Announcements concerning Shaws US releases?

[The Amazing Psychoper]

Linn we were led to believe you would have announcements following the week end... Any news?

The Amazing Psycho Per :evil

[magicpoe]

p081.ezboard.com/fkungfuf...5254.topic (http://p081.ezboard.com/fkungfufandomfrm24.showMessage?topicID=5254.topic)

[Linn1]

here's the list:

Five Elements Ninjas AKA Super Ninjas!
Heroes Two
The Master
Challenge of the Masters
Martial Club
The Deadly Duo
The Brave Archer
The Ten Tigers of Kwangtung
Black Magic 2
Flag of Iron

The MB releases will be from Hi-Def masters, so they will be the best looking of these titles yet released, no NTSC problems, etc. Magicpoe briefly saw the list of things (cut scenes, correct languages, etc) I asked them for for each title, and they are getting them slowly but surely. The plans are still being worked out, but I've floated the idea of doing ten 15-20 minute docs on the Shaw Brothers covering every era and major subject, with interviews, rare footage, stills, etc. The docs would be like chapters so each one flows into the other, meaning, you'll have to buy all the discs to see the whole thing. ;) This is in addition to interviews and the like. Also, MB is going to try and get all the US release stuff like TV promos, lobbies, etc. They'd like full size photo galleries, with a much as possible on each film. I've even got some hand painted African posters for a couple of the titles.

[VonHumboldtFleischer]

Any chance of you doing some commentaries?

[oldeschool17]

do we have a tentative release schedule? Can we expect something this year or are we looking towards 2008?

[Linn1]

commentaries? I'm debating it. As I think I've said before, EVERY time I've agreed to do one, did all the research, etc. The dvds have always been canceled. As for time, 2008 I'm pretty sure.

[oldeschool17]

I say give it another go Linn. It seems like Media Blasters are a better company for the fans than Image is. Besides, we need somebody on the inside anyways8)

[bobo]

i,ve got a bit of a strange question. seeing that IMAGE didn,t use the english dubs that were provided for them is it possible for one of the other companies to use them ? for instance if DEADLY BREAKING SWORD comes out without the dub can you provide either DD or MB with the dub and have them use it? afterall it seems a shame to just waste it. me and a lot of other fans were really waiting to finally see this one with the dubs.

[Linn1]

that's not really how it would work. Image has the rights to Deadly Breaking Sword, so no one else can release the film unless they drop the title, or the rights run out.

[Shaolin Patriot]

Image has the rights to Deadly Breaking Sword, so no one else can release the film unless they drop the title, or the rights run out.
Then I'm guessing with LWOC, since Image already released it and Dragon Dynasty also acquired it, DD will need to wait until the rights run out with Image. Is this correct?

[venomchamber]

no one else can release the film unless they drop the title, or the rights run out.

...and of course the million dollar question is: when does Image's lease on these titles run out? Being on the inside, would you happen to know by any chance? ;)
I'd much rather have Media Blasters put 'em out as the guys up there are a lot more enthusiastic about these films (since they are all fans too) and would do the SB titles justice! Their Toho releases have been first class!

The Weinstein Company/Dragon Dynasty releases weren't something to sneeze at either! The only thing I didn't like were the lame commentaries.

One more thing: everyone seems to have forgotten that there was a Lo Mang interview on THE ANONYMOUS HEROES region 3 DVD back in 2003. Why was it on there and not on any films he starred in?!?
Another Celestial oversight!
I assume this could also be acquired and added to the US releases just as the Elegant Trails were, couldn't it?

Cheers and Good Afternoon!

[Linn1]

Then I'm guessing with LWOC, since Image already released it and Dragon Dynasty also acquired it, DD will need to wait until the rights run out with Image. Is this correct?

Just because DD used scenes from the film for promotion, doesn't mean they have the rights to it. DD had their deal signed and sealed quite some time before Image got their's up and running. If DD had the rights at the time, Image could have never gotten them. Once a film is picked up, it's taken off the list, and another company can't get it

As for the Lo Meng interview, I would think so. It would actually work really well if they were to get the interview, as mine and T's interviews would be excellent companions to it I think. I know MB has the options for many of the other extras found on the HK discs, but they really want to produce their own.

