Clan of the White Lotus

[reason108]

Barebones set with restored HD master in original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Cantonese and English dub. Subs are really good and include sign translations. Reverse sleeve, booklet and slip (not glossy like recent JC titles). The HD master isn't as good as the recent JC 4k/2k remasters but is pretty decent. This release is more in line with 88`s previous Shaw titles regarding packaging, extras and PQ. But, it is nice they are now releasing more kung-fu classics. Come Drink with Me and 8 Diagram Pole Fighter seem to have a slightly better presentation (all around) but this is certainly a worthy release.

[mogwai_macabre]

Mine's on the way. I believe this is the first official release to have the English dub? This never got a legit release in the US, and the IVL had Cantonese and Mandarin, but no English audio.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Does it have the original mono track?

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

Does it have the original mono track?

That's my understanding. Haven't listened super closely but both tracks on the Blu are 2.0 dual mono. AFAIK, there are very few, if any, surround remixes of Shaw Bros. films out there, even in Hong Kong, that could be downfolded later.

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by apollo828

AFAIK, there are very few, if any, surround remixes of Shaw Bros. films out there, even in Hong Kong, that could be downfolded later.

Have I lived in some kind of alternate reality? Not just some, but all of the IVL DVDs I have from back in the day only come with horribly remixed multichannel sound, featuring new generic music cues and sound effects. It is the worst wholesale butchery I've ever witnessed. The VCDs did not suffer the same fate IIRC, nor did the subsequent HD remasters.

Speaking of HD remasters, I was excited for Clan of the White Lotus. Previously accessible via iTunes and other streaming outlets, the "HD" remaster is one of a handful that look like upscales. Sadly, this 88 release features the same master, so I think this is what will go down in history.

Mind you, there's no responsibility for this on the part of 88. It wasn't and isn't up to them to alter Celestial's course with the few films that were never given HD remasters that match the rest. I sincerely thank these guys for putting this out. I love having it. It's the best version by a country mile. iTunes has compression and scaling issues, this doesn't. And no one wants to touch pops (yeah yeah, you know it's his). If it isn't Bruce, Jackie, Sammo or Woo-ping, no one gives a toss. And that list itself loses steam quickly after the second name.

So what's wrong with the current master? It looks like a DVD that's been artificially boosted. It's sharpened to within an inch of its life, with halos as thick and white as icing on a cake. The contrast has been boosted compared to the IVL DVD. While the titles are obviously high definition, the image doesn't look it, not even by Shaw HD standards. The artificial sharpness and contrast create a mess of noise, poor definition and blown out lighting. Shaw HD masters are typically rather soft and noise reduced, but not sharpened or noisy at all. They show a natural increase in detail over standard definition versions, and all lines are clearly defined. The difference is always obvious.

These poorer masters are not on the level of other Celestial HD remasters, if they are even HD. Others in this group include Challenge of the Masters and, sadly, Dirty Ho. I keep meaning to compare Dirty Ho to the french DVD, as that is PAL and looks better than what IVL put out. I wouldn't be surprised to find hardly any difference. Anyway, Clan of the White Lotus is one of these poor "HD" transfers, through no fault of 88's.

[Killer Meteor]

It's also got this...

YouTube

[Owenjohnston]

Originally Posted by Liersi

Have I lived in some kind of alternate reality? Not just some, but all of the IVL DVDs I have from back in the day only come with horribly remixed multichannel sound, featuring new generic music cues and sound effects. It is the worst wholesale butchery I've ever witnessed. The VCDs did not suffer the same fate IIRC, nor did the subsequent HD remasters.

Speaking of HD remasters, I was excited for Clan of the White Lotus. Previously accessible via iTunes and other streaming outlets, the "HD" remaster is one of a handful that look like upscales. Sadly, this 88 release features the same master, so I think this is what will go down in history.

Mind you, there's no responsibility for this on the part of 88. It wasn't and isn't up to them to alter Celestial's course with the few films that were never given HD remasters that match the rest. I sincerely thank these guys for putting this out. I love having it. It's the best version by a country mile. iTunes has compression and scaling issues, this doesn't. And no one wants to touch pops (yeah yeah, you know it's his). If it isn't Bruce, Jackie, Sammo or Woo-ping, no one gives a toss. And that list itself loses steam quickly after the second name.

So what's wrong with the current master? It looks like a DVD that's been artificially boosted. It's sharpened to within an inch of its life, with halos as thick and white as icing on a cake. The contrast has been boosted compared to the IVL DVD. While the titles are obviously high definition, the image doesn't look it, not even by Shaw HD standards. The artificial sharpness and contrast create a mess of noise, poor definition and blown out lighting. Shaw HD masters are typically rather soft and noise reduced, but not sharpened or noisy at all. They show a natural increase in detail over standard definition versions, and all lines are clearly defined. The difference is always obvious.

