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Arrow Video Shawscope Vol. 4 Box |
Comparison between the British BBFC 15 version with the uncut version, both available on the British/American Blu-ray from Arrow Video
- 2 cuts
Here we are again: After there were were many reports on Shawscope Vol. 3 at the end of 2024, Vol. 4 of the box set will now be available from December 8, 2025 (UK, or December 9 in the US). Once again, the collector's label Arrow Video offers new restorations of 16 films from the legendary Hong Kong film studios, which were notorious for years for their “framecut” versions of Celestial: countless moments roughly shortened at splice points and any kind of damage on the film material. Two, or on closer inspection even three titles are included in several versions within the box set. For Super Inframan, you also get the different US version, and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is also available with an additional scene exclusive to the Mandarin version. With Bloody Parrot, there was once again the typical British situation, without any prior announcement, that scenes involving animal cruelty are critical for the BBFC, which is why the uncut version is available on the same disc with code A (intended for America), but a slightly censored version is served up with code B (UK / Europe). Disc 6 features Bloody Parrot by Hua Shan (Kung Fu Zombie) from 1981. Jason Pai Piao and Lau Wing can be seen in this wild horror-erotic-action genre mix, and as the title suggests, animals once again play a role. The parrot remains unharmed, but a cat and a snake were badly mistreated during filming. Once again, Arrow Video has solved this by including two versions with playlists/seamless branching on the disc, which is otherwise identical in the UK and America. In addition, the well-known frame cut issue is also relevant here, although less serious than in many other cases.
We checked this separately, of course, but can give the all-clear: with a total duration of just under half a minute, nothing longer, let alone “relevant,” is lost.
Running times are listed according to the following scheme 38:33 / 38:33-38:47
In another long shot, you can see that the cat is already being stroked - which then becomes more violent in a close-up. Its neck is (implied) twisted, and as the camera zooms in on the now dead cat, it can be heard: "Spread the word. If Ye Tingfen continues to live, you will know my wrath." 14.1 sec
86:32 / 86:46-86:52 After seeing the snake in close-up, we see Ye Ting Feng again and the snake comes flying towards him. He slashes upwards with his sword and the animal falls to the ground, split in two. 6.6 sec
Just a side note: The end credits are different on the Hong Kong DVD. Otherwise, as mentioned, there are no differences, and even the colors are quite similar (at least slightly brighter on the old Hong Kong DVD), so further image comparisons were not necessary.
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