The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
05-02-25 | 04:14 PM
#426
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
High Noon getting that sweet Fidelity in Motion love on the Eureka 4K, too.
05-02-25 | 09:23 PM
#427
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I'm a big fan of MOC, but 2 complaints:
1. Pricing is going through the ceiling
2. Too much kung foo that last year or 2. I collect German Expressionism.
1. Pricing is going through the ceiling
2. Too much kung foo that last year or 2. I collect German Expressionism.
05-22-25 | 01:46 PM
#428
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
August titles are up. Sorry MooMoo, no German expressionism.
06-19-25 | 02:38 PM
#429
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Three releases for September, 16 movies in total. And they’re finally doing a Shaw set with more than three or four films in it. Alas, still no non-martial arts stuff from that company. FLAMING BROTHERS might be of interest for fans of Wong Kar Wai, as one of the many ‘mainstream’ HK movies he authored as he got closer to his own directorial career. I’m also keen on the DEFA ‘Rubble Films’ set as I read about a couple of those films decades ago but never figured they’d turn up in a LE-type set, and this seems to match Eureka’s excellent sci-fi set for worthwhile supplements (plus it seems to be a rather apropos time to release it, historically speaking):
Disc 1: Men from the Monastery & Shaolin Martial Arts
Disc 2: King Eagle & Iron Bodyguard
FANTASTIC WARRIORS
Disc 3: Fantastic Magic Baby & The Weird Man
Disc 4: Trail of the Broken Blade & Wandering Swordsman
Disc 5: Trilogy of Swordsmanship & New Shaolin Boxers
Distinguished by his penchant for bloodshed and a thematic concentration on the bonds of brotherhood and masculine sacrifice, Chang Cheh is one of the most prolific and accomplished directors ever to emerge from the Hong Kong film industry. Often hailed as the “Godfather of Hong Kong cinema,” he enjoyed a career spanning six decades and worked in a multitude of genres, from Chinese opera to kung fu films via wuxia pian, historical epics and tales of the supernatural.
Presented here are ten films that reveal the range and versatility of Chang’s career as a filmmaker. Traditional wuxia pian is represented by King Eagle, Trail of the Broken Blade and Wandering Swordsman; choreographed by Lau Kar-leung, Men from the Monastery and Shaolin Martial Arts are both drawn from Chang’s Shaolin cycle, included here alongside New Shaolin Boxers; Iron Bodyguard, released at the dawn of the kung fu era, is representative of changing trends in Hong Kong cinema; and some of Chang’s more esoteric work is represented by the opera film The Fantastic Magic Baby and the supernatural fantasy The Weird Man. Also included is the anthology film Trilogy of Swordsmanship, to which Chang contributed a segment alongside his contemporaries Yueh Feng and Cheng Kang.
All produced during Chang Cheh’s tenure at Shaw Brothers, these ten films are a testament to the director’s distinct aesthetic style and his recurring thematic preoccupations. Eureka Classics is proud to present this selection of Chang’s work for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK.
Both orphaned at a young age, Cheung Ho-tin (Chow) and Chan Wai-lun (Tang) grew up together on the streets, forming a strong bond in their childhood that remains unbroken as they become triad brothers in adulthood. Having recently opened a nightclub together, they begin to feel that they have finally made it. That is, at least, until they become embroiled in a conflict with the ruthless gangster Ko Lo-sei (Patrick Tse) and his right-hand man (Norman Chui), who threaten to take away everything that Tin and Lun have worked for.
In equal parts an action-packed thrill-ride and a rumination on the bonds of male friendship, Flaming Brothers boasts a screenplay written by Wong Kar-wai, the celebrated auteur who would go on to write and direct Chungking Express and In the Mood for Love. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a 2K restoration.
The first film studio to begin operating in post-war Germany, DEFA was officially authorised to begin making films in the Soviet occupation zone in 1946. Overseen by the Soviet Military Administration, one of its primary mandates was to aid in the denazification of Germany by focusing on anti-fascist themes in films that would ruminate on the literal and figurative wreckage left behind by the Third Reich. Often shot on location in the ruins of Berlin, these early DEFA productions have come to be called Trümmerfilme or “rubble films,” and remain some of the most important pictures the studio ever made.
