Police Story Trilogy - 4K restorations (release date TBA)

[OldPangYau]

Figure I should update this a year later ;-)

POLICE STORY 4K RESTORATION TRAILER:

[ Trailer ] è*¦å¯Ÿæ•…事 ( Police Story ) - Restored Version - YouTube

POLICE STORY 2 4K RESTORATION TRAILER:

[Trailer] è*¦å¯Ÿæ•…事續集 ( Police Story II ) - Restored Version - YouTube

EUREKA 2-PACK SET TRAILER (UK RELEASE DATE AUGUST 20, 2018)

Jackie Chan's POLICE STORY + POLICE STORY 2 (Eureka Classics) Ltd Edition Box Set Trailer - YouTube

Unfortunately, there's still no sign of Police Story 3's 4K restoration, but with the sudden flood of restored Fortune Star bits and bobs here and there, hopefully we'll see something crop up before the end of 2018. Also, my predictions in the original post? I was way off :-P Predicting Kam and Ronson in HK first and a possibility of Shout Factory here in the US... looks like it's UK first with Eureka! At least for PS 1 and 2. PS 3 is a wild card at this point. Thanks Dimension/Miramax *grumbles*

----------------------------------------------------

(ORIGINAL POST FROM MAY 17 2017):
So, Fortune Star posted this photo on their Facebook page:



Now, this post may be pre-emptive, as there's no official blu-ray announcement, but as the 4K restorations of the Bruce Lee films and A Better Tomorrow all ended up on disc, there's a good chance for these. Of course, we'll probably see these play at a festival first.

Also, my prediction for the first discs? Hong Kong. Kam & Ronson. 7.1/5.1 remixes only. Shout Factory *could* do blus of the first two, but Miramax seems to still have the rights to PS3 in the US, although Echo Bridge released the last blu-ray.

I'm also *very* curious to see which cut of PS2 got the restoration treatment. If Game of Death is anything to go by, maybe both?

[Fabs]

Does anyone happen to know what was the wait, between A Better Tomorrow's theater release and the Blu-ray release?

[reason108]

Wow! I just shat myself! Damn! 4k Police Story! Yeah, it will suck about the audio and booters are going to rejoice now. FS will be a freaking idiot if they don't release these with the original mono tracks. They are just asking for these titles not to sell.

I keep seeing A Chinese Ghost Story but I have my doubts if a 2k release will happen since Nova released their box set just last year. Or, were they using the 2k master? I would pick it up as a stand-alone release and just put in my box set.

Man, I was really hoping to see Young Master or Project A or something along those lines. At least we have 2k Armour of God. Maybe Mediumrare can sneak a couple more releases out like they did with that one.

My eyes are old, so, isn't that also a poster for Once Upon a Time in China & America, Black Mask, Full Throttle, Battlecreek Brawl and Twin Dragons? I don't recognize the poster to the right of A Chinese Ghost Story. Still, it is 2017 and that is a pretty crappy line-up. All of their titles should have at least new 2k transfer, 4k preferred. There are still so many titles they have that have yet to be released on blu-ray. Such a shame!

[elite]

Originally Posted by reason108

I don't recognize the poster to the right of A Chinese Ghost Story.

It's the poster for Johnnie To"s Running Out of Time.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by reason108

FS will be a freaking idiot if they don't release these with the original mono tracks. They are just asking for these titles not to sell.

I just want to see these films look restored. I'm tired of the current blurry "blu rays"

[spannick]

nobody except us 3 here in the forum care for "Mono", so i doubt anything will change.

[elite]

Originally Posted by spannick

nobody except us 3 here in the forum care for "Mono", so i doubt anything will change.

That's why I'll never get rid of my Fortune Star DVDs. Mono over picture for me any day. I'm thinking of expanding my LaserDisc collection for this reason. Yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds too.

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Does anyone happen to know what was the wait, between A Better Tomorrow's theater release and the Blu-ray release?

It was about a year and a half, but the Bruce Lee restorations came out just several months after their premiere at the Hong Kong International Film Fest last year. Who knows, if they're already shopping the restorations around, we could see these on disc sooner than expected. I'd keep an eye out for the usual outlets in the coming months.

Originally Posted by elite

That's why I'll never get rid of my Fortune Star DVDs. Mono over picture for me any day. I'm thinking of expanding my LaserDisc collection for this reason. Yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds too.

Not ridiculous at all! My LD collection keeps growing as well, especially for that reason. A lot of good mono tracks hiding out there on LD

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

It was about a year and a half, but the Bruce Lee restorations came out just several months after their premiere at the Hong Kong International Film Fest last year. Who knows, if they're already shopping the restorations around, we could see these on disc sooner than expected. I'd keep an eye out for the usual outlets in the coming months.

Thanks. Hopefully sooner, rather than later. Just knowing real restorations of the Police Story series are out there is exciting.

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Thanks. Hopefully sooner, rather than later. Just knowing real restorations of the Police Story series are out there is exciting.

