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Shawscope Blu-ray box |
Release: Jan 09, 2022 - Author: Muck47 - Translator: Mike Lowrey
- external link: IMDB
Comparison between the German Blu-ray by TVP and the British Blu-ray by Arrow Video
Several other master errors/"framecuts" with a duration of less than 1 sec each were not listed in the report. Available in the UK since 20th December 2021 and US since 28th December 2021 from aficionado label Arrow Video, the box set entitled "Shawscope Vol. 1" is a must-have for any fan of Asian action cinema. Included are 12 films from the legendary Shaw Brothers studio, plus lots of newly produced bonus material and a 60-page book. Version-wise, the original cut of Chinatown Kid, finally restored for the first time, is a special feature. This one's even a bit longer than previously available on VHS. There are also 6 other films (so including Chinatown Kid it's 7 titles) available for the first time in new restorations from Arrow Video. The other 5 films are the same as Celestial's versions, already released on other Blu-rays worldwide. Those who are somewhat familiar with the Shaw films should know that the versions on DVD and Blu-ray, which have been in common use worldwide since the mid-2000s, often have "framecuts". The Asian rights holder Celestial messed this up during the restoration: frames around the splices between individual shots or fractions damaged for whatever reasons were rigorously cut instead of carefully reconstructing the moments or simply leaving them as they were. Depending on the length of the film, this resulted in a loss of up to 5 minutes of running time, which is hardly noticeable during normal viewing. Fights in particular, however, often seem a bit jerky due to the quick shots being cut further for a few frames each. Annoyingly, some shots were also completely lost from time to time. That's why it was so exciting to see what the 7 new Arrow restorations might finally reveal in comparison to previous versions. Crippled Avengers is included on Disc 7 in the set. The runtime difference here is slightly less than for The Boxer from Shantung and King Boxer (5 Fingers of Death), but still significant:
Subtracting Celestial references from the old version, the new Arrow version is even 02:18 min longer. As expected, this is almost completely due to irrelevant "framecuts" at the beginning and end of shots, which are hardly noticeable during normal viewing. However, there is also a completely missing shot here, because of which it is strictly necessary to classify the old releases as cut. Also, the missing moments at the beginning/end of shots sometimes account for over 5 seconds at a time, so quite substantial. Additional trickery by Celestial in the form of recycled shots from around the perimeter when something was damaged in the middle of a shot can also be found. All not too spectacular in the end. Still, it's nice to see the film in complete form now for the first time since VHS days. Runtimes are ordered as follows: TVP Blu-ray / Arrow Video Blu-ray The introductory logo of the framecuts perpetrators from Celestial is consequently missing from the new Blu-ray by Arrow Video.
Note: It comes separately before the movie file though. + 12 sec
The credits are in red on the old Celestial master. Arrow has them in white.
06:48 / 06:42-06:46 The smooth fade to the drinking Tien Tao comes pretty quickly in the old master. In the Arrow restoration, it is now played out extended: The shot in the restaurant thus starts much earlier. 4,4 sec
14:34 / 14:41-14:43 The Celestial version pauses after the first character. Actually, Wei draws a second one in the same shot. 1,6 sec
19:07 / 19:25-19:26 Just one of the usual "framecuts", but mentioned once because of a striking spot: Kuei grabs a moment towards his severed legs at the end of the shot. The following shot of Tien Tao also starts a moment earlier. 0,8 sec
28:39 / 29:23-29:25 How our heroes turn the corner in the forest in the first shot starts a bit earlier. 2,3 sec
Alternative 36:17-36:18 / 37:14-37:15 Before the wheel is turned, the Celestial version inserts a close-up of Weis' eyes. The Arrow version instead stays in long shot throughout, just until the wheel is turned. You know this from other Celestial restorations: Obviously, there was a little damage in the middle of the shot here, and this spot was "patched" by recycling something from the perimeter and putting it in the middle. No time difference
40:55 / 41:56-41:58 A shot of the workout starts earlier. So you get to see two more sandbag attacks. 2 sec
51:42 / 52:53-52:59 The blind man walks around the room for a much longer time. When he gets to the stairs and you see them in close-up, the Celestial Master is finally back as well. 6,1 sec
76:47 / 78:36-78:40 The first completely missing shot, after the blind man bounces off Chu's stomach and somersaults away in slow motion. With Arrow now in closer shot, he staggers to Wei who grabs him by the arm. 3,6 sec
Alternative 82:34-82:35 / 84:30-84:31 Again, a longer shot of Celestial has been interrupted here in the middle by a re-cut. When Tien Tao enters, the blind man and Kuei are only briefly seen there again. No time difference
The closing credits also again in red vs. white. The end fade-in was also in white in the previous Celestial version - but slightly different in design compared to the original Arrow version.
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