The first film produced in post-war Germany, The Murderers Are Among Us sees a concentration camp survivor return home to Berlin only to find a stranger living in her apartment: an ex-soldier who harbours a terrible secret. Somewhere in Berlin follows a group of children who spend their days playing in bombed-out buildings and a returning prisoner-of-war seeking a new sense of purpose. In Police Raid, a determined detective leads a crackdown on black marketeers who aim to exploit the chaos of the post-war period to their own advantage. Set during the Nazi era, Marriage in the Shadows charts the tragic life of an actor and his Jewish wife as they attempt to survive the Third Reich. Finally, The Blum Affair recounts the true case of a Jewish industrialist who was tried for murder in the 1920s.
Encompassing a range of genres – including the thriller, the police procedural and the courtroom drama – and ranging in visual style from expressionism to stark realism, DEFA’s rubble films are bound together by a concern with the physical and psychological damage wrought by Nazism, World War II and the Holocaust. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present all five films for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, accompanied by a wealth of new and archival extras.
SYNOPSIS
FURIOUS SWORDSDisc 1: Men from the Monastery & Shaolin Martial Arts
Disc 2: King Eagle & Iron Bodyguard
FANTASTIC WARRIORS
Disc 3: Fantastic Magic Baby & The Weird Man
Disc 4: Trail of the Broken Blade & Wandering Swordsman
Disc 5: Trilogy of Swordsmanship & New Shaolin Boxers
Distinguished by his penchant for bloodshed and a thematic concentration on the bonds of brotherhood and masculine sacrifice, Chang Cheh is one of the most prolific and accomplished directors ever to emerge from the Hong Kong film industry. Often hailed as the “Godfather of Hong Kong cinema,” he enjoyed a career spanning six decades and worked in a multitude of genres, from Chinese opera to kung fu films via wuxia pian, historical epics and tales of the supernatural.
Presented here are ten films that reveal the range and versatility of Chang’s career as a filmmaker. Traditional wuxia pian is represented by King Eagle, Trail of the Broken Blade and Wandering Swordsman; choreographed by Lau Kar-leung, Men from the Monastery and Shaolin Martial Arts are both drawn from Chang’s Shaolin cycle, included here alongside New Shaolin Boxers; Iron Bodyguard, released at the dawn of the kung fu era, is representative of changing trends in Hong Kong cinema; and some of Chang’s more esoteric work is represented by the opera film The Fantastic Magic Baby and the supernatural fantasy The Weird Man. Also included is the anthology film Trilogy of Swordsmanship, to which Chang contributed a segment alongside his contemporaries Yueh Feng and Cheng Kang.
All produced during Chang Cheh’s tenure at Shaw Brothers, these ten films are a testament to the director’s distinct aesthetic style and his recurring thematic preoccupations. Eureka Classics is proud to present this selection of Chang’s work for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited edition double-walled slipcase, with 2 amaray cases, featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all films in this set by film critic and writer James Oliver [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentations of all 10 films on Blu-ray
- Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
- New audio commentaries on Men from the Monastery, The Trail of the Broken Blade and The Weird Man by film critic David West
- New audio commentaries on King Eagle, The Wandering Swordsman, Trilogy of Swordsmanship and The Fantastic Magic Baby by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- New audio commentaries on Shaolin Martial Arts, Iron Bodyguard and New Shaolin Boxers by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist and filmmaker Michael Worth
- New audio commentary on The Fantastic Magic Baby by Frank Djeng
- New interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on the life and work of Chang Cheh
- New video essay by Jonathan Clements (author of A Brief History of China) on Iron Bodyguard
- New video essay by Jonathan Clements on Chang Cheh’s Shaolin film
- *All extras subject to change*
FLAMING BROTHERS
standout Hong Kong crime thriller released amidst the wave of heroic bloodshed films that followed in the wake of John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow and Ringo Lam’s City on Fire, Flaming Brothers features Alan Tang and Chow Yun-fat (who was quickly rising to superstardom in the late 1980s) as triad brothers determined to protect their criminal operation – and each other – no matter what the cost.Both orphaned at a young age, Cheung Ho-tin (Chow) and Chan Wai-lun (Tang) grew up together on the streets, forming a strong bond in their childhood that remains unbroken as they become triad brothers in adulthood. Having recently opened a nightclub together, they begin to feel that they have finally made it. That is, at least, until they become embroiled in a conflict with the ruthless gangster Ko Lo-sei (Patrick Tse) and his right-hand man (Norman Chui), who threaten to take away everything that Tin and Lun have worked for.
