Fearless Hyena Blu-ray (Region A) (English Subtitled) Jackie Chan 1979 Kung Fu movie

[hazelwu]

Originally Posted by 121212

The HK classic movies were filmed with poor picture to begin with (no HD at that moment). The HK blu-rays are coming up now is with average quality, probably not much better than an upscaled remastered DVD.

Right, there was only film, which is better than HD. HK was using cheaper films though.

[reason108]

I think this is more of an issue of how Columbia/Tristar transferred the film to dvd(authored?). The quality is better than the Simitar dvd release. But, in some scenes, the image looks blurry; or with a ghosting effect of the image. But, back in the day, on an CRT TV, it was not something that I ever noticed. But, on HD TV, it looks like crap.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by hazelwu

Right, there was only film, which is better than HD. HK was using cheaper films though.

I'm a little tired if this misinformation. Hong Kong productions generally used the same 35mm film stock (mostly Fuji/Kodak) and anamorphic glass lenses available to the rest of the world at the time. They were lower budget productions, yes. But they weren't filmed on "inferior" or "poor" stock.

The main issue is preservation and restoration. When done right, HD masters can look stunning (see the Shaw Brothers catalog from this era, remastered from original negatives and other film elements). When you transfer crappy fifth generation prints (see most low-budget martial arts films from this era), your results are equally crappy.

And most HK films of this era have not been treated well over the years, further perpetuating this notion that they were filmed poorly to begin with. Quickly? Yes. Inexpensively? Yes. Poorly? No.

[hazelwu]

Originally Posted by benricci

I'm a little tired if this misinformation. Hong Kong productions generally used the same 35mm film stock (mostly Fuji/Kodak) and anamorphic glass lenses available to the rest of the world at the time. They were lower budget productions, yes. But they weren't filmed on "inferior" or "poor" stock.

The main issue is preservation and restoration. When done right, HD masters can look stunning (see the Shaw Brothers catalog from this era, remastered from original negatives and other film elements). When you transfer crappy fifth generation prints (see most low-budget martial arts films from this era), your results are equally crappy.

And most HK films of this era have not been treated well over the years, further perpetuating this notion that they were filmed poorly to begin with. Quickly? Yes. Inexpensively? Yes. Poorly? No.

Thanks. Internet is where all knowledge and rumors comes from, but takes time to tell them apart.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by hazelwu

Thanks. Internet is where all knowledge and rumors comes from, but takes time to tell them apart.

From what I've read, Jackie himself invested heavily in camera equipment when he first had the itch to direct in the late 1970s. There was also the popular rumour he used to by film by the ton from Fuji because of how many takes his action scenes took to film. From the amount of outtakes in some of those films, I believe it, lol.

Here's a promo shot of him directing with the camera crew members used to call "lucky number 4" - at least according to the caption. I think it's an ARRI, but I'm no expert on motion picture cameras.

[OldPangYau]

If you watch the outtakes to Police Story 2, you'll see how many cameras he had lined up for the grand finale of the factory explosion. Obviously it was a one-take only scenario

[benricci]

My copy just shipped. Should arrive next week - I'll post a quick a/v review then.

[aps42]

excited for this one to arrive (along with Young master and Dragons forever) we just need the original Drunken Master on blu too now.. one can dream.. anyone know if this is a possibility any time soon?

[Magic Monkey]

1) What does the "Hong Kong Version" mean with this movie on YesAsia site? Is it somehow different from my R2 Hong Kong Legends Ultrabit DVD?

2) How is the picture quality? Yes, it's an upscale, it's still better than a DVD, but how much? Could someone post full pictures? Thanks.

3) Your opinion: would it be really stupid to sell my very very rare R2 Hong Kong Legends Ultrabit DVD and buy this Blu-ray?

Originally Posted by benricci

My copy just shipped. Should arrive next week - I'll post a quick a/v review then.

Did it arrive yet? Looking forward to your review.