Police Story (1985) / Police Story II (1988)

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I wouldn't count on that. They will most likely use the same remixed track that Eureka wound up replacing.

Trust me since I started helping Eureka with their Hong Kong releases, Fortune Star hasn't provided a decent mono track yet and I don't see them changing this for Criterion.

Also remember Fortune Star doesn't even have a mono track for Part 2.

I did try contacting Criterion to help them out but unfortunately did not get a reply.

If anyone from Criterion is reading this please feel free to PM me!

I do believe another member here got in contact with them and mentioned the audio and the theatrical cut of Police Story 2.

Will be interesting to see what they put out that's for sure.

Wouldn't the audio for the eventual DVD/Blu-ray release be the same as the audio from the theatrical run they are having?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I wouldn't count on that. They will most likely use the same remixed track that Eureka wound up replacing.

Trust me since I started helping Eureka with their Hong Kong releases, Fortune Star hasn't provided a decent mono track yet and I don't see them changing this for Criterion.

Also remember Fortune Star doesn't even have a mono track for Part 2.

I did try contacting Criterion to help them out but unfortunately did not get a reply.

If anyone from Criterion is reading this please feel free to PM me!

I do believe another member here got in contact with them and mentioned the audio and the theatrical cut of Police Story 2.

Will be interesting to see what they put out that's for sure.

That's a damn shame. After what happened with Kino's TGTB&TU I would figure some of these labels would want to listen to fan support.

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

Wouldn't the audio for the eventual DVD/Blu-ray release be the same as the audio from the theatrical run they are having?

The theatrical run will most likely use the 5.1 track. With the Criterion probably having the same audio options as the Eureka/Shout releases.

[darkness2918]

Nice. I have the SF double feature so I'll be picking these up for sure.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by RossD

Everyone complained that the Eureka release had bad color timing- especially Part 2. Why couldn’t Criterion correct this for their release?

Has Criterion ever corrected the Ritrovata/Eclair color issue before? Arrow has (The Tree of Wooden Clogs). Shout! Factory has (Bruce Lee: The Legacy Collection). Camera Obscura has (Amuck! and the upcoming The Bloodstained Butterfly). But Criterion, not that I know of.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by latehong

Has Criterion ever corrected the Ritrovata/Eclair color issue before?

Not to my knowledge.

[Keung]

I'll double dip if they release the Hong Kong cut of PS2 instead of that ridiculous extended Japanese cut. Literally every scene in that version is ruined because the timing of the music is completely off.

[LordCrumb]

Oh FFS! Honestly lol. Can't win sometimes... time to fob off the UK releases I guess.

[professorwho]

Criterion like to be “legit” and don’t use fan sources, even if they best the official ones.

The UK ones will be the best in terms of PQ/AQ (unless Criterion somehow can re-grade it, which is almost impossible) as David Mackenzie did the Eureka release’s compression, and Irongod’s audio helps make it the best release yet.

That’s not to say the Criterion won’t have merrit. If they produce new extras, and/or license ones Eureka couldn’t, then that’s a reason to go Criterion. Otherwise, I’ll be picking up the Eureka set (along with Project A) shortly. (Still getting the UK zone regardless, but unless Criterion has some good exclusive features, then I see no reason to get it)

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by terryvar

because PS III isn't under Fortune Star but Miramax/Weinstein Company

Originally Posted by TheLostWarriors

I thought the Weinstein Company was supposed to go down under because of the lawsuit against Harvey.

The Weinstein Company does not have the rights after the Dragon Dynasty license expired. Police Story III: Supercop is under Miramax and its new owners which means Lionsgate has distribution.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

Since Criterion has a deal with Fortune Star, then it won't be long until new remasters of The Killer, ABT 1-3, and possibly Hard Boiled (provided Fortune Star also claims it in the US since they own Japanese rights) pop up soon.

[RossD]

You would think Criterion, who like to be thought of as elite (and release what are thought of as important films), would want the best possible PQ and AQ. That means correcting shite color grading and even accepting fan owned audio.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by RossD

You would think Criterion, who like to be thought of as elite (and release what are thought of as important films), would want the best possible PQ and AQ. That means correcting shite color grading and even accepting fan owned audio.

Sure, but they don’t do that, sadly. (In regards to fan sources)

The colour grading is a different story. If they are prohibited by the distributor- Fortune Star- then unless they want a bad relationship, they play by their rules.

[El_Fez]

What an odd choice for Criterion. They're usually* artsy fartsy films and not something crowd pleasing like kung fu.

*Yeah, they did Armageddon and the Rock, but those were mostly to keep the lights on during the Nineties. Nowndays, not so much. You occasionally get stuff like Night and Repo Man, but a Jackie Chan flick seems too off-brand for them.

[Geoff D]

I'd rebuy for a proper HD version of the original cut of Police Story 2. Other than that, pass. But I'm VERY happy these action classics will be getting a decent quality release in North America at long ****ing last.

Originally Posted by El_Fez

What an odd choice for Criterion. They're usually* artsy fartsy films and not something crowd pleasing like kung fu.

*Yeah, they did Armageddon and the Rock, but those were mostly to keep the lights on during the Nineties. Nowndays, not so much. You occasionally get stuff like Night and Repo Man, but a Jackie Chan flick seems too off-brand for them.

If it needs subtitles to translate it, then it's already artsy enough for most people

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by LordCrumb

Oh FFS! Honestly lol. Can't win sometimes... time to fob off the UK releases I guess.

Why? There's no guarantee the Criterion will be any better, in fact the only way this is gonna improve on the Eureka is if they go the same pains they did to source the original audio and then remaster them further in house, or somehow manage to persuade Fortune Star to send (or let criterion send) the masters back to Ritrovata with explicit instructions to remove their LUT bullshit that's ****ing up the color grading like Arrow did with Deep Red, or they tell Fortune Star where to go on the whole "you can't edit the restorations in any way" and do a partial correction of the colour grading and provide a HD presentation of the HK theatrical cut themselves, or match the Eureka A/V wise but provide a good wodge of new extra features on top.

If they just take the masters and slap them onto disc like they have done so far with their HK acquisitions, then you're likely gonna see an inferior presentation due to Criterion's notoriously janky compression not being able to hold its own against a David M. encode.

[tonylopez]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

What an odd choice for Criterion. They're usually* artsy fartsy films and not something crowd pleasing like kung fu.

*Yeah, they did Armageddon and the Rock, but those were mostly to keep the lights on during the Nineties. Nowndays, not so much. You occasionally get stuff like Night and Repo Man, but a Jackie Chan flick seems too off-brand for them.

Criterion did do Supercop back in the laserdisc days.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by LordCrumb

Oh FFS! Honestly lol. Can't win sometimes... time to fob off the UK releases I guess.

Get the UK one. Chances are it’ll be better.

[Member-222782]

I couldn't think of a more generic title for a film even if I tried. Will have to research these before getting too excited. For all I know it could be a soap opera

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I couldn't think of a more generic title for a film even if I tried. Will have to research these before getting too excited. For all I know it could be a soap opera

It’s a Hong Kong classic with Jackie Chan as a police officer trying to bring a criminal organization to justice. Great action classic. The stunt work is beyond incredible. The finale of the first film is legendary.

[Shingster]

They are about the least generic action films you can think of.