The Japanese Jackie Chan Blu-ray thread

[OldPangYau]

All righty... so... despite the fact that I currently own *none* of these, I thought I'd start this thread in the hopes that anyone who owns any of these can give their reviews, feedback, etc.

Now, my main focus in this thread will be Jackie's Lo Wei/Seasonal/Golden Harvest films... in other words, you won't see Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, or anything like that. But American/Hong Kong co-productions like Battle Creek Brawl and The Protector are fair game. So let's start with the ones that are already released:


THE POLICE STORY:



Release date: December 17, 2010

Special Features: outtakes, photo gallery

Running Time: 100 minutes
Region Code : A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0ch Monaural
Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB
Color

Notes: The reviews on Amazon.co.jp, at least by the translation, imply that this blu-ray uses the same Fortune Star SD upconvert as the Hong Kong blu-ray. Boo. Also, the details on the "outtakes" are sketchy, as they could simply be the same outtakes from the HK cut, but without credits, or they could be the alternate outtakes from the Japanese laserdisc. If anyone can confirm, please do!

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THE POLICE STORY II:



Release date: December 17, 2010

Company: Paramount Home Entertainment Japan

Special Features: interview with Benny Lai

Running Time: 121 minutes
Region Code : A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0ch Monaural
Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB
Color

Notes: This may also be an upconvert, like the original Police Story... need confirmation. However, I can confirm that, at 121 minutes, this is the same cut that Fortune Star has been using since 2004, which is actually 15+ minutes longer than the proper Hong Kong cut. Basically a "glorified workprint".

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THE POLICE STORY III:



Release date: December 17, 2010

Company: Paramount Home Entertainment Japan

Special Features: outtakes, interview with Stanley Tong, photo gallery

Running Time: 96 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0ch Monaural
Aspect Ratio(s): 16:9LB
Color

Notes: Much like Police Story II, it's hard to get a read as to whether or not this is an upconvert, but I'm leaning towards it being as such. But once again, some confirm!

All three of these were also released in a limited (to 3,000) edition box set that apparently came with mini poster-reprints:



Needless to say, it's out of print now.

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HEART OF DRAGON (Japanese title: The First Mission):



Release date: March 25, 2011

Special Features: Teaser

Running Time: 98 minutes
Region Code : A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: DTS HD Monaural
Japanese: DTS Monaural
Aspect Ratio(s): 16:9 Vista
Color

Notes: Unlike the bulk of the other blu-rays, this one is not by Paramount, but rather Shochiku, the company that originally released Heart of Dragon in Japanese theaters. This being said, this is actually the extended Japanese cut of the film, which was also released on DVD. Now, while the DVD had rare behind the scenes footage and multiple Japanese trailers, the only listing for extras on here says "teaser"... but for all we know, it very well could have the rest of the extras from the Shochiku DVD. Also, since Shochiku used their own master as opposed to a Fortune Star master, it's possible that this is actually proper HD... what a concept!

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THE CANTON GODFATHER (aka MIRACLES):



Release date: November 11, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-Jackie Chan Biography
-"facsimile edition released in Japan this title (subtitle version, dub version included)" - Explained below... kinda
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery
-"Making the video" (sounds like "making of" video)
-Scene unreleased in Japan


Running Time: 127 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: DTS HD 5.1ch
Japanese: 2.0ch Monaural

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Cinemascope
Color

Notes: Judging by the translation from the Amazon.co.jp page, this sounds like the first Japanese Jackie Chan blu ray to potentially feature what is translated as a "facsimile edition". This would imply that the producers of the blu-ray were attempting to recreate the Japanese theatrical cut. Not sure what this would entail, but needless to say, it's damn well intriguing.

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THE ARMOUR OF GOD:



Release Date: November 11, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-Jackie Chan Comedy Special (Not sure what this is, but it's apparently about 2 minutes)
-"reprint this title released in Japan (Japanese subtitled version, dub version included)" (Sounds like another reproduction of the Japanese cut)
-Japan theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery
-International Trailer (perhaps the English dubbed trailer?)


Running Time: 98 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: Cantonese: DTS HD 5.1ch
Japanese: 2ch Stereo

Aspect Ratio(s): 16:9 LB Vista
Color

Notes: Much like Miracles, and released the same day, this blu-ray seems to have a section devoted to the Japanese theatrical release, ranging from the Japanese theatrical trailer to even the Japanese theatrical cut. Once again, this needs confirmation.

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THE ARMOUR OF GOD II: OPERATION CONDOR:



Release Date: November 11, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-Jackie Chan Action Special (Not sure what this is, but is apparently about 3 minutes)
-"reprint this title released in Japan (Japanese subtitled version, dub version included)" (Same as Armour of God... sounds like an English dubbed Japanese cut)
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-International Trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 106 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track:Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: 2.0ch Monaural

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Cinemascope
Color

Notes: Another release that looks "Japanese thetrical release friendly". Can anyone confirm these? My guess/theory at this point is that they may be using the upscale FS transfers for the main film, and the feature SD alternate cuts as extras. Even if these alternate cuts are in SD, they sound intriguing!