In equal parts an action-packed thrill-ride and a rumination on the bonds of male friendship, Flaming Brothers boasts a screenplay written by Wong Kar-wai, the celebrated auteur who would go on to write and direct Chungking Express and In the Mood for Love. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a 2K restoration.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Time Tomorrow [2000 copies]
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Flaming Brothers by Hong Kong cinema expert Camille Zaurin [2000 copies]
- Flaming Brothers presented in 1080p HD from a new 2K restoration
- Original Cantonese audio
- Optional English dubbed audio
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- New audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- Archival interview with director Joe Cheung
- New video locations piece by CFK
- Original theatrical trailer
WRACK AND RUIN
Films Include : The Murderers Are Among Us • Somewhere in Berlin • Police Raid • Marriage in the Shadows • The Blum AffairThe first film studio to begin operating in post-war Germany, DEFA was officially authorised to begin making films in the Soviet occupation zone in 1946. Overseen by the Soviet Military Administration, one of its primary mandates was to aid in the denazification of Germany by focusing on anti-fascist themes in films that would ruminate on the literal and figurative wreckage left behind by the Third Reich. Often shot on location in the ruins of Berlin, these early DEFA productions have come to be called Trümmerfilme or “rubble films,” and remain some of the most important pictures the studio ever made.
The first film produced in post-war Germany, The Murderers Are Among Us sees a concentration camp survivor return home to Berlin only to find a stranger living in her apartment: an ex-soldier who harbours a terrible secret. Somewhere in Berlin follows a group of children who spend their days playing in bombed-out buildings and a returning prisoner-of-war seeking a new sense of purpose. In Police Raid, a determined detective leads a crackdown on black marketeers who aim to exploit the chaos of the post-war period to their own advantage. Set during the Nazi era, Marriage in the Shadows charts the tragic life of an actor and his Jewish wife as they attempt to survive the Third Reich. Finally, The Blum Affair recounts the true case of a Jewish industrialist who was tried for murder in the 1920s.
Encompassing a range of genres – including the thriller, the police procedural and the courtroom drama – and ranging in visual style from expressionism to stark realism, DEFA’s rubble films are bound together by a concern with the physical and psychological damage wrought by Nazism, World War II and the Holocaust. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present all five films for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, accompanied by a wealth of new and archival extras.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited Collector's Edition Box Set [2000 copies]
- Limited edition hardcase featuring new art by Carly A-F [2000 copies]
- Limited edition collector’s book featuring new writing on the films in this set by German film historians Tim Bergfelder, Daniel Jonah Wolpert, Brad Prager and Mariana Ivanova [2000 copies]
- Reversible inner sleeve artwork featuring new designs for each film by Scott Saslow
- All five films presented in 1080p HD from 2K scans of the original 35mm camera negatives by the DEFA Foundation
- New commentary on The Murderers Are Among Us by crime cinema expert Sergio Angelini
- New commentary on Somewhere in Berlin by East German cinema scholar Elizabeth Ward
- New commentary on Police Raid by crime cinema expert Sergio Angelini
- New commentary on Marriage in the Shadows by DEFA historian Seán Allan
- ew commentary on The Blum Affair written by Rolland Man and presented by David Melville Wingrove
- From the Rubble – new interview with socialist cinema expert Claire Knight on the founding of DEFA and its early productions
- Confronting the Past – new interview with Jewish studies scholar Sue Vice on Marriage in the Shadows and The Blum Affair
- Crimewave – new video essay by DEFA historian Sebastian Heiduschke on DEFA’s crime cinema
- Rebuilding Berlin (1946) – DEFA documentary on the post-war rebuilding of Berlin
- Rebuilding Potsdam (1946) – DEFA documentary on the post-war rebuilding of Potsdam
- Death Camp Sachsenhausen (1946) - DEFA documentary on the Holocaust and Sachsenhausen concentration camp
- he Eyewitness 1946/01 – archival newsreel featuring DEFA’s first animation, Underground Scare
- The Eyewitness 1946/08 – archival newsreel featuring a report on the premiere of The Murderers Are Among Us
- The Eyewitness 1947/53 – archival newsreel featuring a report on the making of Marriage in the Shadows
Last edited by Brian T; 06-19-25 at 02:57 PM.
06-19-25 | 10:35 PM
#430
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I gotta rewatch Flaming Brothers . I know I’ve seen it at least twice. Just don’t remember what I thought of it
06-19-25 | 11:25 PM
#431
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Nice to finally have the last couple of films in Chang Cheh's "Shaolin Cycle" on BD.
And that DEFA set sounds great. I've never seen any of them, but it seems like they would be right up my alley.
