Arrow Films acquires Hong Kong classics from Shout Factory for the UK market

[Mr. Chaverria]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Hopefully.

But there is a chance that Arrow will just release the very same disc as released by Shout! in the US, similar to their deal between Arrow and Synapse for some of the Argento titles.

Is that really how it is w/ those Argento titles here and in UK?

[cooey]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chaverria

I believe the best version of Drunken Master 2 is still a bootleg, no?

The Plaoin disc from Germany is very good.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by Jackie Scanlon

I think between them that covers everything, so Angel Terminators definitely yes

I missed this post. I screwed up my original post and have gone back and edited it. Neither of the three titles OP mentioned are included. This is the correct GP link from HKMDB (although even it has what seems to be at least one typo, and at least one film where the home video rights were held by somebody else). The original one is for the theatrical / home video distribution wing which handled many films that aren't part of the deal.

[88mph]

Originally Posted by cooey

The Plaoin disc from Germany is very good.

Is it a different video master to the WAC? I thought that looked pretty awful.

[GlacierTuba]

Every single one of them are day 1 for me. Particularly Hard Boiled, The Killer and Tiger On The Beat, but yes, I'll just take all of them please (just not from Arrow direct, they can jog on).

Still no news on Curry and Pepper getting an HD transfer. Great shame.

[Pochacco]

UFO released The Days of Being Dumb but I'd love to see that released in HD too! Such a fun movie.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by 88mph

Is it a different video master to the WAC? I thought that looked pretty awful.

Yes but it has better translated English subs

[tomblu]

So what are people thinking? Buying the Shout editions starting in August with City on Fire, or waiting for the Arrow releases?

Also will the Shout ones go OOP? Don't really know how that label operates.

Curious to see what most here are doing!

[cooey]

Originally Posted by tomblu

So what are people thinking? Buying the Shout editions starting in August with City on Fire, or waiting for the Arrow releases?

Also will the Shout ones go OOP? Don't really know how that label operates.

Curious to see what most here are doing!

Waiting for Arrow personally. The Shout releases will cost too much to import and I don't think they'll go OOP by the time Arrow versions start to come through (or at least until they're announced) so specs can be compared.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by cooey

Waiting for Arrow personally. The Shout releases will cost too much to import and I don't think they'll go OOP by the time Arrow versions start to come through (or at least until they're announced) so specs can be compared.

Agree. Though I plan to be more patient and wait for reviews of the Arrow version to be released and compared to Shout's before I decide which to get. Even if Shout releases a good product, and I found out (even a year later) that Arrow's encoding was better, with additional supplements, then that would not make me happy. I no longer can afford to double dip on expensive items anymore.

I waited over 30 years for these releases. I can wait another year to get the best one.

[Ben_C]

It definitely will be hard to resist not importing some of the Shout releases, especially an all-time great like Hard Boiled, but my eyes are on the prize, and the prize are the Arrow versions.

[reason108]

I could see Arrow doing a better job than Shout with these releases. But, I`m only interested in Hard Boiled & The Killer. So, I don't see myself getting two copies of each so I will be waiting to see what happens whether it will be blu-ray or 4k and tariffs and what not.

[cooey]

Taken from the US thread, thanks to whiteberry. Should give an indication of what we can expect from Arrow

Originally Posted by whiteberry

The 156 titles that Shout acquired are now listed in the US copyright database:

https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/...yager_38777628

[FreddyK]

Interested in about 15 of them but would be happy with just the John Woo ones.

[Joppers]

Swordsman boxset please!

[stigdu]

Shame there's no Nobody's Hero there, one of my most loved HK little-heard-of heroic bloodshed titles.

Stoked that Full Contact's there, though. My most wanted title on disc. Yes, even over John Woo.

