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UK Blu-ray set with both versions 
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Comparison between the reconstructed international version and the Asian version (both included on the British Blu-ray from 88 Films)
84 differing passages, incl. 14 re-ordered scenes
Production history & version overview of DR. WAI In Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words"), Hong Kong star director Ching Siu-Tung (A Chinese Ghost Story, Swordsman II) collaborated with Jet Li once again. Unfortunately, the project turned out to be quite chaotic: a fire destroyed sets reportedly worth around 10 million Hong Kong dollars and also almost 1/3 of the material that had already been shot. Without further ado, the scriptwriters were hired again and a rather questionable storyline was devised in the present day. This is exactly what you get to see in the Asian version - while for the international version, the maximum was made of the remaining material, so that the film takes place entirely in the 1930s. For the British, the Asian version was already available on DVD, while in Germany only the international version has ever been known and in France both versions (in better quality than in Germany/UK) were released together on DVD. This history caused problems when the jump to HD quality was made, as Fortune Star currently only offers the domestic version as a new scan from Hong Kong. The Asian version is therefore the main film on the Blu-ray premiere in the UK, which has been available since November 20, 2023. The international version is also included, but as a "reconstructed version" that uses the HD master as a basis. SD material is spliced in many times, as all export-exclusive moments were not available in HD. We summarized some minor editing errors in advance in a separate report. With this knowledge as a basis for the "integrity" of the actual version, here is our "main" report on this title.
Differences in the Asian version As noted at the beginning, the most distinctive change of the Asian version is the additional frame story in the present, which shows our main characters (Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Charlie Yeung and Takeshi Kaneshiro) in an office setting. Li is an author who writes the story of his alter ego Dr. Wai aka "Adventure King". In his private life, he is having a crisis with his girlfriend Kwan, so he has writer's block and is supported by his colleagues Yeung/Kaneshiro. Depending on his current state of mind, Kwan's alter ego sometimes appears scheming or tame during the course of the "Adventure King" material. Of course, this gave the editors a free pass to flexibly work around plot holes caused by lost shots. If you can get involved in this rather dodgy storyline, it works quite well in places, but sometimes the motivations of the characters are only just barely comprehensible. The frame story has a lot of typically silly Hong Kong humor, which certainly won't appeal to everyone. In addition, the romance between Kaneshiro and Yeung gets a little more screen time, which is probably also due to the fact that the two previously wowed audiences together in Fallen Angels. Instead, the international version is a fairly straightforward Indiana Jones variation without being pulled out of the actual adventure story. Conversely, the almost identical running time is of course due to exclusive material in the main storyline in the international version and here Kwan's character stands out in particular. Her Monica* is clearly designed as a cunning spy right from the start, who tries to use Li for her own purposes by every trick in the book. It is also noticeable that the Asian version is aimed more at a younger audience, which is probably why some of the violence has been removed. As a result, Billy Chow's character is somewhat nastier in the international version and the agonizing death of a prisoner in a gas chamber, obviously an allusion to the experiments of the infamous Unit 731 used as a model for Men Behind the Sun, stands out as a cut. With such fundamental differences, which version you prefer is ultimately a matter of taste, but many fans certainly prefer the international version. It is therefore a shame that it has not been preserved in uniform HD quality. Despite the shortcomings of the SD-HD hybrid reconstruction, the British Blu-ray once again offers a recommendable complete package for anyone interested. Runtime specifications are arranged according to the scheme
* With regard to the names in the editing report, it should also be noted that different reel names appear depending on the editing version and soundtrack/synchronization. For the sake of simplicity, we use the English names as far as possible.
First of all, with regard to several completely re-ordered scene blocks, it should be noted that we follow the course of the Asian version chronologically in the report.
01:21-02:28 / 01:21-01:53 After identical company logos at the start of the British Blu-ray, an alternative opening credits sequence follows, which runs significantly longer in the international version (= IV). International version 35 sec longer
02:28 / 01:53-02:29 The Asian version (= AV) begins with shots of Dr. Wai (Jet Li) and Shing (Takeshi Kaneshiro) stumbling around, discovering something. In off-camera commentary, Chow (Jet Li's other character in the present) introduces himself as a writer called the "Adventure King". He notes that such a moniker and the underlying fictional character would blend with reality. On his last expedition, he and his apprentice (Shing) would have been lost in the desert for three days and stumbled upon something - meanwhile, Dr. Wai looks ahead. 36.2 sec
Additional material in international version 02:28-02:35 / 02:29 The following tracking shot down to the working people starts a little earlier in IV. + 7 sec
02:47 / 02:41-02:45 Before the shot of the bull, the AV shows Dr. Wai and Shing again. 4.4 sec
Additional material in international version 03:10-03:14 / 03:08 One shot is slightly longer in the IV, so that the image source changes in the middle of Eureka's version (blue colours). Then you can see Shing running around in another shot. + 4.7 sec
Additional footage in international version 03:17-03:18 / 03:11 At the next change of shots, there are also a few more irrelevant frames to discover. + 0.9 sec 04:05 or 04:25-04:26 / 03:58-10:52 The Asian version now switches extensively to the present: Chow and Shing are initially seen in their everyday office life. Shing is dreaming at work and talks about the golden bull in his sleep, whereupon he is woken up by Chow. Shing gets upset about it for a moment, saying that he needs more hours of sleep a day. When he then goes to Chow's office, he is sitting dejectedly in front of an empty "box of ideas". Shing asks if there are any more problems in his love life and therefore with Monica (Rosamund Kwan), who is still his wife. There's a silly situation with an apple (Shing uses it as a metaphor, but Chow throws it away in annoyance and a man in the office who is hit by it is delighted with the fruit that hasn't even been nibbled on).
