Credit goes to animeondvd.com and natoral @ kung fu fandom forum for the heads up on this news:
Here is the thread at Kung Fu Fandom in regards to Media Blasters releasing Shaw Brothers movies.
http://p081.ezboard.com/Media-Blaste...cID=5226.topic

Released Titles:

1 Heroes Two
2 The Master
3 Challenge of the Masters

Upcoming Titles
Deadly Duo

The information and layout is courtesy of masterofoneinchpunch in another forum:

Tokyo Shock: (numbered series)
April 8, 2008: Heroes Two (1)
May 13, 2008: The Master (2)
July 29, 2008: Challenge of The Masters (3)
Sept. 30, 2008: Deadly Duo (4)
Mar 31, 2009: Martial Club (6)
April 7, 2008: The Brave Archer (5) (technical issues pushed this back)
May 26, 2009: Ten Tigers Of Kwangtung (7)
June 16, 2009: Black Magic 2 (8)
Aug. 25, 2009: The Flag of Iron (9)
Oct. 27, 2009: Five Element Ninjas (10?)
Dec. 29, 2009: Kid WIth The Golden Arm (11?)

Combo release:
Oct. 7, 2008: Double Feature: Heroes Two/The Master

None of the Shaw Brothers movies being released under the Dragon Dynasty line will be included in the Media Blasters releases, right? I want to pick up as many of these as I can find but I don't want to buy multiple copies of any if they're released by two different companies.

DD has different films. They'll be no crossover there.

Even though I saw this later than most of the other Shaw films it's one of my favorites!! Hopefully uncut (as much as possible) with both original language and English dub....

Awesome, thanks! That's kind of what I figured but I just wanted to make sure before I went out and spent anymore money.

Weren't these supposed to be released by crash cinema?

Never heard of it, but with a title like that, it has to be cool!

BLACK MAGIC 2? Sweet!

The Ten Tigers of Kwangtung

yes.

Just to update: MB releases will be from Hi-Def masters, so they will be the best looking of these titles yet released, a step and a half up from the HK releases. That means no NTSC problems, etc. I've sent MB a list of cut scenes, correct languages, etc for for each title, and will be talking about them in the next day or so with the team at MB to make sure we get everything. The plans are still being worked out, but I've floated the idea of doing ten 15-20 minute docs on the Shaw Brothers covering every era and major subject, with interviews, rare footage, stills, etc. The docs would be like chapters so each one flows into the other, meaning, you'll have to buy all the discs to see the whole thing. This is in addition to interviews and the like. Also, MB is going to try and get all the US release stuff like TV promos, lobbies, etc. They'd like full size photo galleries, with as much as possible on each film.

has anyone visited the media blasters site? doesnt seem to work for me...arghh

Thanks Linn1 for the update.

How is MB approaching the SB releases, meaning are they actually planning to use all of the materials that you are providing them and listening to your advice or will this turn out to be the same situation as what happened with Image? I'm hoping for the best but I believe that this "optimism" was also present when you worked with Image in the beginning.

To clear something up, I'm actually working for Media Blasters, I never actually worked for Image. When I realized Image were not going to do much in the way of extras, I stepped forward and tried to help after all the contracts were signed. By that time, it was too late to fix anything, they're HUGE problems with their contract with Celestial, and I was told a lot of things that changed from week to week.

It's a completely different deal with Media Blasters. It doesn't hurt that the people at MB are fans of these films themselves. And instead of someone telling me what's they're planning on doing, then not following through, I'm personally going over the paperwork to make sure everything is correct prior to it going through the contract process. As such, I know exactly what's happening step by step. To be honest, many of the mistakes Image made have worked as guidelines to what not to do. I've already recorded an interview with Lo Meng for one of the new releases and I'm currently working with MB on what the extras will be. I can't know the future, but currently, everything is going very well.

Thanks Linn. Looking forward to the MB SB titles.

Here's a short inverview I did recently about these releases.

http://hkfilmnews.blogspot.com/2008/...nes-about.html

Hope they don't screw up the audio.

I seem to remember a lot of asian movies getting crappy audio on the media blaster releases when the originals in the country of origin had good audio (like 2.0 dolby in the USA versus 5.1 DTS on the original).

My only concern about Media Blasters releasing these is the speed with which virtually everything in their catalogue ends up in those Triple Feature packs they sell. I just noticed three more are available very recently: Vampire Triple Feature, Grindhouse Psychos Triple Feature and Euro Trash Triple Feature (not to mention the two four-packs of old Ray Dennis Steckler curiosities). Actually, I shouldn't complain, as these boxes - usually priced around $15 at Best Buy, which actually beats most online prices - are a good way to see a lot of stuff you might not be sure about. I have to wonder if the markets for old school MA titles such as the ones in this upcoming wave of Shaw re-issues is as overestimated as the one for all the euro/cult titles that have ended up in the Media Blasters boxes so far. Either way, it's a good thing I guess, as die-hard fans will no doubt be in for a treat, and those a little hesitant to test the waters need only wait a while for the wallet-friendly collections.

which company dd or mb owns the rights currently for Five Deadly Venoms? A friend of mine loves the movie, and as far as i know, its only availible in a piss poor non anamorphic dubbed version.

I'm not sure who owns it now in the US, but there's a Region 3 from Honk Kong that's anamorphic and has English subtitles.

that's unlikely considering how badly the audio was screwed up on the HK releases. They've got something to go by what not to do. All the MB releases will have mono options, which is what fans have been asking for since the HK releases came out. As for boxsets, it's not because the titles did bad, it's because MB had extra backstock and it was an easy way to get it out there. And as far as I know, the Shaw Brothers titles won't have that option.

Well, alright, I'll kinda-sorta-maybe take your word on that, Linn. Getting it out there makes sense if there's overstock, but I'll always wonder about the numbers for the first releases of stuff like BAD INCLINATION, DAY OF THE ANIMALS, FACELESS, FIANCEE OF DRACULA, WITCHERY (well, it does have the 'Hoff), heck, even RED WOLF and NEW BIG BOSS (aka LEGEND OF THE WOLF), two of the titles in their last Martial Arts Triple Pack (the latter dubbed and fullscreen no less; glad the Shaws are getting the royal treatment!). I suppose the mitigating factor is the stuff being comparitively cheap to acquire in the first place (Steckler's lesser-knowns? Those had to be a bargain), as almost none of them are what one would call 'premium' titles, despite often being worthwile films, but having nearly their entire catalogue available for one-third of it's original price (in the sets) while the individual releases are largely still available at full price seems like a bit of a con for those who wouldn't know the box-sets even existed, although at this point, that's gotta be a fairly small portion of the audience for this stuff in the first place. Of course, I shouldn't complain, really, the box sets are right up my alley; even if I don't tend to hang on to much that's in them, at least I get to see them (and cheaply), and that's all that matters sometimes! In the case of the Shaw films, I've got all the R3 imports for those, but your association with these releases has certainly piqued my interest about possible upgrades.

I'm still having trouble finding a copy of MB "Heroes Two" in B&M stores and online shops.

Next release is on May 13th with the release of "The Master":

http://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Two-Ale...8642124&sr=8-1