Far East Flix...

[Topgun]

Hi guys,

I wonder if many of you notice that many of those titles offered at Far East Flix are the same titles sold at www.hkflix.com but are less expensive? For example, Dance Of The Drunk Mantis and My Life on the Line share exactly the same cover. So, my question is -- what is the difference in quality?

Please share your thoughts...

Thanks,

Topgun

[WuxiaFan]

I would also like to know if anyone else has purchased any "Custom DVDs" from fareastflix.com. I would like to know how the quality is and how their customer service is (i.e. shipping times, was the product as described, etc.). They do have FAQs on their site and they define how they make their custom DVDs. So, I'm not one to normally buy DVD-Rs, unless there's a film I want that's just not available anywhere else. To answer Topgun's question--I would always buy a new, factory sealed DVD from a legitimate distributor before buying a DVD-R version.

[Kaal]

I have heard about them before but I didn't knew that they had a own site. Thanks for the introduction :)

[The Silver Fox]

I checked out their site. They actually have a couple of titles that I'd like to get but I'm not to cool with paying 10 bucks for a DVD-R. Sure, it comes with a case w/artwork but I get the impression that the DVD itself is just blank (no artwork on the disc itself). I could be wrong but that's how I read it.

At least the DVD's I get from HKFlix are professional looking. Let's take Invincible Armour for example. I recently bought this from HKFlix for like 7.50, it was the Pan Media version 4. Nice cover art,disc is nice, transfer is okay-basically same as my VideoAsia version but without annoying Insta Action nonsense. It actually costs more at Far East flicks too.

I can just go to Chinatown in dowtown Toronto and buy DVD-Rs with covers for like 2 bucks apiece. So my opinion is that the prices are too high for what they are selling.

[KUNG FU BOB]

I would also like to know if anyone else has purchased any "Custom DVDs" from fareastflix.com. I would like to know how the quality is and how their customer service is (i.e. shipping times, was the product as described, etc.). They do have FAQs on their site and they define how they make their custom DVDs. So, I'm not one to normally buy DVD-Rs, unless there's a film I want that's just not available anywhere else. To answer Topgun's question--I would always buy a new, factory sealed DVD from a legitimate distributor before buying a DVD-R version.

Just because it's on the HKFlix site doesn't mean it's an official "new, factory sealed DVD from a legitimate distributor". :l They also sell Panmedia discs. Those are DVD-Rs. It's just that they come with art printed on the discs! I order the majority of my films from that site, so don't get me wrong, I'm not down on them. I'm just pointing out the hole in the logic of your statement.

I first bought from Far East Flix way back in the days of VHS, and they have consistently provided excellent service from that first order, all the way to my most recent one a few months ago. Fast shipping, nice packaging, and great customer service. I've never bought a title that didn't play, or I had any problems with. I highly recommend them. :D

[HAZ]

I'm all for sites like this, but some of their dvd-r's do have legitmate releases:

http://www.fareastflix.com/p-angryriverdvd.html

That's available from dddhouse for 5 bucks. Other films look like copies of Vengeance Video DVDs, right down to the cover art:

http://www.fareastflix.com/p-cranefighter.html

http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.528947/qx/details.htm


http://www.fareastflix.com/p-fpdcdvd.html

http://www.hkflix.com/xq/asp/filmID.528921/qx/details.htm

If by "custom" he just means a copy, then its a custom I guess! lol. This is kinda like paying 10 bucks for a trade.

[achiever]

besides the titles that look like boots of commercial versions (like vengeance, etc), quite a few look like copies of FLK versions i have.

[inframan]

I used to get toho discs from him before he got the cease and desist. Bascially copies of the R2 discss but with subtitles added. I think he still makes them but keeps it off the website.

When I got those years ago they had nice color labels on the discs. lately I've just been trading for copies of his godzilla/toho stuff.

He really should pull the titles that have been officaly released.

[HAZ]

I used to get toho discs from him before he got the cease and desist. Bascially copies of the R2 discss but with subtitles added. I think he still makes them but keeps it off the website.

When I got those years ago they had nice color labels on the discs. lately I've just been trading for copies of his godzilla/toho stuff.

He really should pull the titles that have been officaly released.

A custom disc where someone adds a subtitled track gets a pass in my book, but a straight copy of a disc like thse vengeance dvds is lame, especially when its 10 dollars for a dvd-r. Its like paying 10 dollars in a trade. I've heard of people charging a couple of bucks for a straight copy of a dvd, but 10 dollars? A legit dvd costs that much.

[KUNG FU BOB]

Sure, it comes with a case w/artwork but I get the impression that the DVD itself is just blank (no artwork on the disc itself). I could be wrong but that's how I read it.

The last few discs I bought didn't have color artwork on them, but they weren't blank. They had official looking info stamped onto them like a factory made DVD- the title, stars, et.

A custom disc where someone adds a subtitled track gets a pass in my book, but a straight copy of a disc like thse vengeance dvds is lame, especially when its 10 dollars for a dvd-r.

I hear you Haz. I didn't know about any straight up copies that they make from other legitimate companies. I've bought stuff that's never had legitimate English subbed releases on DVD like KAGE NO GUNDAN II and RED WITH SPELLS. Their KAGE blows away the transferred from VHS off of TV records that are being sold on the internet. They weren't going to release this because it looked like BCI might. But when they found out that wasn't going to happen, they hooked it up, and it's mighty sweet.

