Drunken Master II HK version

[MSZ]

https://www.buyoyo.com/buyoyo/Produc...43759&prtype=0

[elite]

Saw this earlier. I'm assuming it's the cut version but with the original soundtrack at least.

[Markgway]

I'd be willing to put up with the missing coda IF the disc had Cantonese mono and decent subs.

[reason108]

Originally Posted by Markgway

I'd be willing to put up with the missing coda IF the disc had Cantonese mono and decent subs.

Me too!


Japanese, Korean and now a Chinese release. I will get one of these releases unless it’s a total cluster-f*ck.

[Llyranor]

Please please please be decent!

[Magic Monkey]

How many versions this movie has and what is the "best" release to get? Something wrong with the earlier "western"/international version?

When looking at YesAsia search page, I see Japan, Korea and Taiwan versions coming out in October.

[elite]

Originally Posted by Magic Monkey

How many versions this movie has and what is the "best" release to get? Something wrong with the earlier "western"/international version?

I firmly believe the best release of this movie is still the LaserDisc. It's in the original aspect ratio, uncut, and has the original soundtrack. The second would be the Thakral DVD. It's uncut and has the original soundtrack but it's been cropped. The third would probably be the VCD for me. It's the same as the LaserDisc but with much worse video quality unfortunately. Then I would say the blu-ray releases are the next best option to get. You get a better image for sure but you lose out on the original soundtrack, it's dubbed, and it's missing the scene at the end. Then there is the fanmade Hong Kong Rescue release which takes the best parts of the various releases and combines it into one sort of "ultimate" version. Hopefully these new blu-ray releases will eliminate the need for all previous versions.

[Magic Monkey]

Hmm..

Somebody wrote this on January 2018 on this product page reviews section:

I'm going to make sure all of you know which DVDs are out there of this classic kung-fu film.

R1 Dimension/Disney (also available on blu-ray): This is the most widely available release of this classic film. It has been retitled to "Legend of the Drunken Master". As far as cuts go, only the last 37 seconds are cut, which shows that Wong Fei-Hung is still mentally impaired from the industrial alcohol. Dimension cut this scene, believing it to be "tasteless" and offensive to disabled people.

The movie's score and "old school" sound effects of the original version have been changed. The sound effects of the fight scenes are much less powerful and more "Americanized". In addition to this, the original Cantonese dialog has been dubbed into English. Jackie Chan does his own dub for this release, and I can personally testify that he did a good job! In fact, I believe that this English dub is great. All the actors (including Jackie Chan) are very expressive!

Also, this DVD/blu-ray is the only release which has GREAT picture quality. It's anamorphic and remastered with the original aspect ratio.

R0 Thakral: This DVD is now out of print, but you might be able to find it on other websites. It contains the ending scene which was cut from the Dimension/Disney release. It shows a picture of Jackie Chan doing a pose in front of ceramic wine jugs, and simply says "Drunken Boxing II" or "Drunken Fist II" in Chinese characters on the front (no English words). It has a Cantonese and Mandarin dub (neither of which has Jackie Chan's voice). It also comes with removable English and Chinese subtitles.

However, the biggest flaw to this DVD is the picture quality. Not only is it just plain awful, but the 2:35:1 aspect ratio has been CROPPED to 1:85:1.

Warner Bros R2/R3 DVD: This DVD is also out of print but probably available on other websites. It was released in Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan. The R2 Japanese DVD only has the Cantonese dub and a Japanese dub. The R3 release has the Cantonese & Mandarin dub, along with the Golden Harvest "export" English dub! Unlike Dimension's English dub, this English dub maintains the original score and sound effects, and plays an instrumental version of the theme song during the credits. But alas, this English dub doesn't have Jackie Chan's voice.

There are no English subtitles! However, the R3 DVD has Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles, while the Japanese DVD has Japanese subs.

As for the picture, it's presented in its correct aspect ratio of 2:35:1. However, it's non-anamorphic. And this release is cut EVEN MORE than Dimension's. It ends as soon as Fei-Hung faints from the final fight!

