The Asian DVD Guide

Friday, 09/28/2001

This Week's Universe Releases
This week Universe released Battle Royale (2000), Golden Pheonix Vs The Dragon, Sacrifice (2000), and One Night At McCool's (2001). Click on the picture below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the picture.

A short review of the Battle Royale DVD by Divine9 can be found in the forum. According to the review, it might be coded for all regions even though the case says its coded for region 3. For what it's worth, I've gotten one report of Universe's recent release of Sakuya Yokaiden aka Sakuya - Slayer Of Demons being coded for all regions even though the case says its coded for region 3.

Asian Films Battle Royale (2000) Golden Pheonix Vs The Dragon Letterboxed Japanese (DTS), Japanese (DD 5.1), Japanese (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3 Full Screen Cantonese (Mono) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Non-Asian Films Sacrifice (2000) One Night At McCool's (2001) Full Screen English (Stereo), Mandarin (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Full Screen English (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

This Week's Mei Ah Releases
Here are the covers for this week's Mei Ah releases and some upcoming Mei Ah releases. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Mei Ah for sending the pictures.

United We Stand, And Swim (2001) Something About Secret (1999) 18 Bronzemen 2, The (1976) Upcoming Releases Point Of No Return (1991) 18 Bronzemen, The (1976)

November Japanese Mega Star Releases
Spike have announced ten Mega Star releases for November. They will have removable English subtitles and will not be region coded. All are priced at 3800 Yen and are scheduled to be released on 11/29/2001.

ABRD-041	Protector, The (1985)
ABRD-042	Eighth Happiness, The (1988)
ABRD-043	Games Gamblers Play (1974)
ABRD-044	??? [probably Life After Life (1982)]
ABRD-045	??? [probably Brotherhood (1986)]
ABRD-046	China O'Brien 2 (1991)
ABRD-047	Happy Ghost 3 (1986)
ABRD-048	Robotrix (1991)
ABRD-049	??? [probably Happy Bigamist (1987)]
ABRD-050	City Hero (1985)

Titles not released by Universe in Hong Kong (Happy Ghost 3, City Hero, etc) should be released in Hong Kong by Mega Star 2-4 weeks after the Japanese release date.

Correction To October Spike/Mega Star Releases
ABRD-038 is China O'Brian (1990) not City Cops (1989). Here's the corrected list of Mega Star DVDs being released by Spike in Japan on 10/25/2001:

ABRD-031	Where's Officer Tuba (1986)
ABRD-032	Bruce Lee, The Man And The Legend (Documentary)
ABRD-033	Cherry Blossoms (1988)
ABRD-034	Aces Go Places 2 (1983)
ABRD-035	Dead And The Deadly, The (1983)
ABRD-036	Contract, The (1978)
ABRD-037	Bite Of Love, A (1990)
ABRD-038	China O'Brien (1990)
ABRD-039	Chinese Erotic Movies (This is a category 3 compilation previously released by Mega Star on VCD featuring Amy Yip, Pauline Chan, etc. - 60 minutes)
ABRD-040	Happy Ghost 2 (1985)

No English Subs On Chinese Dinner DVD
According to a post on the MHVF message board, Pony Canyon's Chinese Dinner DVD doesn't have English subtitles even though Pony Canyon announced that it would have English subtitles.

Tuesday, 09/25/2001

Battle Royale Announced
On 9/27/2001, Universe will release the Region 3 DTS DVD of Battle Royale [DTS 5670]. It will include Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles. I asked Universe if it will be letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced and they said "...we would like to inform you that this film we don't have Letterbox and Anamorphic (16x9) version." I have no idea if that means it will be letterboxed and non-anamorphic or just full screen. They should send me the cover within the next few days.

Fulltime Killer Announced
On 9/27/2001, Deltamac will release Fulltime Killer (2001) [DVD-88033]. It will include Cantonese and Mandarin (DD 5.1 and DTS) language tracks, and Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles. Extras will include a trailer, slide show, and a "making of" documentary.

For some reason, Deltamac sent the VCD cover instead of the DVD cover. Click on the picture below for a larger image. Thanks to Deltamac.

Saturday, 09/22/2001

Last Week's and This Week's Mei Ah Releases
Here are the covers for last week's and this week's Mei Ah releases. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Mei Ah for sending the pictures.

End Of The Road (1993) Bowl Qiuyue (1998) Older Master Cute 2 (Animation) Something About Secret (1999)

This Week's Universe Releases
This week Universe released the U.S. film Turbulence 2: Fear Of Flying (2000). Click on the picture below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the picture.