[bobo]

so theres no such think as seperate rights to different language versions of movies--like say seperate rights to the original language version and an english language only version. you know IMAGE is really beginning to peeve me off. if they don,t put the dub version on DEADLY BREAKING SWORD then someone should send the dub to PAN MEDIA just for revenge.

[Shaolin Patriot]

Just because DD used scenes from the film for promotion, doesn't mean they have the rights to it. DD had their deal signed and sealed quite some time before Image got their's up and running. If DD had the rights at the time, Image could have never gotten them. Once a film is picked up, it's taken off the list, and another company can't get it
Why would DD advertise LWOC on the trailer page for the 36th Chamber DVD if they don't have the rights to LWOC? In other words, why would DD go to the trouble of including the trailer on their discs if they don't plan to release the film? Seems their trailer list isn't accurate then.

[Linn1]

the rights are for the film itself with one soundtrack usually, the dub and original language tracks are secondary.

Why would DD advertise LWOC on the trailer page for the 36th Chamber DVD if they don't have the rights to LWOC?

The same reason Quentin Tarantino put trailers for old Pam Grier films on Jackie Brown, because they're cool. The point of the trailers on their discs were to show other films by the director, star,etc. It didn't mean they have the rights to the films. As a matter of fact, there's a few titles they have old trailers for on their releases they don't have the rights for, at least at the moment.

[kungfusamurai]

Media Blasters: Aren't they the guys who said they were going to put out high quality kung fu films, but stopped at just one (7 Grandmasters)?

My concern is that they do the same thing with the Shaws. If they don't see a good ROI for the first batch, they'll just 86 the rest.

Also, will they be competitively priced (like DD) or are we looking at mid $20 SRPs?

I'm surprised that DD didn't get Five Elements Ninjas. If QT was one of the people picking Shaw films for DD to release, you'd think that would be near the top of his list since it's right up his alley.

KFS

[Linn1]

My concern is that they do the same thing with the Shaws. If they don't see a good ROI for the first batch, they'll just 86 the rest.

this is something you have to worry about with ANY company. It's not like it can honestly be helped if a line doesn't sell well. Look at companies like Image's Shaw titles or Casa Negra's Mexican horror titles to name two. They started off well with niche titles, and now are struggling and will stop their lines after the last release. I don't see Image buying another batch, just the same as Dragon Dynasty won't as well because they have too many releases set as it is. Just know that you will get that first batch and if it does well, we should see more. That is the way it works with every company.

Also, will they be competitively priced (like DD) or are we looking at mid $20 SRPs?

They should be the same as most MB releases in Best Buy, around $14.99 or so.

I'm surprised that DD didn't get Five Elements Ninjas. If QT was one of the people picking Shaw films for DD to release, you'd think that would be near the top of his list since it's right up his alley.

LOL, he missed a LOT of films actually. Also, not all the films were available when he picked the titles they got.

[VonHumboldtFleischer]

Surely if they have the rights to these SB titles they'd have to release them if only to try to recoup what they've spent on buying the rights. It's good to be cautious, though, given the shaky history of initially promising DVD companies (Soulblade, Image, etc.). The fact that this company's catalogue is almost entirely made up of jittery loud Japanese cartoons doesn't inspire me with the utmost of confidence, either.

[kow pad moo]

Any chance that Media Blasters will include liner notes or the like with their upcoming Shaws stuff? The printed inserts that came with the "Water Margin" and "Black Magic" Image DVDs were great, and contributed a lot to the quality of those initial releases.

[Linn1]

The fact that this company's catalogue is almost entirely made up of jittery loud Japanese cartoons THAT MAKE TONS OF MONEY doesn't inspire me with the utmost of confidence, either.

:)

[VonHumboldtFleischer]

Hah. Well, speaking personally it would be a big selling point if they had commentaries from someone geniunely enthusiastic and well informed, hint hint hint.

[ToddTheRef]

<Hah. Well, speaking personally it would be a big selling point if they had commentaries from someone geniunely enthusiastic and well informed, hint hint hint.>

And if Ric isn't available, maybe Linn could do it.

Yeah, I know I'm wearing out my welcome, I just can't help it. :b


"Prodigious cheeseburger lockers and kung fu do not mix well" - ancient Chinese proverb

[punt44]

Does anyone know upcoming Shaw Brothers releases from DD? What about in October?