shaolin temple 1, 2, and 3 starring jet li
 

i rented a really crappy dvd version of part 1 awhile ago from netflix. it was pan & scan and dubbed in english.

anyone know of or own copies of any of these movies in their OAR and original language with decent subtitles? (i say decent because some movies, like swordsman 2, i can't follow because the subs are so terrible)

anyway let me know, thanks

You rented the World Video crap versions.

Get the HK Versions (Mei Ah). You can get 1 and 2 on DVD from them. 3 is only available as an R0 boot (and it's horrible full frame, cut the subs version)

ST 1 & 3
 

I own Shaolin Temple 1 and 3.
Get the Mei Ah DVD of Shaolin Temple 1 from Hong Kong. It has the same cover as the crappy World Video one (except all the lettering is in Chinese) you must've gotten from Netflix. It is OAR and the print quality isn't bad. From reports I have gotten the World Video DVD is just a horrible piece of garbage that isn't fit to use as a drink coaster. It has the choice of Canto or Mandarin too. The DVD is R0, NTSC, and has english subs (more on the subs later).

As far as Shaolin Temple 3, from what I could find you have to get the R2 (actually Region 0) version put out by Eastern Heroes in the UK. The catch is you have to have to be able to play PAL. The pic quality isn't horible, and it is OAR. Has english and Mandarin spoken language options and english subtitles.

(NOTE ADDED: Hey axolotls, when you say the R0 ST3 is a boot, are you referring to
the Eastern Heroes version? It doesn't sound that way because the EH version is widescreen, OAR and the pic quality isn't great, it isn't that bad either, and the subs are readable.)

Both discs come with a couple of extras such as some footage of Jet Li as a kid.

As far as the quality of the subs for both, well...let's just say I don't think someone who is fluent in english ever had a chacne to proofread them. The movies are quite understandable, but there are a couple times where you have to think for a second about what the subs meant to say. Some good unintentional comedy due to the subs as well.

The action in both of these is incredible. Why Jet turned to the Dark Side and started using wires and undercranking is beyond me considering the ability he displayed in these films. IMO The first flick has a little stronger plot, writing, and characterization. But, then again, I didn't buy these for a good story, great plot, great writing, and acting either. :) The wushu routines in both are awesome to watch. The fights in the third one seem a little more like fights rather than 2+ people each doing individual wushu routines though, IMO.
Both flicks are awesome to watch.

I got the ST1 Mei Ah disc from dddhouse in Hk and the ST3 Eastern Heroes disc from Bensonsworld in the UK.

hope this helped.

Re: ST 1 & 3
 

No. I am talking about the piece of crap bootleg put out by a crap company in New York. It's widely available on the 'net. It starts out widescreen then zooms to full-frame effectively cutting the subs of three sides. But us R1 people w/o region-free or conversions are sol.

thanks everyone.

and elengineer, i watch on my pc and have tvout so PAL is no problem for me, thanks for recommending that eastern heroes version. why do you only have parts 1&3 and not 2?

All you need is an older DVD-ROM drive for your PC (ie used or clearance, eg on ebay) that does not have the hardware region restriction that was mandated later (I think it was as of Jan. 1999 or Jan. 2000, I can't remember which).

Then get a Hollywood Plus MPEG decoder card (should be ~$30 on ebay or equivalent). The software for this will take a PAL or NTSC disk and output either PAL or NTSC.

Then get one of those freeware software programs that allow you to change the region. There are web sites that point to these programs and also give lists of the models of DVD-ROM drives that do not have the hardware region restriction.

...
 

Clumsysquirrel - I just didn't get 2. I probably will at some point, but I heard a lot of people recommend 1 & 3, but didn't hear a lot about 2. Hence, the purchase of just 1 & 3.

Anyboy out there willing to say a couple things about 2? Quality of fights/choreagraphy in comparison with 1 & 3? etc?