The Asian DVD Guide  

  Saturday, 07/28/2001

This Week's Universe Releases
This week Universe released DVDs of Heroes In Love (2001), Brother Of Darkness (1994), Chivalrous Legend (1998), and What Women Want (2000). Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the pictures.

Heroes In Love (2001)Brother Of Darkness (1994)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (Mono), Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Chivalrous Legend (1998)What Women Want (2000) (U.S. film)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (Mono), Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Letterboxed
  • English (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Region 3


  •   Tuesday, 07/24/2001

    Mega Star Covers
    Here are the covers for this week's Mega Star releases. They are scheduled to be released on 7/26/2001 in Hong Kong. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Mega Star for sending the pictures.

    For Your Heart Only (1985)Gunmen (1988)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Her Fatal Ways (1990)Mr. Vampire 2 (1986)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Top Bet, The (1991)Zodiac Killers (1991)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Champion Joe (Japanese Animation) 
  • Letterboxed
  • Japanese (DD 5.1)
  • Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles


  • Spike Website
    Spike now has a website (in Japanese) for their upcoming Japanese Mega Star releases. They are planning to release 89 titles in total.
    http://www.spike-screen.net/dragon/index.html


      Monday, 07/23/2001 (Second Update)

    Upcoming Mega Star Releases
    Mega Star has announced the following DVDs will be released in Hong Kong on 7/26/2001:
    Hong Kong Films:
  • For Your Heart Only (1985) [MS/DVD/213/HK]
  • Gunmen (1988) [MS/DVD/235/HK]
  • Her Fatal Ways (1990) [MS/DVD/236/HK]
  • Mr. Vampire 2 (1986) [MS/DVD/270/HK]
  • Top Bet, The (1991) [MS/DVD/248/HK]
  • Zodiac Killers (1991) [MS/DVD/273/HK]
  • Japanese Animation:
  • Champion Joe [MS/DVD/348/HK]
  •   Monday, 07/23/2001 (First Update)

    The Hong Kong section of the database has been updated to include releases from the past 2 months. It also includes the WA titles from the last update. For those that are interested, seller "760101" on eBay has been selling most of the harder to find WA DVDs.

    Upcoming releases are now included in the database. For example, if you do a search on "On The Run" and it will bring up the upcoming Mega Star release from Pioneer Japan.

      Saturday, 07/21/2001

    The Hong Kong section of the database will be updated tomorrow to include releases from the past 2 months.

    This Week's Universe Releases
    This week Universe released new DVDs of Red To Kill (1994) and Daughter Of Darkness (1993). Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the pictures.

    Red To Kill (1994)Daughter Of Darkness (1993)
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (Mono), Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles
  • Letterboxed
  • Cantonese (Mono), Mandarin (Mono)
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles


  • Japanese Mega Star Releases For October
    Pioneer Japan has announced four Mega Star releases for October. No specs yet but all DVDs should have removable English subtitles and should not be region coded. All are priced at 4700 Yen and are scheduled to be released on 10/10/2001.
  • Duel To The Death (1983) [PIBF-1386]. It will probably be MS/DVD/126/HK.
  • Fortune Code (1989) [PIBF-1387]. New release.
  • Long Arm Of The Law (1984) [PIBF-1385]. New release because the original Mega Star DVD (MS/DVD/060/99) didn't have Japanese subtitles.
  • Long Arm Of The Law 2 (1987) [PIBF-1384]. New release because the original Mega Star DVD (MS/DVD/061/99) didn't have Japanese subtitles.
  • Also, the Pioneer Japan website is now saying none of the September Mega Star releases (Beast Cops, First Option, Fishy Story, On The Run, and Theft Under The Sun) will be 16x9 enhanced. As a result...
  • Beast Cops (1998) [PIBF-1376] will probably be MS/DVD/036/98.
  • First Option (1996) [PIBF-1375] will probably be MS/DVD/044/98.
  • Fishy Story, A (1989) [PIBF-1378] will be a new release because the original Mega Star DVD (MS/DVD/089/99) didn't have Japanese subtitles.
  • On The Run (1988) [PIBF-1377] will be a new release.
  • Theft Under The Sun (1997) [PIBF-1374] will probably be MS/DVD/004/98.
  • More Japanese Mega Star Releases
    Mega Star has told me that the upcoming releases by Spike in Japan are made by Mega Star. All DVDs should have removable English subtitles and should not be region coded. All DVDs are priced at 3800 Yen. Here are Spike's upcoming releases for the next 3 months:

    07/26/2001
    Big Boss, The (1971) aka Fists Of Fury [ABRD-001]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/243/HK
    Carry On Pickpocket (1982) [ABRD-005]
    New release because the original Mega Star DVD (MS/DVD/087/99) didn't have Japanese subtitles.
    Chinese Ghost Story 3, A (1991) [ABRD-007]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/013/98
    Fun, The Luck And The Tycoon, The (1990) [ABRD-004]
    New release
    Heroic Trio, The (1992) [ABRD-006]
    New release
    King Of Beggars (1992) [ABRD-009]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/038/98
    Moment Of Romance 1, A (1990) [ABRD-008]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/053/99
    Royal Tramp (1992) [ABRD-003]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/040/98
    Wheels On Meals (1984) [ABRD-002]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/218/HK

