Official Dragon Dynasty-thread Options

[smarterray]

Great review. I think I will definitely pick it up, mainly for the in-sync mono and the extras. It really is too bad about the image quality, the New Line totally blows it away. However, it certainly looks watchable, but not as good as the IVL's.

Can't wait for DD's newer releases now...Righting Wrongs, Millionaire's Express, Dragons Forever, Hard Boiled, Tai Chi Master, Fist of Legend...ahh.


This post has been edited by smarterray: Dec 14 2006, 12:54 AM

[The Running Man]

DD doesn't have the rights to Dragons Forever. Miramax does.

In fact, you reminded me of something I wanted to add to my post.

[chen lung]

Thanks for the review.

I remember the courtroom scene had some mistranslations in the HKL DVD. I wondered how the DD one would handle the "little prick" dialogue as Danny more or less complements Ka Kui for succeeding in Salina's escape. Not sure about "worthy opponent" though (maybe that's that he says after the 'untranslated' compliment).

The Dimension/New Line video restorations were about the only positive I could say. Unfortunately, Dragon Dynasty won't have access to prints as I'm sure FS calls the shots on that (approval - legally too) so I can't really blame them on that.

There is definately pinkification sadly in the DD release but 2 advantages compared to the other DVDs (using HD FS prints) include progressive flagging and (very slightly) more information at the sides (very minor but strange none-the-less).

[Markgway]

Damn, that DD image is disappointing compared to the New Line. Looks like the pinkification that plagues some HKLs has been carried over. A shame because otherwise the disc sounds really good. The IVL has the best image of those actually available, but poorer subs and sync. We fans just can't win can we?

[Markgway]

I wondered how the DD one would handle the "little prick" dialogue as Danny more or less complements Ka Kui for succeeding in Salina's escape. Not sure about "worthy opponent" though (maybe that's that he says after the 'untranslated' compliment).

Does he not say something like "You're great, kid!" (though meant somewhat facetiously)

[chen lung]

Does he not say something like "You're great, kid!" (though meant somewhat facetiously)

Yeah, hence the 'compliment' .

[DangerousLeeHand...]

Wow. I was really hoping DD's PS would be on par with New Line's terrific prints but I guess not. But atleast now we'll have a definitive PS DVD stateside. IVL's PS2 looked great and I'm praying DD won't screw that one up.

Consider the titles that are promised in the future like Fist of Legend where the video was just gorgeous. Brian White is going to be releasing Fist of Legend using his same people, you can pretty much see that Dimension print as the last time that Fist of Legend will ever look that good.

I hope you're wrong. I've read that Fist Of Legend, A Better Tomorrow I & II, The Killer and Hard-Boiled are all personal aquisitions and not via FS or Mei Ah. If you're not aware, in 2000, Dimension was set to release a dubbed Hard-Boiled and Killer but thankfully John Woo legally intervened (well, atleast that's what I was told). Aside from the butchering and dubbing, you and I both know that Hard-Boiled and The Killer would've looked the best they'd ever look. I'm assuming they'll use the same Dimension source for Fist Of Legend and Tai Chi Master. Running Man, don't lose hope. Let's just assume that PS's disappointing video is just a result of the original source and not the work of the DVD creators. Fair enough?

This post has been edited by DangerousLeeHandsome: Dec 14 2006, 04:00 AM

[almo89]

Damn, that DD image is disappointing compared to the New Line. Looks like the pinkification that plagues some HKLs has been carried over. A shame because otherwise the disc sounds really good. The IVL has the best image of those actually available, but poorer subs and sync. We fans just can't win can we?

I'm still gonna get it but I can't believe there's still isn't a DVD that has good video and audio. We fans spent so much money on this, but we never get all the goods.

[gfanikf]

Some general thoughts

First thanks for the indepth comments and review Running Man.

Second, for me the video isn't a huge deal, I agree about the pinkish tint being a holdover from HKL, but its still not as bad as when HK Video adds a blue tint to all their transfers. I mean that is a little more problematic for me, then again I like blue lol. Still I would like them to look at it as it is one of the few issues with this release. I think the problem with Miramax quality transfers is that it was really Disney and BVHV doing it and I would expect the transfer to be excellent for that reason.

Third, we wont really be able to judge too much because there are no other catalog titles coming up any time soon untill Police Story 2 as the other titles coming up are all newer films. I really look forward to IA 2 given a DD style treatment.

Fourth, launch the website guys I'm really excited about this line. Actually I can't wait for spec eds of some of the Woo titles

Fifth, I wonder when the wrath of god will hit Panmedia and hkflix.com for all those Shaw boots. I'm still shocked that DD hasn't enforced there copyrights on the Shaws as there weekly top sellers at hkflix.com and also to a lesser degree some of the Joysales discs. Maybe for the latter DD is going to try and not annoy the fanbase for all but the major titles like TYG or SPL versus others

[RickyTheDragonSt...]

Am I the only one who smells a double-dip in the near future? I mean think about it, it's not Image Entertainment, or Anchor Bay or even Sony Pictures we're dealing with. It's THE WEINSTEINS! If they really wanted to they could've made this release THE definitive Police Story with prestine PQ and all. Even HKL has their "platinum editions". Who's to say DD won't. (Well Fist Of Legend and Tai Chi Master are supposed to be platinum editions, but I'll wait and see).

[Markgway]

I doubt we'll see another edition of this stateside for a long time.

HKL probably won't bother. To them a reissue is new packaging.

The only hope is that Joy Sales correct the sync when they reissue the IVL set. (the subs will remain the same).

It's all a bugger really...

[almo89]

I pulled out my Mr Nice Guy DVD last night and watched the Police Story clip. Damn, those colours looks so much better. When are we ever going to get one good DVD?

[smarterray]

Looks like an H-bomb was going off right when Jackie was stealing the lady's umbrella.

[The Running Man]

[mrw]

Looks like some artifical sharpening was added to the DD one.

[The Running Man]

Let's just assume that PS's disappointing video is just a result of the original source and not the work of the DVD creators. Fair enough?

It isn't part of the original source. The Fortune Star print as released on the IVL set, does not look like the DD transfer. The DD print and how it looks like is all the result of the people who worked on it's release.

[DangerousLeeHand...]

It isn't part of the original source. The Fortune Star print as released on the IVL set, does not look like the DD transfer. The DD print and how it looks like is all the result of the people who worked on it's release.

I get what you're saying, but the folks at DD only tried to improve on a source that wasn't great to begin with. The only thing I blame the DVD creators for is that they didn't stick with IVL's version, which isn't perfect but looks superb considering its origins. Check out the beginning of PS2; DD's PS should've looked something like that.

[The Running Man]

That's the point though. They obviously were try to improve it but only ended up making it look worse.

And the source isn't a problem since they were working with a new High Definition print and New Line was just working from the old US cut of the film. Add to the fact that new Line made thier print 8 years ago back when DVDs were still new.

That goes to show you that it ain't so much the source, but who is doing what that really counts.

[zee944]

Running Man, thanks for the review.

You say the US release of Dragons Forever is better than the HKL, and the very recent FS one? (In terms of video quality.)

[chen lung]

There is no remastered US release of 'Dragons Forever'.

When Miramax (or DD should they get the rights) release it, they'll most likely be using the FS version (as they legally own it unless there are certain circumstances - like Optimum Asia releasing 'Better Tomorrow' using a non-FS version which I don't know why).