like a bandit for Iceman Cometh, and those mono tracks are so great. Hopefully Fox will take notice of this and release these 5 great movies.