Heroes of the East

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Heroes of the East

Film discussion and banter


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    Masterofoneinchpunch
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:36 am

    We knew this thread was coming. My purchases since the last posting at HKMDB will take a few posts Very Happy. While at Criterionforums.com I post with images; I will continue to just post text and some comments to make it slightly more interesting.

    Soul of the Sword (HK): Already seen. Shaw Brothers.
    Ichi 1 (Japan): Prequel to the infamous film.
    Inception (2010: BD/DVD): Already seen twice. One of my favorites of last year though watching it in the theater is probably the best experience.
    Abbott and Costello: The Christmas Show: Marshalls.
    Marlene Dietrich - The Glamour Collection (Morocco/ Blonde Venus/ The Devil Is a Woman/ Flame of New Orleans/ Golden Earrings): Excellent questions; seen three of the five (the Josef Von Sternberg ones)
    The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (Woody Allen): Still at Big Lots BTW.
    Heroes of Horror (2001: Documentaries)
    Synecdouche New York: BL
    Father and Son: The Russian film.
    Moses (1975: Burt Lancaster): BL
    The Desperate Hours (US): BL
    How the West Was Won (Ultimate Collector’s Edition)
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid (BD/DVD)
    The Expendables (BD/DVD): Already seen, what is with the shaky cam.
    Born to Fight Trilogy
    God of Gamblers (HK: Widescreen): Already seen; quite a fun Wong Jing directed film.
    The Killer BD: yeah yeah, this is DD.
    Classic Quad Set 15 (Move Over, Darling / O. Henry's Full House / On the Riviera / Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!): I love these sets. I have them all.
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    Post  Brian T Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:57 am

    I started to create a thread for this the other day, but backtracked because I wasn't quite sure where to put it! I've been meaning to ask Cal if he could add a "DVD & Blu-ray" forum, or maybe "DVD, Blu-ray, Streaming & Downloading", or something like that. Perhaps he'll note this post at some point and move this thread there when the opportunity arises.

    I'll add some recent purchases soon. I only wish the Toronto Public Library's online ordering system kept a record of everything I signed out over the past few months. I've been blowing through so many Criterions (and Kinos and an abundance of missed-over-the-years titles) that it's tough to keep them all in my head!

    And hopefully (hint hint) it won't just be you and me posting this time Shawn. Wink More contributions here means more interesting titles that might be worth hunting down.

    Looks like I might have to visit Big Lots again this weekend, too.
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:18 am

    Love that avatar. Next set:

    Several of these films in the set I already have and seen like All About Eve, Gentleman's Agreement, The Ox-Bow Incident, White Heat and several others. I do love these sets though.

    Classic Quad Set 7 (Anastasia / Gentleman's Agreement / The Ox-Bow Incident / The Snake Pit)
    Classic Quad Set 9 (All About Eve / Beyond the Valley of the Dolls / The Inn of the Sixth Happiness / Valley of the Dolls)
    Classic Quad Set 11 (The Blue Max / The Desert Fox / Immortal Sergeant / Sink the Bismarck)
    Classic Quad Set 14 (Desk Set / Hollywood Cavalcade / How to Steal a Million / I Was a Male War Bride)
    Classic Quad Set 18 (Battle for the Planet of the Apes/The Day The Earth Stood Still/The Neptune Factor/The Poseidon Adventure)s
    The Big Stampede / Ride Him Cowboy / Haunted Gold
    Colt .45 / Tall Man Riding / Fort Worth
    TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: Gangsters - James Cagney (White Heat / City for Conquest / Each Dawn I Die / G Men)
    TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Sci-Fi Adventures (Them! / The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms / World Without End / Satellite in the Sky)
    Revanche Criterion
    Walkabout Criterion BD: I like the movie, didn't quite love it.
    Stagecoach Criterion BD: Great John Wayne/John Ford film.
    Shampoo: BL I think
    The Prisoner (1955): BL
    Sherlock Holmes Double Feature: Sherlock Holmes Faces Death and Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943): Liked both of these. I have now seen all the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes.
    Keeping Mum: I haven't seen yet, but my parents loved it.
    King Kong (Production Diaries): Was a gift, packaging could have been better.
    O’Horton (2007: Norway)
    Dororo (2007 Japan): BL
    Tekkonkinkreet (Japan; Anime): BL
    1:99 (Hong Kong shorts): Still waiting to receive this Very Happy (on order at HKFLIX).
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    Post  Brian T Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:22 am

    Random thoughts on your first post:


    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Expendables (BD/DVD): Already seen, what is with the shaky cam.

