Armour Of God II: Operation Condor coming 6/15/20 from 88 Films

[WaverBoy]

So, it appears that on June 15th, 88 Films will bless us with...

ARMOUR OF GOD II: OPERATION CONDOR

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=14824

To this news I can only say

Actually, let me also say that we need the uncut uncensored version with both naked ass shots intact, plus the original English dub that showed up on the ancient U.K. DVD.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

MediumRare release might be OOP?

[sonny gaunt]

What about Armour of God? Who might release it?

[OldPangYau]

*countdown clock intensifies*

[Mikezilla3k]

Just curious, will this include the US Miramax version?

[sonny gaunt]

Originally Posted by Futurhythm

But (unpopular opinion time) the first one is awful. AWFUL.

I had no idea, it was disliked. Aside from the questionable stereotype portrayals, I feel the action is more interesting to watch than the second-which, IIRC, removed the mystical undertone of the first(I may be remembering incorrectly).

[Aclea]

I think the first is perhaps a little overloved because, along with Police Story, it was many English-speaking viewers' first exposure to Jackie Chan and the thrill of novelty has been replaced by the glow of nostalgia.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

Just curious, will this include the US Miramax version?

Probably not, since Fortune Star owns international rights and the previous MediumRare BD was only the HK version.

[sonny gaunt]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I think the first is perhaps a little overloved because, along with Police Story, it was many English-speaking viewers' first exposure to Jackie Chan and the thrill of novelty has been replaced by the glow of nostalgia.

Not to be contradictive but, Rumble in the Bronx was the first wide release of any Chan film theatrically in the US(IIRC, aside from BCB, Protector, and the Run films) to earn big box office.

Operation was released first, in the US, making AoG as a sequel-totally mindless.

UK viewers were obviously aware of Chan many years before any of us in the US were.

[mdking]

I purchased the MediumRare copy 2 weeks ago just my luck

Time to triple dip as I already own the US 4 in 1 Blu-ray as well

I hope 88 Films do the first one as well as it has been OOP for a long time

[Aclea]

Armour and Police Story both played on UK network TV in heavily promoted slots with accompanying Jackie Chan documentary and were comparatively easily available VHS titles there, first being released in 1987. Copies of both from multiple territories as well as bootlegs could be found without too much trouble in LA and other key US cities at least around that time. Pre-1996 New Line releases Hong Kong and Chan films were a growing cult video and once in a blue moon midnight screening phenomenon, and PS and AoG were the usual gateway titles for most people.

[sonny gaunt]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Armour and Police Story both played on UK TV in heavily promoted slots with accompanying Jackie Chan documentary and were comparatively easily available VHS titles there, first being released in 1987. Copies of both from multiple territories as well as bootlegs could be found without too much trouble in LA and other key US cities at least around that time. Pre-1996 New Line releases Hong Kong and Chan films were a growing cult video and once in a blue moon midnight screening phenomenon, and PS and AoG were the usual gateway titles for most people.

Bootleg boutiques in Major US cities, granted. Minor cities were vastly HK film deprived until the early 90's-FOX LORBER's release of The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, and Hard Boiled, piqued interest in the "blood ballet" genre.

This interest opened the flood gates of non-Shaw action films(especially Hark, Lam, and To).

Obviously, this is my opinion and recollection of my personal history(not taking into account, looking for so many films reviewed by Asian Cult Cinema, Euro trash Cinema, and Giant Robo).

Chan was, in the US, an unknown figure-until New Line released the US cut of Rumble. Unfortunately, this American acceptance was, IMHO, among his last almost watchable action films(alas, he was aging).

[reason108]

Freaking awesome! This thread should be at a thousand posts already with everyone screaming like a little girl about how excited they are that’s it’s finally going to be getting a high quality release. 88 has to know that we’re getting no sleep till June, with anticipation!!!

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by sonny gaunt

Chan was, in the US, an unknown figure-until New Line released the US cut of Rumble.

I'd have to disagree with that: there had been highly publicised attempts to break him into the US market in 1980 with BCB (which disastrously mis-sold him as the next Bruce Lee but still pulled in $8.5m in the US) and Cannonball (where he was lost among bigger stars) and to a lesser extent The Protector, so there was certainly awareness of him long before 1996 even if there was no wide audience. New Line and Miramax never would have risked 1400 print releases had there not been a growing VHS market for his films by then.

[sonny gaunt]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I'd have to disagree with that: there had been highly publicised attempts to break him into the US market with BCB (which disastrously mis-sold him as the next Bruce Lee but still pulled in $8.5m in the US) and Cannonball (where he was lost among bigger stars) and to a lesser extent The Protector, so there was certainly awareness of him long before 1996 even if there was no wide audience. New Line and Miramax never would have risked 1400 print releases had there not been a growing VHS market for his films by then.

As mentioned in my prior post. Chan's American stardom was built upon Rumble and NL's releasing of his Golden age films to the US market.

The US market did not exist for Chan prior to Rumble. Except for a him acting as a second, ala Lee's Kato. He was not a box office draw.

The new found interest was in US investors seeing his global stardom rise.

[Aclea]

Aside from Rumble, those New Line and Miramax films sold fewer tickets in the US than Battlecreek Brawl once you adjust for inflation. Rush Hour was his breakout US theatrical release, but it's absolutely absurd to pretend he was 'unknown' in the US prior to 1996, especially in an era when VHS created bankable action stars whose films barely made a ripple theatrically yet made bank on video and cable. Rush Hour was the film that turned him into someone American audiences would see on the big screen, but as with the New Line releases he already had enough name recognition in the US to build a marketing campaign around and get booked into over a thousand screens. In the 80s and 90s theatrical wasn't everything, and then as now there were plenty of actors the public were simultaneously aware of but didn't pay to see.

Rumble in the Bronx may have been your introduction to Chan, but for many people in the English speaking world, Police Story and - especially because of Chan's highly publicised serious accident - Armour of God were the first exposure many had to Chan's films in their entirety (or near entirety since they may have seen bowlderised or dubbed versions). That they didn't see them on the big screen doesn't change that.

[navydavey]

Fantastic news

I already own the Mediumrare release of both Armour of God movies but any 88 release will be well worth the upgrade

I assume the Chan releases have been good sellers? I remember talk a while ago from other labels stating that Hong Kong action cinema doesn’t sell so I would love to hear that 88 have proved them all wrong

[Aclea]

The big titles from Eureka seem to be doing well, but most modern titles and vintage Shaw Brothers films without well remembered stars seem to be harder to shift. Even big stars aren't a guarantee - 88 released [EDIT] Andy Lau's Casino Tycoon but I doubt we'll see the sequel on Blu.

[revoloution]

Been waiting YEARS to pick up a decent release of this, Hopefully 88Films can knock it out of the park regarding extras and different cuts of the film!

[The Mole]

Is there any hopes for getting a box set of both films with a new version of Part 1 from 88?