Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

https://hkmdb.com/db/companies/view....isplay_set=eng
https://hkmdb.com/db/companies/view....isplay_set=eng

Just as a fair warning to all, a handful of titles in those links don't apply. I think it's just the ones that were distribution-only (e.g., God of Gamblers, which other labels have already released) and maybe some co-productions (e.g., Undeclared War, which VinSyn is releasing and which was a co-production). But yeah, those links should cover virtually all of the 156 titles.

[OneSodiePopPlz]

Originally Posted by BigSleepy

Is there a place to see the full list of 156 titles?

https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/...ecord/32471997

[GenPion]

This news is fantastic for fans of Hong Kong cinema. I am overjoyed by the news. These last few years have been incredible for fans of Asian cinema on Blu-ray/4K. So many classics coming out in North America for the first time on Blu-ray or 4K (or for the first time on physical media).

So many gaps being filled with Hong Kong cinema, Japanese cinema, and other Asian classics. I am so elated by the news.

There are still so many Shaw Brothers classics to come, too. What a time to be a fan of Asian cinema and a collector of physical media. A treasure trove.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by OneSodiePopPlz

https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/...ecord/32471997

That list should be really close to the full list. It's missing a handful of titles, like Peace Hotel (mentioned in the article), but it's something, and a backup in case HKMDB goes down, which it does on occasion.

(Interestingly, I believe PH was a distribution-only deal. I figured somebody else would've had the rights. I guess not.)

[beamish13]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

https://hkmdb.com/db/companies/view....isplay_set=eng
https://hkmdb.com/db/companies/view....isplay_set=eng

School on Fire and Bullet in the Head are absolute masterpieces. So many gems

[The Great Owl]

I found The Strangers (2008) 4K steelbook at Walmart earlier today.

Of all the Scream Factory 4K upgrades over the past year, this was the one that I was really intent on buying. One of my favorite horror movies of the new millennium.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

This is great news... and I certainly don't want to take away from that...


But I do apologize in advance for being a Debbie Downer though...


I just wish these films weren't with a label that:

1. Utilizes Mexican pressing/assembly plants where damage/assembly QC is in the toilet...
2. Puts simple, flimsy cardboard slips on their cases, yet charges an arm and a leg for them.

Sorry... this is great news for these films and their fans... but not great news that it's this label.

Everyone is gonna get these films... but without nice chip boxes and perfect bound books... yet pay out of pocket like they are.

And everyone is gonna be playing the "Press Your Damaged Disc Luck" wheel... over and over...

I had the same reaction at first, and then I realized that Shout has sublicensing rights for non-Asian territories, so UK boutique labels will have a crack at these films. This is a gigantic win for everybody, full stop. I see zero downside to this news, unless you’re one of the poor unfortunates who doesn’t have a region-switchable player. An absolutely astounding and thoroughly unexpected development. Now the remaining thorn in the side of HK film fans is WB, who unfortunately control Drunken Master II, Pedicab Driver, Encounter of the Spooky Kind 2, Police Story IV: First Strike, Enter the Fat Dragon, and a few other key titles. They are absolutely clueless when it comes to these films.

[bsend]

Which company owns the rights to "Tongs: A Chinatown Story" (1986)?

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by bsend

Which company owns the rights to "Tongs: A Chinatown Story" (1986)?

Presumably D&B. Their films have been getting a steady stream of re-releases the last few years. But, they were distribution-only for this particular title, so who knows for absolute certain.

[bsend]

Originally Posted by apollo828

Presumably D&B. Their films have been getting a steady stream of re-releases the last few years. But, they were distribution-only for this particular title, so who knows for absolute certain.

Thanks!

I only have the edited VHS "Tongs: An American nightmare". I would be looking to upgrade to the full version.

[filmlover22]

Looking forward to (in addition to the Woo classics)

• Aces Go Places box set.
• Tiger on the Beat I / II
• Swordsman
• I love Maria
• On Fire box set
• Chinese Ghost Story box set
• Peking Opera Blues
• All About Ah-Long

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I had the same reaction at first, and then I realized that Shout has sublicensing rights for non-Asian territories, so UK boutique labels will have a crack at these films. This is a gigantic win for everybody, full stop. I see zero downside to this news, unless you’re one of the poor unfortunates who doesn’t have a region-switchable player. An absolutely astounding and thoroughly unexpected development. Now the remaining thorn in the side of HK film fans is WB, who unfortunately control Drunken Master II, Pedicab Driver, Encounter of the Spooky Kind 2, Police Story IV: First Strike, Enter the Fat Dragon, and a few other key titles. They are absolutely clueless when it comes to these films.