Turbulence 2: Fear Of Flying (2000) Letterboxed, 16x9 enhanced English (DD 5.1), English (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Saturday, 09/15/2001

This Week's Universe Releases
Here are the covers for this week's Universe releases including Shaolin Soccer (2001), and the Japanese film Sakuya Yokaiden (2000) aka Sakuya - Slayer Of Demons. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the pictures.

Shaolin Soccer (2001) Sakuya Yokaiden (2000) Letterboxed and 16x9 enhanced Cantonese (DTS), Cantonese (DD 5.1), Cantonese (Stereo), Mandarin (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Letterboxed Cantonese (DTS), Cantonese (DD 5.1), and Mandarin (DD 5.1) only (No Japanese Language Track) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Thursday, 09/13/2001

A quick look at the Japanese Mega Star DVD of On The Run (1988) released last week. Mega Star have told me that they plan on releasing this DVD in Hong Kong in mid-October (along with Will Of Iron, 100 Ways To Murder Your Wife and Happy Ghost).

Be forewarned that the review has screenshots of the ending. If you haven't seen the film, you might not want to read the review.

Saturday, 09/08/2001

This Week's Universe Releases
This week Universe released the Japanese film Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus (2000). Click on the picture below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the picture.

Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus (2000) Letterboxed Japanese (DD 5.1), Cantonese (DD 5.1), Cantonese (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Coming Next Week From Universe
Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (hopefully) and the Japanese film Sakuya Yokaiden (Cantonese/Mandarin only, no Japanese language track).

Wednesday, 09/05/2001

This Week's Mei Ah Releases
On 9/6/2001, Mei Ah will be releasing the Korean films Momento Mori (1999), and Interview (2000). Both will have removable English subtitles. Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Mei Ah for sending the pictures.

Also, according to Mei Ah, The 18 Bronzemen and The 18 Bronzemen Part 2 will be released soon.

Saturday, 09/01/2001

This Week's and Last Week's Universe Releases
Here are the covers for last week's and this week's Universe releases including Midnight Fly (2001), Ultimatum (2001), Love Paradox - Neither He Nor She (Stage Version), Love Paradox - The Man Next Door (Stage Version), and Dancer, The (2000). Click on the pictures below for a larger image. Thanks to Universe for sending the pictures.

Hong Kong Films Midnight Fly (2001) Ultimatum (2001) Letterboxed Cantonese/English (DD 5.1), Mandarin/English (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Letterboxed Cantonese (DD 5.1), Cantonese (Mono), Mandarin (DD 5.1) Chinese (Traditional), English, and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Love Paradox - Neither He Nor She (Stage Version) Love Paradox - The Man Next Door (Stage Version) Full Screen Cantonese (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Full Screen Cantonese (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Non-Asian Films Dancer, The (2000)   Full Screen English (DD 5.1), English (Stereo) Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified) subtitles Region 3

Coming Next Week From Universe: Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer (Extended Version)

October Japanese Mega Star Releases
Spike have announced ten Mega Star releases for October. They will have removable English subtitles and will not be region coded. All are priced at 3800 Yen and are scheduled to be released on 10/25/2001.

ABRD-031	???
ABRD-032	Bruce Lee, The Man And The Legend (Documentary)
ABRD-033	Cherry Blossoms (1988)
ABRD-034	Aces Go Places 2 (1983)
ABRD-035	Dead And The Deadly, The (1983)
ABRD-036	Contract, The (1978)
ABRD-037	Bite Of Love, A (1990)
ABRD-038	City Cops (1989)
ABRD-039	Chinese Erotic Movies (This is a category 3 compilation previously released by Mega Star on VCD featuring Amy Yip, Pauline Chan, etc. - 60 minutes)
ABRD-040	Happy Ghost 2 (1985)

If the past is any indication, titles not released by Universe in Hong Kong (Dead And The Deadly, Happy Ghost 2, etc) should be released in Hong Kong by Mega Star 2-4 weeks after the Japanese release date.

Covers For Japanese Gamera DVDs
Daiei has posted the cover art for the first four English subtitled Gamera DVDs due on 10/11/2001:

Gamera The Invincible (1965) [TKBU-5071]
http://www.gamera.gr.jp/html/news/dvd_01.html

Gamera Vs. Barugon (1966) [TKBU-5072]
http://www.gamera.gr.jp/html/news/dvd_02.html

Gamera Vs. Gaos (1967) [TKBU-5073]
http://www.gamera.gr.jp/html/news/dvd_03.html

Gamera Vs. Viras (1968) [TKBU-5074]
http://www.gamera.gr.jp/html/news/dvd_04.html

The cover art is done by Shinji Higuchi, the special effects director on the recent Gamera films.

Also, a correction to earlier news: Daiei's website says only the first seven films will have English subtitles. The eighth film, Space Monster Gamera (1980), will not have English subtitles.