Then Chow is called to see his boss. There he summarizes that 93 books have already been written for "Adventure King", but there is still a lack of content for the 7 issues missing to fulfill the terms of the contract. The boss only emphasizes that Chow needs to get over his relationship problems with Monica - whereupon she calls and makes it clear that she is now in love with the boss. On the way out, Shing and the colleague (Yvonne aka Charlie Yeung) talk about a new employee with a highly dramatic tale of woe who is now one of the most productive writers: he can be seen frantically scribbling on several sheets of paper at the same time. So Chow should use the problems with Monica to his advantage. In the background, the boss mentions that Monica wants to meet with him tonight to talk about the divorce.
This is followed by the conversation in the restaurant that has just been announced. Chow says that he doesn't want to agree to the divorce and yet she knew what kind of person he is. Monica is obviously not happy either and goes on about how they have no children. Chow realizes that they both work far too much, and that he sometimes works all night. Shing and Yvonne are sitting at the next table and the latter wants to get up enthusiastically when two men join them at the table. However, this is not the film star she suspects, but a man who apparently has business connections with Monica and her divorce lawyer - the latter is Chan (Billy Chow), who appears in the main plot as Dr. Wai's Japanese counterpart. Meanwhile, Yvonne expresses at the next table that she thinks Shing is very cute, but he turns her down. The man at Monica's side promises to get Chow a job in television, but he is not interested in interfering in the divorce. The two men leave and Dr. Wai unceremoniously orders a bottle of vodka.
The change of scene follows promptly: Shing and Yvonne carry the drunken Chow back to the office. The security guard refuses to let them in, but allows himself to be bribed with a six-pack of beer. The next morning, half asleep in his seat, Chow continues to talk only of the suffering caused by the impending divorce. Shing explains to Yvonne in the background that the "box of ideas" is empty, whereupon Yvonne urges her to continue writing the story herself. She reminds them that the last story ended with the golden bull getting out of control and Shing starts typing.
Lastly, back in the original plot, there is a first shot of people going down under the roller. At least this comes as a re-ordered scene in the international version 20 sec later. Asian version 412.7 sec (= 6:53 min) longer In the subsequent shots, Dr. Wai is announced in both versions via off-screen commentary. In the IV it is a male voice speaking of Dr. Wai's father, in the AV Yvonne mentions the "Adventure King". Additional material in international version 04:15-04:19 / 11:03 Another shot of Dr. Wai on the horse. + 3.3 sec
Alternate / Additional footage in international version 05:11-05:12 / 11:53-11:54 Dr. Wai stands on the vehicle a moment longer in a close shot in the Asian version. In the international version, the following, more distant shot begins a moment earlier. International version 0.3 sec Additional material in the international version 05:26-05:28 / 12:08 A shot of Dr. Wai and Shing begins a little earlier. + 1.8 sec
At 05:30 / 12:10-12:11, the Eureka reconstruction of the international version has a small editing error. As already noted in the separate report, the shot of the two of them just shown was actually a moment longer in earlier versions of the international version (= German and French DVD) - and it is exactly the same in the Asian version. Re-ordered scene 06:58-08:03 / 13:39 or 41:48-42:48 In the IV, the flashback here is much longer in one piece. Most of this comes half an hour later in the Asian version. As the AV was primarily taken as the basis for the film's progression in this report, we will deal with a few small differences in this part further down. 08:03 / 13:39-13:47 Instead, after the flashback the AV has a long shot of the conversation and one from a different perspective in which Shing turns to the general. He talks about archaeologists who have come across a letter in Japan that would reveal the location of the writing. Shing and Dr. Wai immediately ask enthusiastically where the letter is. 7.9 sec
Strangely, the reconstruction of the international version still uses the alternative SD master for the first second of the following close-up of the general, although this is also completely included in the Asian HD master. Additional material in international version. 08:08-08:26 / 13:52 The General comments longer on how important the scripture is even for the continued existence of the world. With the box, they could find the writing and that's why he's sure they'll take the job. + 17.9 sec
Additional material in international version 08:38-08:39 / 14:04 As already documented in the other report, the Eureka reconstruction of the international version switches briefly to the other master at the end of the shot of the skyline. However, this shot was actually a moment longer at the beginning. + 1.4 sec Additional material in international version 08:54-09:29 / 14:19 After Dr. Wai and Shing drive up, the Asian version completely omits the comically exaggerated scene where someone is gunned down in front of them. The suspected gangster boss begs Dr. Wai with the last of his strength for Ting Li to avenge him. Dr. Wai says rather disinterestedly that Ting might not have time for it. They continue to the entrance and Shing asks why Dr. Wai didn't respond. Dr. Wai says that they can't take care of every "bleeding heart Shanghai story". + 34.3 sec
