Columbia/Tri Star
If we're going to contact Disney and tell them that what they're doing is wrong...then we should also contact Columbia to let tell them what THEY'RE doing is RIGHT. Their DVDs of Time & Tide, the first three Once Upon A Time in China movies, and a few others are untainted, and we should let them know we appreciate that so that they don't start to wonder if they'd be better off giving more HK films the Disney treatment (as they did with High Risk). It might feel kind of silly to call them up or write to them to basically just say "keep up the good work" but think of it as preventive medicine. After all, they're not totally innocent. Be specific when you contact them; name the movies which they've done right.
Yes, this is a good idea. I have already sent them comments through through the comments form at spe.com (Sony Pictures Entertainment). I mentioned that I liked their treatment of Miracles, Gen-X Cops. Tokyo Raiders, and the OUATIC films.
....maybe you might even want to mention in the Disney letters that you are, at the same time, letting Columbia know that they are doing a good job. It would 1) show them that Columbia is keeping a customer that they are losing and 2) show that we can be vocal when they are doing well as well as when they do wrong.
Review excerpts of Columbia TriStar's "Meltdown"
Columbia Tristar’s DVD of MELTDOWN is a perfect example of how not to release a Hong Kong movie in North America. You’d think with the success of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and KISS OF THE DRAGON these Hollywood studios would have more faith in the works of Hong Kong production companies. The way MELTDOWN turned out is a real surprise coming from Columbia Tristar Home Video, who recently released the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA series and Jackie Chan’s MIRACLES in English subtitled versions only. Who would have guessed that CTHV would perform such an abortion of the 1995 Jet Li action vehicle, HIGH RISK? They have really sunken to the depths of Dimension Home Video, with their new added title sequence, new rap soundtrack, and new moniker for director Wong Jing’s DIE HARD tribute.
The dub job is superior to similar efforts, such as Columbia Tristar’s GEN-X COPS. But it’s the liberties the translators took with the dialog will turn your stomach. If that’s not bad enough, Columbia Tristar totally stripped away the original score, in lieu of a loud rap soundtrack. That’s right folks, you can’t watch Jet Li and Jackie Cheung kick ass to the tunes of Columbia Tristar records division performers (not likely that you’ve heard of any of bands or music on here). This really ruined the experience for me.
Re: Review excerpts of Columbia TriStar's "Meltdown&quo
This is exactly why we should only commend them for those HK films they have released without any unwelcome modifications. It's possible that they've released films both ways (faithful and Americanized) because they're not entirely sure which one is preferable to more people.
High Risk might not be totally Columbia's fault
The source print might be fubar'd (film storage in HK is not very good)... the suppoesdly "remastered" HK DVD has a couple of jarring edits and sound dropouts. I think there's a similar situation with The Prisoner (Island of Fire)... the Columbia version is the same as a European version I have.
Columbia may have been forced to use an English print... but I agree that there are some things, like the title for one that should not have been screwed with... the cover picture isn't even from the movie!
Shu Qi lover
Unregistered User
(4/18/03 9:41 pm) Reply
Re: Columbia Tristar
Well I guess this puts my question (in another thread) to rest. But I also hope the music in So Close isn't altered either, along with anything else.
I'm sick hearing of Columbia Tristar and there way is the perfect way to release a film ! They are movie butchers too !
Who am I,
Hitman,
High Risk,
New Legend of Shaolin,
Island of Fire,
Gorgeous,
were altered...
Could be more!
Columbia are going crazy to re-release Miracles under "Black Dragon" - what is that? to attract more people to this version because of the word "dragon" - they must be addicted to the word 'dragon'.
It has no extra features added.
Scott
http://chenlung.netfirms.com
http://pub47.ezboard.com/bhongkonglegends
'Put water into a teapot and it becomes the teapot' - Bruce Lee
Re: Columbia Tristar
CT's track record is far from perfect, but it's still light years above and beyond Miramax's. It's like they've got a split personality; Harvey Weinstein sometimes, and someone with more than three brain cells the rest of the time.
"You can't take the head in the box out of the head in the box movie." -David Fincher
Quote:CT's track record is far from perfect, but it's still light years above and beyond Miramax's. It's like they've got a split personality; Harvey Weinstein sometimes, and someone with more than three brain cells the rest of the time.
At least SOMEONE agrees with me . Most people I have talked to had defended Columbia.
Scott
http://chenlung.netfirms.com
http://pub47.ezboard.com/bhongkonglegends
'Put water into a teapot and it becomes the teapot' - Bruce Lee
Re: Columbia Tristar
"Columbia are going crazy to re-release Miracles under "Black Dragon" - what is that? to attract more people to this version because of the word "dragon" - they must be addicted to the word 'dragon'."
"Black Dragon" is one of the titles that Golden Harvest released the movie under internationally. In actuality, the title of the movie isn't even "Miracles", it's "Mr. Canton and Lady Rose".
For the most part, CTHV uses the international cuts that the original studio offers. A lot of time it's the original studio that chooses, or even makes, the cuts and/or title changes. For the most part it's because the original studio doesn't think that an international audience will 'get it'.
Hit and Miss
Columbia Tristar and hit and miss, but I don't think anyone one company has a perfect track record. Even Hong Kong Legends is released both Musa and Volcano High cut.
Someone mentioned that CTHV did a good job with Tokyo Raiders. I was always under the impression that is was cut too. Am I mistaken?
Re: Tokyo Raiders
Nobody else has taken the time to wish this thread a belated Happy Birthday, so I will. It turned two in January.
Happy Birthday, Columbia Tristar Thread!
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The Diabolical Erroneous Monk Call me master,
'Cause I'm faster than Pryor on fire,
I no longer have to hot-wire
-MC Chris "This sword is a classic one. Its history goes back centuries. There are many styles of using it - all good."
!
. Most people I have talked to had defended Columbia.
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