Seriously! PS1 has an HD transfer of the Japanese theatrical cut, but it's unrestored, has forced Japanese "sidetitles" and, well, it's not the HK cut. Still one of the better ways to watch the film for the hardcore fans.

PS3 has an HD transfer of the US theatrical cut, but... well, the less said the better.

PS2? No HD version anywhere, of any cut. Pretty much the most neglected of the trilogy.

So yeah, 4K restorations of the Hong Kong cuts of these films (well, PS2 may be the 2 hour cut again) is much welcomed. Now, if K&R does indeed release these later this year, I wonder if they'll release them one at a time like the Bruce Lee films, or if they'll do a box set from the get-go. In this case, the latter would make more sense.

[reason108]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Seriously! PS1 has an HD transfer of the Japanese theatrical cut, but it's unrestored, has forced Japanese "sidetitles" and, well, it's not the HK cut. Still one of the better ways to watch the film for the hardcore fans.

PS3 has an HD transfer of the US theatrical cut, but... well, the less said the better.

PS2? No HD version anywhere, of any cut. Pretty much the most neglected of the trilogy.

So yeah, 4K restorations of the Hong Kong cuts of these films (well, PS2 may be the 2 hour cut again) is much welcomed. Now, if K&R does indeed release these later this year, I wonder if they'll release them one at a time like the Bruce Lee films, or if they'll do a box set from the get-go. In this case, the latter would make more sense.

So, the roll-out for PS could take the same path as the BL films. Shout released them last but did the best job. We know these are going to need color correction and mono subs. I have faith that they could knock this out of the park.

Now, if anyone that might have access to mono tracks, maybe prepare those for release and could light a fire under Shout`s butt...well, if you know anyone that could do that, I am sure that person would be considered a God and folks would build shrines in their honor for ten thousand years, at least. Just saying!

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by reason108

So, the roll-out for PS could take the same path as the BL films. Shout released them last but did the best job. We know these are going to need color correction and mono subs. I have faith that they could knock this out of the park.

Now, if anyone that might have access to mono tracks, maybe prepare those for release and could light a fire under Shout`s butt...well, if you know anyone that could do that, I am sure that person would be considered a God and folks would build shrines in their honor for ten thousand years, at least. Just saying!

Well, Miramax did collaborate with Shout for Halloween 6, so maybe there would be hope for PS3? At least they could do the first 2. I could certainly put a bug in a certain someone's ear, but I don't think they want to try again. However, their Shout Select line seems to be doing well thus far.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Seriously! PS1 has an HD transfer of the Japanese theatrical cut, but it's unrestored, has forced Japanese "sidetitles" and, well, it's not the HK cut. Still one of the better ways to watch the film for the hardcore fans.

I like the HK cut more than the Japanese one, as it starts out on a tense note rather than the comedic note that the Japanese one starts out with.

[Markgway]

Police Story - I prefer the HK cut, but don't mind the JP cut.

The only JP cut I prefer is Heart of Dragon, except the changed music.
The German BD is awesome in that regard.

[reason108]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Well, Miramax did collaborate with Shout for Halloween 6, so maybe there would be hope for PS3? At least they could do the first 2. I could certainly put a bug in a certain someone's ear, but I don't think they want to try again. However, their Shout Select line seems to be doing well thus far.

I remember just a couple of years ago when they screwed up with the Legacy Collection and the word was that they would not be releasing any more BL blu-rays again. And, though they did go on to release the Premiere titles, here we are just a couple of years later and they re-released those same titles to what appears to be strong sales. Maybe if they were to give Jackie the BL Shout Select line treatment then fans would have no reason not to get them. I would be so down for a 4k mastered, color corrected, original theatrical audio, OAR, etc with the Japanese cut as an extra and any deleted scenes, outtakes (maybe some never before seen outtakes), and whatever else they could get. Honestly, if they don't do it, no one else will. The name, Jackie Chan, should be able to do about the same kind of business as BL. I`m pretty sure Eureka have done good business with their recent DM release. And now, Twilight Time are preparing their SITES and DM release. I think that if Shout could strike while interest in Chan`s classic material is on an upswing, they could make a nice little mint off this. I`m not saying "flood the market", but, just promote his best in the best shape it can be and hopefully the fans will support those releases the way they should.

[mikezilla2]

So this is the original films not the later films ?

[reason108]

Originally Posted by mikezilla2

So this is the original films not the later films ?

We are mostly talking about Police Story 1, 2 and 3 getting the 4k mastered treatment.

[grim_tales]

Hopefully one day a label like Shout or Mediumrare can acquire these and release them with the original soundtracks. Eureka even!

I'd like to see the theatrical cut of PS2 as well

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by grim_tales

Hopefully one day a label like Shout or Mediumrare can acquire these and release them with the original soundtracks. Eureka even!

Medium Rare? Are you sure about that?

[saltysam]

i want the version with the extra koda at the climax. Fantastic