hey guys is this worth buying? hows the sound and video. Most importantly how is the Mandarin track? I've only heard that the DVD is ok quality.

But i found it for 14.99 so is it worth buying? I love the movie, but i'd hate it if US released a sub titled edition (dubbed sucks!)
or
do you guys recommend the japanese release?

...just buy it.

Seriously, if you can get that disc for $15.00 don't pass up the opportunity, don't hesitate, just grab it.

I am a real big Jackie Chan fan. This disc is a must have.

The pic quality is actually quite good. The quality is nowhere near that of the R1 Dimension release, but then again, Thakral didn't sink several million bucks into print restoration either. As far as your average DVD of a slightly older HK flick, the pic quality is quite good.

The sound is again, good, but not overly stunning. But then again, I wouldn't expect a complete Surround Sound experience from this disc either. The sound won't blow you out of your chair, but it isn't some tiny, tinny, reverberating soundtrack that you have to blast in order to hear either.

Now, for the main reasons you should own this disc:
(if anybody has any info that contradicts any of the following statements, please tell me!)

1) This is the only DVD of DM2 that has any form of english subtitles (ok, this might not be a big deal if you are a fluent speaker of chinese, but hey, for those of us that aren't...) Also, the subs are electronic and easy to read. Plus, as an added bonus, unintentional comedy results from some misspellings and grammatical errors!

2) This has the ORIGINAL soundtrack and ORIGINAL sound effects.
When Dimension released DM2 as Legend of the Drunken Master (LODM), they completely re-did the musical score (urgh!) and all of the sound effects. The original musical score was MUCH better IMO than the re-done 'chinese-influenced' Dimension score.
With regards to the sound effects, they took out all the "rhythm" type bappity-bap-bap" fighting effects and replaced it with sometimes no sound, and other times only an emphasis on the "power" shots. Because of this, the fights seem a lot slower on the Dimension disc (I actually conducted an experiment with some friends of mine who had never seen the flick...this was confirmed by their impressions). The fights also lose that "something" by losing the rhythm too (IMO).

3) This is completely UNCUT. The Dimension disc has a very slight cut at the very end of the flick right after the picture was taken. Nothing major, it shows JC with his mind addled by the effects of the industrial alcohol. However, the way it was done could have been viewed as tasteless and/or offensive to some segments of todays PC society.

4) It is widescreen. However, it is not in the Original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Thakral, for whatever reason, chopped it to a 1.85:1. This is particularly noticeable in the "under-the-train" fight.

I own about three versions of this flick (somewhat unintentionally). The Tai Seng VHS Tape (urgh!), The Thakral DVD, and teh Dimension DVD.

The Thakral is a prized part of my collection becuase the pic quality is sooooooooo much better than the tape, it is completely uncut, and has the original soundtrack, with original sound effects. Considering it is the only DVD with these features and any form of english is a good thing too. Pretty much the only major downside to this disc is the slight cropping they did, but it really isn't that bad.

I picked up the Dimension DVD mainly just because of the incredible pic quality, and original 2.35:1 aspect ratio .

From all the info I have seen, Dimension has worldwide rights to LODM now. There is a snowball's chance in Hades that the original soundtrack/effects will ever be heard from again, let alone matched up with the OAR of 2.35:!, The beautifully restored print, and the deleted scene.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Bottom Line: Get The Disc.

well then.. u're very convincing. u own 3 versions?!?!
wow i thought i was crazy. hehe
so basically my only question left is:
Is the US gonna release this awesome flick on DVD with the subs? kinda like what they did with Once upon a time in China series? anyone?

Thank you for the info. poor poor student can't afford too many more dvds.. arggggggg

Personally, I thought the video quality was on the poor side and there is certainly some sound problems. This is compared to US releases and restored HK flicks. Not the worse in my collection, but hardly worth the earlier rave review. I'm not sure that the uncut parts really add anything to the film. The story line is just bad. The film does have some great fight scenes. I also prefer watching these types of movies in chinese with subtitles (though bad english dubbing does add humor to these films) so this copy of the movie does have value to me. Well, that's my two cents

Sorry if I my enthusiasm carried me away. It literally took me forever to get a copy of this DVD. I finally ended up getting it through a friend-of-a-friend method direct from China. This was before on-line places like Poker started carrying this thing regularly (which is amazing 'cause I was told that this DVD has been OOP for a while).

My intent wasn't to make this disc sound like he greatest thing since sliced bread, it has its drawbacks, no doubt. The main point I was trying to convey about this disc from a Jackie Chan fan's perspective (my own, at least); is that this DVD is the only one you will find that is closest to the original film, with english subtitles. Again, the only real negative point I have about this disc is the slight cropping they did to 1.85:1 from the OAR of 2.35:1. But, the framing was done well, so the choreagraphy and action doesn't really suffer that much. Also, this disc is well, well, worth US$15.00, which was the original question.

