The Legend of Zu (Tsui Hark)

[Dragon Lee]

Release Date: September 30, 2013

Pre-order:

Yesasia.com

DDDhouse.com

Region A

Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1

Chinese and English subs

Special Features: Tsui Hark interview, Making Of

[BigManDeath]

I just re-watched this again - first time watching the US DVD (which has the full Cantonese version). Way better subs than the HK DVD and good picture quality. I would jump all over this blu-ray, but I will wait for a review. It's Fortune Star, so a good chance it will be an upscale and have the same HK subs. If anyone picks this up please post a review.

[alexavril]

this is a China Star movie，so the PQ will be good I think.

[Dragon Lee]

FS's China Star portion of their catalog have all been true HD transfers.

US DVD has great PQ/AQ/subs but I was always pissed that the opening credit sequence was removed from the HK cut. I love a good credits sequence.

[Rhythm-X]

Hopefully there's no repeat of the issue with the subtitles on the HK DVD where a few stretches of dialogue were left unsubtitled by mistake.

[reason108]

Someone really needs to go back and remaster the original.

[toddly6666]

YESSSS! I love this remake! I'll pick it up for you guys and let you all know the quality.

[Dragon Lee]

Yea this is a dopey wacky movie with no substance whatsoever but I do enjoy the visuals.

[Futurhythm]

Oh, yeah! I hope all of Tsui Hark's back catalogue gets re-released at some point. I'll even settle for DVD releases, especially for Shanghai Blues and Dangerous Encounters which are only available on expensive out of print French DVDs.

The first time I watched this I couldn't get through it. My brother and I kind of sat there completely confused asking each other what the hell was going on before giving up not even half-way. The next day I tried again and really got into it after getting my head around all the insane mythology. I didn't see the original (which also happens to be a remake) until a few years after, and although it might be Hong Kong cinema blasphemy to say so, but I prefer this to the 1983 movie. I remember a couple of years ago, Tsui said he was gonna do Zu Mountain again after re-remaking Dragon Inn. I wonder if he'll actually go through with it.

[BigManDeath]

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=11200

More ZU on the way!

Yes, I was bummed that the original credit sequence was missing from the "uncut" US version.

Forgot that the China Star titles were actual HD! Hope this ends up being a decent disc then. Think there is zero chance of this getting a blu-ray release in the US. Toddly6666, I look forward to your review.

[SixSpeedSamurai]

Oh yes, ordering. Been holding onto my old DVD of this.

[Stoney Jackson]

Can we get a blu ray of the original film please?


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[Dragon Lee]

Theres already one becuz I have it.

[reason108]

Originally Posted by Dragon Lee

Theres already one becuz I have it.

Yes. But, are the clouds grey or blue? I originally had this on Universe dvd back in the day and the opening sequence, the clouds were blue. Did not buy the movie after that until the blu ray came out and the clouds were grey. I believe the rest of the colors in the movie matched. But, that was rather odd.

Loved the first movie. A classic and one of my all time favorites. Watched the 2nd movie a couple of times but it just didn`t stick with me. Not sure what a new one would be like. Other than Detective D, I think a lot of his films lately have been a mess. Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Inn has to be one of the worst movies that I have seen. Maybe he can ramp it up again and deliver another ZU classic.

[toddly6666]

I only prefer the Bluray because it can't get scratched like the DVD. Other than that, the video quality on both DVD and blu are equally fair to poor

[drees5761]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

I only prefer the Bluray because it can't get scratched like the DVD. Other than that, the video quality on both DVD and blu are equally fair to poor

Believe me Blu ray's can get scratched, that's just a myth. Glad i have kept all my dvds HK Legends etc as these Blu ray releases are shocking.

[Stoney Jackson]

What I meant was "Can we get a blu ray of the original that's actually a new HD transfer!?"

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by drees5761

Believe me Blu ray's can get scratched, that's just a myth. Glad i have kept all my dvds HK Legends etc as these Blu ray releases are shocking.

...maybe if you are Wolverine! The majority of my used blurays are from CeX And Blockbuster and none were scratched compared to their scratched-up used dvds they sold.
Ive seen a tiny dent or stain, but that's so rare.


But anyway, I picked up the ZU bluray today - i'll give it a test in a few hours and let everyone know the quality. Does anyone know if this is the original uncut version? The back cover lists the Weinsteins in the credits as producers and the time is listed at 104 minutes.

[Dragon Lee]

it should be the uncut version. I havent a clue what they actually contributed to the film but theyre credited as producers on the original HK version too.

[toddly6666]

THE LEGEND OF ZU Hong Kong Blu-ray Mini Review

Lame as expected.

I was hoping this would be a slight upgrade since this movie is newish, but nope. The Blu-ray and DVD pretty much look the same. The only advantage the Blu-ray has over the DVD is that the English subtitles look better and aren't as tiny as on the DVD. Blu-ray audio is pretty much the same too as the DVD audio. Ironically, the Hong Kong Legends DVD and HK Blu-ray of the first film - Zu: Warriors of Magic Mountain - look pretty much the same too.

The HK DVD is brighter and bit more sharp.
The HK Blu-ray is softer but a bit cleaner.

Either way, there isn't any upgrade here. If you don't have the DVD, buy the Blu-ray. If you have the DVD, don't buy the Blu-ray.

I guess the advantage of the Blu-ray being soft is that the dated CGI special effects don't look as bad. Had this been a really pristine HD upgrade, those CGI special effects probably wouldn't merge well with the real elements.

The movie is still pretty wacky, creative, and entertaining though!

These aren't some high-techy screencaps. These are just photos I took of the TV. These photos don't really represent, but it's enough to get an idea that the Blu-ray is neither HD and not even an upscale.

MOVIE: 3
VIDEO: 2.5
AUDIO: 3
EXTRAS: 2
OVERALL: 3

Legend of Zu Screencaps.jpg