Miami Connection (1987) 4K UHD coming from Vinegar Syndrome

[whiteberry]

This special limited edition slipbox + slipcover set (designed by Tom Hodge of The Dude Designs) contains three discs:
UHD disc: MIAMI CONNECTION
BD disc1: MIAMI CONNECTION + Special Features
BD disc2: ESCAPE FROM MIAMI

Dragon Sound, the house band at Orlando's #1 nightclub is made up of five orphans and university classmates, all of whom are experts in Taekwondo, with a musical mission to share the importance of love and friendship. Lead singer John is engaged in a budding romance with Jane, sister of Jeff, a kingpin in one of Florida's toughest drug pushing gangs. A resentful rival band enlists the help of Jeff and his crew of violent, motorcycle riding thugs to exact vengeance for their bruised egos, against Dragon Sound. The five best friends are soon forced to put their fighting skills to the ultimate test, not just to defend themselves, but their entire community from the iron grip held over it by these narcotics trafficking hooligans.

An international cult sensation and tribute to the unwavering power of friendship, Woo-sang Park (aka Richard Park) and Y.K. Kim's MIAMI CONNECTION was the cinematic passion project of Florida based martial arts teacher, Grandmaster Kim, and combines explosive action set pieces, daring and elaborate fight sequences, and live musical performances from Dragon Sound. Featuring a cast comprised of Kim's students along with plentiful local talent, MIAMI CONNECTION offers the best traits of regional exploitation filmmaking through the aesthetic of Cannon-esque 80s action, and finally comes to UHD from Vinegar Syndrome, exclusively restored in 4K from recently unearthed negative materials and loaded with plentiful archival and newly shot extras. Plus, this edition includes the world home video debut of its long lost pre-release version, ESCAPE FROM MIAMI, which features numerous additional and extended scenes as well as a completely different ending!

directed by: Woo-sang Park, Y.K. Kim
starring: Y.K. Kim, Vincent Hirsch, Joseph Diamand, Maurice Smith, Angelo Janotti, Kathy Collier, William Ergle, Woo-sang Park
1987 / 86min / 1.85:1 / English Stereo

Additional info:

• 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray x2 Set
• 4k UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range
• Newly scanned & restored in 4k from it’s 35mm interpositive
• "Resurrecting The Dragon: Looking Back at Miami Connection (Again)" - a brand new extensive & exclusive making-of documentary: featuring all new interviews with: writer/producer/director/star Y.K. Kim, actor Vincent Hirsch, actor Joseph Diamand, actor Maurice Smith, actor Angelo Janotti, actress Kathy Collier, sound editor Jeffrey A. Okun, composer Jon McCallum and production assistant Faith Cotter
• Audio commentary with star/producer Y.K. Kim and writer/star Joseph Diamond
• "Friends For Eternity" - a making-of documentary from 2012
• "Dragon Sound Reunion" - a 25th anniversary concert from Fantastic Fest 2012
• "The New American Dream" - an archival Y.K. Kim promotional video
• "Who is Y.K. Kim?" - an archival Y.K. Kim promotional video
• Re-release trailer from 2012
• Reversible cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles

Ships after Halfway to Black Friday (May 27-30)

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...ami-connection

MIAMI CONNECTION Trailer - YouTube

[professorwho]

HELL YES. I am so glad I never paid the absurd prices for the OOP BD.

[OldPangYau]

Never in a million years did I think a better source would be found for this film, with everything making it sound like that surviving print that Drafthouse Films used for their blu-ray was all that remained (with the OCN apparently being lost in a flood.)

But hey, an interpositive is nothing to sneeze at, so I can't wait to see how this turns out!

[ZombAid]

Originally Posted by professorwho

HELL YES. I am so glad I never paid the absurd prices for the OOP BD.

This!
I was so excited I ordered the Everything! (Flash Pre-Order)
That's almost the price you pay for the OOP BD alone ;-)
(Not quite, but you know what I mean)
With free shipping to Europe and Thriller and Cloak & Dagger it should be a fun package.

[Zapp Brannigan]

[CreasyBear]

You know, it kind of says a lot about the current state of audiences when there is enough demand that a piece of shit like Miami Connection is given the royal 4K treatment, but so many classic and influential films aren't even on DVD or Blu-ray, let alone 4K. I mean, this movie is great to riff on, but it's kind of depressing when so many shit films are being restored in 4K and released on 4K and so many great ones are lost to time. Standards are important.

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

You know, it kind of says a lot about the current state of audiences when there is enough demand that a piece of shit like Miami Connection is given the royal 4K treatment, but so many classic and influential films aren't even on DVD or Blu-ray, let alone 4K. I mean, this movie is great to riff on, but it's kind of depressing when so many shit films are being restored in 4K and released on 4K and so many great ones are lost to time.

Agreed 100%. The Rifftrax version is the only way to watch and enjoy this turd.


http://https://youtu.be/KdylIez3D2E

[mikesncc1701]

Pre-ordered this shit so fast it became my father. Miami Connection in 4K?! What a blessing from the cinema gods!

[Pattyk77]

The Rifftrax is one of the best, hilarious, saw it many times.

The commentary is good too though on the Blu-ray, one of the actors who also wrote the script not knowing even how to do it, totally adores Yk Kim who's beside him, says it was other action movies who were inspired by Kim and not the other way around. Um sure... It's all good fun though and the moderator asks great questions. I don't have a dang 4k player though for this release.

[okayflint]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Standards are important.

That’s a stretch

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

You know, it kind of says a lot about the current state of audiences when there is enough demand that a piece of shit like Miami Connection is given the royal 4K treatment, but so many classic and influential films aren't even on DVD or Blu-ray, let alone 4K. I mean, this movie is great to riff on, but it's kind of depressing when so many shit films are being restored in 4K and released on 4K and so many great ones are lost to time. Standards are important.