I did mention that the pic quality is nowhere near what a brand spanking new US release would contain. The point I was trying to make was that yeah, the picture quality isn't all it could be, but by the same token, it is far, far, far from the worst too.

Same thing with the sound. Don't expect a total surround sound experience comaprable to other brand-spanking new US-released movies. The disc definitely isn't in mono, but it isn't going to blow your hair back either.

By the time this DVD was produced, DM2 had already been out for quite a while. I would not expect Thakral to have digitally restored and cleaned up the print. Nor would I have expected them to completely re-master the soundtrack into a booming total-immersion experience. If you want top-notch picture and booming (allthough not original) surround sound, get the R1 Dimension release.

I also agree that the one small cut scene doesn't make that big of an impact. As far as story line, who goes to a JC film expecting a plot? But from a fans standpoint, I want the whole darn film.

scorched03 - I ended up with three versions kind of accidentally. I got the tape, because at the time, that was the only version I knew of that was available, and this flick generally rates up at the tippy-top of any JC fan's list of recommended films. Then I heard about the Thakral DVD which had a lot better picture quality than the tape (oh boy does it!), and electronic subs. It took me months to finally get my hands on a copy. At the time, that disc was THE version to have of the flick. Then, Dimension went ahead and completely restored the original print for a theatrical re-release. Unfortunately (IMO) they also re-did the musical score and sound effects. The print quality was just stunning. So, as much as it pains me to buy Dimension stuff, I had to get a copy of the DVD for the original aspect ratio and incredible print. What depresses me is that if they had wanted too, Dimension could have easily put the original soundtrack/language(s) on the DVD along with the new one, which would have made their disc pretty much THE version to have, but no. Da%^ weasels. But I digress.

I will go so far as to state that barring an act of God you will never see this movie with the original language tracks and english subtitles combined with the new Dimension print. As I stated previously, Dimension owns the worldwide rights to this film now. They will probably never ever, ever release this film with the original language tracks. Other than the Thakral disc, you will not find a DVD of this movie with english subtitles, ever.

Unfortunately, you have to compromise in some regard if you want a copy of this film on DVD. See following:

R1(US) Dimension DVD: Stunning picture quality, Original Aspect Ratio(2.35:1), really good surround sound, dubbed, re-done musical score, re-done sound effects, slightly cut

Thakral DVD: OK pic quality, non OAR (1.85:1), OK surround sound, original language tracks, electronic easy-to-read subtitles, original musical score, original sound effects, uncut.

Tai Seng VHS: horrible pic quality, OAR, VHS quality sound, original language, burned-in hard-to-read subtitles, original musical score, original sound effects, uncut.

further info go here and search for Drunken Master 2 : www.asiandvdguide.com


Sorry for the long post.

Buena Vista doesn't buy the soundtracks, just the print of the film.
They also have test screenings and ask opinons before they release the movies. They aren't tailoring these to Hong Kong movie fans.

Vanian

Vanian - Yeah, I know about your points. It is unfortunate that these conditions exist in certain respects. Please don't take what I am about to say as being directed at you. It isn't. It is a general rant against the current situation. There is no hostility or criticism directed at you or your post.

I will try to refrain from going into a long tirade against American studios. I don't know how succesful I will be, but I will give it a shot.

Yes, I realize that the studios exist to make money. Therefore, they are going to try and make their product apeal to the widest possible audience. However, who are they to guess what the American public will or will not like? What makes some group of people they pull in off of Hollywood Blvd qualified to judge what the rest of us will like? Whos to say that this group of people would have hated CTHD, but look at all the money CTHD pulled in, especially considering it is subtitled and in a foreign language. Did these focus groups like it? Do these studios even show the complete original version to the test audiences, or do they show already edited versions?

As far as I know EVERY Jackie Chan movie that has been released here in the US in theatres has been hacked to bits in some fashion. The one that has been best preserved was DM2. I will hand it to Dimension that they did a fantastic job on the print restoration and for their decision not to cut-out and re-order scenes. They only did one fairly minor cut. Further, even if some people disagree with leaving the scene out, I bet they could understand why it was done. The straight-to-video JC flicks have generally suffered even worse. As an example of probably the worst hack-job go pick up a copy of both the US Who Am I? and the HK version. They are virtually two totally different movies.

If the American studios want to make these hack n' slash jobs cause they think it will sell more copies to a wider audience, fine. Whatever. But, especially with the DVD format, why not combine the best of both worlds? Give the mass market the chopped, dubbed version, but also give us real fans the chance and choice to own the original. Also, whos to say that the general public wouldn't have liked the original version more; some drooling tourist walking down the Walk Of Fame who jumps at the chance to see a movie (any movie) for free? My main point is that at least with the DVDs, give us both versions. Let the person who buys the disc decide which version they like better.

