Crouching Tiger...Review UP.

[Bullseye]

http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd...n-dragon4.html

[P@t_Mtl]

Thanks for the post, cannot wait to have this moive, just a few more weeks

[Michael Blanton]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Thanks for the post, cannot wait to have this moive, just a few more weeks

It says RCE is 0. I take that to mean it's region free.

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by Michael Blanton

It says RCE is 0. I take that to mean it's region free.

Since it is a Sony catalog, it most likely is Region Free. I am pretty sure however that RCE does not have anything to do with the actual region coding since Martyrs, which is Region Locked, also says "RCE: No". I think RCE had something to do with DVDs that could not play on Region-Free players.

[Michael Blanton]

Originally Posted by AnimeOnBlu

Since it is a Sony catalog, it most likely is Region Free. I am pretty sure however that RCE does not have anything to do with the actual region coding since Martyrs, which is Region Locked, also says "RCE: No". I think RCE had something to do with DVDs that could not play on Region-Free players.

Well the reviewer didn't say whether the disc was region B locked, which I consider a disservice to his readers, and the RCE 0 - in a sidebar - was the only thing in the review I could find.

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by Michael Blanton

Well the reviewer didn't say whether the disc was region B locked, which I consider a disservice to his readers, and the RCE 0 - in a sidebar - was the only thing in the review I could find.

Sadly, I've never seen a DVDActive review that mentions Region coding :\

[Michael Blanton]

Originally Posted by AnimeOnBlu

Sadly, I've never seen a DVDActive review that mentions Region coding :\

Yeah, I actually checked about 10 Region A reviews and 10 World Blu-ray reviews and couldn't find any info on region coding except for the RCE info in the sidebars.

It's like they have a policy that they can't post the info on region coding.

Ridiculous!

[drobswim13]

I am so pumped for this!!!

[H9k_]

What is up with all this subtitle slacking.


"With this release Sony had a rare opportunity to use the original theatrical subtitles, but unfortunately they decided to stick with the 'dumbed down' subs used on virtually all DVD releases worldwide. The Blu-ray subs are considerably less elegant than the original subs, which were almost poetic at times. Although none of the subs have ever been completely accurate (Yù Jiāolóng has always been mistranslated as Jen Yu), the BD subs take things too far. Governor Yu becomes Chief Yu and May inexplicably becomes Sue, even though both of their names are correct in the credits. There are also a few words here and there that seem incongruous with eighteenth century China. Okay, so the subs aren't completely horrendous, but they are a missed opportunity. "
+ they are invicible to any Cih or zoomer user. Aw well guess it is back to learning how to speak chinese :P

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by H9k_

What is up with all this subtitle slacking.

No idea why Sony couldn't be bothered to put the theatrical subs on. The only version that ever had them was the R3 HK version (which predated the US theatrical release). Maybe the HK Version might have them whenever it gets released (doubtful but one can hope).

C'mon Sony

[Porco Azzurro]

(My first post here! Hi all.)

I noticed the subtitles seemed different to my old UK DVDs of Crouching Tiger... when watching the Blu-ray the other night - does anyone know if the UK DVD had the 'original theatrical' subtitles (I can't say I remember noticing any difference in the subtitles between the cinema and the DVD at the time, and I've seen the film a fair few times both theatrically and at home).

I have to say the review seemed fair. It's always been a gorgeous film to look at and it looks great on Blu-ray, but it isn't the kind of eye-popping almost 3D-sharpness of some BDs. Also I agree with the points in the linked review about the people who can't see past the 'flying about' wire-work, it's a shame for them.

[DeltaJimi]

I threw it away.

The subtitles on the new UK release SUCK! The last line before Li Mu Bai dies while speaking to Shu Lien is completely incongruous with the meaning of the underlying philosophy of Taosim, which is one of the subtle themes of the movie. Originally he said, "I would rather be a ghost, a lonely spirit by your side, than enter heaven without you." A perfect expression of their forbidden love. But now he says, "Even if I were banished to the darkest place I won't leave your side." What the hell kind of sense does that make???!?

Why in the hell would he be banished to the darkest place.?? This completely contradicts the meaning of Taoism (a religion practiced at the time). And not to mention it sounds a lot less beautiful.

It's my #1 movie of all time, right above Heat, Legends of the Fall, Godfather Part II, and Dark Knight. I HOPE the US release version sticks to the original subtitles.

