|
buy this title
The Chow Yun-fat Collection, Vol. 2 [4K UHD] |
Comparison between the censored Hong Kong Blu-ray from Panorama and the original version on the LaserDisc from Golden Cinema City
- 3 differences
Director Taylor Wong is probably best known to Hong Kong film fans for the two action films Rich & Famous and Tragic Hero, starring Chow Yun-Fat, which were shot back-to-back and are thematically connected. While these two films can generally be classified as following in the footsteps of the box-office hit A Better Tomorrow, Triads: The Inside Story, the third collaboration between Chow and Taylor in 1989, took a different approach. It’s a relatively subdued drama in which the few outbreaks of violence are portrayed in a rather matter-of-fact manner and are by no means as stylized as in the aforementioned works. With Shing Fui-on, Chan Wai-man, and Kenneth Tsang, among others, Hong Kong film fans will also see a few familiar faces in supporting roles. Given the triad theme, the newly introduced Cat. III rating was a given back then, and yet the films were often subject to domestic censorship. One had to be very careful, at the very least, about what was shown. Some Hong Kong productions from this period in the late ’80s are known to have been released in appropriately toned-down versions. Examples include School on Fire and An Eye for an Eye. Triads: The Inside Story appears to have been released uncensored on LaserDisc, at least in the past; in any case, no longer versions are known to exist. Probably due in part to the film’s less action-heavy style, but later also because of the rights situation as part of the Golden Princess film catalog, there were hardly any releases outside of Asia. Shout has, of course, also restored this film, and it will be released on December 15, 2026 as part of the “Chow Yun-Fat Collection Vol. 2” alongside five other titles. The restoration is already available on the company’s own VOD service, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to check this version yet. Looking back at the previously released Blu-ray in Hong Kong, we can only hope that Shout actually had access to the original footage here. The Hong Kong Blu-ray, in any case, was censored in two scenes featuring triad rituals. This is only partially understandable to Western viewers, but although the entire film is, of course, set in that milieu, the hand signals shown here in particular have been removed intentionally.
Running times are listed according to the following format Additional references to Fortune Star at the beginning of the Blu-ray.
+ 38 sec
Alternative 00:54-01:55 / 00:15-00:58 The opening sequence is completely different. On the LaserDisc, you see a triad ceremony here with various hand gestures that are apparently frowned upon in Hong Kong. The Blu-ray, instead, shows the same credits on a white background, followed immediately by the title screen. Blu-ray is 16.7 seconds longer
The producer and director credits appear on the LaserDisc above the episode title, which can also be seen on the Hong Kong Blu-ray.
02:15 / 01:17–01:31 After the rest of the ritual, the LaserDisc also displays the title card on a white background. It’s also interesting to note that the aspect ratio here is 1.33:1 instead of the usual 1.85:1. 14.6 sec
Shortly thereafter, the Blu-ray is missing a location title card. Curiously, even in this shot, the LaserDisc displays an open-matte full-screen image, while the HD image has been cropped. The OFDb entry notes that (aside from the title card just mentioned) it is primarily the footage shot in Canada that is in full screen.
26:45 / 24:59–25:16 After Yeung Kong’s hospital stay, the triad ritual begins much earlier. He holds his fingers up in a pose and has a wreath placed over them. Man Ho watches with a slightly contemptuous look. 17.5 sec
When Man Ho comes home in the 64th/61st minute, the Hong Kong Blu-ray lacks the typical blue filter used for scenes set at night. Such filter differences are present in other scenes as well, but they are particularly noticeable here.
After identical end credits, the HK BD includes a copyright notice from Fortune Star, while the LaserDisc again references Golden Princess.
|