Both Armour of God films were part of the "Armour of God Box Set" that was also limited to 3,000 copies:



And of course, it's out of print now... they certainly mean limited! At least the individual discs are still available.

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PROJECT A:



Release Date: November 11, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-Outtakes
-Deleted Scenes
-facsimile edition released in Japan this title (subtitle version, dub version included)
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 105 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track:Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: 2.0ch Monaural

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Cinemascope
Color

Notes: The "deleted scenes" are most likely the same that were in the Hong Kong Project A DVD box set, which features 10 minutes of scenes from a Mandarin-language Taiwanese print. This would be the only other release I'm aware of that has these deleted scenes. Even the Hong Kong Legends DVDs never had them. This is a case with most Fortune Star-based releases... more extras tend to "leak out" with each subsequent country that gets them!

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PROJECT A2:



Release Date: November 11, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-"each know people who know the world of stunt (no idea what this is)
-"facsimile edition released in Japan this title (subtitle version, dub version included)"
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 106 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track:Cantonese: 7.1ch
Japanese: 2.0ch Monaural

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Cinemascope
Color

Notes: Not much to say until I see it for myself!

Both Project A films were part of a Project A box set, also limited to 3,000 copies...



...and also, out of print.
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WHEELS ON MEALS:



Release Date: December 9, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-"It is a thing be reprinted as long as possible to use existing material) this volume facsimile edition released in Japan" (Japanese theatrical cut reproduction)
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 108 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track:Cantonese: Dolby TrueHD 7.1ch
English: Dolby Digital 5.1ch Surround
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2ch Stereo

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Vista
Color

Notes: Okay, now, things get interesting here. This is the first one to pop up that actually has an English track on it. Now, this easily could've been the same re-dub the Hong Kong Legends used on their DVD, but everything I've read so far have indicated that it's actually the classic 1984 English dub. Aside from the Hong Kong Mega Star DVD, this dub has not been on any other disc, DVD or blu-ray. Also, Amazon.co.jp has a scan of the back cover, which confirms the "Japanese theatrical cut reproduction", which also has the classic English dub in its original mono format. Overall, while the main feature *may* be a typical upconvert, the classic dub and the Japanese reproduction seem to make this one stand out.

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THE PROTECTOR:



Release Date: December 9, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-"It is a thing be reprinted as long as possible to use existing material) this volume facsimile edition released in Japan" (Japanese theatrical cut reproduction)
-"Directed by Jackie Chan version of this story" (Hong Kong cut of the film)
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 95 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track: English: DTS HD 5.1ch
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2ch Stereo

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Vista
Color

Notes: Out of all of the blus listed so far, I've actually seen screencaps from this one... and can confirm that the US cut is indeed an upconvert. Shocking, I know, coming from Fortune Star. However, this disc has three cuts of the film, which is certainly a unique situation. Many people know about the US and HK "Jackie Chan" cuts, but few know about the Japanese cut, which is somewhat of a hybrid of the two versions, and is the only one to have outtakes. Here's a link to a user review:

http://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/foru...hp?f=19&t=6217

The HK and Japanese cuts are in standard definition (as in 720x480, not an upconvert), and I'm guessing they used the Hong Kong Universe Laser DVD for the HK cut and the Japanese laserdisc for the Japanese cut.

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DRAGONS FOREVER:



Release Date: December 9, 2011

Special Features:
-Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
-Fortune Star Trailer
-Photo Gallery
-Yuen Wah Interview
-Making of
-"It is a thing be reprinted as long as possible to use existing material) this volume facsimile edition released in Japan" (Japanese theatrical cut reproduction)
-Japanese theatrical trailer
-Deleted scenes
-Goods Photo Gallery

Running Time: 94 minutes
Region Code: A
Subtitles: Japanese
Audio Track:Cantonese: Dolby TrueHD 7.1ch
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2ch Stereo

Aspect Ratio(s) 16:9LB Vista
Color

Notes: The deleted scenes are most likely the infamous Yuen Biao psychiatrist scenes, present as deleted scenes on the Hong Kong Legends 2-disc DVD, as well as part of the main film of the English dubbed international cut. If they are indeed the same as from the HKL disc, they should be in Cantonese. As for the making of video, there's one 2+ minute behind the scenes video on YouTube, so it could be that... but if that's the case, I would at least hope they took it from the betacam source and not just a video tape or, even worse, just ripped it from YouTube :-p

Wheel on Meals and Dragons Forever were in a two pack box set (a Benny "The Jet" double feature, perhaps?), released the same day, limited to 3,000 copies:



And of course, it's out of print. Boo.