[The Silver Fox]

Quote "The last few discs I bought didn't have color artwork on them, but they weren't blank. They had official looking info stamped onto them like a factory made DVD- the title, stars, et."

Hey, if that's the case I might buy a couple. I was just concerned that they might look 'homemade' or something. Plus, it sounds like you've had good service from them for years. Thanks for the info.

[WuxiaFan]

Just because it's on the HKFlix site doesn't mean it's an official "new, factory sealed DVD from a legitimate distributor". :l They also sell Panmedia discs. Those are DVD-Rs. It's just that they come with art printed on the discs! I order the majority of my films from that site, so don't get me wrong, I'm not down on them. I'm just pointing out the hole in the logic of your statement.

I first bought from Far East Flix way back in the days of VHS, and they have consistently provided excellent service from that first order, all the way to my most recent one a few months ago. Fast shipping, nice packaging, and great customer service. I've never bought a title that didn't play, or I had any problems with. I highly recommend them. :D

Kung Fu Bob,
I never mentioned HKFlix or Panmedia. So, there's no hole in my logic. When I answered Topgun's question, I just stated that I would always by a legitiamate disc first over a bootleg or a DVD-R. I know HKFlix sells Panmedia discs, but so do a lot of other retailers, like amazon, fye, etc. So, you have to be careful. I always look to buy legitimate releases. That's why I wanted information on fareastflix.com. With that being said, I greatly appreciate the information you, HAZ, and the other forum members provided about fareastflix. Now I know what to expect.:D

Has anyone noticed they have ZATOICHI 14?? Does anyone have this disc from fareastflix?? The cover art matches the Japanese version available on cdjapan.com. That version does not have English sub. So, fareastflix.com's DVD-R version does. Since there is no other English subbed version of this film available anywhere, and it doesn't look like Miramax will ever release or sell it, I think I'm going to pick this one up. If someone has it and it's crap, please let me know. :)

[KUNG FU BOB]

So, I'm not one to normally buy DVD-Rs, unless there's a film I want that's just not available anywhere else. I would always buy a new, factory sealed DVD from a legitimate distributor before buying a DVD-R version.

Hey brother, sorry, my intention wasn't to wrongly imply or to misquote you. I was simply using those two companies as an example to say- using a legitimate retail site doesn't always mean that you're not buying bootlegs. But I totally dig what you're saying. ;)

[thekfc]

I used to get quite a few things from him-a lot of stuff that with subs that never had legitimate subs before and also stuff that never got a proper release.

They have very good customer service & shipping was quick for me - usually 1 day turnaround - maybe because I am also in NYC.

I also used to get stuff from John way back in the 90's when he used to do the conventions & shows.

I am not sure of the newer stuff as I haven't gotten anything from him in a while - over 2 yrs.

[WuxiaFan]

Hey brother, sorry, my intention wasn't to wrongly imply or to misquote you. I was simply using those two companies as an example to say- using a legitimate retail site doesn't always mean that you're not buying bootlegs. But I totally dig what you're saying. ;)

KFB--no problem here, either! I knew what you meant, but just wanted to clarify. After I get Zatoichi 14, I will let the Forum know how it is.:)

[HAZ]

KFB--no problem here, either! I knew what you meant, but just wanted to clarify. After I get Zatoichi 14, I will let the Forum know how it is.:)

Zatoichi 14 w/ subs is widely available in trading circles & you'll be getting a dvd-r of the movie anyways. Its not a factory pressed dvd.

[bigrogie]

I made several purchases from FarEastFlix (15-20 titles maybe) + a few trades over the last couple of years. Can't say one bad word about John who runs it. He's been around for over 10 years, if not 15. Excellent service, quick delivery and responsive to emails. Cheap shipping. Treats his customers very well. Never got a bad print from him. True that US$10 may look a steep price for a DVD-R (does come with a box and a copied or custom made cover). However, it's still half the price of other USA or UK sites I won't name here for the same quality product. I have most of the titles they sell so I don't need to deal with them anymore. But if I had to buy again, I would certainly not hesitate to deal with him. In fact, if I had to choose for the same price, I would much prefer buying his prints than any PanMedia (Bonzai, RedSun, etc...) which are so often loaded of errors. I totally stopped buying PanMedia prints as 1 out of 2 I had to fix! And I fixed dozens...

[venoms5]

Zatoichi 14 w/ subs is widely available in trading circles & you'll be getting a dvd-r of the movie anyways. Its not a factory pressed dvd.

Right. John is THE REASON it's available in trading circles as most likely NO ONE would have it subbed if he hadn't paid to have it translated. I know because I was there when he was working on it as well as many of the OTHER SUBTITLED discs that he offers.

[HAZ]

Right. John is THE REASON it's available in trading circles as most likely NO ONE would have it subbed if he hadn't paid to have it translated. I know because I was there when he was working on it as well as many of the OTHER SUBTITLED discs that he offers.

Well, if he did it, kudos to him. samuraidvd, & several ebay dealers have offered that alternately. Its nice to know who the source was & people should support those dealers & collectors who have films translated, no doubt. There are so many scavs, so the source is often hard to identify: CK subs something that gets jacked by another collector & sold, that gets jacked by whoever...then merlin subs something...etc...

http://www.samuraimoviedvd.com/product_info.php?products_id=76

http://shop.ebay.com/items/__zatoichi-pilgrimage_W0QQ_nkwZzatoichiQ20pilgrimageQ20QQ_cqr ZtrueQQ_nkwuscZzatoichiQQ_nkwuscZpilgramage?_rdc=1