    I bought the BD/DVD of this for a song during the U.S. pre-Christmas sales and it was everything I expected considering the talent involved, and turned out to be a keeper, despite some readily apparent flaws, the shaky cam and relentless editing chief among them (though that dock strafing sequence was a classic throwback). There will be a sequel, so here's hoping Stallone, having proven "old school" is still box-office honey with the first film, will hand the reigns over to another director with similar sensibilities but less need to pander with brutal pacing techniques that are already past their sell-by date. A couple of sharper screenwriters wouldn't hurt, either.


    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Killer BD: yeah yeah, this is DD.

    Shame on you. 1080i no less, among a plethora of other problems. Oh well, you're forgiven based on the sheer breadth of the titles you buy. Wink


    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Classic Quad Set 15 (Move Over, Darling / O. Henry's Full House / On the Riviera / Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!): I love these sets. I have them all.

    I don't have all of these, but I've got most of them (including this one). I usually get them at Target for $9.99 a pop, but they often put them on sale for $8.99. Either price is a steal considering the cost of buying them individually. And most of the movies in these sets are special editions to boot. Between these and the TCM Greatest Classic Films 4-Film sets from Warner, I've acquired a huge chunk of the "essential" Hollywood studio classics. I hope both studios (and others!) continue the practice -- and really, what other option to they have with disc-based media at this point? -- but only Warner seems to be cranking them out with any regularity.


    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Love that avatar.

    The Josie set was one of those legendary $3 Big Lots titles from a couple years back. I only ever watched a couple of episodes of the show when I was a little kid. After all, it was for icky girls and all! Laughing Now it holds up as one of the better (relatively speaking, of course) Hanna Barbera shows of the period. The music in it is particularly good, with a new, professionally written and performed song in each episode. I wouldn't mind finding a CD soundtrack, in fact. The Hong Kong episode had a special resonance, of course, so I took a few screencaps for posterity, even though it's obvious the background artists were largely winging it as far as capturing the look of the city. Laughing The more I think about it, my avatar almost has a double meaning . . .
    Cool
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:50 am

    Brian T wrote:Random thoughts on your first post:

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Expendables (BD/DVD): Already seen, what is with the shaky cam.

    I bought the BD/DVD of this for a song during the U.S. pre-Christmas sales and it was everything I expected considering the talent involved, and turned out to be a keeper, despite some readily apparent flaws, the shaky cam and relentless editing chief among them (though that dock strafing sequence was a classic throwback). There will be a sequel, so here's hoping Stallone, having proven "old school" is still box-office honey with the first film, will hand the reigns over to another director with similar sensibilities but less need to pander with brutal pacing techniques that are already past their sell-by date. A couple of sharper screenwriters wouldn't hurt, either.
    ...
    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Classic Quad Set 15 (Move Over, Darling / O. Henry's Full House / On the Riviera / Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!): I love these sets. I have them all.

    I don't have all of these, but I've got most of them (including this one). I usually get them at Target for $9.99 a pop, but they often put them on sale for $8.99. Either price is a steal considering the cost of buying them individually. And most of the movies in these sets are special editions to boot. Between these and the TCM Greatest Classic Films 4-Film sets from Warner, I've acquired a huge chunk of the "essential" Hollywood studio classics. I hope both studios (and others!) continue the practice -- and really, what other option to they have with disc-based media at this point? -- but only Warner seems to be cranking them out with any regularity.
    ... The more I think about it, my avatar almost has a double meaning . . .
    Cool

    I enjoyed The Expendables just for the amount of people involved from so many different action films. Jet Li sure got picked on Very Happy. Yeah the doc strafing was pretty good (thanks for reminding me of that). kungfucinema has been speculating on the sequel. Several are hoping that Jeff Speakman will be in it. I'm hoping Steven Segal, JCVD, Jackie Chan as well.

    I bought all the quad sets at Target. Now they are only having a few of them. Always important to buy at Target and Big Lots as soon as you see them Very Happy.

    I've done tons of Wong jokes, mostly when buying Wong Kar-wai (used "for all the Wong reasons" and when buying two of his films: "two Wongs do make a right"). I was subsequently beaten.
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    Post  Admin Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:24 pm

    Well, here you go Very Happy . Yes, didn't think about a BD/DVD forum, but would have welcomed it anywhere. Actually, it's probably a good idea to have one of these anyway. Glad to see some of the Forums opening up a bit too.

    I haven't really been doing much film buying yet this year, as personal circumstance forbids it (I'm broke Razz ). Hope to get on with it in a couple of months though.

