Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[frakking toaster]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Why would this make them happy?

It’s because Ruined is already making excuses for another flawed release. The real reason is because it costs more money to include both dialogue and subtitles and they’re too cheap to pay it.

[kraven]

Originally Posted by frakking toaster

It’s because Ruined is already making excuses for another flawed release. The real reason is because it costs more money to include both dialogue and subtitles and they’re too cheap to pay it.

Maybe. But that wasn't the case for walt with opera.

[frakking toaster]

Originally Posted by kraven

Maybe. But that wasn't the case for walt with opera.

He included two different English dubs and the Italian dub on it though?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by frakking toaster

It’s because Ruined is already making excuses for another flawed release. The real reason is because it costs more money to include both dialogue and subtitles and they’re too cheap to pay it.

If that's the case they should just pay the extra cost and make this the best release it can be.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by kraven

Maybe. But that wasn't the case for walt with opera.

The second release of Opera has the Italian audio.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by frakking toaster

He included two different English dubs and the Italian dub on it though?

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The second release of Opera has the Italian audio.

Yeah but the Italian licensor screwed him by only providing a mono track in a stereo container and lied by telling him it was a stereo track. After which he found out, Walt knew he had no recourse. Same licensor gave euro labels true stereo track.

This is nothing new, there is a long history of US distributors getting the shaft from Italian and HK licensors.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Yeah but the Italian licensor screwed him by only providing a mono track in a stereo container and lied by telling him it was a stereo track. After which he found out, Walt knew he had no recourse. Same licensor gave euro labels true stereo track.

This is nothing new, there is a long history of US distributors getting the shaft from Italian and HK licensors.

I think it does happen with oversee companies, even Japanese ones, but it's becoming less common. It still happens for sure, but again, it's not as common as it once was.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think it does happen with oversee companies, even Japanese ones, but it's becoming less common. It still happens for sure, but again, it's not as common as it once was.

It does make business sense for the licensor. Walt says he is putting together the ultimate Opera and region free players are abundant, so why would fans buy anything but Walt's release no matter where you are?

If a licensor can convince a euro label that *somehow* they will have a leg up on the US release (like better italian audio) they can charge more for the license as it guarantees more sales

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Yeah but the Italian licensor screwed him by only providing a mono track in a stereo container and lied by telling him it was a stereo track. After which he found out, Walt knew he had no recourse. Same licensor gave euro labels true stereo track.

This is nothing new, there is a long history of US distributors getting the shaft from Italian and HK licensors.

Walt should have sent henchmen to break the Italian licensor's legs.

[babybreese]

I have provided alternate audio tracks for a few Blu's...it's not rocket science.

One owner suggested we source audio from You Tube, no lie.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Walt should have sent henchmen to break the Italian licensor's legs.

I think he'd be outgunned in Italy

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by babybreese

I have provided alternate audio tracks for a few Blu's...it's not rocket science.

One owner suggested we source audio from You Tube, no lie.

At least in this case it's not a huge loss with the main actor speaking English. Would be nice from completionist aspect but in cases with multilingual actors I always go with the track the main actor is speaking. A lot more believable to me than when some Italian actor I don't know is speaking Italian and a big English speaking star is dubbed in Italian.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by babybreese

I have provided alternate audio tracks for a few Blu's...it's not rocket science.

One owner suggested we source audio from You Tube, no lie.

I’m new to this thread, but are you the owner of Dark Force? If so, please consider releasing the Italian audio for Death Rage.

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I’m new to this thread, but are you the owner of Dark Force? If so, please consider releasing the Italian audio for Death Rage.

No he posts under Dark Force username.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

No he posts under Dark Force username.

Oh ok. It sounded like he might have been representing Dark Force, but thanks for clearing that up.

[miribeau]

Originally Posted by gbm82

"We will not be going with the Italian language version as previously stated as it is virtually identical to the version we are releasing."

lame

I keep waiting for clarification. What does "virtually identical" mean? What footage is missing from which version? Also, why release a mixed track, requiring subtitles, and not include the Italian track. I can tolerate a mixed track, if need be, but it is irritating, the switching back and forth, and I generally watch Italian films in Italian, if I can, if there are subtitles, to avoid that feeling of being taken out of the film that accompanies changes in language.

Has there been any clarification of what this statement actually meant, as to the differences inherent in being "virtually identical", meaning not identical?

If not, David or Tom or both, please clarify so that I know what I'm getting or not getting in ordering this, which we all know I will anyway. Thank you in advance.

Originally Posted by babybreese

I have provided alternate audio tracks for a few Blu's...it's not rocket science.

One owner suggested we source audio from You Tube, no lie.

That's not a bad suggestion, if it is an option to not include the Italian audio at all, or go with an inferior source. Sometimes an inferior source is the best option. As long as the company is clear and honest about it, I would love to have the Italian, even if it doesn't sound as good as the mixed track.

All this talk of Opera has me remembering how terrible it was for Walt when they stiffed him with mono-Italian, having told him it was the original audio, when the original audio was stereo-Italian. He worked so hard on that Opera release and it was such a shame to see that happen.

[rdodolak]

The MVD street date for the first batch of existing DF releases is 17 Mar 2020:

Freeway II
The Loners + Dragon Vs Needles Of Death
Mirror Mirror (Collector's Edition)
Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance
Point Doom

[DukeTogo84]

Here is the latest from Dark Force about Death Rage

"DARK FORCE does major reconstruction work on DEATH RAGE: The new high def master on upcoming Dark Force release DEATH RAGE starring Yul Brynner and Barbara Bouchet required major reconstruction. Originating from an uncut Italian 35mm print requiring extensive film repair and color work. The soundtrack required the most reconstruction. The audio fluctuated back and forth from English to Italian for about ten percent of the movie which will be subtitled. The end result will be the by far the best quality and most complete version on the market. DEATH RAGE the #14 single's edition blu-ray from Dark Force comes to home video January 2020:"


So I messaged them and from what I was able to gather from them, the reason it's not getting the Italian audio is that they would have to do the subtitles on their own. I'm not sure if subtitles are normally provided for these types of releases or not.

[Frightener22]

"It's the 1973 martial arts classic CHINESE HERCULES also known as BLACK NIGHTMARE IN BLOOD starring the legendary muscleman BOLO YEUNG will be restored like only Dark Force can do for the first time on high definition Blu-ray!! Plus huge surprise BONUS EXTRA tba!! Another great addition to the DARK FORCE 2020 HIT LINE-UP will be available early next year:
Darkforcedvd.com"

[miribeau]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Here is the latest from Dark Force about Death Rage

"DARK FORCE does major reconstruction work on DEATH RAGE: The new high def master on upcoming Dark Force release DEATH RAGE starring Yul Brynner and Barbara Bouchet required major reconstruction. Originating from an uncut Italian 35mm print requiring extensive film repair and color work. The soundtrack required the most reconstruction. The audio fluctuated back and forth from English to Italian for about ten percent of the movie which will be subtitled. The end result will be the by far the best quality and most complete version on the market. DEATH RAGE the #14 single's edition blu-ray from Dark Force comes to home video January 2020:"


So I messaged them and from what I was able to gather from them, the reason it's not getting the Italian audio is that they would have to do the subtitles on their own. I'm not sure if subtitles are normally provided for these types of releases or not.

That makes it sound a bit more like a film that should have been double-billed, rather than released as a single. I hope it turns out well enough to sell well. Those profits get put into more releases, after all. Even though I'll buy it either way, having only a mixed track from a print does make me nervous.