Raise the Red Lantern -------------> February 14, 2006
02-13-06 | 02:38 PM
#51
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From: Compton (Straight Outta)
Originally Posted by uebetan12@yahoo
i also ordered a copy of raise the lantern...my money would again go to waste
but its STILL BETTER THAN NOTHING AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but its STILL BETTER THAN NOTHING AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
02-13-06 | 04:37 PM
#52
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Obviously, this was not a "Cry Wolf" situation, as anyone who looks at the screen caps for Ju Dou over at DVDBeaver can attest.
I just got off the phone with DDD and cancelled my preorder (which, fortunately, hadn't shipped early) and told them to expect more calls of a similar nature on these two titles.
As for those DVD Talkers with a "...better than nothing at all" attitude (and I am usually one of you,) there are R0 NTSC Asian imports available for both these titles that clearly offer better picture than what Razor Digital is “offering” in these releases. (ERA's Raise the Red Lantern mentioned above and the Beauty Culture release of Ju Dou, which I picked up on eBay last year for $5.)
FilmFanSea, you can add me to the list emailing Razor...
I just got off the phone with DDD and cancelled my preorder (which, fortunately, hadn't shipped early) and told them to expect more calls of a similar nature on these two titles.
As for those DVD Talkers with a "...better than nothing at all" attitude (and I am usually one of you,) there are R0 NTSC Asian imports available for both these titles that clearly offer better picture than what Razor Digital is “offering” in these releases. (ERA's Raise the Red Lantern mentioned above and the Beauty Culture release of Ju Dou, which I picked up on eBay last year for $5.)
FilmFanSea, you can add me to the list emailing Razor...
02-13-06 | 07:23 PM
#54
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Holy Shit! Those screencaps over at DVDBeaver for Razor's Ju-Dou are absolutely horrible.
To treat both of these films in this manner is unforgivable.
To treat both of these films in this manner is unforgivable.
very disappointing
02-14-06 | 02:57 PM
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From: Portland, OR
You know, I knew I shouldn't have sold my copy before the new one arrived. Mine was some kind of knock-off of the ERA (unless they misspelled the titles on all of their copies, too) but yeah, looks better than what it appears we can anticipate here.
Maybe the store I sold mine to still has it. It's only been a week.
Maybe the store I sold mine to still has it. It's only been a week.
02-15-06 | 03:56 AM
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the story of qiu ju is due in April, listed for release by colombia tristar.
Can anyone confirm that it will indeed be colombia tristar and not razor digital ? I've been trying to find a good version of that film too and hopefully colombia dont muck it up.
Can anyone confirm that it will indeed be colombia tristar and not razor digital ? I've been trying to find a good version of that film too and hopefully colombia dont muck it up.
02-15-06 | 04:59 AM
#60
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Originally Posted by nitin77
the story of qiu ju is due in April, listed for release by colombia tristar....Can anyone confirm that it will indeed be colombia tristar and not razor digital ? I've been trying to find a good version of that film too and hopefully colombia dont muck it up.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Reviews/story-quiju.htm#q
Based on their track record, the Sony disc should be just as good, if not better than the Mei Ah DVD...unless, of course, they cancel it a few weeks before the release date (like they did to A Matter of Life and Death a few years ago.)
02-19-06 | 03:45 AM
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by Ralph Jenkins
Does anyone know which version of this movie is the best to get, then? How does the U.S. laserdisc compare to the various DVD releases?
02-19-06 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by FilmFanSea
Also ... if you had planned to buy this release & have now changed your mind based on the reviews and screencaps, email Razor Digital and let them know why.
02-19-06 | 11:22 AM
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by slowcloud
I just checked out DVD Beaver's review of Ju Dou. What a nightmare! I'm not buying either of these releases and, as FilmFanSea suggests, writing Razor an email. Also, who gave this company the rights to release these DVDs? They deserve an incensed email as well. Surely these two very important films have to have some kind of interest by a company that knows how to produce DVDs. Heck, Criterion carries more insignificant films than these! Why wouldn't they put them out?
The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements.
I think these are very important films. It's my understanding that each film Yimou made in this part of his career put him at odds with the Chinese government due to the social commentaries, yet he always managed to make another. Raise the Red Lantern is usually considered his greatest film and will easily become a classic. It seems like it would an ideal Criterion candidate.
