Once A Thief

[AnimeOnBlu]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Once-...Blu-ray/16649/

October 8 release date.

[Dragon Lee]

I'm curious to see how the pq compares to Sony's dvd which is currently the best looking version in the world.

[singhcr]

Let's hope this is a sign that more of the classic Woo films are arriving on BD soon.

We still need:

The Killer (Dragon Dynasty version doesn't count as a release)
Hard Boiled (ditto)
A Better Tomorrow I, II
Bullet in the Head
etc.

[almo89]

Hard Boiled will be released by Dragon Dynasty on Dec 14th. I wouldn't hold your breath on it though as the DVD wasn't exactly great to start with. The Killer was an absolute joke of a release.

[Moefiz]

Would be nice if you can add a link to your review in your original post

[Moefiz]

Haven't seen this since in its VHS days, may just pay a visit it to it again if I can get my hands on a copy.

Thanks for the review, the remake didn't do the original any kind of justice.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by Brown

Sorry. I have reviewed flicks before but never thought enough of them to "announce" them here in the forum.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Once-...9/#UserReviews

Thanks for the review Brown! I don't have a problem with the K&R video/audio quality, it's just that I read so many reviews of this film and it's always gotten mixed reviews, so I'm probably gonna pass on it. I wish it was a well-respected film cuz I would have bought it instantly then. I wish K&R just stuck with old Jackie Chan movies instead of throwing ol' John Woo or Chow Yun Fat movies into the mix, cuz I really don't care for either of them.

[Dragon Lee]

Im a huge fan of Woo's gunplay films but this and A Better Tomorrow 2 gotta be his 2 worst.

[freddiecarr]

Originally Posted by Brown

FYI, I posted a review of John Woo's ONCE A THIEF. I have always had a soft spot for this movie. It's not THE KILLER. Woo clearly made it to please the home audience, but it's fun. In addition, I had low expectations about its transfer, but I was pleasantly surprised.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Once-...9/#UserReviews

Good review, I am also a big fan of this film, it is more of a light hearted affair to the usual John woo films. Chow Yun Fat is always worth watching though, such a versatile actor, can play many different roles with ease.

Havent got round to watching my copy yet, probably have to wait till the weekend

[freddiecarr]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Thanks for the review Brown! I don't have a problem with the K&R video/audio quality, it's just that I read so many reviews of this film and it's always gotten mixed reviews, so I'm probably gonna pass on it. I wish it was a well-respected film cuz I would have bought it instantly then. I wish K&R just stuck with old Jackie Chan movies instead of throwing ol' John Woo or Chow Yun Fat movies into the mix, cuz I really don't care for either of them.

You should give it a try and make your own mind up, not everyone is going to have the same opinion of things.

I much prefer the older John Woo or Chow Yun fat movies to the films the HK industry is releasing nowadays, cant think of any recent film from HK that was great, maybe echoes fo the rainbow but thats not really an action film

[PGW]

Originally Posted by Brown

Isn't there that old story about the Shaw Brothers prints found carelessly somewhere near some San Francisco restaurant and that if they hadn't been found those great DVD releases would not have ever occurred? Or is that some myth?

Myth. Actually, may be the only company that DID preserve their films. Even some of the Cathay DVDs had to be taken from pan-and-scan prints, presumably because that's all that remained in the vaults.

I didn't know they'd reissued "The Mission". I have the crappy old Mei Ah DVD... how'd they screw up the re-issue?

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by Brown

Mei-Ah released THE MISSION twice on DVD, and both had burned-in images. One was some text, if I remember correctly, and the other looked like a box. Incredible.

I cannot recall if the VCD was okay, but then again, VCDs start out looking awful.

The Mission, along with God of Cookery, From Beijing With Love, and Drunken Master 2, are my most eagerly-awaited Asian blu-rays.

[freddiecarr]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

The Mission, along with God of Cookery, From Beijing With Love, and Drunken Master 2, are my most eagerly-awaited Asian blu-rays.

anything by stephen chow jackie or jet Li is eagerly awaited by me, particularly armour of god, wheels on meals, dragons forever, project A, Fong Sai Yuk (US one is cut to bits), king of beggars, love on delivery also the Young and dangerous Series, god of gamblers, and bullet in the head would be good

Hopefully fortune star release a few more of their catalogue titles, I had a look on their website and they have loads of decent films there.


I also watched once a thief last night, I forgot how funny this film was in places, however if you dont know cantonese some of the jokes may be lost on you, the subtitiles werent that good. Its a charming light hearted film that doesnt take itself too seriously.

[pro-bassoonist]

We will have a review for this release shortly. I looked at the disc last night and it looks surprisingly strong.

Pro-B

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

We will have a review for this release shortly. I looked at the disc last night and it looks surprisingly strong.

Pro-B

cool, looking forward to read it!

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

We will have a review for this release shortly. I looked at the disc last night and it looks surprisingly strong.

Pro-B

Great! I wasn't a huge fan of the film, but it's good news for those who are and hopefully this means that the other John Woo HK classics will be treated with respect.

If I remember correctly, this is the first HK BD release of one of Woo's older films, right? The Killer's "release" was a US one.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by singhcr

If I remember correctly, this is the first HK BD release of one of Woo's older films, right? The Killer's "release" was a US one.

In Hong Kong, yes. I am not aware of any other of his early films being available on Blu-ray there. And yet those are his best, truly the ones you want to have in your collection.

Some of the most entertaining (style and flavor) HK films are from the mid 70s to around the very late 80s.

There are, however, plenty of Wong Kar Wai's early films available on Blu-ray.

Pro-B

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

In Hong Kong, yes. I am not aware of any other of his early films being available on Blu-ray there. And yet those are his best, truly the ones you want to have in your collection.

Some of the most entertaining (style and flavor) HK films are from the mid 70s to around the very late 80s.

There are, however, plenty of Wong Kar Wai's early films available on Blu-ray.

Pro-B

You are right, his early ones are the best like The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, Bullet in the Head, etc.

I am not familiar with Wong Kar Wai, which movies are you referring to? I take it the BD releases are actually HD and not SD upconverts?

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I am not familiar with Wong Kar Wai, which movies are you referring to? I take it the BD releases are actually HD and not SD upconverts?

All of Wong Kar Wai's films that have appeared on Blu-ray have received very strong HD treatments thus far (no upconverts):

ASIAN RELEASES of his films:



U.S. and UK RELEASES of his films:



Pro-B

[singhcr]

Thanks for the lists. I don't believe I've seen any of his movies, I'll give it a shot. Embarrassingly, I purchased Fallen Angels but completely forgot that I owned it until I saw the picture again...