    What I'll do is list a few of my re-watches:
    Dragons Forever (really enjoyed it)
    My Lucky Stars (I think it has its place)
    Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (has a couple of moments of class)
    Spooky Encounters (classic)
    Fight Club on BD (still love the film, thought the HD transfer was barely noticable though)
    Anchorman (will have to stop watching this now)
    Nuns on the Run (well, it was a low-budget Brit classic, and still has a COUPLE of laughs)
    Shaun of the Dead (completely watched into the ground now - will have to leave it a few years before I go back to it)

    I'm finding re-watching stuff quite good as there are SO many films I've forgotten about. I must be one of the few who genuinely doesn't know how a film's going to end even though I've seen it a couple of times before!
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:40 am

    Arrowsmith/Made For Each Other/Marty/Lilies Of The Field: mainly got for Arrowsmith.
    MGM Movie Collection - 6 Kids Movies (All Dogs Go to Heaven / All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 / The Adventures of the American Rabbit / The Secret of NIMH / The Secret of NIMH 2 / The Waterbabies)
    Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985): Already seen, it is the DD release. The weakest of the trilogy.
    The Eye 3 (Pang Brothers)
    Leon the Professional (Uncut international version): Had seen before, but saw in cut version.
    The Desperados (1943)
    Round Midnight (1986)
    Hamlet 2 (2008)
    The Green Pastures (1935)
    Cassanova’s Big Night (1954): I like Bob Hope. This was a fun film, but will be very familiar to fans of Hope.
    The Hole (Taiwan): I will be watching this within a few weeks. This will be the second film I watch from this director.
    Victory (1981: John Huston)
    Delirious (1991: John Candy): Unfortunately not quite as good as I remember when I originally saw it.
    The World of Henry Orient (Peter Sellers): Sellers is not the main character, but he is quite excellent in this.
    Carry On Laughing The Complete Series: I have not heard much good of this since most of the fans prefer the movies. However, it was under three dollars.
    Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The With and The Wardrobe (BD/DVD)
    The Matrix HD-DVD: this was a gag gift from my brother
    Lessons for an Assassin BD: this was a gag gift from my brother. Yes I've seen this before.
    Dogma SE: got as a gift, already seen not really a fan of it.
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    Post  Brian T Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:55 am

    Admin wrote:I must be one of the few who genuinely doesn't know how a film's going to end even though I've seen it a couple of times before!
    Wearing this popular t-shirt will probably save you some time: Wink
    http://www.threadless.com/product/844/Spoilt
    (warning: contains nothing but spoilers!)
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:56 am

    next batch

    TCM Greatest Classic Film Collection: War (Battle of the Bulge / The Dawn Patrol / Gunga Din / Operation Pacific): Seen three of the four now (not seen Battle of the Bulge). Both the Dawn Patrol and Gunga Din are great 30s action filled films.
    Vengeance (2009: HK): Enjoyed this though it is quite derivative of other To directed films.
    All For the Winner (1990): Loved this. Now I need to get a better copy of God of Gamblers 2.
    Not One Less (1999): Another great Zhang Yimou film. Will remind you of The Story of Qui Qi.
    The Killing Fields (1984): Already seen years back.
    The Chase (1994): Got as a gift.
    Robot Jox (1990): Got as a gift.
    Waterworld (1995): Got as a gift.
    Bronson (2008): I'm curious on this one.
    Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1 (The Big Heat / 5 Against the House / The Lineup / Murder by Contract / The Sniper): Seen The Big Heat (Fritz Lang)
    The Last Message (HK: Remastered): Still have not received from HKFlix.
    The Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee): Good film from Ang, the wedding itself is done quite well.
    The Duel at the Silver Creek (1952): Not as good as I would have liked.
    Behold A Pale Horse
    Funny Farm/Spies Like Us BD: hee hee
    This is It BD/DVD
    The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 8: 1955-1959
    The Sherlock Holmes Collection (Matt Frewer): Max Headroom as Sherlock where can you go wrong?
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    Post  Brian T Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:40 pm

    Thankfully the going-out-of-business sale at Chinatown's Wa Yi Trading Co. continues into its second year, so managed to unearth some Hong Kong odds 'n ends on VCD for $2 each:

    SKETCH
    THANK YOU SIR
    SPARKLE IN THE DARK
    MATCHING ESCORT
    THE DAY THAT DOESN'T EXIST
    DUST OF ANGELS
    CAFE SHOP
    TRANSFIGURATION OF LIFE
    REVANCHIST
    GAMBLE FOR LOVE
    URBAN COP
    UNBEARABLE
    BACK TO ROOTS
    THOUS SHALT NOT COMMIT
    BLACK IS BLACK


    Some Joy Sales DVDs:
    FANTASY ROMANCE
    PORKY'S MEATBALLS
    ALL IN THE FAMILY

    And . . .
    VAMPIRE SETTLE ON POLICE CAMP

    I've also been keeping up with the new HK releases as best I can, but I only jotted the above titles down before I left town for a few days, so will have to flesh this out once I return.