    08/30/2001
    Aces Go Places (1982) [ABRD-016]
    New release
    Black Cat (1991) [ABRD-020]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/260/HK
    Cannonball Run 2 (1984) [ABRD-011]
    New release
    Executioners (1993) [ABRD-017]
    New release
    Lai Shi, China's Last Eunuch (1988) [ABRD-13]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/139/HK
    Lord Of East China Sea (1993) [ABRD-015]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/049/99
    Millionaire's Express (1986) aka Shanghai Express [ABRD-019]
    New release
    Royal Tramp 2 (1992) [ABRD-014]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/041/98
    Seventh Curse, The (1986) [ABRD-012]
    New release
    Will Of Iron (1991) [ABRD-018]
    New release

    09/27/2001
    100 Ways To Murder Your Wife (1986) [ABRD-022]
    New release
    Black Cat 2 (1992) [ABRD-030]
    MS/DVD/052/99?
    Dragons Forever (1988) [ABRD-021]
    MS/DVD/034/98?
    Happy Ghost (1984) [ABRD-027]
    New release
    Last Blood, The (1990) [ABRD-026]
    New release
    Lord Of East China Sea 2 (1993) [ABRD-028]
    It will probably be MS/DVD/050/99
    Master, The (1992) [ABRD-023]
    New release
    Private Eyes, The (1976) [ABRD-025]
    New release
    Tiger On Beat 2 (1990) [ABRD-029]
    New release

      Monday, 07/16/2001

    A quick look at the Japanese Mega Star DVD of Gunmen (1988) released last week.

      Wednesday, 07/11/2001

    Visible Secret Coming From Mega Star
    On 7/13/2001, Mega Star will release Ann Hui's Visible Secret (2001). Here are the specs:
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Subtitles: Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified)
  • Extras:
  • Original Teaser And Trailer
  • Comic Version
  • "Making Of" documentary
  • Cast And Credits
  • Thanks to Mega Star for sending the information and picture.

    Foul King Released In Hong Kong
    This week Edko has released the Korean film The Foul King (2000) in Hong Kong. Here are the specs:
  • Korean (DD 5.1), Korean (DTS), Cantonese (DD 5.1)
  • Subtitles: English, Chinese
  • Extras:
  • Korean Trailer
  • Cantonese Dubbed Trailer
  • MTV
  • Photo Gallery
  • Cast And Crew Filmographies
  • Coded For Region 3
  • Letterboxed
  • DVD 9
  • The Cantonese dub track features actor Stephen Chow. Thanks to Edko for sending the information and picture.

    Coming Soon From Mei Ah
    Coming soon from Mei Ah are Joseph Kuo's The 18 Bronzemen and The 18 Bronzemen Part 2. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Mei Ah for the pictures.

    Japanese News From Last Month
    Japanese Mega Star Releases For September
    Pioneer Japan announced five Mega Star releases for September including On The Run (1988). All are being advertised as being 16x9 enhanced. They will not be region coded. All are priced at 4700 Yen and are scheduled to be released on 9/7/2001.
  • Beast Cops (1998) [PIBF-1376]
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1), English (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Bahasa (Malaysia), Thai, and Spanish subtitles
  • First Option (1996) [PIBF-1375]
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1), English (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Bahasa (Malaysia), Thai, Vietnamese, and Spanish subtitles
  • Fishy Story, A (1989) [PIBF-1378]
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • On The Run (1988) [PIBF-1377]
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, and Korean subtitles
  • Theft Under The Sun (1997) [PIBF-1374]
  • Cantonese (DD 5.1), Mandarin (DD 5.1)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • Chinese (Traditional), English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Bahasa (Indonesia), Bahasa (Malaysia), and Thai subtitles
  • A list of Mega Star DVDs released in Japan can be found here.

    Alternative Yi Yi DVD With English Subtitles
    Pony Canyon announced they will release an English subtitled DVD of Yi Yi (2000) aka A One And A Two on 8/1/2001. The catalog number is PCBG-50211 and the price will be 4700 Yen. Here are the specs:
  • Mandarin/English (DD 2.0), Japanese (DD 2.0)
  • Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced
  • English and Japanese subtitles
  • Coded for region 2
  • Extras: The original theatrical trailer, the Japanese theatrical trailer made by director Shunji Iwai, and the French theatrical trailer.
  • Pony Canyon's page for this release is at:
    http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/wtne/dvd/010718_yan.html

    Early Tsui Hark Film Released
    Last month Line Communications released a DVD of Dangerous Encounters Of The First Kind (1980) aka Don't Play With Fire. It is letterboxed with Japanese subtitles only and coded for region 2.

    Pictures Of Bruce Lee In G.O.D. Box Set
    Pioneer Japan have posted pictures of the limited edition box set for the Bruce Lee In G.O.D. DVD. The box set will cost 23000 Yen and will include the DVD in special packaging, a pair of open finger gloves (similar to the type Bruce Lee used in Enter The Dragon), and an original outfit for the Bruce Lee action figures made by Medicom Toy.