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John Woo / News / 2003 |
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February
Dragon Tamers available on DVD [24.12.2003]John Woo's second feature film as director, martial arts actioner Dragon Tamers (1974) is available on DVD! I just found it from eBay. I was told that this DVD is released in China. This DVD is the only video version I know being available of this movie at the moment. Technically speaking DVD is not that much high quality product but if you want to see this rare early Woo film it is worth getting anyway. One of the major problems with this DVD is that it is not subtitled at all. Two optional soundtracks has been provided in Cantonese and Mandarin. So if you don't understand spoken Chinese then you will miss the dialogue. Movie was filmed with wide Cinemascope format (2,35:1) but this DVD provides pan&scan version only in aspect ratio 1,33:1 (4:3) o we are losing big part of the original picture. Only opening credits are letterboxed. Picture quality is not that great but at least you can see the movie. There is no additional material, not even menu. DVD starts with some
copyright notices in English and Chinese and then the movie begins.
Spanish A Better Tomorrow 2 DVD [24.12.2003]I just found another DVD release of A Better Tomorrow 2. Spanish release may
not be the most recommended version because it is dubbed in English and Spanish
only but at least it is supposed to be anamorphic widescreen version. DVD was
released in September 19 2001.
Once a Thief R1 DVD [24.12.2003]Once a Thief R1 DVD from Columbia TriStar.
Hard Boiled 1 & 2 Germany [24.12.2003]Language: Germany, Cantonese Better Tomorrow trilogy Germany [24.12.2003]Language: Germany, Mandarin
Bulletproof Monk released 16.04. [21.04.2003]Bulletproof monk was finally released in theaters in US. Release date was April 16. Movie starring Chow Yun-fat as a nameless monk is based on a comic book about invincible monk. Movie was produced by John Woo and Terence Chang. Premiere of the movie was held in April 7th at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. Chow Yun-fat was not on the event. Because of desease called SARS and travel warnings issued by World Healt Organization Chow Yun-fat decided not to travel to US from his home in Hong Kong. But how is the movie itself? Unfortunately I haven't seen it yet so I must take the word of those who has. Chow Yun-fat has received very good reviews when movie itself hasn't. "Chow Yun-fat deserves so much better than Bulletproof Monk" as Chris Kaltenbach writes in the Baltimore Sun. Bulletproof monk was released on Wednesday April 16 in 2955 theaters. On opening day monk was second on box office After Anger Management wich has collected over $50 million so far. Bulletbroof had $1,443 million on first day. We'll see soon how much it makes during long holiday weekend. Release dates USA - 16 April 2003 Windtalkers R2 SE DVD in Japan [19.04.2003]
Once a Thief R1 DVD from Columbia [19.04.2003]
Woo and Chang to Judge Ninja Film Content [19.04.2003]
John Woo and his Lion Rock partner Terence Chang will form the jury of Activision's Reel Ninja Film Contest in February. The contest is part of the software house's efforts to publicize upcoming PS2 game "Tenchu; Wrath od Heaven." Entries by College and film students are accepted between Feb. 3 and Feb. 17. Contestants are asked to submit up to 3-minute "Ultimate Ninja" shorts (live action or animated). Forty randomly drawn finalists will then be judged by Woo and Chang, who'll award $15000 to their favorite. Five runner up flicks are then presented at http://www.ninjafilmcontest.com/ to be voted for. The public voting favorite can garner a special price of $5000. http://www.ninjafilmcontest.com/
Honor among Thieves obsolete [19.04.2003]"Honor Among Thieves" won't be a John Woo vechile any more. Previously Warner thouthgt that this script written by George Nolfi could have been suitable material for Woo to direct but now this script has been turned into a sequel to Steven Soderbergh's film "Ocean's Eleven". Soderberg is about to direct "Ocean's Twelve" as this project so cleverly is now called. Soderbergh might not only direct the sequel but also produce it with George Clooney who propably will reprise his role from original film. Also Bratt Pitt and other star from original movie could be seen in this forthcoming sequel as well.
Pirates hit Bulletproof Monk [19.04.2003]Seems like the "Bulletproof Monk", John Woo's latest producing effort, is less resistant to piracy as to gunfire. Four months before the latest Chow-Yun Fat feature's scheduled release on April 16, a pirated VCD copy hit Asian markets. The illegal VCD, which Hollywood sources suspect of having been taped during a work-print industry screening, originates from Malaysia and is available throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the pirated "Monk" VCD is "the worst breach of security of a film's copyright ever". A MPAA spokesman told the Malay Mail newspaper that this very serious issue was already being investigated. A Far East syndicate with Hollywood connections is supected of the piracy. The distributed VCD lacks key scenes, among them opening and climax, as the picture is still in post-production and some reshots have yet to be integrated. The disc features Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia subtitles. Also, shadows of moving heads are visible and audience laughter can be heard.
Rosebud? [19.04.2003]"Rosebud" Rumours Asian newspapers have reported that John Woo might be interested in filming the life story of Mary Ong a.k.a. "Rosebud". 46-year-old Ong, a former dollar smuggler who turned narcotics agent both for the Hongkong and the Philippine police, had a key role in blowing up a money laundering conspiracy alleged to include a Phillipine Senator and Police Chief. She's been living guarded in safehouses ever since. Ong's Hollywood agent thinks of a six figure deal and is in talks with a number of companies, John Woo's Lion Rock among them. No deals have been struck yet, but Ong has her hopes on Hollywood as the subject was "too hot to handle" for local film industry. Gossip has top-notch names like Michelle Yeoh, Lucy Liu or Kelly Hu in for the role.
Windtalkers DVD and VHS in Finland 9.5.2003 [19.04.2003]Windtalkers DVD and VHS will be released in Finland in May 9, 2003. Rental versions will be available a little earlier.As far as I know DVD version released in Finland will have original English soundtrack and additional dubs in German and Spanish. Extra material includes documentary, two commentaries, making of featurette, interviews and picture galleries. Movie in itself has 16 different translation subtitles but unfortunately additional material will be subtitled in German, English, Spanish and Dutch only.
Windtalkers R1 3-DVD Director's cut [28.02.2003]MGM announced Windtalkers Director's cut 3 DVD disc edition
for May (5/20 - $39.98), which will feature a 20-minutes-longer version of the
film, 3 audio commentary tracks and extensive historical and behind-the-scenes
documentary material among other extras. Disc One
Windtalkers R2 2-DVD -French Collector's Edition [28.02.2003]In France two versions of Windtalkers DVD will be released in 19. March 2003. Both versions has anamorphic widescreen and p&s pictures and DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 in English and French. Subtitles are in French only. 2 DVD edition has many extras mentioned. Looks like most of them were included on Australian R4 Special edition. But the most interensting addition is commentary track by John Woo and Terence which was not on R4 DVD. This commentary will be on futher R1 DVD including Director's cut announces to be released in May.
1 DVD
Collector's Edition: 2 DVD ! Bonus (Collector's edition):
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In 2003 Woo prepared his next film Paycheck after Windtalkers. . |
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© Copyright 1996-
Vesa Jalkanen /
Red on White Last updated Monday, 26-Apr-2004 00:00:00 EEST |
