Future Cops (Webstore Exclusive) (Eureka)

[cooey]

Future Cops (Webstore Exclusive) (Blu-ray)
Release: 21st October
Order: Eureka

This release of Future Cops is presented from a studio supplied HD transfer that Eureka had no involvement in. Sadly the master is just below the level of quality that we would normally expect. Despite our persistent efforts, the studio would not allow us to restore the film. As this may be the last opportunity for this cult classic to get a physical media release in the UK, we have decided to proceed but on a very limited number and as a Eureka store exclusive. We don’t believe that the slight imperfections in the feature master will affect your enjoyment of this wacky martial arts extravaganza.

Inspired by Capcom’s smash-hit video game sensation Street Fighter II, Future Cops is a mash-up of martial-arts action, comedy and science fiction directed by Wong Jing (God of Gamblers) and featuring an impressive ensemble cast, including Andy Lau (Casino Raiders), Jacky Cheung (Once Upon a Time in China), Aaron Kwok (Throw Down), Chingmy Yau (Royal Tramp) and Simon Yam (PTU).

In the year 2043, the evil crime lord The General (Ken Lo, Drunken Master II) has been imprisoned for his heinous crimes. His loyal followers Kent (Ekin Cheng, Young and Dangerous), Thai King (Billy Chow, High Risk) and Toyota (William Duen, Crime Story) have a plan to free him, though: they will travel back in time and eliminate the Judge who sentenced him. They are followed into the past by Lung (Kwok), Broomhead (Cheung), Ti Man (Lau) and Sing (Yam), “Future Cops” who intend to keep The General in jail where he belongs. But as both cops and criminals arrive in the year 1993 to search for the Judge – who back then was just a teenager – they find themselves embroiled not just in a battle for the future… but high-school drama, too.

Released in 1993 (shortly after City Hunter, another Wong Jing film that draws upon the Capcom franchise), Future Cops beat the first official adaptation of Street Fighter into cinemas by a full year. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK in this special edition.

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited Edition Webstore Exclusive [1000 copies]
- Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [1000 copies]
1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- Original Cantonese audio and optional English dub tracks (original mono presentations)
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- Brand new audio commentary by East Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & F.J. DeSanto
- Brand new audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- Super Street Culture Turbo – Brand new documentary by CFK (Crazy From Kong)
- Trailer
- A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver [1000 copies]

[the13thman]

I still have the HK DVD, it's bound to look better than that so I'm in for an upgrade.

[cooey]

Pre-ordered

[apollo828]

Bummer about the master but fair play to Eureka for trying to thread the needle and get this out without potentially wrecking other sales if bad reviews turn off some customers. Eureka flat out refused to put out The Bride With White Hair 2 because the master was a hot mess. So, there is precedence for this kind of decision. I'm curious to find out what the problems are. My off-the-cuff guess would be significant frame cuts, a bit too much DNR, stuff like that. Anybody know if there are any issues with the HK Blu, which I assume uses the same master?

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by apollo828

Bummer about the master but fair play to Eureka for trying to thread the needle and get this out without potentially wrecking other sales if bad reviews turn off some customers. Eureka flat out refused to put out The Bride With White Hair 2 because the master was a hot mess. So, there is precedence for this kind of decision. I'm curious to find out what the problems are. My off-the-cuff guess would be significant frame cuts, a bit too much DNR, stuff like that. Anybody know if there are any issues with the HK Blu, which I assume uses the same master?

I still would have bought The Bride With White Hair 2, ended up buying the German box set just for that disc and it came scratched. So I got another one and once again that was the only disc in there that was scratched. At that point I gave up, but I love that film and I wish Eureka would put it out.

[giga204]

This is what the HK Blu-ray looks like. Eureka says there are "slight imperfections in the feature master". An absolute horror show would be my description.

[supertwix_64]

Originally Posted by giga204

This is what the HK Blu-ray looks like. Eureka says there are "slight imperfections in the feature master". An absolute horror show would be my description.

Yeah it definitely won't be a good looking release, but it seems to be the best we are gonna get.

There are some more screenshots from the HK blu-ray thread: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=340690

[JonOfun]

Originally Posted by giga204

This is what the HK Blu-ray looks like. Eureka says there are "slight imperfections in the feature master". An absolute horror show would be my description.

I don't know if my standards are too low or yours are too high but that genuinely doesn't look like an "absolute horror show" to me.
You should have a look at my Spanish copy of Enter The Fat Dragon, your eyes will roll back in your head and you'd probably be reduced to a cowering mess in the corner!

[HoldenCarver]

Brief note to say that Eureka have updated the description to say (emphasis mine):

"Please note that this will be the only physical release of this film that we will issue, there will not be a standard reissue to follow."

In case anyone was wondering if they should wait for a standard release.

[mquitney]

I was on the fence, but free global shipping and it's strictly limited to 1000 copies? I nabbed a copy

[Irongod2112]

Hey guys, having worked on this I have
to say the video isn't too bad (some DNR) and the Cantonese track the studio provided was crystal clear & sounds great! Plus a brand new excellent subtitle translation and you got a pretty nice release in my opinion.

Eureka actually went above and beyond to get a new restoration done but the studio just couldn't care less unfortunately.

So if you like this film or think you might like it, you really can't go wrong. As always I hope the fans support films like this so we can get even more obscure HK films down the road!

[CrockettandTubbs]

Wonder if they'll restrict it to one per order.

I can see the scalpers shovelling these up!

[cooey]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Wonder if they'll restrict it to one per order.

I can see the scalpers shovelling these up!

Doesn't appear to be any limits on ordering at the moment

[Pochacco]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

So if you like this film or think you might like it, you really can't wrong. As always I hope the fans support films like this so we can get even more obscure HK films down the road!

Thank you Sir to you and all that work tirelessly for us fans. It is very much appreciated. Pre-order is locked in

[russweiss1]

I'm not a big fan of the film but love Eureka and try to support them on anything I'm remotely interested in. Kudos for letting everyone know ahead of time that it isn't up to their usual standards.

[OnlyJapantown]

I don't often allow myself to get FOMO... but right now I'm feeling the FOMO.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Just Pre ordered.

[Quake1028]

This looks so fun from the cover that I instantly pre-ordered before I even saw that it was a Street Fighter adaptation. Now I'm even more excited lol.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Quake1028

This looks so fun from the cover that I instantly pre-ordered before I even saw that it was a Street Fighter adaptation. Now I'm even more excited lol.

It's the 2nd one by the same director released 6 months after City Hunter starring Jackie Chan.. The first official live-action Street fighter film was released the crap Van Damme one made the following year.

[johnlennon696]

Sounds like a fun film that I've never seen tbf. May as well take the opportunity.