And that DEFA set sounds great. I've never seen any of them, but it seems like they would be right up my alley.
06-21-25 | 03:28 AM
#432
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Trailers for the September stuff:
I thought it was pretty decent. Not up there with the legendary entries in the Heroic Bloodshed genre (and a bit hokey with the orphan stuff) but reasonably high in the second tier, perhaps. It’ll be nice to finally ditch the old non-anamorphic Hong Kong DVD.
The more I thought about Eureka releasing it alone, though – and in light of them doing the 10-pack martial arts thing – I think a Heroic Bloodshed box set would be a cool opportunity for some boutique to give us a bunch of other fun movies from that packed tier, as well as movies from a genre besides straight martial arts for a change.
In fact, Alan Tang, CYF’s co-star in FLAMING BROTHERS, was a big 70’s and early 80’s name who had a small career revival when he made a bunch of them in the late 80’s. I’d imagine these being from different production companies and rights holders would preclude them from being packaged together, but one can dream. I wouldn’t say any are absolute classics, but they have their moments and probably don’t need individual releases or pricey LEs:
The more I thought about Eureka releasing it alone, though – and in light of them doing the 10-pack martial arts thing – I think a Heroic Bloodshed box set would be a cool opportunity for some boutique to give us a bunch of other fun movies from that packed tier, as well as movies from a genre besides straight martial arts for a change.
In fact, Alan Tang, CYF’s co-star in FLAMING BROTHERS, was a big 70’s and early 80’s name who had a small career revival when he made a bunch of them in the late 80’s. I’d imagine these being from different production companies and rights holders would preclude them from being packaged together, but one can dream. I wouldn’t say any are absolute classics, but they have their moments and probably don’t need individual releases or pricey LEs:
Spoiler:
Last edited by Brian T; 06-21-25 at 04:46 AM.
06-25-25 | 03:41 PM
#433
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I'd enjoy the DEFA set (I have a couple others that are similar). Not in the budget at this time...........
07-24-25 | 08:15 PM
#434
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Eureka’s October set:
Trailer for THE ISLAND, since it’s the only ‘new’ old film in the bunch (and the only multi-region disc). Eureka’s comparison to the American horror classics is apt, but mostly in the sense that it was indeed inspired by that movement, so to speak. It’s still infused with Hong Kong sensibilities through and through, but it’s cool to see it getting some attention instead of another martial arts title. That sleeve art probably oversells a certain aspect of it though.
At the height of summer, teacher Mr Cheung (John Sham) takes a small group of his students on an excursion to explore a rural island that he assumes is uninhabited. But upon arrival, Cheung and his class discover that they are not alone – the island is, in fact, home to three deranged brothers and their equally deranged mother. And when one of Cheung’s students refuses a marriage proposal from the youngest – and perhaps most disturbed – member of this deeply strange family, both the teacher and the young people in his care soon come to wish that they had stayed at home.
Following in the footsteps of its Western predecessors, The Island plays out a pointed class conflict as it pits its educated urbanites against the violent members of an isolated rural community – but never loses the unique qualities of a Hong Kong horror movie. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere outside of Asia.
Trailer for THE ISLAND, since it’s the only ‘new’ old film in the bunch (and the only multi-region disc). Eureka’s comparison to the American horror classics is apt, but mostly in the sense that it was indeed inspired by that movement, so to speak. It’s still infused with Hong Kong sensibilities through and through, but it’s cool to see it getting some attention instead of another martial arts title. That sleeve art probably oversells a certain aspect of it though.
SYNOPSIS
Perhaps the most accomplished genre picture directed by British-Chinese filmmaker Po-Chih Leong (Hong Kong 1941), The Islandis Hong Kong’s answer to the likes of Deliverance, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes and Motel Hell – a film that transports the visceral survival horror so popular in the 1970s and 1980s from the backwoods of America to a remote island in East Asia.At the height of summer, teacher Mr Cheung (John Sham) takes a small group of his students on an excursion to explore a rural island that he assumes is uninhabited. But upon arrival, Cheung and his class discover that they are not alone – the island is, in fact, home to three deranged brothers and their equally deranged mother. And when one of Cheung’s students refuses a marriage proposal from the youngest – and perhaps most disturbed – member of this deeply strange family, both the teacher and the young people in his care soon come to wish that they had stayed at home.