    And from elsewhere (some of these date back to the U.S. holiday season sales):

    RARE CULT CINEMA - 12 MOVIE COLLECTION (more Crown International goodness from Mill Creek)
    CULT TERROR CINEMA - 12 MOVIE COLLECTION (ditto)
    RUSH HOUR - Blu-Ray
    FORBIDDEN PLANET - Blu-ray
    THE SOCIAL NETWORK - Blu-ray (moving this up in the pile thanks to Shawn's interesting take on it)
    THE EXPENDABLES - Blu-ray/DVD Combo
    MAD MAX - Blu-ray/DVD Combo
    STARCRASH (Roger Corman's Cult Classics) - Blu-ray
    GALAXY OF TERROR (Roger Corman's Cult Classics) - Blu-ray
    IMMORTAL BELOVED - Blu-ray
    SHOGUN ASSASSIN - Blu-ray
    CRIMSON TIDE - Blu-ray
    THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST - Blu-ray/DVD Combo

    Possibly another list to follow, but need to take a look at my shelves when I get back home tomorrow. Lots of recent Criterion signouts from the library that might be worth posting here or in the "Now Watching" thread. Smile
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:33 pm

    I bought several Joy Sales from the latest HKflix sale, but will note when I catch up (and actually receive them).

    Chaplin at Keystone: Almost done with the second disc. Not classic Chaplin, but important regardless.
    Shaolin Rescuers (HK): Very fun Shaw Brothers film.
    Reefer Madness (): needed for my 1930s collection.
    Broken Arrow BD: Upgrade
    Sands of Iwo Jima: Really looking forward to.
    Dillinger is Dead (Criterion)
    The Band’s Visit: Heard great things.
    Operation Crossbow (1965): Got for Sophia Loren.
    American Ninja & Rage of Honor & Revenge of Ninja: Had to pick up cheap.
    Kick Ass BD/DVD: Not sure if I'm looking forward to.
    The Invention of Lying (2009): Looking forward to.
    The Losers: Looking forward to.
    Manhattan: classic Woody Allen, a little creepy when you actually think about his relationship in the film and later in real life.
    King of Comedy: Quite funny, not sure about the penis flicking scene, but some other great moments.
    Happy Ghost 3 (Johnnie To)
    Ong Bak 3 Collectors Edition: already seen; some good fight scenes, but utterly dissapointing.

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    Post  Brian T Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:41 pm

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Operation Crossbow (1965): Got for Sophia Loren.

    Found this on sale at Amazon early last year and thought it was quite well done. Sophia's part in it is . . . interesting.



    Kick Ass BD/DVD: Not sure if I'm looking forward to.

    I felt the same way about this. Mild interest when it was in theatres, but not enough to go, and less interest when it came out on DVD. I'm always leery of things that seem like they're trying to hard for hipster cred. Months later, though I got it cheap at Blockbuster and came away seriously impressed. The timing was good, as a few weeks later the Blu-ray/DVD combo was in a post-Christmas Wal-Mart blow-out sale here for $10. It's extremely violent, sometimes fanciful and other times painfully realistic, but its faithfulness to the source book, according to the supplements, is admirable. I've grown tired of Nicolas Cage thanks to nearly every movie he's made over the past decade, but I found him well-cast here, as were all the kids (though the lead seems to be much older than his comic-book counterpart)

    I avoided the similarly sprung-from-the-comics SCOTT PILGRIM for many of the same reasons I avoided KICK-ASS. Picked that up cheap at Christmastime too, and thought it was well done (and filmed and set in Toronto!), but waay too hip and self-referential for it's own good and ultimately not worth keeping.



    Ong Bak 3 Collectors Edition: already seen; some good fight scenes, but utterly dissapointing.

    I was really late to the party watching part 2, and thought it was pretty good -- though not a keeper -- but what little I've read (purposely) about this third entry doesn't sound promising. Perhaps Tony Jaa needs a new one-trick pony?
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:43 am

    The Barbara Stanwyck Collection (Internes Can't Take Money / The Great Man's Lady / The Bride Wore Boots / The Lady Gambles / All I Desire / There's Always Tomorrow)
    The Complete Metropolis: I loved this. Have seen this several times.
    The Jade Tiger (1977: Hong Kong): can't believe Best Buy had this; decent Shaw Brothers wuxia film.
    Fist to Fist (Documentary): online; thought it was the 1973 but it is actually a documentary.
    One Day in September (1999): BL
    Art School Confidential (2006): BL
    Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (Dreamworks Animated): BL
    Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron (Dreamworks Animated): trying to get all of the Dreamworks animated films.
    The Town (2010: BD/DVD): Got and watched because of the Modesto actor.
    The Social Network (2010): reviewed
    Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole (2010: BD/DVD): looking forward to.
    Heaven Knows Mr. Allison (1957): John Huston, really looking forward to.
    Psycho II, III, IV: BL; not sure when I'll get to; I know some fans of the third film.
    Witness (1985): Already seen; good, not great film (not sure why it is in the TSPDT 1000)
    Bronco Billy: Got because of Clint Eastwood, still need to see.
    The Great Buck Howards: 70 cents at Marshalls
    Peaceful Warrior: 70 cents at Marshalls
    The Plainsman (1936): Cecil B. DeMille
    Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964): can't remember where I put this.
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    Post  Admin Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:19 pm