It's funny because I think the opposite. Big movies like The Abyss or True lies, etc. will all be restored one day, they are big studio movies and all these movies are either already on streaming services or will be eventually. But without these boutique labels restoring movies like Rawhead Rex or Miami connection, these movies would be eventually lost.
So thank God smaller boutique labels are doing this.

[sb5]

It’s not like boutique companies like Vinegar Syndrome have the option to more mainstream, “important” movies and are instead turning them down to do Miami Connection or Tammy and the T-Rex.

Miami Connection isn’t “taking the place” of a prestige picture not getting a proper restoration.

[sonicyogurt]

Originally Posted by sb5

Miami Connection isn’t “taking the place” of a prestige picture not getting a proper restoration.

Exactly. There isn't some monolithic "they" that's serving as a gatekeeper, granting Miami Connection safe passage but preventing The African Queen or Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner or whatever from hitting the format.

[VIDEOgameDROME]

This is probably my favourite b movie but I can't afford these prices, even discounted. I'd love to have it but importing it is just too much just to get it in 4K. I'm happy to see that they put the extended cut on a Blu-ray though. I wonder if there'll be a standalone 4K release at some point.

[sb5]

Originally Posted by VIDEOgameDROME

This is probably my favourite b movie but I can't afford these prices, even discounted. I'd love to have it but importing it is just too much just to get it in 4K.

Vinegar Syndrome’s pricing on this most recent round of UHD’s is…a lot. Thriller’s price is even more insane.

[Telemachus]

Only know this by reputation, is it a blind buy? Worth a buy at all? Would you say it's better or worse than Troma stuff?

Originally Posted by VIDEOgameDROME

This is probably my favourite b movie but I can't afford these prices, even discounted.

Same. I've been collecting Vinegar discs since about 2018, their pricing now is unreal. People were complaining about the Maniac Cop 4K prices, but those were actually a bit less. These are like Arrow LE prices on every release. I used to do blind buys of certain things, but it's too much now. I'm limiting myself to only 2-3 a year, so I'm being really picky and only going for more established titles. I sure do miss the days of Beastmaster and Rad tier titles, it felt like they were ramping up their quality a bit on title selection imo but they have regressed while prices have gone up. Ticks was the only recent one that felt worth the money to me, but I'm sure even that's debatable. I think their business model is geared towards people who want to drop $2,000 a year on subscribing + discounted titles and buy all their expensive flash merch.

[sb5]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Only know this by reputation, is it a blind buy? Worth a buy at all? Would you say it's better or worse than Troma stuff?

It’s not really Troma-like (I’m not a huge Troma guy personally, but like Miami Connection). Its reputation is more on the level of “Good-bad” movies like The Room or Birdemic (though it’s more exciting and fun then those two, imo), where a person/people had a “vision” for something but lacked the skills to achieve it, and just accidentally created something bizarre and entertaining. The movie isn’t any sort of intentionally ironic or winking thing - it’s played fully straight, which makes it weirder/better.

It’s simultaneously a movie about a band with an almost child-like innocence wanting to spread songs about friendship, peace, and the healing power of Taekwondo…and also a violent, bloody 80s action movie, and that dissonance makes it insane.

Given the price, you may want to try before you buy.

[VIDEOgameDROME]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Only know this by reputation, is it a blind buy? Worth a buy at all? Would you say it's better or worse than Troma stuff?

Way better than Troma imo. As a person who watches Miami Connection and Samurai Cop so much I think it's worth it if you know how bizarre and crazy this movie is. It's absolutely hilarious to me and one of the best bad movies ever but I think you can watch it on Tubi for free if you wanna check it out. Cocaine dealing ninjas on motorcycles fighting a Tae Kwon Do trained Rock band comprised of orphans plus the lady. I dunno if I can do it justice, you really should just see it.

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Same. I've been collecting Vinegar discs since about 2018, their pricing now is unreal. People were complaining about the Maniac Cop 4K prices, but those were actually a bit less. These are like Arrow LE prices on every release. I used to do blind buys of certain things, but it's too much now. I'm limiting myself to only 2-3 a year, so I'm being really picky and only going for more established titles. I sure do miss the days of Beastmaster and Rad tier titles, it felt like they were ramping up their quality a bit on title selection imo but they have regressed while prices have gone up. Ticks was the only recent one that felt worth the money to me, but I'm sure even that's debatable. I think their business model is geared towards people who want to drop $2,000 a year on subscribing + discounted titles and buy all their expensive flash merch.

Funny thing is they did an incredible job on the Maniac Cop 2 transfer so it's definitely worth it. This is just HDR10 and stereo from what I can tell so far.

[stvn1974]

My dyslexia had me reading the thread title as "Miami Vice Collection Coming..." and I thought that it couldn't be right.

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

You know, it kind of says a lot about the current state of audiences when there is enough demand that a piece of shit like Miami Connection is given the royal 4K treatment, but so many classic and influential films aren't even on DVD or Blu-ray, let alone 4K. I mean, this movie is great to riff on, but it's kind of depressing when so many shit films are being restored in 4K and released on 4K and so many great ones are lost to time. Standards are important.

As others have said, Miami Connection isn't preventing more classic or "prestigious" titles from hitting the format. I'm not knocking VS here, but look at their catalog. It's not like we were going to be seeing Casablanca coming from them, but they just HAD to get MC out first. They, like any boutique label, work with what they can get.

I feel that, ideally, all films would be able in the best possibly quality, whether it's a highly-acclaimed, influential classic, or a schlocky piece of trash, because ultimately, people enjoy different things. I don't have to pass up getting Citizen Kane or Touch of Evil on UHD because I also enjoy this movie, in a so-bad-it's-hilarious way.