My hat is off to Columbia/Tristar for finally recognizing this. Granted, IMO they screwed up obscenely with Who Am I? and big-time with Gorgeous. However, they released Miracles on DVD uncut. As a matter of fact, I own one of the first pressings that didn't even include their "special english dubbed version" (which is also hacked in addition to being dubbed). The OUATIC series is great because they are providing the mass-market with "their" film and us HK fans with the original print. Why can't all the other studios do this? Not just for Chan films either. I would much rather walk into a Kmart/Wal-Mart/anonymous local shop, browse, buy a DVD locally, and watch it that night rather than go through the hassle of finding out which version has the best print quality, is uncut, etc, search and find the cheapest on-line retailer, place the order, and wait at least a few days and upwards of weeks to get the movies.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't successful in avoiding "Rant-Mode".

Elengineer -

You are absolutely correct in every point you made. I apologize if I sounded like I was defending the Hollywood studios.

I think my biggest problems with them is the cutting and not including the original soundtrack. They can dub in English but they should leave the original soundtrack as an option. This is also a problem because Media Asia doesn't like to give up the original Cantonese soundtracks so they don't cut into their own sales. They were horrible in their dealings with Anchor Bay and this is why even the corrected version of ABT I has an audio dropout that lasts for about 10 seconds in the beginning of the film. It's a shame. Anchor bay was really planning on going all out on this one and they did only to get screwed when they were told that the first pressing had altered music by the fans. Media Asia didn't want to give up a good original soundtrack. The result? One company that tried to make a difinitive edition of a film will never seek to do this again for a Hong Kong movie. We all lose.
I think the test audiances may get a pretty unaltered version aside from changed music and no credits and titles. They give no indication that the movie has been finished for years. They ask people what to CHANGE on them. I think if people knew that the movie has been finished that would keep their suggestions to themselves. I don't think CTHD would have won any awards in America if it was dubbed in English.
Columbia is very hit or miss with their DVD's. Some DVD's of Miracles had sound that was out of sync. The version I have has the sound in sync. I have a listing on my web site who to contact if anybody needs an exchange. I don't like the cutting of scenes at all on the movies. I think OUATIC2 could have had a much better transfer because it wasn't any better than an import would be.
I guess you can compare this to something like when your favorite band gets popular. You listen to the band for years and then they hit it big. Everybody likes them but they change a bit because record labels have a huge interest in them and want to appeal to more people. They get watered down and have less of an edge. This is the closest analogy I could think of.

Vanian

This is real tough. I have both DVDs, but the bottom line is that there is simply no good version of this CLASSIC film available on DVD, which is simply an amazing shame, and one that could've EASILY been remedied if Dimension had simply put an original language track on their disc.

The Dimension disc looks great but of course, is awful because of the dubbing, poorly designed sound effects(INDIVIDUAL effects are fine but as a whole they don't "tell the story of the fight nearly as well as the original"), and new music that isn't even close to as good as the original score, which adds so much to the movie.

The Thakral disc has the original soundtrack but not only is the picture not that great at all - and so far below the Dimension release, especially in the factory scenes, which climaxes the movie, but it's just SO cropped. It's not even 1.85, it's actually more liek 1.78 or even a little less. And it's just an absolute shame - it's almost like a pan and scan version of this film - and this film is so esquisitely composed and has so much fantastic choreography that even losing a little bit of the frame just makes it have so much less impact - and you're losing a lot here.

It's just awful. This film is a modern film, and a great one at that - and we don't have a good DVD of it - of the ORIGINAL movie that everybody fell in Love with. Man oh man...

Yeah, the problem with the Thakral version is the aspect ratio which, as Dagan said, is actually at 1.78:1. The action in this movie begs for 2.35:1, there is just so much going on during the fight scenes.

Does anyone knows if the Thrakal version is being released in limited quantities?...or will it still be available say a year from now?

When I was trying to get my hands on a copy last year, I heard it was OOP. There seems to be an awful lot of 'em floating around now though.

Hey, scorched03,

Where did you find this for 15 bucks.


I'm tyhinking about ordering it from hkflixs, but if I can get it for 10 bucks less I will. Shipping charges are a pain in the butt!!!!

Ain't it a bit odd that FOL and DM2 that were previously practically impossible to get early this year now are everywhere?

DVDTalk has a link for $19.99 for DM2 and FOL can be had for around $30 (I think).

Actually, the Tharkill DVD is a remix. It's not the original mono and is sometimes inferior and out of synch (slightly).

stiller66 on ebay has some auctions once in awhile for cheap DVDs. I got mine in dutch auction that he did.. and NO i'm not in anyway affiliated with him. But he does have some cool dvds that are cheaper than poker or hkflix if you look long enough..

Yeah, I know. I can't believe it actually. I finally got my copy via a friend-of-a-friend method. I have a friend who is from China. One of my friend's friends found a copy for sale in a store in Shanghai I think. It was then bought off the shelf and shipped over here to the US.

Damn thing was a royal pain in the rear end to find and acquire.

I wonder if they were ever truly OOP or if Thakral started up another pressing.