Immediately afterwards, the AV again has female voice-over commentary (i.e. from Yvonne), which explains that the "Adventure King" has dressed up as the triad leader Chung. She also briefly introduces a "special trick" in the subsequent scene with Dr. Wai and Shing dressed up in women's clothing. A moment later, during the dance in the ballroom, the IV again has the male off-commentary, which reports that "my dad" Dr. Wai was always prepared to make sacrifices. Additional material in international version 11:49-11:51 / 16:40 The drunk comes into the picture a little earlier. + 2.2 sec
Additional material in international version 14:18-14:35 / 19:06 Dr. Wai and Shing walk around longer and Shing thinks he has discovered the safe. He shakes it around, causing a few books to fall on Dr. Wai's head. + 17.1 sec
Alternative / Additional material in international version 15:02-15:10 / 19:33-19:36 Dr. Wai searches the file in alternate shot, with the take from the IV being significantly longer. International version 5.6 sec longer
Additional material in international version 15:16-15:19 / 19:42 Another shot of the room, with Dr. Wai somersaulting forward to the glass door and Monica coming in right after. + 3.3 sec
18:00 / 22:22-22:24 The AV has a short additional shot in which Dr. Wai hands Monica a note. This introduces what is also made clear by the following differences: Monica plays a slightly different role in the Asian version as the plot progresses. While it quickly becomes clear in the IV that she is pursuing her own selfish interests as a foreign spy, she remains the typical "love interest" for longer in the AV and the resolution of the search for the scripture also takes place in a different way. This also has to do with the fact that the story in the AV is sometimes written by Chow and sometimes Shing/Yvonne take over. Monica's character therefore sometimes acts one way and sometimes another. 2.2 sec
Additional material in international version 18:04-18:08 / 22:29 Monica is not shot at all, as is the case here in the IV. Dr. Wai is still looking around at her. + 4.3 sec
Re-ordered scene 18:09-18:11 / 22:30 and 23:12-23:14 respectively Dr. Wai jumps out in additional shot - but this also occurs in the AV at the end of the following extension.
18:12 / 22:32-23:16 The Asian version again shows Monica opening and reading the note. Dr. Wai introduces himself as "Adventure King" and she is flattered. Yvonne briefly describes this again as a narrator off-screen. Shing's voice makes a comment, and we switch briefly to the two of them in the present: They have fallen asleep together in front of the PC. Chow joins in and says that women don't behave like that. He continues writing himself. Finally, the main plot continues earlier with two shots, the first of which is Dr. Wai jumping through the window (not shown again). 45.3 sec
Additional material in international version 18:17-18:18 / 23:21 Before Monica gives a back whistle to Chan (Billy Chow), the shot begins a moment earlier in the IV - and thus again features a noticeable jump in picture quality/colours in the middle of the Eureka reconstruction. Interestingly, the colours have at least been adjusted for this, although it still differs from the image source for the beginning of the shot. + 1.6 sec
Additional material in international version 18:29-24:02 / 23:32 The further escape of Dr. Wai and Shing can only be seen in the IV. Some soldiers are milling about, so Dr. Wai suggests marching out "right under their noses". He goes ahead, whereupon Shing says a few silly words to the sheepdogs sitting behind them. This ends with a stylized fade to a shot of the animals sitting around him and one putting its paws on Shing's chest.
Dr. Wai meets Monica inside again and follows her. Monica has entered a small pool in the dark and Dr. Wai stumbles into it. She now demonstratively turns on the light, while Dr. Wai is ashamed to see her half-naked. Dr. Wai switches the light off several times, which is why Shing suspects some kind of Morse code from the room outside. In the following dialog between Monica and Dr. Wai, it becomes clear once again that Monica is playing a false game. She also insistently asks for his name, to which Dr. Wai switches gears and comes up with one: Jet Li. Monica is not really convinced. In the meantime, she hands him a small scarf.
Shing continues to lie with the dogs and philosophizes about life. Dr. Wai joins them and immediately distracts the dogs with the small cloth Monica gave him in the pool, which he has now shaped into a ball. On the way out, they talk about the fact that the letter doesn't clearly explain how to find the box. Shing, however, notes that you can interpret some relationship problems from the letter and says he would never put a box like that over women. Dr. Wai notices that the letter was written on newsprint, so they head off to the print shop. (An important explanation, as to how they get there.)
Monica then talks to the Japanese General Chan and says that he never got any further with the letter and that's why she set the trap for Dr. Wai. However, they cannot follow the two of them directly on their way to the box. However, she suspects that Dr. Wai will immediately contact the Chinese government if he finds out anything and then they want to intervene. Chan agrees. Finally, the first exterior shots follow.
a total of 332.8 sec (= 5:33 min) A huge block of scenes from 23:16-35:54 is then completely skipped in the AV for the time being and the lab scene continues right here.
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