    Brian T wrote:Perhaps Tony Jaa needs a new one-trick pony?
    Laughing
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Mon Mar 28, 2011 5:28 pm

    Revolutionary Road: BL
    The Purple Rose of Cairo: Woody Allen, I enjoyed it.
    The Bastard Swordsman: Really liked this Shaw Brothers film.
    Return of the Bastard Swordsman: Looking forward
    The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (It Happened in Hollywood / Adventure in Sahara / Power of the Press / The Crimson Kimono / Shockproof / Scandal Sheet / Underworld U.S.A.): Real cool set here. I like a lot of Fuller's works.
    Due Date BD/DVD
    A-Team BD/DVD (Target Exclusive)
    Breaking Bad First Season
    Moving McAllister
    Classic Western Collection - The Outlaws (The Proud Ones, Forty Guns, Broken Lance, The Culpepper Cattle Co.): I really like Forty Guns which is directed by Samuel Fuller.
    Scoop (2006): BL
    On Golden Pond SE
    Winter’s Bone (2010): Was nominated for Oscar BP.
    Jack The Giant Killer: Online
    Bye Bye Birdie (1963): Ended up giving this to my Mom. I will borrow later.
    Bambi BD/DVD: Had a Disney Coupon which helped.
    Nausicaa BD/DVD: awesome.
    Dragon In Fury HK: HKFLIX
    Just For Fun HK: HKFLIX
    Laughing Times HK John Woo: I wrote a review on this one Very Happy
    Who Is The Craftiest: HKFLIX
    That Enchanting Night: HKFLIX
    Unforgettable Fantasy: HKFLIX
    1:99 Shorts: with HKFLIX gone, I don't think I'm getting this. The rest I received though.
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    Post  Brian T Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:28 pm

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:with HKFLIX gone, I don't think I'm getting this. The rest I received though.
    I was reading about this recently on another site, but there seemed to be some question about whether it was temporary or permanent. A quick search just now suggests it is more than likely permanent. I haven't bought from them in years, though (mainly due to better pricing overseas and availability of some stuff in the city here), and with the days of physical media numbered, their closure is hardly surprising, albeit a bit letdown for not only their regular customers but also the people who contributed probably tens of thousands of reviews and product information to the site over the years. I'm sure it still exists, but keeping it available might be another story. (See what happens when you trust years of your hard work to the whims of just one person? Wink ). It's only a matter of time before DDDHouse, Buyoyo and the others shuffle off the retail coil; better start stocking up, folks!
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    Post  Brian T Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:00 am

    The public library here has become my accelerated film school of late -- thanks to their seemingly limitless selection of titles both new and old -- and the savings in blind buys from Amazon to see such gap-fillers frees up more cash for Hong Kong goodies.

    In other welcome news, my favourite haunt in downtown Chinatown, the Wa Yi Trading Co., is no longer going out of business, but simply moving a couple of doors down the street, to a lower-level location rather than an upper level location, apparently to save on rent. It's a bit sad to see the shop downsizing once again (this is the third move in the past decade), but I'm just glad he's sticking it out for as long as he can. He's had a going-out-of-business sale on for the past couple of years or more, with his vast selection of VCDs (many for films still unreleased on DVD) priced to move, even cheaper in recent months (4/$10). His DVD stock, on the other hand, with the exception of the Shaw Bros. titles (some of which Cal picked up as I recall), remained at regular prices for most of that time, and a bit high compared to what I could pay at DDD House or Buyoyo. But last weekend, I discovered that his entire stock of DVDs, excluding new releases, is now 30% off in anticipation of the relocation. Frankly, I wish he'd just make these his regular prices; he'd probably get a few more stragglers buying from him rather than funding the pirate shops in the area.