[Michael Blanton]

Originally Posted by DeltaJimi

I threw it away.
I HOPE the US release version sticks to the original subtitles.

They'll probably be the same on the US release.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by DeltaJimi

I threw it away.

The subtitles on the new UK release SUCK!

You might want to read the following comment on the subs in this review: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=71031

Optional subtitles are provided in English and a plethora of other languages that are listed in the info column on the left – which brings me to the big fan controversy of the various DVD releases of this film. Basically, there have been two translations for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on DVD: The subtitles that were on the initial batches of the R2UK and 2nd batch of the R3HK DVD had a translation that differed slightly from the theatrical subs, this is the translation many fans refer to as the “dumbed down subs”. The R1 SuperBit, initial batch of the R3HK, and later batches of the R2UK and R3HK releases have subtitles that appear to match the theatrical showings, this is the translation fans refer to as “the poetic subs”.

What many fans won’t want to hear is that the subtitles on this BD release use the “dumbed down” translation, and I’m sure it will be receiving criticism for this. But the thing is, these do not appear to be dumbed down subtitles at all, in fact they appear to reflect what is being said on screen pretty accurately. From what I’ve been able to gather, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was written in English by James Schamus (and probably Ang Lee) then revised and translated into Mandarin by Wang Hui Ling and Tsai Kuo Jung. The “poetic” - or theatrical - subtitles have been transcribed from the original English script, but the dialogue on screen is a Mandarin translation of this script, which obviously isn’t going to match word for word. Eagle eyed fans who have some rudimentary understanding of Mandarin have pointed out that there are a few points in the film when the theatrical subs do not offer a literal translation of what’s being said, or simply skip what’s being said on screen at all (usually only background dialogue).

So, actually the subtitles just seem to translate what's being said on the screen in Mandarin. The other subtitles (the ones you prefer) correspond to the original English script.

I HOPE the US release version sticks to the original subtitles.

I don't think so. Especially since the US disc comes from Sony too...

I'm very happy with my purchase. The blu-ray eats my old DVD for breakfast .

[AnimeOnBlu]

The theatrical and DVD versions of CTHD are in the AR of 2:35:1. I wonder why the BR is AR 2:40:1?

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by DeltaJimi

I threw it away.

The subtitles on the new UK release SUCK! The last line before Li Mu Bai dies while speaking to Shu Lien is completely incongruous with the meaning of the underlying philosophy of Taosim, which is one of the subtle themes of the movie. Originally he said, "I would rather be a ghost, a lonely spirit by your side, than enter heaven without you." A perfect expression of their forbidden love. But now he says, "Even if I were banished to the darkest place I won't leave your side." What the hell kind of sense does that make???!?

Why in the hell would he be banished to the darkest place.?? This completely contradicts the meaning of Taoism (a religion practiced at the time). And not to mention it sounds a lot less beautiful.

It's my #1 movie of all time, right above Heat, Legends of the Fall, Godfather Part II, and Dark Knight. I HOPE the US release version sticks to the original subtitles.

Can you thrown it in my direction???

[nincollector]

Question - the BD release available on UK amazon looks as if it comes in a steelbook. Can anyone confirm that? Thanks

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by AnimeOnBlu

The theatrical and DVD versions of CTHD are in the AR of 2:35:1. I wonder why the BR is AR 2:40:1?

2.35:1 is an older projectionist's term because a scope movie lost a bit of the width of the film strip (2.4:1) due to the sound strip along the edge so the image was 2.35:1. They mean the same thing in practical terms, don't worry!

[George Gábor]

Question for anybody with the UK blu-ray version of CTHD: where do the subtitles appear on the screen? Are they within the image frame, or do they appear in the black bar below? On the US version they are (at least partially) in the black bar, and so I can't watch it on my 2.35:1 screen. If the UK version has the subtitles entirely inside the image frame, then I'll get the UK version instead.

Thanks!

[DaveSimonH]

Originally Posted by George Gábor

Question for anybody with the UK blu-ray version of CTHD: where do the subtitles appear on the screen? Are they within the image frame, or do they appear in the black bar below? On the US version they are (at least partially) in the black bar, and so I can't watch it on my 2.35:1 screen. If the UK version has the subtitles entirely inside the image frame, then I'll get the UK version instead.

Thanks!

Unfortunately not, both the English and English HoH tracks have subtitles that swap between on the image and black bar below (checked disc in my PS3).
You'll have to track down another disc, or a player where you can manipulate the location of the subs (if one exists).