Yeah that's my hope... being a region free guy myself now for a few years - I'll definitely take a UK release over a SF release any day. So much less hassle not having to chase down undamaged discs... and the UK counterparts tend to be cheaper and have better extras, too!

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by JoelGoodsen

I know that show! How did I miss that episode I will try and find it mate. Cheers.

New editions from the current series of the regular version (members of the public) resumed a week ago (from Series Thirty-Two, an edition from early on (they should be on the BBC iPlayer).

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

This is going to be huge for Shout, some of the most requested titles in cinema are the Hong Kong John Woo's. I am in for these.

I wonder if they will license to UK distributors like Arrow or Eureka?

I really do hope they license them out to the UK. You know Arrow and Eureka will go all out with these releases. Shout will most likely just throw flimsy slips on them and call it a day. These movies deserve true deluxe editions.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Originally Posted by bsend

Which company owns the rights to "Tongs: A Chinatown Story" (1986)?

Not exactly known but it probably resides with whoever owns the remains of the Asian producer. D&B only distributed some titles and this isn't on the Fortune Star list.

As for the titles that list Cinema City/GP as distributor only, those have been with other companies for some time now. Mei Ah controls titles produced by an offspring of Cinema City called Cinema Capitol which includes Skinny Tiger & Fat Dragon, as well as The Raid and possibly The Dragon From Russia.

Media Asia owns most of the Movie Impact/Newport Productions catalog which includes stuff like Curry and Pepper.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Originally Posted by exzachary

I wonder what's holding up Herzog's Nosferatu

I do too. I thought we'd have an official announcement by now. I wonder if we're going to have to wait till February/March to have one.

[blackray4k]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

This is great news... and I certainly don't want to take away from that...


But I do apologize in advance for being a Debbie Downer though...


I just wish these films weren't with a label that:

1. Utilizes Mexican pressing/assembly plants where damage/assembly QC is in the toilet...
2. Puts simple, flimsy cardboard slips on their cases, yet charges an arm and a leg for them.

Sorry... this is great news for these films and their fans... but not great news that it's this label.

Everyone is gonna get these films... but without nice chip boxes and perfect bound books... yet pay out of pocket like they are.

And everyone is gonna be playing the "Press Your Damaged Disc Luck" wheel... over and over...

I have received plenty of Mexican made discs from other studios/labels. While I get the odd scratched disc, it is nowhere near as frequent as Scratch Factory. I once tried ten copies of Army of Darkness, but could not get an unscratched copy (you read right, ten). All the 4K discs had playback issues, too (they turned into a pixelated garbled mess, so scratches weren't the only problem).

As such, I don't think it's fair to say the reason Shout's discs are always scratched, is "because Mexico". There has to be more to it than that. My theory is Vantiva offer pricing tiers, and Shout pay for the absolute cheapest one (where no disc fails quality control).

Until Shout decide to actually deal with this scratch epidemic, they have lost me as a customer. I doubt they care about losing me, though.

[Pete Rock]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

At this point I'm pretty much content. If we can get the Johnnie To crime films like Exiled, Election I and II, and Full Time Killers, I'll be set for life. I'm pretty much done complaining about a lack of HK films, probably for forever now.

This Golden Princess news had thinking about Tiger on the Beat and Conan Lee. We are also still missing Conan's magnum opus Ninja in the Dragon's Den.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

Looking forward to (in addition to the Woo classics)

• Aces Go Places box set.
• Tiger on the Beat I / II
• Swordsman
• I love Maria
• On Fire box set
• Chinese Ghost Story box set
• Peking Opera Blues
• All About Ah-Long

Don't forget about the Happy Ghost box-set.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I found The Strangers (2008) 4K steelbook at Walmart earlier today.

Of all the Scream Factory 4K upgrades over the past year, this was the one that I was really intent on buying. One of my favorite horror movies of the new millennium.

Holy cow, this 4K disc looks good. The black levels and darkness look notably on point.