[saltysam]

13 Titles for me. few years ago it would have been treble that but being extremely more selective these days.

[filmlover22]

I did some research, reviewing two books on HK Action cinema, numerous website reviews (that I trust), plus my own recollection of seeing some of these (and having many on DVD). This is a VERY subjective ranking based on my personal tastes. YMMV of course.

I figure I want about 71 of the 156 - not quite 50%. Still a lot to add to my collection!

Definitely want - 66

[Show spoiler]00001 A Better Tomorrow (1986) .
00002 A Better Tomorrow II (1987) .
00003 A Better Tomorrow III (1989) .
00005 A Book Of Heroes (1986) .
00006 A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) .
00007 A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990) .
00008 A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991) .
00011 A Killer's Blues (1989) .
00012 Abracadabra (1986) .
00013 Aces Go Places (1982) : a.k.a. Mad Mission.
00014 Aces Go Places II (1983) : a.k.a. Mad Mission II.
00015 Aces Go Places III (1984) : a.k.a. Mad Mission III.
00016 Aces Go Places IV (1986) : a.k.a. Mad Mission IV.
00017 Aces Go Places V (1989) : a.k.a. Mad Mission V.
00019 All About Ah Long (1989) .
00020 All The Wrong Clues (1981) .
00021 All The Wrong Spies (1983) .
00025 Blue Lightning (1990) .
00026 Bullet In The Head (1990) .
00027 By Hook Or By Crook (1980) .
00030 Carry On Pickpocket (1982) .
00034 City On Fire (1987) .
00035 City War (1988) .
00037 Cops In The Town (1985) .
00043 Esprit D'Amour (1983) .
00044 Evil Cat (1987) .
00048 Final Justice (1988) .
00050 Fractured Follies (1988) .
00051 Full Contact (1992) .
00054 Ghost Ballroom (1989) .
00059 Gunmen (1988) .
00063 Hard Boiled (1992) .
00064 He Lives By Night (1982) .
00066 Heaven Can Help (1984) .
00068 I Love Maria (1988) .
00073 King Of Chess (1991) .
00077 Law With Two Phases (1984) .
00078 Legend Of The Dragon (1990) .
00089 Now You See It, Now You Don't (1991) .
00091 Once A Thief (1991) .
00096 Peace Hotel (1995) .
00097 Peking Opera Blues (1986) .
00100 Prison On Fire (1987) .
00101 Prison On Fire II (1991) .
00102 Red Shield (1991) .
00103 Return Of The Demon (1987) .
00107 School On Fire (1988) .
00115 Swordsman II (1992) .
00116 Swordsman III: The East Is Red (1993) .
00119 The Big Heat (1988) .
00120 The Diary of A Big Man (1988) .
00121 The Eighth Happiness (1988) .
00124 The Good, The Bad & The Beauty (1987) .
00128 The Killer (1989) .
00130 The Legend Of The Owl (1981) .
00131 The Legend Of Wisely (1986) .
00133 The Magnificent Scoundrels (1991) .
00138 The Swordsman (1990) .
00140 The Unmatchable Match (1990) .
00141 Thirty Million Rush (1987) .
00142 Tiger On Beat (1988) .
00143 Tiger On The Beat II (1990) .
00144 Till Death Do We Scare (1982) .
00145 Treasure Hunt (1994) .
00146 Triads: The Inside Story (1989) .
00147 Trouble Couples (1987) .

Maybe 5 - if cheap, or if in a box set I would watch

[Show spoiler]00033 City Hero (1985) .
00042 Dream Of Desire (1989) .
00075 Lady In Black (1987) .
00122 The Family Strikes Back (1986) .
00137 The Red Panther (1983) .

No way - 49. Have no interest in these. Not sure if I would even watch them if included in a box set.