These poorer masters are not on the level of other Celestial HD remasters, if they are even HD. Others in this group include Challenge of the Masters and, sadly, Dirty Ho. I keep meaning to compare Dirty Ho to the french DVD, as that is PAL and looks better than what IVL put out. I wouldn't be surprised to find hardly any difference. Anyway, Clan of the White Lotus is one of these poor "HD" transfers, through no fault of 88's.

Disappointing to read this. I only just ordered today and have never seen the film before. Is it a sequel or stand alone film?

[spannick]

the itunes Version also looks like the Bluray. the UK Company did not tamper with the HD Master, it's just what Celestial delivered them.

btw, all Celestial Masters are delivered in Mono, the 5.1 Tracks must be ordered seperately at additional Cost. I would not worry these Days about it. only Well Go did it for their horrendous Blurays, which also had awful Video Encoding enclosed with the terrible 5.1 Audio.

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by spannick

the itunes Version also looks like the Bluray. the UK Company did not tamper with the HD Master, it's just what Celestial delivered them.

Yeah, that's what I said. Twice, just to be sure.

[Liersi]

Originally Posted by Owenjohnston

Disappointing to read this. I only just ordered today and have never seen the film before. Is it a sequel or stand alone film?

There's no need to be disappointed. Should I have printed it in neon letters over three posts? Is this all anyone took away from the post, that 88 somehow screwed it up? I said multiple times this is not their doing.

They didn't screw it up. This release is as good as can be. 88 good. Master bad. Not their fault.

[PriestWhiteLotus]

That youtube video posted is mine. I had no idea who was at fault but wanted to show people the audio error. I did email 88 Films about it but they never got back to me. It's only been 6 days so maybe they still will.

I'm still glad to have it, love the slipcase and reversible cover.

Honestly i sort of prefer the Mandarin track, but both are great. Would of liked a choice so i wish they included it. I think Priest White Lotus sounds more cool and suave in Mandarin.

[PriestWhiteLotus]

I just got an email back from 88 Films over that audio issue i noticed. Here is their reply


That is the same as our master. No one else has mentioned it so i’m assuming its correct.

Hope that helps.

I guess if they say it's correct i can't really argue.

[Owenjohnston]

Originally Posted by Liersi

There's no need to be disappointed. Should I have printed it in neon letters over three posts? Is this all anyone took away from the post, that 88 somehow screwed it up? I said multiple times this is not their doing.

They didn't screw it up. This release is as good as can be. 88 good. Master bad. Not their fault.

I wasn't criticising 88, more that Celestial aren't putting the same effort into remasters as fortune star. I watched it recently and it was about as good as Dragon Fist, which again is a shitty master and not the fault of 88

[Owenjohnston]

Lots of new SB blu rays appeared on download sites recently. I hope 88 manages to get at least some!
The New Shaolin Boxers
The Kid With The Golden Arm
The Angry Guest
The Master of Kung Fu
Four Riders

[saltysam]

All available in Germany with English subs and original audio. Pretty cheap too.

[saltysam]

Originally Posted by Owenjohnston

Lots of new SB blu rays appeared on download sites recently. I hope 88 manages to get at least some!
The New Shaolin Boxers
The Kid With The Golden Arm
The Angry Guest
The Master of Kung Fu
Four Riders

All available in Germany with English subs and original audio. Pretty cheap too.

[moviemaker]

Originally Posted by Owenjohnston

Disappointing to read this. I only just ordered today and have never seen the film before. Is it a sequel or stand alone film?

I realized no one answered your question. "Clan" & "Fists" are the same film.

Clan of the White Lotus is a 1980 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lo Lieh, with action choreography by Lau Kar Leung, and starring Lo Lieh and Gordon Liu. It is released as Fists of the White Lotus in North America.

[Owenjohnston]

Originally Posted by moviemaker

I realized no one answered your question. "Clan" & "Fists" are the same film.

Clan of the White Lotus is a 1980 Shaw Brothers kung fu film directed by Lo Lieh, with action choreography by Lau Kar Leung, and starring Lo Lieh and Gordon Liu. It is released as Fists of the White Lotus in North America.

Thanks for the info. I read that it's a sequel to executioners from shaolin, which I haven't seen so hopefully 88 releases it also

[saltysam]

I read somewhere, (maybe here) 50 Shaw titles have been licensed by a UK company. I don't see a physical media company licensing 50 Shaw films so likely it's for streaming. Hopefully 88 still have some left in their deal.

[Xapi3]

Originally Posted by saltysam

I read somewhere, (maybe here) 50 Shaw titles have been licensed by a UK company. I don't see a physical media company licensing 50 Shaw films so likely it's for streaming. Hopefully 88 still have some left in their deal.

Arrow Video are releasing 36 Chambers of Shaolin but who knows if they are the company that have licensed the said 50 titles. That seems like a lot but they were probably part of a package deal