Following in the footsteps of its Western predecessors, The Island plays out a pointed class conflict as it pits its educated urbanites against the violent members of an isolated rural community – but never loses the unique qualities of a Hong Kong horror movie. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere outside of Asia.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited Edition [2000 copies]
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Ilan Shead
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring an interview with Po-Chih Leong and revised introduction notes on The Island by film writer, producer and film festival executive Roger Garcia
- 1080p HD presentation from a brand new 2K restoration
- Original Cantonese mono
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- New audio commentary with East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- New audio commentary with genre cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- Surviving the Shoot – interview with director Po-Chih Leong from 2023 courtesy of Frédéric Ambroisine
- Trailer
Last edited by Brian T; 07-24-25 at 08:20 PM.
08-05-25 | 07:47 AM
#435
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
An update on the Shaw Brothers FURIOUS SWORDS 10-film set.
The release date has now been moved to the 20th October in the UK and 21st October in North America.
The set will now be strictly limited to a single pressing of 2,000 copies and will not be reissued once sold out.
Also, as an addition to the extra features we can now also confirm that the following films included in the set will have optional English Dubs: Men from the Monastery, Shaolin Martial Arts, Iron Bodyguard, The Weird Man, The Trail of the Broken Blade, New Shaolin Boxers.
I’m curious about the reasoning, if any, behind the bolded bit, and if, perhaps, other Shaw sets from other labels likewise won’t get the ‘standard’ treatment as time goes on (the way most of Arrow’s first Shawscope set did). I did notice that Shaw Brothers recently added a paid channel – $6.99/month – to YouTube which looks like it’s going to feature the martial arts and wuxia pictures that have been absent from their free YouTube channel since it went up earlier in the year (and which is still VERY much worth checking out if you want to see all the other interesting stuff the studio produced). Perhaps Shaw is changing up their licensing rules or some such?
Release Date Change
We have a couple of updates to share with you regarding our forthcoming release of Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors.The release date has now been moved to the 20th October in the UK and 21st October in North America.
The set will now be strictly limited to a single pressing of 2,000 copies and will not be reissued once sold out.
Also, as an addition to the extra features we can now also confirm that the following films included in the set will have optional English Dubs: Men from the Monastery, Shaolin Martial Arts, Iron Bodyguard, The Weird Man, The Trail of the Broken Blade, New Shaolin Boxers.
Last edited by Brian T; 08-05-25 at 08:00 AM.
09-25-25 | 04:29 PM
#436
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Two new announcements for December. I know at least one party here won’t be pleased with these , but I’m glad to see at least one boutique doing and increasing number of multi-film sets of older HK movies that wouldn’t necessarily be big sellers on their own. Gets the stuff out there faster. This one comes with the international versions of two of the films on a bonus disc as well:
UK only
APACHE extras:
UK/US/Canada
TRIPLE THREAT extras:
Incidentally, PAPER MARRIAGE deals with a topic that’s still quite relevant – immigration issues in America (albeit from the HK perspective). It’s set in L.A. but filmed in Edmonton (!), which is a visual disconnect, but not uncommon in HK cinema (RUMBLE IN THE BRONX, anyone?). The film is also famed for this HKFA-worthy moment from the lovely Maggie Cheung 
:
, but I’m glad to see at least one boutique doing and increasing number of multi-film sets of older HK movies that wouldn’t necessarily be big sellers on their own. Gets the stuff out there faster. This one comes with the international versions of two of the films on a bonus disc as well:UK only
APACHE extras:
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring original poster artwork [2000 copies]
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on Apache by Western scholar Jenny Barrett and film writer Richard Combs [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- Uncompressed original mono audio
- Optional English subtitles (SDH)
- The Story of Massai – new interview with Austin Fisher, author of Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western
- The Last Sunset in Vera Cruz – new interview with film historian Sheldon Hall on Robert Aldrich and the Western
- Original theatrical trailer
UK/US/Canada
TRIPLE THREAT extras:
- Limited Edition Set [2000 copies]
- Limited edition exclusive bonus disc [2000 copies]
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Sam Gilbey [2000 copies]
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Sammo Hung [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentations from brand new 2K restorations of the original Hong Kong theatrical cuts of all three films
- Bonus Disc exclusive to this set only - 1080p HD presentations from brand new 2K restorations of the extended international versions of The Manchu Boxer and Shanghai, Shanghai
- Original mono audio tracks
- Optional English dubs
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- New audio commentary on The Manchu Boxer with East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist & filmmaker Michael Worth
- New audio commentary on Paper Marriage with genre cinema experts Arne Venema and Domoni Ting
- New audio commentary on Shanghai, Shanghai with Frank Djeng and producer/writer F.J. DeSanto
- New interview with Paper Marriage director Alfred Cheung
- Trailers
:Last edited by Brian T; 09-25-25 at 04:37 PM.
