Well, I made a mistake and bought the domestic region 1 release that was apparently digitally transferred using an etch-a-sketch. The thousand monkeys at a thousand typewriters didn't handle the subtitles any better, either. Anyone out there know if there's a region-free import DVD that has at least a decent picture quality and decent English translation? This one is just terrible.
shareAll of the DVD releases that I have seen so far (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) all have been released by the same company. What I am wondering is, is the Hong Kong release any better? Surely there must be English subtitles on that version ....
shareI bought the American release of this, too. One of my very, very favorite movies... and I'll probably never watch it again. The quality of this dvd is so poor that it is almost unwatchable. It looks like a drunk guy with a cheap camera sneaked into a showing of this at one of those dollar movie places and filmed it during an earthquake.
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You can also buy from CD-WOW (free shipping) for $13,95:
http://www2.cd-wow.us/detail_results_2.php?product_code=375682&tduid=6b4bfb192e238017db35d5294d8e5620
Check the review with comparison here:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview/rtrl.htm
/Mikkel
Unfortunately, some of the mistakes were word choice mistakes, not just spelling, which induced inappropriate laughter at a couple of points. I'm really disappointed in how the translation was handled.
That's a big Twinkie
So... I am not the only one.
Frank... is a very sick and dangerous man.
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I rented it last night and had the same experience- lousy picture quality and unacceptable subtitles. I'd love to buy it anyway as the film is obviously excellent.
Does anyone know of a good European PAL/R2 edition, or is that lousy one the only release avaiable in Europe?
Thanks!
Nadine :)
i had no problems with my copy, picture seemed fine.
shareMy viewing experience was like this. A passible picture to a scratchy picture with "white streaks" like the film itself was scratched. Varying levels of clarity,brightness,contrast,etc. The subs were laughable to outright wrong. Even though I don't speak Chinese,You know what has to be said just by what's happening on screen. Sometimes they would say the wrong thing or just something totally unrelated to what was happening on screen. This thng needs a total digital remaster. Frame by frame with 5.1 sound.
I Kill Kids!
It would be helpful if the several DVDs being discussed/critiqued were actually identified by publisher.
You are so right! But at the time I wrote this,the disc publisher was the furthest thing from my mind. And since I saw this last year,I probably got it from HollyWood Video. It was a good movie though. Checking Amazon. In January '06 Razor Digital Ent. put a version out that was very bad. Maybe the one I saw. The 2007 ed. is supposed to be the one to get. Issued by "World Films" by MGM. With the MGM symbol somewhere on the cover/case. Hope this helps
Liquor & whores,Bitches!
I Kill Kids!
Yes, the Amazon reviews are helpful on the point (in this instance: there are other instances of complaints about particular DVD releases, without any identification of which not to buy, even when there are more than two different publishers of releases).
I just got the MGM "World Films" release yesterday, and watched some of it last night. EXCELLENT print (though the English subtitles include things like, "(Birds chirping)," and "(Knock on door)," which aren't really needed, but which can't be turned off).
So have no fear about buying the MGM "World Films" release: no problems at all with the print.
Glad the info helped.
Liquor & Whores,Bitches!
I Kill Kids!
I'm looking for a good release too. The one I have (MagicPlay) seems to have OK picture, but whoever subtitled it obviously doesn't speak English. And couldn't spell "cat" without a dictionary. And was probably also drunk at the time. It really takes away from being able to fully enjoy the film.
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