[Show spoiler]00004 A Bloody Fight (1988) .
00009 A Family Affair (1984) .
00010 A Fiery Family (1989) .
00018 Against All (1990) .
00022 Banana Cop (1984) .
00023 Best Friend Of The Cops (1990) .
00024 Beware Of Pickpockets (1981) .
00028 Cabaret Tears (1983) .
00029 Can't Stop The War (1983) .
00031 Chase A Fortune (1985) .
00032 Chasing Girls (1981) .
00036 Cop Busters (1985) .
00038 Crazy Couple (1979) .
00039 Crazy Nuts (1981) .
00040 Cupid One (1985) .
00041 Daughter & Father (1981) .
00045 Faithfully Yours (1988) .
00046 Fantasy Romance (1990) .
00047 Fatal Love (1988) .
00049 For Your Heart Only (1985) .
00052 Fumbling Cops (1988) .
00053 Funny Family (1986) .
00055 Ghost Bustin (1985) .
00056 Give Me Back (1982) .
00057 Goodbye Darling (1987) .
00058 Goodbye, My Love (1986) .
00060 Happy Ghost II (1985) .
00061 Happy Ghost III (1986) .
00062 Happy Union II (1985) .
00065 Heartbeat 100 (1987) .
00069 Isle Of Fantasy (1985) .
00076 Laughing Times (1981) .
00083 Mismatched Couples (1985) .
00095 Parking Service (1986) .
00098 Perfect Match (1982) .
00106 Run Tiger, Run (1985) .
00117 Thank You, Sir (1989) .
00123 The Fun, The Luck & The Tycoon (1990) .
00125 The Happy Ghost (1984) .
00126 The Innocent Interloper (1986) .
00127 The Intellectual Trio (1984) .
00129 The Law Enforcer (1986) .
00134 The Occupant (1984) .
00135 The Other Side Of Gentleman (1984) .
00139 The Time You Need A Friend (1983) .
00148 True Colors (1986) .
00151 Vampire's Breakfast (1987) .
00152 Web Of Deception (1989) .
00155 Why Me? (1985) .

Still investigating - 36, though I feel most of these will end up in No category.

[Show spoiler]00067 I Do (1985) .
00070 It Takes Two (1982) .
00071 Just For Fun (1983) .
00072 Kidnapped (1987) .
00074 Kung Hei Fat Choy (1985) .
00079 Life After Life (1981) .
00080 Life Line Express (1984) .
00081 Love, Lone Flower (1985) .
00082 Merry Christmas (1984) .
00084 Mummy Dearest (1985) .
00085 Musical Singer (1985) .
00086 My Little Sentimental Friend (1984) .
00087 No Compromise (1988) .
00088 No U-Turn (1981) .
00090 Oh, My Cops (1983) .
00092 Once Upon A Mirage (1982) .
00093 Once Upon A Rainbow (1982) .
00094 Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing (1983) .
00099 Play Catch (1983) .
00104 Rhythm Of Destiny (1992) .
00105 Road Warriors (1987) .
00108 Seven Years Itch (1987) .
00109 Silent Romance (1984) .
00110 Sister Cupid (1987) .
00111 Spooky Kookies (1981) .
00112 Super Citizen (1985) .
00113 Sweet Sixteen (1986) .
00114 Sweet Surrender (1986) .
00118 That Day On The Beach (1983) .
00132 The Loser, The Hero (1985) .
00136 The Perfect Wife (1983) .
00149 Unforgettable Fantasy (1985) .
00150 United We Stand (1986) .
00153 Who Is The Craftiest (1988) .
00154 Who's The Crook (1986) .
00156 Working Class (1985) .

[Ben_C]

I’ll take them on a case by case basis depending on what we get from Arrow. Some are dead cert, 100% nailed on purchases - the John Woo titles, The Big Heat, City on Fire, and a few others, whilst there are a few I’ve never gotten around to seeing - the Aces Go Places (nearly bought the dvd box set years ago, but didn’t in the end, but would like to check them out), whilst the majority I’ve never heard of, so will see what they’re about should we get them.

[Broomey]

I want them all but I really do wish at least half of them would get bundled into sets so we're not paying at least £20 for each film.