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Shawscope Vol. 3 Blu-ray box |
Comparison between the Celestial version, represented here by the German Blu-ray from T.V.P., and the 2024 restoration from Arrow Video, contained on the British/American Blu-ray from Arrow Video
- 25 relevant missing bits Several other master errors/framecuts with a duration of less than 1 sec each were not listed in the report.
At the end of 2021, Arrow Video in the UK/USA released the ‘Shawscope Vol. 1’ box set, which contained 12 films from the legendary Hong Kong film studio. In addition to 5 well-known HD masters from the licensor Celestial, there were 7 new HD restorations that did not have the infamous framecuts that run through much of the Celestial catalogue. We have documented this in more detail in several editing reports, for example the comparison to Five Venoms. At the end of 2022, ‘Shawscope Vol. 2’ followed with 9 out of a total of 14 films in new HD restorations without framecuts, for example the report on Ten Tigers of Kwantung. From 25 November 2024 (UK) and 6 December 2024 (USA) respectively, ‘Shawscope Vol. 3’ is available. Fortunately, this time even all 14 films included are new restorations, so that there is added value across the board compared to the previously known Celestial versions. Particularly exciting are CLans of Intrigue, which has only been available in a censored version worldwide so far, and The New One-Armed Swordsman, which was only released by T.V.P. in an incomplete reconstruction instead of fully uncut. The Avenging Eagle is a similar case which had a half-baked "uncut" reconstruction in Germany by filmArt. Arrow presents all these problem cases in the longest versions to date, along with much more. The One-Armed Swordsman on Disc 1 has no differences according to the comparison with the Blu-ray by T.V.P. One might think that the Celestial restoration at that time was not affected by the framecut method, but this is not the case. The German VHS, for example, not only reveals (despite a lot of its own cuts) that both the T.V.P. Blu-ray and the new Arrow Video restoration have a lot of framecuts as usual, but even in the first two minutes also a shot of Tien Feng is completely missing from both HD versions. It is therefore very annoying that this well-known introductory film, of all things, is the only one in the box that is still only available in a cut version. The sequel The Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, included on Disc 2, was not affected by the framecut method, but was released in Germany only in 2020 with a German dubbing based on the Celestial restoration.
Minus the Celestial cuts, the new Arrow version is 4:01 min longer. As always, the vast majority of the framecut gaps in the old Celestial master are not noticeable during normal viewing, but we have included a few striking moments where the framecuts make scene transitions appear more erratic. And there are also completely missing shots, some of which even have a taste of censorship. Several places with more than 5 missed seconds in a row also speak for themselves: it's no surprise that every fan of the genre classic is clearly advised to get the new Arrow restoration.
Runtime information is given according to the scheme The German Blu-ray still has the Celestial logo at the start.
+ 12 sec A brief comparison of the images to start with. The colours in the new Arrow version are more natural and stronger. Like so many Celestial masters, this one has also been filtered quite a bit, while the Arrow restoration has a fine grain structure and generally just looks pleasantly fresher.
17:54 / 18:01-18:02 When several fighters jump down from above, there is the first noticeable frame cut with a duration of > 0.5 sec at the end/beginning of two shots. 0.8 sec
31:07 / 31:37-31:38 Chen Sing looks towards the door for a longer period of time, through which Wang Yu then enters. 1.3 sec
Alternative 37:25-37:26 / 38:04-38:05 A classic example of inaccurate restoration at Celestial: the apparently damaged middle part of a shot was covered up by adding a short re-ordered scene. No time difference
46:43 / 47:38 An interesting moment, and basically the entire scene is an example of how the framecuts take away intensity: After Wang Yu's slash into the air, his opponent turns around earlier and you can see his bloody wound briefly. All of the following reaction shots between the two, which are only very short, are shortened at the beginning and end, so that the scene is quite hectic in the in Celestial version. 0.4 sec
62:32 / 64:09-64:11 A shot starts significantly earlier, showing more jumps behind the net. 2.1 sec
62:54 / 64:35-64:40 There is a noticeable gap in the soundtrack and video during Celestial, and a whole shot is missing: After he jumps down from above, the fighter is first seen sitting on the ground. A throwing star (probably a makibishi) is stuck in his foot, which he pulls out with a pained expression on his face before getting up again. The following shot also starts a little earlier with him moving into the frame from the left. 5.2 sec
62:56 / 64:42-64:40 One of the usual mini frame cuts < 0.5 sec, but a peculiar bit: When he is hit by a spear shortly afterwards, the frame cut swallows a part of the shot as well. 0.3 sec
63:43 / 65:31-65:32 Before the roof collapses, two short shots are completely missing: cracking bamboo and the men pulling. 1.5 sec
66:13 / 68:10-68:12 The fighter approaches from the front in another completely missing shot. 1.4 sec
67:40 / 69:46 The sword is pulled out of the belly at the beginning of the shot. 0.5 sec
Alternative 76:29-76:30 / 78:45-78:47 Also interesting: A shot of the gate is briefly frozen during the Celestial version. The beginning of the follow-up shot, in which the sword is first drawn, is missing. Arrow version 0.7 sec longer
Alternative 77:07-77:08 / 79:25-79:26 In the Celestial version, the obviously damaged middle part of a shot was covered up by a (repeated) reaction shot. No time difference
78:11 / 80:31-80:33 The fighters rappel down for a longer time. 1,7 sec
78:15 / 80:37-80:40 The next shot is also longer, so we get to see a few more sword strokes. 2,7 sec
78:54 / 81:19-81:21 It takes a little longer for Wang Yu to get the bars raised. At the end there is a small jump cut, which was probably the reason for the cut. 1,7 sec
79:21 / 81:49-81:50 The weapon is pulled out a moment longer, making the change to the next shot less abrupt. 1 sec
80:44 / 83:14-83:16 The fighters strike a pose before throwing their weapons. 1.7 sec
82:55 / 85:32-85:38 At the end of the scene, the battlefield is left for a little longer. 6 sec
85:11 / 87:59-88:00 The box is shown a little longer. 1.6 sec
87:19 / 90:12-90:16 While the Celestial version only cuts in when the jewellery is already in the hand, the Arrow reconstruction shows earlier how the hand comes into the picture at the top. 3.6 sec
89:38-89:39 / 92:39-92:43 The Celestial version starts the blurring effect a bit earlier to mark the end of the flashback. In the Arrow reconstruction, there is also a small jump cut here before the (longer played) blurring effect starts. Arow version 3.1 sec longer
90:43 / 93:50-93:52 A long shot at the end of the scene is a little longer. 2.6 sec
102:01 / 105:34-105:36 Another perspective of Wang Yu defending himself and then jumping before his jump in the previous shot. 2.5 sec
104:35 / 108:17-108:18 Also listed because this frame cut comes during a more violent scene: the masters attack Tien Feng (lying on the ground) a little earlier. 0.5 sec
105:22 / 109:06-109:11 A first shot from a distance, showing the two on the right on the way down from the bridge. In the subsequent shot from this perspective, they are already walking in the background. 4.8 sec
The end credits differ. Only on the old Blu-ray, there are references to Celestial again. T.V.P. Blu-ray 13 sec longer
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