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Release: Oct 29, 2020 - Author: Muck47 - Translator: Mike Lowrey
- external link: IMDB
Comparison between the German Blu-ray by TVP and the extended version on DVD 2 in TVP's mediabook.
A few additional master errors with a duration of less than 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report. Especially the HD master loses a few frames here and there.
Magnum Thunderbolt (international title: A Man from Holland), created in 1986, is a nice sleazy Hong Kong action movie in which Philip Ko and Michael Chan Wai-Man face each other. A lot of violence, sex and explosive side issues like an incoherent body painting session dominate the events - the genre fan is well served here. And on the Blu-ray/DVD combo by TVP, available since October 2020 after a few postponements, you get to see the trash flick for the first time in really acceptable quality and more or less complete form. Anyway, from a version point of view, there was quite a chaos. The German VHS was censored for several minutes with all kinds of violence. The version was based on the IFD export version, of which we do not know any release in its uncut form. This export version contains a longer scene that is missing in the Hong Kong version. The Hong Kong versions have their own violence/sex censorship, but also offer two additional action scenes. Curiously, the HD scan contains none of the additional material of the Hong Kong and export versions, but fortunately it is uncensored in the action/sex scenes. As an SD bonus, TVP has included an "Extended Version" on DVD, for which inserts from the German and Hong Kong versions and alternative credits from a different release were added. In the following report, we will focus on this extended version, which can be found on DVD 2 in the TVP mediabook. It is immediately noticeable here that the HD master of the Blu-ray was not used as the basis, but another picture master with rather pale colors and many signs of wear and tear. Qualitatively, the Blu-ray is miles superior here and since the additional action scenes in the extended version are relatively unspectacular, everyone is advised to view this HD version. At least the difference in quality to the three inserted main scenes is less obvious. Furthermore, the various (insignificant) frame cuts of the HD master are not objectionable. Here you really get to see the longest possible version. This also includes additional/alternative credits. As a pure bonus for uncut hardliners, this is a well-rounded package. The German VHS still keeps its collector's value, because in the mediabook, the additional scene is only available as zoomed to full screen for whatever reason. This is the case both in the extended version and in the featurette with the three large bonus scenes, which can be selected individually on the Blu-ray. On VHS it was still in ~ 1.66:1 and therefore you could see much more on the sides. The image quality is also worse than on the VHS copy available for comparison. In addition, it can be noted that a sex scene in the HD master is strangely repeated for eight seconds. Only the extended contains additional footage for these eight seconds instead and it is not quite clear whether this is an unintentional mistake on the Blu-ray. Runtimes are ordered as follows: German Blu-ray / Extended Version DVD in PAL 00:00 / 00:00-01:06
The Extended begins with several additional credits on a black background - including another film title. 66,4 sec (= 1:06 min)
Nevertheless, shortly after that there are more credits in the extended version with different title display. As you can see, the Extended is paler and the full screen zoomed (not open matte). Here are some more comparison pictures from later in the movie, you can see some wear and tear.
27:57 / 28:00-29:50 After the scene with the bosses, the IFD version and thus also the German VHS has an additional (first) disco scene to offer. Mr. Lao gets two girls delivered to his table and is annoyed that he is not allowed to take them to his room. A short brawl ensues. 110 sec (= 1:50 min) Unfortunately, the Extended in full screen is of course strongly zoomed compared to the German VHS, which is still in ~ 1.66:1. The picture is also quite washed out and in rather bad condition (see the constantly flickering white lines below).
In the following, the entire scene was therefore preferably illustrated by the German VHS:
30:10 / 31:57-32:06 After a close-up, the Extended again offers more material in the sex scene. On the German VHS and the Hong Kong VCD, it has already been shortened differently and more extensively compared to the Blu-ray. At first glance, it is hardly noticeable that the Blu-ray is not complete here either... 8.4 sec
30:18-30:27 / 32:14 ...which may also be due to this difference: Strangely enough, a few seconds later, two shots on the Blu-ray suddenly repeat themselves. So in the end, there is no time difference. But while the HD version here just recycles material unnecessarily twice in a row, the previous part of the Extended actually shows an additional shot. + 8.3 sec
65:17 / 65:45-66:48 The first expansion from the Hong Kong version comes directly after the torture with hot water from the shower head (which by the way was censored lightly in Hong Kong and heavily on the German VHS). You can see another interrogation at the police office. Chiu is interrogated and gives himself unwittingly about Lay, but is very interested in the witness protection program. Note: The Hong Kong VCD was also in full screen, so in this case, there are no notable differences in the picture compared to the extended version. Optionally (or forced), there are German subtitles in yellow over the Chinese subtitles. 63 sec (= 1:03 min)
66:03 / 67:33-68:07 Before the billiard game, the inspector asks Miss Wu. She mentions Chan Sai Man as another accomplice. 34.1 sec
Here are two more screenshots from the two Hong Kong scenes with forced subs.
The final credits are different.
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