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)
    BowlQiuyue (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.