10-03-25 | 03:22 PM
#437
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Reviews are in for the Furious Swords Chang Cheh set. And they are not good.
"With no detail provided as to the transfers, there’s been some obvious, heavy restoration work undertaken. On the first film, texture and grain hasn’t just been removed it’s been nuked, softening the image which at times isn’t helped by some real focus issues in its source. Colours also run very hot too, but it’s a bright, punchy image that’s also been scrubbed of source damage and dust. The final film returns some of the texture to its picture but there’s still times when it's completely absent and it's this underlying characteristic of the restorations that carries on across all the films in the set. They look strong but completely devoid of natural film texture so if that’s triggering for you, you might want to avoid this set."
FWIW - I canceled my pre-order from Amazon.
Very disappointing.... Very.
"With no detail provided as to the transfers, there’s been some obvious, heavy restoration work undertaken. On the first film, texture and grain hasn’t just been removed it’s been nuked, softening the image which at times isn’t helped by some real focus issues in its source. Colours also run very hot too, but it’s a bright, punchy image that’s also been scrubbed of source damage and dust. The final film returns some of the texture to its picture but there’s still times when it's completely absent and it's this underlying characteristic of the restorations that carries on across all the films in the set. They look strong but completely devoid of natural film texture so if that’s triggering for you, you might want to avoid this set."
FWIW - I canceled my pre-order from Amazon.
Very disappointing.... Very.
10-03-25 | 05:22 PM
#438
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Reviews are in for the Furious Swords Chang Cheh set. And they are not good.
"With no detail provided as to the transfers, there’s been some obvious, heavy restoration work undertaken. On the first film, texture and grain hasn’t just been removed it’s been nuked, softening the image which at times isn’t helped by some real focus issues in its source. Colours also run very hot too, but it’s a bright, punchy image that’s also been scrubbed of source damage and dust. The final film returns some of the texture to its picture but there’s still times when it's completely absent and it's this underlying characteristic of the restorations that carries on across all the films in the set. They look strong but completely devoid of natural film texture so if that’s triggering for you, you might want to avoid this set."
FWIW - I canceled my pre-order from Amazon.
Very disappointing.... Very.
"With no detail provided as to the transfers, there’s been some obvious, heavy restoration work undertaken. On the first film, texture and grain hasn’t just been removed it’s been nuked, softening the image which at times isn’t helped by some real focus issues in its source. Colours also run very hot too, but it’s a bright, punchy image that’s also been scrubbed of source damage and dust. The final film returns some of the texture to its picture but there’s still times when it's completely absent and it's this underlying characteristic of the restorations that carries on across all the films in the set. They look strong but completely devoid of natural film texture so if that’s triggering for you, you might want to avoid this set."
FWIW - I canceled my pre-order from Amazon.
Very disappointing.... Very.
The other thing that jumped out from that review is it mentioned all the soundtracks are in Cantonese. Chang Cheh's films should all be in Mandarin. So either Eureka goofed big time, or the reviewer is mistaken.
10-03-25 | 05:47 PM
#439
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I hear you, but I have seen quite a lot of Arrow/Shout/88 Shaw films, and I can't remember any one film where I could say the grain was 'nuked.'
I haven't followed that particular reviewer, so s/he may be prone to hyperbole, exaggeration, etc. Also, many people are not bothered with grain removal. I got physically ill watching Kit Parker's L&H "Definitive" restorations where in at least one entire disc, all the grain was removed and L&H looked like wax dummies to me. I literally had to stop the disc. Others praised the release, and some even listed it as one the top releases of that year, and many are excited about the second volume from that same company. So there is that.
In any case, I have cancelled my pre-order. There is Shout's SB V8 and Shawscope V4 coming out, which is more than enough SB for me for now. Maybe if future reviews of this Eureka set come in more favorably, I might reconsider.
Appreciate your perspective, though.
I haven't followed that particular reviewer, so s/he may be prone to hyperbole, exaggeration, etc. Also, many people are not bothered with grain removal. I got physically ill watching Kit Parker's L&H "Definitive" restorations where in at least one entire disc, all the grain was removed and L&H looked like wax dummies to me. I literally had to stop the disc. Others praised the release, and some even listed it as one the top releases of that year, and many are excited about the second volume from that same company. So there is that.