    Anyways, here's just over a month's worth of Hong Kong (and Chinese) DVD purchases, both from the Wa Yi and other vendors in the city's north-end Chinese areas, some of whom seem to be doig at least a little better these days thanks to the continued decline of the bootleggers. Some old stuff, some new stuff, some revisits for eventual review purposes:

    DVDs
    BRUCE LEE, MY BROTHER
    MERRY-GO-ROUND (still bummed that I couldn't a charity screening of this in Richmond Hill, near my office, with Nora Miao in attendance)
    FORGET ME NOT
    EX
    PERFECT WEDDING
    FROZEN
    THE HAUNTING LOVER
    VAMPIRE WARRIORS
    GO LALA GO
    THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
    IF YOU ARE THE ONE II
    ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2011
    I LOVE HONG KONG (how can you not want to see this? Smile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc_AUo_S3ts They even redid the classic song! And that cast!)
    MARRIAGE WITH A LIAR
    MR. & MRS. INCREDIBLE
    GLAMOROUS YOUTH (been trying to find this one for a while)
    FLYING DRAGON LEAPING TIGER
    UNFORGETTABLE FANTASY
    SIXTY MILLION DOLLAR MAN

    Legendary Collection DVDs (all from Wa Yi)
    FOUR WINDS
    STOOGES IN HONG KONG
    ALL IN THE FAMILY
    THE DEVIL'S TREASURE
    RUN TIGER RUN
    SPRINGTIME IN PATTAYA


    Some other recent Blu-rays (barring Tangled, all previously seen, but not owned)
    TANGLED (4-disc 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy)
    THE INCREDIBLES (4-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy)
    CARS (2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD)
    TRON LEGACY + TRON (5 disc 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/2xDVD/Digital Copy)
    KUNG-FU PANDA (2-dsc Blu-ray/DVD reissue) still on for $14.99 at Amazon, if anyone's looking for it . . .
    CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (Blu-ray/DVD)
    GALAXY QUEST
    THE MACHINIST
    NINE (cheap WalMart blind buy; may sell if so-so)
    STAR TREK (2009) (Blu-ray/DVD) used
    G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA (Blu-ray/DVD) used
    G.I. JOE: THE MOVIE (animated) (Blu-ray SE) Embarassed

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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:28 am

    ^ well if you are interested in selling sets of HK films I am interested. I like the Legendary Collections for the better looking images, but those subtitles are just as bad as Universe's and anyone elses (actually they do sometimes appear decent, but overall a bit dissapointed with them).
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    Post  Brian T Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:04 am

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:^ well if you are interested in selling sets of HK films I am interested. I like the Legendary Collections for the better looking images, but those subtitles are just as bad as Universe's and anyone elses (actually they do sometimes appear decent, but overall a bit dissapointed with them).

    A lot of my unwatched-as-yet Hong Kong movies will be up for offer some day, for sale, trade, whatever. It's probably obvious from these scrounge/odyssey posts over the years that I'm trying to buy as much as I can (as affordably as I can) rather than just sticking to the "top 500" or whatever. Unfortunately, that day may be a ways off, but you can rest assured that I'll be a source for anyone who's (still) interested in this stuff.

    I hear ya about the subs on some of the Joy Sales Legendary Collection titles. Some are so indecipherable that it's probably better to spin through the movie (on FF) a second or third time until you can better define any vague particulars of plot and/or character relationships. Worst case scenario for me would be to bug Chinese co-workers here without seeming like a mooch! Laughing But what other options do we have, really? Most Hong Kong movies will never see Blu-ray, and from what I've seen (demo'd in stores) and read (online), older Hong Kong movies on Blu-ray are rarely given the full advantage the format offers, so apart from the occasional new release, I have little intention of building an HK HD library as opposed to just watching a broader selection of films any way I can. I'm sure streaming or web TV or what have you will be their future, if it isn't already in Asia, but until I have access to that here in Canada (which might happen when I'm 90!), I'm content just to sccop up and watch as much as I can get my hands on, then pass the "non-keepers" onto other interested parties. Wink
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    Post  Admin Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:08 am

    Good news about Wa Yi Smile. Yes, I picked up a fair bit of stuff from in there (a lot of which I still haven't seen Rolling Eyes ). Hopefully I will one day make my way over that side of the atlantic and go film hunting again.
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:45 pm

    The Optimists (1973): Peter Sellers, BL
    The One and Only (1978): BL
    Little Shop of Horrors (): BL
    Murnau (Nosferatu / Faust / The Last Laugh / Tartuffe / The Haunted Castle / The Finances of the Grand Duke): Not BL; actually awesome set have seen a few by now.
    The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2-Disc Ultimate Edition) (1974): yes on lots of horror lists.
    The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
    Sherlock Jr. / Three Ages [Ultimate 2-Disc Edition]: Border's going bye-bye sale
    The Sun (2005: Aleksandr Sokurov): The last thing I got from HKFlix, yes HKFlix
    The Gary Cooper Collection (Design for Living / The Lives of a Bengal Lancer / Peter Ibbetson / The General Died at Dawn / Beau Geste): Got as a gift
    My Schoolmate The Barbarian (2001: Hong Kong): Already seen, do like the film.
    The Avenging Fist (2001: Hong Kong): Also got from HKFlix.
    Mother (2009: South Korea): Been wanting to watch
    The Host (Korea): Been wanting to watch
    Contract Killer (aka Hitman): Picked up cheap
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    Post  Brian T Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:50 pm