So to recap, here are the things to remember about each release.

Only the Thakral DVD is 100% uncut & undubbed with English (& Chinese) subtitles.
Only the Dimension DVD/blu-ray is remastered & anamorphic (and high-definition)
Only the Dimension DVD/blu-ray has Jackie Chan's voice (for the English dub)
Only the WB DVDs have the original score & sound effects WITH the original aspect ratio

Am I understanding correctly that Jackie Chan voiced only one English dub (there's another which he hasn't), no Cantonese/Mandarin tracks with JC's voice at all? If that's true, I'd rather take the JC Eng dub from the international Blu-ray.

[acua]

Originally Posted by reason108

Me too!


Japanese, Korean and now a Chinese release. I will get one of these releases unless it’s a total cluster-f*ck.

The jap release says "Remastered" but HK or Korean don't specify...is it safe to assume they all will be remastered?

[reason108]

Originally Posted by acua

The jap release says "Remastered" but HK or Korean don't specify...is it safe to assume they all will be remastered?

I will assume! The timing that 3 separate releases are going to hit the market at the same time makes me think that all 3 will be from the same master. Hoping these are not upscaled. If worse comes to worse then I will just keep my Dimension Blu-ray and Thakral dvd.

[hanshotfirst1138]

I’ve given up on ever hoping for a decent release of this. We’ll get the Original Trilogy before we get one.

[wesslan]

Yeah a decent correct retail disc of this won't probably happen anytime soon :/

[Dragun]

For the Los Angeles people here, the original HK version is being shown on 35mm at The Vista theater in Los Feliz on Saturday September 15. I've only seen this film once, and I'm pretty sure that was the Miramax version (or maybe a Tai Seng VHS), so I'm excited to see the uncut version on the big screen.

[Uber12]

Originally Posted by elite

I firmly believe the best release of this movie is still the LaserDisc. It's in the original aspect ratio, uncut, and has the original soundtrack. The second would be the Thakral DVD. It's uncut and has the original soundtrack but it's been cropped. The third would probably be the VCD for me. It's the same as the LaserDisc but with much worse video quality unfortunately. Then I would say the blu-ray releases are the next best option to get. You get a better image for sure but you lose out on the original soundtrack, it's dubbed, and it's missing the scene at the end. Then there is the fanmade Hong Kong Rescue release which takes the best parts of the various releases and combines it into one sort of "ultimate" version. Hopefully these new blu-ray releases will eliminate the need for all previous versions.

I have the VCD and watched it recently. The video quality is so bad, I can barely read the subtitles. I've been waiting a long time for a proper blu-ray release.

[Achilles00]

Anyone know where I can buy this statue?

[e_d]

It's up on DDDHouse.

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_d...roductID=16719

[acua]

Originally Posted by e_d

It's up on DDDHouse.

http://www.dddhouse.com/v3/product_d...roductID=16719

Thanks! Mmm...am I missing something? There is no option to add to your cart.

[steve_dave]

I discussed this in the US theads:

This is the Warner cut which ends immediately after the final fight, you don't see the group take a photo. So it is the shorter cut.

Also, Warner is including English SDH subtitles so the subtitles will more than likely be based on Warner's English dub of the movie.

As for soundtracks:

Yes, only the Miramax Cut has Jackie Chan's voice albeit in English and using the Weinstein approved dub of the film. This will not have any mono soundtrack options, just the 5.1 remixes.

[e_d]

Originally Posted by acua

Thanks! Mmm...am I missing something? There is no option to add to your cart.

No, I have that as well. Johnny probably just needs to set the price or something so we can't order it quite yet, but I would imagine we can soon since it's at least listed on the web site.

[Magic Monkey]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Yes, only the Miramax Cut has Jackie Chan's voice albeit in English and using the Weinstein approved dub of the film. This will not have any mono soundtrack options, just the 5.1 remixes.

Thanks, I can save money and not buy this, I don't see the point of getting a release with Canto audio if JC hasn't voiced it.