02-19-06 | 12:02 PM
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by slowcloud
I just checked out DVD Beaver's review of Ju Dou. What a nightmare! I'm not buying either of these releases and, as FilmFanSea suggests, writing Razor an email. Also, who gave this company the rights to release these DVDs? They deserve an incensed email as well. Surely these two very important films have to have some kind of interest by a company that knows how to produce DVDs.
Dear Kathy, Brian, Matthew, Karl, and some of you who love and supported our programs "Raise the Red Lantern",
This is Shelley Praamsma, our company, MagicPlay, has the privilege from Chinese filmmakers to re-release "Raise Red Lantern" on DVD again.
I am so sorry to hear that the video quality of "Raise Red Lantern" is somewhat a disappointment to you and perhaps to others who didn't share their comments with us. I would like to take this opportunity to express our apology as well as to explain and hopefully you will continue to love indi / foreign films and continue to support our efforts in bringing more foreign programs to you.
Yes, you are all very sharp recognized the video quality isn't good. It was a huge frustration for us to bring "Raise Red Lantern" onto DVD with a understanding that we may receive negative reviews toward this program. However, we, ourselves, are the big fans for Gong Li, Zhang Yimou and have the privilege and the responsibility to make this program possible to consumers.
It is shame that there aren't "Good Quality" masters of "Raise Red Lantern" currently in the procession of Chinese filmmakers. We have gone through all the film prints and Beta kept in Chinese studio, they are all overplayed and have way too many more passes used on the film print than worth of keeping. Chinese filmmakers do wish to release "Raise Red Lantern" and we felt passionate to re-treat the film print and make it possible to consumers.
Sad to say that all the film prints kept without temperature control, which added more damages on top of overplay. We did the best we could to have film transferred onto beta, then compressed onto DVD. Unfortunately, the video quality can't be improved much.
At this time, we are checking in other country such as Japan or Europe if we could locate another film print or Beta whose video quality is better than what Chinese studio could provide. So that we could transfer the video and re-create a new DVD master.
We will keep you posted with the searching progress and do hope that you will share this with your friends who also like our Foreign Film catalogue. More importantly, we'd like to let you know that we appreciate very much for your comments whether they are critiques or complements and hopefully your foreign film library will grow along with ours.
Thank you very much for your understanding and supports.
Kind Regards,
Shelley Praamsma
Business Director
MagicPlay Entertainment
3312 Rosedale St., Office Bldg #101, Suite #6, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Tel: (253) 858 2483 / (253) 310 4751
Cell: (818) 468 3132 Fax: (253) 858 2071
[email protected] www.magicplay-ent.com
This is Shelley Praamsma, our company, MagicPlay, has the privilege from Chinese filmmakers to re-release "Raise Red Lantern" on DVD again.
I am so sorry to hear that the video quality of "Raise Red Lantern" is somewhat a disappointment to you and perhaps to others who didn't share their comments with us. I would like to take this opportunity to express our apology as well as to explain and hopefully you will continue to love indi / foreign films and continue to support our efforts in bringing more foreign programs to you.
Yes, you are all very sharp recognized the video quality isn't good. It was a huge frustration for us to bring "Raise Red Lantern" onto DVD with a understanding that we may receive negative reviews toward this program. However, we, ourselves, are the big fans for Gong Li, Zhang Yimou and have the privilege and the responsibility to make this program possible to consumers.
It is shame that there aren't "Good Quality" masters of "Raise Red Lantern" currently in the procession of Chinese filmmakers. We have gone through all the film prints and Beta kept in Chinese studio, they are all overplayed and have way too many more passes used on the film print than worth of keeping. Chinese filmmakers do wish to release "Raise Red Lantern" and we felt passionate to re-treat the film print and make it possible to consumers.
Sad to say that all the film prints kept without temperature control, which added more damages on top of overplay. We did the best we could to have film transferred onto beta, then compressed onto DVD. Unfortunately, the video quality can't be improved much.
At this time, we are checking in other country such as Japan or Europe if we could locate another film print or Beta whose video quality is better than what Chinese studio could provide. So that we could transfer the video and re-create a new DVD master.
We will keep you posted with the searching progress and do hope that you will share this with your friends who also like our Foreign Film catalogue. More importantly, we'd like to let you know that we appreciate very much for your comments whether they are critiques or complements and hopefully your foreign film library will grow along with ours.
Thank you very much for your understanding and supports.