    Went to Big Lots myself last weekend. Found a few $3 odds 'n ends I'd long wanted to check off the gotta-see list:
    NASHVILLE (1975)
    THE ADVENTURERS (1969)
    MACON COUNTY LINE (1974)
    MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

    Also went to Target, where these were on sale for $12.99 each, which seemed fair:
    HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Blu/DVD)
    MEGAMIND (Blu/DVD)

    And from Amazon:
    KUNG-FU PANDA (Blu/DVD combo reissue)
    THE INCREDIBLES (Blu/DVD/Digital Copy
    CARS (Blu/DVD) (only got this because buying both meant a huge savings; not a favorite, so I'll probably flip it)

    From a recent Deep Discount sale which featured decent prices (for once!) on most of the Synapse titles:
    ROCK & ROLL NIGHTMARE (1987)
    42nd STREET FOREVER VOL. 4
    42nd STREET FOREVER VOL. 5
    NIKKATSU ROMAN PORNO TRAILER COLLECTION
    GRAPES OF DEATH

    INVASION USA SE (1952)

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Optimists (1973): Peter Sellers, BL
    Got this myself at BL last year. Probably one of Sellers' better movies of the 70's, and one that had largely flown under my radar. I prefer his performance in this to his work in BEING THERE, a great role but one for which he seems to be much better remembered in critical circles. The low-to-no-income boroughs where the film was shot (and is set) are unrelentingly bleak but unforgettable timecapsules (with hindsight, of course); a place where -- no doubt for many in real life as for the characters in the film -- the hopes of ascending to the middle class are represented by ugly, brutalist apartment blocks that must surely have become slums themselves in the ensuing decades. Criterion could've done something interesting with this, especially in light of their acquisition and recent release of Ken Loach's KES. I read somewhere that Sellers' role was originally intended for Buster Keaton, which certainly adds something to the viewing of the film. I've regretted selling it off for some time now . . . Sad

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Border's going bye-bye sale
    Didn't realize they were going bye-bye. Checked their store closing list and unfortunately the Michigan stores they're closing are too far from the, uhh, border. Are the prices decent?

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Sun (2005: Aleksandr Sokurov): The last thing I got from HKFlix, yes HKFlix
    Interesting. Just received his RUSSIAN ARK from the library about a week ago. I really enjoyed that one, probably more on a technical level than an emotional level on the first pass, but I picked up on many more subtle details (the spy, in particular) on a second viewing after watching the supplements.
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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:07 am

    Brian T wrote:Went to Big Lots myself last weekend. Found a few $3 odds 'n ends I'd long wanted to check off the gotta-see list:
    NASHVILLE (1975)
    THE ADVENTURERS (1969)
    MACON COUNTY LINE (1974)
    MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

    Also went to Target, where these were on sale for $12.99 each, which seemed fair:
    HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (Blu/DVD)
    MEGAMIND (Blu/DVD)

    And from Amazon:
    KUNG-FU PANDA (Blu/DVD combo reissue)
    THE INCREDIBLES (Blu/DVD/Digital Copy
    CARS (Blu/DVD) (only got this because buying both meant a huge savings; not a favorite, so I'll probably flip it)
    ...
    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Optimists (1973): Peter Sellers, BL
    Got this myself at BL last year. Probably one of Sellers' better movies of the 70's, and one that had largely flown under my radar. I prefer his performance in this to his work in BEING THERE, a great role but one for which he seems to be much better remembered in critical circles. The low-to-no-income boroughs where the film was shot (and is set) are unrelentingly bleak but unforgettable timecapsules (with hindsight, of course); a place where -- no doubt for many in real life as for the characters in the film -- the hopes of ascending to the middle class are represented by ugly, brutalist apartment blocks that must surely have become slums themselves in the ensuing decades. Criterion could've done something interesting with this, especially in light of their acquisition and recent release of Ken Loach's KES. I read somewhere that Sellers' role was originally intended for Buster Keaton, which certainly adds something to the viewing of the film. I've regretted selling it off for some time now . . . Sad

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:Border's going bye-bye sale
    Didn't realize they were going bye-bye. Checked their store closing list and unfortunately the Michigan stores they're closing are too far from the, uhh, border. Are the prices decent?

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:The Sun (2005: Aleksandr Sokurov): The last thing I got from HKFlix, yes HKFlix
    Interesting. Just received his RUSSIAN ARK from the library about a week ago. I really enjoyed that one, probably more on a technical level than an emotional level on the first pass, but I picked up on many more subtle details (the spy, in particular) on a second viewing after watching the supplements.

    GRAPES OF DEATH is of course the sequel to GRAPES OF WRATH.
    I like both NASHVILLE and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON so those are two good picks (and I have copies of coth.