In any case, I have cancelled my pre-order. There is Shout's SB V8 and Shawscope V4 coming out, which is more than enough SB for me for now. Maybe if future reviews of this Eureka set come in more favorably, I might reconsider.
Appreciate your perspective, though.
10-03-25 | 07:31 PM
#440
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
All ten have lossless Cantonese subtitles and six have lossless mono English dubs
I’ll take his review with a grain of salt, though. He evidently watched the first and last film in the set, then skimmed (I guess?) the remaining eight films and proclaimed the same problems. He may be absolutely right, of course, but it may also be bearable, especially for those of us who are upgrading from older DVDs and especially VCDs. I have eight of them on the old IVL DVDs, one on VCD, and was never able to find WEIRD MAN locally, but I doubt I’ll be doing any direct comparisons at this point. As this set is Region A/B it seems unlikely another company will take a shot at all ten, and even if they did we might not get them all in a single box, so more $$$.
Also, Eureka announced rather abruptly a while back that this had turned into a 2000-copy limited edition, no reissues, so I wonder if these are maybe ten problematic transfers for which there was no ideal workaround to begin with? Or maybe they were financially obligated to use whatever compromised transfers were ultimately provided and subsequently limited the release as a result? Those are obviously huge guesses, and I’m not trying to justify ordering it before the bigger review sites weigh in; just noting that there may be other factors at play.
I preordered the set from Amazon Canada which was uncharacteristically cheaper – especially after a couple of drops – than importing from Amazon US (which adds the ‘import charges’ up front) or Eureka in the UK (because their thicker boxes are all but guaranteed to get hit with duties whereas single-width discs rarely do). Guess I’ll see what I get, and how tolerable it is.
Last edited by Brian T; 10-03-25 at 07:41 PM.
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cinemaman (10-04-25)
10-23-25 | 08:47 PM
#441
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
New titles for January:
UK Only
US/UK/Canada
UK Only
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just got the Eureka Chang Cheh set today and a quick skim of all five discs tells me I’ll be fine with it. That review mentioned earlier had me expecting James Cameron-level wax museum treatments but I’m just not seeing any of it, let alone anything that would negate a purchase. Keep in mind that I’m not a reviewer who would focus on the fine points of AV anyway; I just want the movies in presentations where nothing glares at me, and these look great considering their age. Soundtracks are definitely all in Mandarin, plus a few with optional English tracks as per the product listing. Being this is limited to 2000 copies but available at multiple international retailers, I’m not sure if it will last until a sale of some kind, but one never knows.
UK Only
US/UK/Canada
UK Only
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
I preordered the set from Amazon Canada which was uncharacteristically cheaper – especially after a couple of drops – than importing from Amazon US (which adds the ‘import charges’ up front) or Eureka in the UK (because their thicker boxes are all but guaranteed to get hit with duties whereas single-width discs rarely do). Guess I’ll see what I get, and how tolerable it is.
Last edited by Brian T; 10-23-25 at 09:18 PM.
11-23-25 | 11:30 PM
#442
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
February offerings (all UK-only):
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also, Eureka has discounted several Limited Editions (with slips and books) that are running low:
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/promotions/low-stocks/
Eureka! has unveiled its February line-up, bringing together one of cinema’s most powerful Holocaust dramas and an unforgettable five-film samurai saga starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ken Takakura.
We’re also pleased to bring you news of an addition to our January line-up: a standard-edition reissue of Strange New Worlds, showcasing four groundbreaking sci-fi films from East Germany.
4K Restorations
Limited Edition Hardbound Slipcase and 100-Page Book (2000 Copies)
2K Restoration
Limited Edition Slipcase and Booklet (2000 Copies)
We’re also pleased to bring you news of an addition to our January line-up: a standard-edition reissue of Strange New Worlds, showcasing four groundbreaking sci-fi films from East Germany.