Kind Regards,
Shelley Praamsma
Business Director
MagicPlay Entertainment
3312 Rosedale St., Office Bldg #101, Suite #6, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Tel: (253) 858 2483 / (253) 310 4751
Cell: (818) 468 3132 Fax: (253) 858 2071
[email protected] www.magicplay-ent.com
02-19-06 | 01:31 PM
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From: Blu-ray.com
Originally Posted by slowcloud
Also, who gave this company the rights to release these DVDs?
Ciao,
Pro-B
02-22-06 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by jimbeam
From Criterion's mission statement:
The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements.
I think these are very important films. It's my understanding that each film Yimou made in this part of his career put him at odds with the Chinese government due to the social commentaries, yet he always managed to make another. Raise the Red Lantern is usually considered his greatest film and will easily become a classic. It seems like it would an ideal Criterion candidate.
The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements.
I think these are very important films. It's my understanding that each film Yimou made in this part of his career put him at odds with the Chinese government due to the social commentaries, yet he always managed to make another. Raise the Red Lantern is usually considered his greatest film and will easily become a classic. It seems like it would an ideal Criterion candidate.
02-22-06 | 09:52 AM
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From: Northern Virginia
I broke down and rented RtTL on VHS after waiting so long to see it. Indeed, it is a great movie. The ending had me on pins and needles. It's a real pity there's no good release on DVD.
02-22-06 | 05:35 PM
#69
Originally Posted by slowcloud
You inspired me to write Criterion to ask how these films could slip under their radar to get picked up by an up-start like Razor Digital. I can't believe these films don't have well-preserved prints, especially since they were picked up by major studios in the West.
because it's not a Japanese film.
02-23-06 | 03:02 AM
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So can we consider Raise the Red Lantern to be 'lost' yet, in the sense that no decent quality master of the film now exists? And if so, who should we kill? Does Zhang Yimou have any knowledge of the fate of one of his best movies?
Criterion unfortunately cannot buy what is not for sale. Furthermore AFAIK Criterion has not yet attempted to release any Chinese films, for unknown reasons.
Criterion unfortunately cannot buy what is not for sale. Furthermore AFAIK Criterion has not yet attempted to release any Chinese films, for unknown reasons.
02-23-06 | 04:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cornell
So can we consider Raise the Red Lantern to be 'lost' yet, in the sense that no decent quality master of the film now exists? And if so, who should we kill? Does Zhang Yimou have any knowledge of the fate of one of his best movies?
Originally Posted by Mr. Cornell
Criterion unfortunately cannot buy what is not for sale. Furthermore AFAIK Criterion has not yet attempted to release any Chinese films, for unknown reasons.
02-23-06 | 07:22 AM
#72
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They are making it seem like this is fucking King Kong or something...I find it hard to believe that there cant be one decent master of this film anywhere. If that is the case, then thats just sad.
02-23-06 | 12:07 PM
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by Mr. Cornell
Furthermore AFAIK Criterion has not yet attempted to release any Chinese films, for unknown reasons.
My suspicion is that the Japanese film industry is much better organized than that of mainland China or Taiwan. Criterion has good working relationships with nearly every major Japanese studio, they have extensive connections in Japan (starting with film schlar Donald Richie), and Janus--the artfilm distributor from which Criterion licenses the majority of its films--has a large catalog of Japanese films.
I'm not sure how well-preserved the legendary films are from pre-Revolution China, such as Mu Fei's 1948 Springtime in a Small Town (if you've ever seen Stanley Kawn's excellent bio-pic about the early Chinese actress Lingyu Ruan [known variously as Center Stage, The Actress, Yuen Ling-yuk, or Ruan Ling Yu], you know that most of her films have been lost to the ravages of time).
While Taiwanese filmmakers such as Ming-liang Tsai and Ang Lee are well-served on DVD, many of the films of (arguably) the two greatest masters, Hsiao-hsien Hou and Edward Yang are nowhere to be found.
I would love for Criterion to expand its release of Chinese-language films, but something tells me there are significant impediments in tracking down decent elements (as we see in the case of Raise the Red Lantern)
02-23-06 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by FilmFanSea
It depends on what you mean by "Chinese films." Criterion has released three Chinese-language films: Kar-wai Wong's In the Mood for Love and two John Woo films, The Killer and Hard Boiled (the last two are now OOP). In addition, on laserdisc they released Wong's Chungking Express and Stanley Tong's Supercop (both from Hong Kong).