City on Fire 4K UHD (1987)

[StLouisRibs]

Announced in the news section, releasing August 26th from Shout Factory.

[Doc Samson]

This is awesome news! Day 1 for me for this.

[swrobel]

Man do I hope they include the English dub with the alternate score!

[cooey]

[ManWithNoName95]

I wonder if the UK will get a release of this? To import or not to import is the question ��

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by ManWithNoName95

I wonder if the UK will get a release of this? To import or not to import is the question ��

Be great to hear if a licencing deal has been made, but I'm importing for now because I love this flick

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Be great to hear if a licencing deal has been made, but I'm importing for now because I love this flick

It would be great if there was some consideration given to overseas fans who are just as interested in this amazing area of film. UK fans love their HK action films, and this has been proven by the success of the many splendid releases we’ve had in the last few years from our boutique labels.
I for one would be exceptionally grateful if some news about releases in non-US territories could be confirmed before we start having to import.

[AnimalCMan]

LOL folks asking if they should import. If you think Shout will license out any of these to another company in the UK like Arrow, you’ll be waiting quite a while. They probably will eventually to recoup some losses, but that will be years from now. They want as many people as possible to buy the versions they are putting out. They spent millions on this deal. They are having to go to the trouble of restoring and putting together special features for these films, they want to make it work for their own releases, not undercut their sales by licensing out to a competitor right out of the gate.

[cooey]

LOL then they're cutting their nose off to spite their face. They need to open up to worldwide shipping at least to maximise their potential profits.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by cooey

LOL then they're cutting their nose off to spite their face. They need to open up to worldwide shipping at least to maximise their potential profits.

They're sold at various retailers that ship worldwide. Isn't it essentially the same when 88 flms has a 4K release that the US market doesn't have? People in the US import those, so not sure why the same can't apply here.

[cooey]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They're sold at various retailers that ship worldwide. Isn't it essentially the same when 88 flms has a 4K release that the US market doesn't have? People in the US import those, so not sure why the same can't apply here.

I understand what you're saying, but I think it's a little different when a company has purchased worldwide distribution rights for an entire catalogue of movies, which at their base only ship domestically. If you want to recoup that cash you've spent, make your products available the biggest market possible.

At least the likes of 88 and other boutique labels ship worldwide.

[ManWithNoName95]

The press release says "Shout Studios has secured worldwide rights (excluding Asian territories)". Unlikely to happen, but if Shout want to get the cash from international buyers it would be good if they set-up an international store. A lot of the UK labels have done this (88 Films, Arrow and Indicator) but the US labels don't tend to do this.

[AnimalCMan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They're sold at various retailers that ship worldwide. Isn't it essentially the same when 88 flms has a 4K release that the US market doesn't have? People in the US import those, so not sure why the same can't apply here.

Bingo. If they license stuff out now, they just give US fans who prefer other companies the chance to import from them. This is why you’ve got places like Vinegar Syndrome often blocking indie retailers from selling stuff from their UK competitors. Shout could try and do that, but it’s a hell of a lot easier to just wait to license these out.

And just so everyone is clear, I don’t know any of this for certain, but from a business perspective, this helps them in the short term by driving all business to them. I don’t know why they don’t offer worldwide shipping, but there could be a number of reasons why. All I know is technically they should be allowed to sell these overseas since they have worldwide rights minus Asia.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by cooey

I understand what you're saying, but I think it's a little different when a company has purchased worldwide distribution rights for an entire catalogue of movies, which at their base only ship domestically. If you want to recoup that cash you've spent, make your products available the biggest market possible.

At least the likes of 88 and other boutique labels ship worldwide.

I don't think it really matters if they themselves ship worldwide though when there's numerous others that do. It's not even like it's guaranteed Shout would have better shipping rates than another retailer that ships worldwide.

What the UK apparently needs are some boutique shops like the US have with Diabolik DVD, Orbit DVD, Atomic, atc.. that get US releases and sell them there. I wouldn't be surprised if more US folks used those shops for much of their UK/EU/Aus imports rather than buying direct from 88, and others.

[AnimalCMan]

Originally Posted by cooey

I understand what you're saying, but I think it's a little different when a company has purchased worldwide distribution rights for an entire catalogue of movies, which at their base only ship domestically. If you want to recoup that cash you've spent, make your products available the biggest market possible.

At least the likes of 88 and other boutique labels ship worldwide.

This is a valid point. I’m going to ask my friend at Shout about this. There could be a reason they don’t, but they should if they want to maximize their profits.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by AnimalCMan

This is a valid point. I’m going to ask my friend at Shout about this. There could be a reason they don’t, but they should if they want to maximize their profits.

It's all about licensing rights. While they have worldwide rights to these Golden Princess titles, the vast majority of their titles are licensed (and region coded for BD) primarily for US and Canada, so they are only selling to that market. I should also point out that some UK and Australian labels including 88 Films play fast and loose with their licensing agreements, and you'll see their titles meant for a specific territory being sold in the US. Frank Tarzi from Kino talked about this, when he was asked about Kino selling titles worldwide.

[cooey]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't think it really matters if they themselves ship worldwide though when there's numerous others that do. It's not even like it's guaranteed Shout would have better shipping rates than another retailer that ships worldwide.

What the UK apparently needs are some boutique shops like the US have with Diabolik DVD, Orbit DVD, Atomic, atc.. that get US releases and sell them there. I wouldn't be surprised if more US folks used those shops for much of their UK/EU/Aus imports rather than buying direct from 88, and others.

There are a couple of stores that sell imports (Film Treasures and Strange Vice come to mind), but they aren't particularly cheap. I often find it's easier/better just ordering from Amazon or waiting for a deal on eBay.

[AnimalCMan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's all about licensing rights. While they have worldwide rights to these Golden Princess titles, the vast majority of their titles are licensed (and region coded for BD) primarily for US and Canada, so they are only selling to that market. I should also point out that some UK and Australian labels including 88 Films play fast and loose with their licensing agreements, and you'll see their titles meant for a specific territory being sold in the US. Frank Tarzi from Kino talked about this, when he was asked about Kino selling titles worldwide.

That’s the answer I expect him to give. Prior to this deal, everything they sold was licensed for sale in US and Canada only. I’m more curious if they will change things as it applies only to these Golden Princess releases. Probably not, but you never know.

[Jackie Scanlon]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Be great to hear if a licencing deal has been made, but I'm importing for now because I love this flick

Yeah, I've been thinking long and hard about it since this update and, like you, I think I'm going to import this - my favourite HK flick and one of my favourite films of all time - and the others I want. Besides, we're both British collectors of old so we're from the film collector's school of hard knocks and are far too experienced in let-downs and disappointment. I can just see me still waiting for a UK announcement this time next year and then all of the Shout releases are completely sold out and never coming back on physical and then they say "oh, we were never going to sub licence to any labels outside of the US and Canada. Did we not say that at the time? Soz."

If I import and then they appear with some UK label, rather than be angry or frustrated I will be happy with the option to double-dip should I want to.



Also, very happy to see A Better Tomorrow III getting a 4k, even if it does end up being digital only (although surely a trilogy box set physical release is a logical assumption to make). I always thought it was extremely underrated.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Jackie Scanlon

Also, very happy to see A Better Tomorrow III getting a 4k, even if it does end up being digital only (although surely a trilogy box set physical release is a logical assumption to make). I always thought it was extremely underrated.

Wonder if John Woo doesn't like the third film being released with his two.