Zen & Sword : The Miyamoto Musashi Saga
(Limited Edition Hard Case Set) 🇬🇧
(Blu-ray)
A landmark samurai saga featuring two titans of Japanese cinema—Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ken Takakura—Toei’s Miyamoto Musashi films stand proudly alongside the famed Zatoichi series as one of the great samurai epics of the 1960s. Adapted from the classic novels of Eiji Yoshikawa and completed under the masterful direction of Tomu Uchida.4K Restorations
Limited Edition Hardbound Slipcase and 100-Page Book (2000 Copies)
Jakob The Liar
(Limited Edition) 🇬🇧
(Blu-ray)
East Germany’s only Oscar-nominated film, Frank Beyer’s Jakob the Liar—adapted from Jurek Becker’s acclaimed novel—became a quiet trailblazer, inspiring the wave of big-budget Hollywood Holocaust dramas that followed, including the later Robin Williams remake.2K Restoration
Limited Edition Slipcase and Booklet (2000 Copies)
Strange New Worlds : Science Ficion at Defa
(Standard Edition) 🇬🇧
(Blu-ray)
Pitched somewhere between Forbidden Planet, Star Trek, Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey, DEFA’s science fiction films are marvels of production design and practical effects work.- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also, Eureka has discounted several Limited Editions (with slips and books) that are running low:
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/promotions/low-stocks/
Last edited by Brian T; 11-23-25 at 11:46 PM.
11-24-25 | 09:31 AM
#443
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
FYI - I just finished the Odd Couple which, imho, is a stone cold martial arts action comedy classic! It is also loaded with 2 commentaries and 2 30 minute interviews. One of the few films I am sure I will revisit many times. it is low stock and may be going OOP soon. If you are a SB, sammo hung, or martial arts film enthusiast, then i would highly recommend getting this now. Just my perspective.
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Brian T (11-24-25)
11-26-25 | 08:30 PM
#444
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I want the DEFA set, but can't afford the tariffs or postage increases.
11-26-25 | 09:38 PM
#445
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Keep an eye out -- some vendors have/had it here.
https://www.themovieroom.com/product...s&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://brotherbelial.com/products/s...s&_ss=e&_v=1.0
12-03-25 | 09:56 AM
#446
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
My understanding is that blurays are not affected by tariffs. Many people, like myself, are still buying from the UK without any increased cost for delivery. Eureka has eliminated their free shipping, true, but they are charging a flat $8 USD per shipment, which I don't think is that bad if you buy more than one title. Just my perspective.
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MooMooMooMoo (12-06-25)
12-03-25 | 10:01 AM
#447
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I hear you, but I have seen quite a lot of Arrow/Shout/88 Shaw films, and I can't remember any one film where I could say the grain was 'nuked.'
I haven't followed that particular reviewer, so s/he may be prone to hyperbole, exaggeration, etc. Also, many people are not bothered with grain removal. I got physically ill watching Kit Parker's L&H "Definitive" restorations where in at least one entire disc, all the grain was removed and L&H looked like wax dummies to me. I literally had to stop the disc. Others praised the release, and some even listed it as one the top releases of that year, and many are excited about the second volume from that same company. So there is that.
In any case, I have cancelled my pre-order. There is Shout's SB V8 and Shawscope V4 coming out, which is more than enough SB for me for now. Maybe if future reviews of this Eureka set come in more favorably, I might reconsider.
Appreciate your perspective, though.
I haven't followed that particular reviewer, so s/he may be prone to hyperbole, exaggeration, etc. Also, many people are not bothered with grain removal. I got physically ill watching Kit Parker's L&H "Definitive" restorations where in at least one entire disc, all the grain was removed and L&H looked like wax dummies to me. I literally had to stop the disc. Others praised the release, and some even listed it as one the top releases of that year, and many are excited about the second volume from that same company. So there is that.
In any case, I have cancelled my pre-order. There is Shout's SB V8 and Shawscope V4 coming out, which is more than enough SB for me for now. Maybe if future reviews of this Eureka set come in more favorably, I might reconsider.
Appreciate your perspective, though.
12-03-25 | 12:08 PM
#448
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Update: I ended up getting this on sale. Haven't watched it yet. Just finished the Horrible History set and the Boxer Rebellion is a classic, imho. Can't wait to delve into the Furious Swords set, keeping my PQ expectations in check. Right now I am plowing through Shawscope 3 before I order Vol 4!
01-08-26 | 01:49 PM
#449
DVD Talk Hero
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
THE INVINCIBLE EIGHT, Lo Wei’s explosive, action-packed wuxia classic, on Blu-ray for the first time outside of Asia as part of the Eureka Classics range. Available from 16 March 2026, this strictly limited edition of 2,000 copies comes housed in an O-card slipcase and includes a collector’s booklet.
Last edited by devilshalo; 01-08-26 at 01:54 PM.
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Brian T (01-08-26)
01-08-26 | 01:57 PM
#450
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
^ A couple of other March releases announced today as well:
