Chameleon Films - Australia/NZ label for Asian Cinema

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by Mr_Orange

I don't believe that Chamelon have said anything about the masters used for these initial releases so it would be nice to know what we are dealing with.

https://www.facebook.com/10285965523...7975934052793/

We've noticed you have a few questions! Rather than respond individually, hopefully the following will be useful.

* Will your Blu-ray releases be region coded?
We're usually restricted under our licensing agreements to code discs for Region B only. It will be clear in the product description when we're able to make specific releases Region Free. Region B discs will play in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. If you live outside one of these regions and wish to purchase our discs, we recommend obtaining a region-free Blu-ray player. (It's what we've done to watch all those lovely Criterions.)

* Will you ship internationally?
Yes, we will ship everywhere that our logistics provider and its carriers can reach. Shipping charges will vary. Australia is unfortunately an expensive place to ship from, but shipping rates will be less than the actual amount we're charged because we want you to be able to own and see our discs!

* Are you utilising new masters?
The announced films have not been remastered in 4K or recently restored. We are encoding from the best available existing 2K masters supplied by the rightsholders. All supplied elements will be carefully inspected for artefacts and print damage. Any issues that are discovered will be removed or fixed with professional Diamant-Film Restoration software. The feature films will be encoded at the highest possible bitrate, and all the content will be mastered for replication onto dual layer Blu-ray discs.

* Can you please release [insert title here] on Blu-ray in the future?
We'll pin a new post so you can submit the titles you would like to see released in a glorious premium Blu-ray edition. Some of the requests that have already been mentioned are high on our list.

* I have a different question!
Fire away in the comments. We'll do our best to respond stoically.

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

https://www.facebook.com/10285965523...7975934052793/

Thanks. I don't use Facebook.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by hiwilliam

Exiled screenshots:

[]

I'll have to see if I can get matching shots from the Italian disc.

Do you have rough timestamps for the shots?

[A Tortured Duckling]

Just ordered the trio directly from the label. Excited to finally watch Exiled.

It's crazy that I was able to get these for $75 US with shipping included.

[BuraddoRun]

My order came in today. I ordered all 3 premiere titles, which will all be first-time viewings for me.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Are we getting announcements for new releases soon? It's been over half a year since they revealed the first 3 titles.

[themp3000]

When the next releases are closer to being done and ready, they’ll announce them then.

They don’t want a repeat of constant delays with the first wave of titles.

[dex14]

Election 1 and 2 incoming:
https://twitter.com/films_chameleon/...NjlTFiSIOly_Pg

[Mr_Orange]

Originally Posted by dex14

Election 1 and 2 incoming:
https://twitter.com/films_chameleon/...NjlTFiSIOly_Pg

Good to see more titles coming from Chameleon. I wasn't that enamoured of the Election films so these will be a pass for me.

[13school]

The HK blu ray of the first Election is a shocker - barely DVD quality during some scenes. Hopefully they've found a better master for this release.

[dex14]

New release: Johnnie To's acclaimed crime/gangster masterpieces ELECTION & ELECTION 2, presented together in a slipcase edition loaded with extras, and on Blu-ray for the first time in AU/NZ. More details revealed soon. Pre-orders will open closer to the release date early-2023.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by 13school

The HK blu ray of the first Election is a shocker - barely DVD quality during some scenes. Hopefully they've found a better master for this release.

I've the UK set. From memory I didn't think that was too bad.

[dex14]

https://twitter.com/films_chameleon/..._UEBtoUj4HsRdQ

You're due an announcement! Throughout this week we'll reveal all the artwork & extras for the ELECTION films release, then open for pre-orders. We've got a lot to share. Here's a glimpse: we've digitally restored both feature HD masters, removing hundreds of marks & blemishes.

[dex14]

D I G I T A L L Y R E S T O R E D

Released - March 2023 [exact date TBC]

Spine - 004 & 005

ELECTION · 黑社會

&

ELECTION 2 · 黑社會2以和為貴

Johnnie To · 2005/2006 · Hong Kong · 100 mins/93 mins

The Election films have been compared with The Godfather in the way they take crime syndicates seriously, showing how murderous violence, family, national politics and honour are woven inextricably together.

These dark, moody films exude a relentless air of menace as they strip the glamour and gunplay away from the triads and take us through the battles for the top job in the Wo Sing triad. Candidates negotiate with the uncles who uphold the historical traditions of the triad societies, while they must also deal with the politics of contemporary Hong Kong as it moves inexorably into the orbit of the mainland.

Once the votes are in, the real contest begins with a series of simmering confrontations involving face, money and loyalty in equal measure. One thing is certain—the quietly intense political manoeuvring will surely lead to blood, though in the best tradition of Johnnie To’s films, the violent confrontations are anything but predictable.



SPECIAL FEATURES:

High definition digital restoration of both films
Collector's slipcase & booklet featuring new essays by film scholar Gary Bettinson & film critic Sam Ho
Newly translated & improved optional English subtitles for both films by Dylan Cheung

Disc 1 - Election:

New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema experts Frank Djeng & John Charles
OzAsia Festival 2016 Masterclass with Johnnie To - audio recording hosted by film historian Mike Walsh (37 mins)
Interviews with Johnnie To, Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka-fai & Wong Tin-lam (60 mins)
The Making of Election (7 mins)
Photo gallery
TV spots x2
Theatrical trailers x2

Disc 2 - Election 2:

New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema experts Frank Djeng & John Charles
Supplemental audio commentary by Frank Djeng
New interview with composer Robert Ellis-Geiger (approx. 30 mins TBC)
"The Veneer of Nobility" - a new video essay on the Election films (8 mins)
Interviews with Johnnie To, Lam Suet & Gordon Lam Ka-tung (43 mins)
The Making of Election 2 (7 mins)
Photo gallery
TV spots x3
Teaser
Theatrical trailer



TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

2.35:1
1080p colour
Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 · LPCM 2.0
English subtitles
2 x BD-50


Packaged in a cardboard slipcase without classification markings that includes a 2-disc Scanavo full sleeved 14mm clear case and a reversible sleeve without classification markings and barcodes featuring the original poster artwork of both films.



Available to pre-order now from: https://shop.chameleonfilms.com.au/

[dex14]

Special collector's pack of 3 gloss o-card slipcases for Chameleon Films' first 3 Blu-ray releases, featuring the original poster artwork for each title.

Spine 001 - BREAKING NEWS
Spine 002 - SUMMER TIME MACHINE BLUES
Spine 003 - EXILED

Limited to 500 copies.

Flattened, polybagged and sealed with a descriptive flyer insert.

Released - March 2023 TBC

https://shop.chameleonfilms.com.au/p...slipcases-pack

[Greengoblin]

It is slipcases then I will get the 3, here in Australia we don’t get many slipcovers.

[Mobe1969]

I wish they'd just sell amazon. Aside from a premium price on the discs, we gotta fork out even more for shipping