    I still need to watch RUSSIAN ARK (yes I do own it Very Happy), I have several of that director's works, just haven't got into later Russian film though (I still will put early Russian works ahead of later ones in my queue, I just love that cinema especially Eisenstein).

    BEING THERE is one of my favorite films of all time and one of my favorite performances of all time (still mad he did not win the oscar for that one), but since I'm a fan of Peter Sellers I will watch anything he is. So I'll give THE OPTIMISTS a try sooner than later. I've bugged Criterion about Peter Sellers several times as well. I had watched THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT for the first time a few months back. Was quite happy about that one, though he is not the main character (the girls are Very Happy).

    Note: not all Border's stores are closing, just a lot. Around here the one in Modesto is now closed, but the one in Turlock is still open (no Barnes and Noble there).

    CARS is probably my least favorite Pixar film, though it is still fun. I bought the same one you did as well. I liked HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON quite a bit.

    I need to purchase KES at sometime in the future. Just so much to get Very Happy. Wait until you see the next several things I have bought.
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    Post  Brian T Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:05 pm

    Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:BEING THERE is one of my favorite films of all time and one of my favorite performances of all time (still mad he did not win the oscar for that one), but since I'm a fan of Peter Sellers I will watch anything he is. So I'll give THE OPTIMISTS a try sooner than later. I've bugged Criterion about Peter Sellers several times as well. I had watched THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT for the first time a few months back. Was quite happy about that one, though he is not the main character (the girls are Very Happy).

    I just remembered another excellent Sellers performance -- and a strong film as well -- that I viewed about a week ago: I'M ALL RIGHT JACK (1959). I watched this on a VHS tape (!) that I swapped with a coworker approximately 20 years ago for a screening cassette of Barry Levinson's AVALON, as I recall! We never got a chance to swap them back as the old chap won the lottery moved away, the bastard, so this tape rested in various spots near my TV ever since, until I finally decided to give it a spin before my VCR rotted any further in storage! The movie, a sequel to an earlier picture called PRIVATE'S PROGRESS (1956) that I haven't seen, was available as part of some Sellers DVD boxed set that's probably gone OOP by now. It's one of the best British comedies I've ever seen (and I've seen a few, though considerably less than the U.K. contingent hereabouts, I'm certain Embarassed ), a still-relevant and caustic skewering of the age-old battle between labour unions (led in the film by Sellers' remarkably well-rounded Marxist factory shop steward Fred Kite) and greedy capitalists (represented by the likes of Terry Thomas, Dennis Price and Richard Attenborough), with neither side coming off particularly well, and with Ian Carmichael ideally cast as a clueless aristocrat thrust between them as both catalyst and pawn. Definitely worth a view if you can grab it. Plenty of other British comedy greats lurk in the cast as well.

    Edit: Actually, you can grab it. Not sure if it's legitimately being offered on YouTube, what with their ever expanding above-board movie service, but it's there nonetheless:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUuj-qRdTOc

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    Post  Masterofoneinchpunch Fri May 27, 2011 2:45 pm

    Senso (Criterion): Beautiful looking film; liked The Leopard more though.
    Eclipse Series 25: Basil Dearden's London Underground (Sapphire, The League of Gentlemen, Victim, All Night Long) (Criterion Collection)
    Eclipse Series 26: Silent Naruse (Flunky, Work Hard / No Blood Relation / Apart from You / Every-Night Dreams / Street Without End) (Criterion Collection)
    Mona Lisa (Criterion)
    Hunger (Criterion)
    Grey Gardens (Criterion)
    Shock Corridor (Criterion): An upgrade. Interesting if dated Samuel Fuller film.
    Danton (Criterion)
    Repulsion (Criterion): An upgrade for me. I had the crap edition. I like this film.
    Bottle Rocket (Criterion): I have seen on tape a few years back, fun film.
    Antonio Gaudi (Criterion)
    Howards End (Criterion)
    Summer Hours (Criterion)
    Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (The Criterion Collection) (1975)
    2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (The Criterion Collection) (1967)
    Vivre sa vie (The Criterion Collection) (1962)
    Made In The USA (Criterion): Godard film; so-so I wrote several problems I had with it on my forum.
    Harvard Beats Yale
    Accepted/Wet Hot American Summer/Hamlet 2/Bad Girls From Valley High
    Big Trouble (1986)
    Re-Cycle (HK/Thai/Pang Brothers)
    Forest of Death (HK/Thai/Pang Brothers)
    Holiday Inn (3-disc): always enjoy watching this.
    Sabotage (Alfred Hitchcock): I do like Hitchcock's English period this included.
    Sergeant York (): Gary Cooper; also really liked this.
    King of Kings
    The Lives of Others (2006): in IMDBs top 250. Enjoyable film.
    Va Savoir
    La Cage Aux Folles (1979)

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