Member The Dragon Posted January 1, 2011 Member Share Posted January 1, 2011 We want our Nudity and Blood man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Pai Mei Posted January 1, 2011 Member Share Posted January 1, 2011 I highly doubt these will be censored for nudity. There are just too many sexploitation movies included. Movies like Bamboo House of Dolls and Sexy Girls of Denmark would be pretty awful, and not to mention short, films if they were censored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kungfusamurai Posted January 2, 2011 Member Share Posted January 2, 2011 It's too bad they don't have a budget version of this, like 5 films on a USB memory stick, so we can evaluate the quality of the transfer! I would also be concerned about what kind of warranty is on this. If they've made it piracy proof, that means you are not able to back them up on another hard drive, right? Imagine the damn thing dies on you two months later, and you've only watched 10 films. Will they exchange your dead one for a new one, or are you stuck with an expensive paper weight? KFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 If the films on Youku are anything to go by presumably these can be ripped? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Nakadai Posted January 3, 2011 Member Share Posted January 3, 2011 This would be well worth buying depending on the quality. I could easily see each film looking a blocky up-scaled mess. Nevertheless it's impossible to get without knowing someone trustworthy from Singapore, so boo. Hopefully it isn't as piracy proof as they claim and we see some quality rips online at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kungfusamurai Posted January 4, 2011 Member Share Posted January 4, 2011 If the films on Youku are anything to go by presumably these can be ripped? Those have been on youku for awhile, this box was first offered in mid December. Unless there was an earlier similar device released elsewhere? I figured those youku uploads were from a Shaw specialty channel. Reading the specs on the box, it sounds like it just have an HDMI out. Are there devices out there that accept HDMI in besides TVs? I'm thinking receivers by Denon, Yamaha, etc..., which are way out of my budget, could be used for converting? KFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Winfred Posted January 4, 2011 Member Share Posted January 4, 2011 I found a cheap flight to Singapore next month and will have a good look at the box before making a decision whether to purchase or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member waywardsage Posted January 4, 2011 Member Share Posted January 4, 2011 Your hardcore Winfred! Keep us apprised on how it looks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Winfred Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 A reply from Creative: With regards to your enquiry, you can use the product in any country. It does not require any Internet connection. The movies are pre-loaded and you just need to connect it to a TV that support HDMI connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member shaolin swords Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 this box set got the movie i been looking for like crazy the black butterfly if hew ever buys this box set and wants to sell this movie to me please pm me some body please please sell me this movie if you buy this box set thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SadShawFan Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 I bought the box in SGP during a stop-over on our Xmas vacation and I am surprised about the quality of the movies (i.e. it's better than some of the DVDs). Even though most of them are not remastered in HD and the anamorphic issue is somewhat tricky, the picture quality on the widescreen TV is crisp and up-to-date, the subs can be added or removed and the hard cover booklet is a splendid add-on. As for region codes and connections: Indeed you don't need anything but a HDMI cable to connect the box to the TV and/or PC-Screen. On the sad downside, the box (and the booklet) misses five SB movie titles which are featured in the official Celestial catalogue (titles which I know have been fully restored and which are available for international distribution deals). Instead the box offers a total of 12 movies which are not produced by the Shaw Brothers (but independent production companies) and which clearly don't belong there. This issue (the PR-ad "Complete Celestial Shaw Library" is not true and in terms of customer relations a dumb shot in the leg) has to be sorted out and currently I am in the midst of interaction with CREATIVE and the ZiiEagle customer care. I will keep you posted about the outcome as I and other customers have issued strong queries concerning the download and add-ons of the missing titles (either by upload or fitting external device). @shaolin swords: In terms of copying/ripping a movie to DVDr I have not found a method yet but I will check for a possibility and let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Sheng Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 Finally some first-hand info that I was eagerly waiting for. SadShawFan, you just made my day! Gotta touch down in Singapore soon, I reckon... BTW, are really all the movies subbed? And what about the letterboxed stuff that IVL churned out in the early days, are these flicks re-formated now?? Oh, and have the extras that IVL had in the first years (interviews, a few audio commentaries, etc) been retained? Questions, questions... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kaleyboy Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 this box set got the movie i been looking for like crazy the black butterfly if hew ever buys this box set and wants to sell this movie to me please pm me some body please please sell me this movie if you buy this box set thanks. Black Butterfly is available on DVD from Malaysia. I have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member tantao3-son of tantao2 Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 @ sadshawfan: looking at my "personal" Celestial Shaw list, more than 5 are missing: 168025 The Enchanted Chamber 170006 The Bandits 170012 Hellgate 170032 Thousand Years Fox 171023 Shadow Girl 171028 The Champion Of Champions 172015 The Gourd Fairy 172033 The Champion 173007 Imperial Tomb Raiders 173011 The Virgins 173014 The Boxers 173020 Payment In Blood 173040 The Crazy Nuts Of Kung Fu 174049 Merry Tales Of The East 176004 Oriental Playgirls 176018 The Escort Girls 176039 The Crooks 177001 Lady Exterminator 177008 The Mysterious Lady Killer 177020 The Magic Ring 177022 The Mad Love Chase 177037 Gang Of Four 178005 The Winner 178006 The Psychopath 178007 Delinquent Teenagers 178010 Island Of Virgins 178016 Godfathers's Fury 178027 Crazy Imposters 178029 Double Cross 178035 Bank Busters 179006 The Reckless Cricket 179012 He Who Never Dies 180023 Every Man For Himself 180024 Lover's Blade 181012 The Third Hand 181028 The Battle For The Republic Of China 182031 The Bund 182035 The Bund Part 2 And let's not forget: The Killer, The Villains, Killers On Wheels, or even The Brain Stealers;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member HAZ Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 @ sadshawfan: looking at my "personal" Celestial Shaw list, more than 5 are missing: 168025 The Enchanted Chamber 170006 The Bandits 170012 Hellgate 170032 Thousand Years Fox 171023 Shadow Girl 171028 The Champion Of Champions 172015 The Gourd Fairy 172033 The Champion 173007 Imperial Tomb Raiders 173011 The Virgins 173014 The Boxers 173020 Payment In Blood 173040 The Crazy Nuts Of Kung Fu 174049 Merry Tales Of The East 176004 Oriental Playgirls 176018 The Escort Girls 176039 The Crooks 177001 Lady Exterminator 177008 The Mysterious Lady Killer 177020 The Magic Ring 177022 The Mad Love Chase 177037 Gang Of Four 178005 The Winner 178006 The Psychopath 178007 Delinquent Teenagers 178010 Island Of Virgins 178016 Godfathers's Fury 178027 Crazy Imposters 178029 Double Cross 178035 Bank Busters 179006 The Reckless Cricket 179012 He Who Never Dies 180023 Every Man For Himself 180024 Lover's Blade 181012 The Third Hand 181028 The Battle For The Republic Of China 182031 The Bund 182035 The Bund Part 2 And let's not forget: The Killer, The Villains, Killers On Wheels, or even The Brain Stealers;-) I think he might have meant that there are 5 that were known to be remastered that are not in the Ziieagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SadShawFan Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 @Sheng: Yes, all of them have removable English subtitles and it seems to me that the quality of movies from the first and second DVD season batches (Dec. 2002 until sometime in 2044) is visually much better (although I am no technician or expert and cannot point my finger at certain specification changes). They simply play brilliantly (and better) on a 16:9 TV screen. But - again - on the downside: There are NO extras, interviews, galleries or such as each movie is played by entering a four digit number (which you can access via handset either on screen or referring to the booklet) only! However, in the box there are several short films about the restoration, the different genres and about the companies Celestial Pictures and Creative Technologies. @Tantao: I feel with you, pal. But sadly, aside of the five missing titles (OPERATION LIPSTICK 1966, THE BRAIN STEALERS 1968, THE KILLER 1971, THE VILLAINS 1973 and KILLERS ON WHEELS 1976) there are NO Celestial Shaw Library titles missing at all. Explanation: All the titles mentioned by you (and there are even some more which are missing on your list) are simply NOT AVAILABLE by Celestial Pictures due to various reasons: The first reason is "difficult ownership" (which applies i.e. to co-productions!): According to Celestial Pictures (and despite them having bought the entire catalogue of Shaw production and sales titles) movies like THE CHAMPION, THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS, THE SHADOW GIRL, THE GOURD FAIRY, THE BANDITS, IMPERIAL TOMB RAIDERS, THE BOXERS or THE BATTLE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (here, in the last moment, Celestial had to refrain from an Asian DVD release despite it being announced in their own DVD booklets) CANNOT BE RELEASED at all!!! This is a result of Taiwanese (and Malay) co-ownerships which would cost a lot of time, money and massive legal procedures to sort out. Celestial is simply not willing to do anything in this regard and hence those titles will forever be lost for home entertainment distribution! (Example: If the ZiiEagle Box goes Japan, then movies like ASIA-POL (and some others) will also be scrapped as in Japan, Celestial is legally forced to exclude the rights for this and some other films in the respective territory) The second reason is the material for restoration and digital enhancement: Movies like THE ENCHANTED CHAMBER, PAYMENT IN BLOOD, THE PSYCHOPATH etc. are deemed unfit for restoration. The film materials are either too damaged or in such appalling condition that a restoration process is out of question (at least for Celestial Pictures!) So the majority of titles of your list will never see any release for home entertainment or TV programs either!!! The third reason is the “time frame”: With a few exceptions Celestial has not released and will not release movies made before 1958 and monochrome films. Full stop! For collectors it’s sad but the old saying “Life is not fair!” applies to the Shaw collection as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Instead the box offers a total of 12 movies which are not produced by the Shaw Brothers (but independent production companies) and which clearly don't belong there. Can I ask which 12? Are you talking about the Cosmopolitan productions? These aren't technically Shaw Bros but were produced by Shaw under that new name. @shaolin swords: In terms of copying/ripping a movie to DVDr I have not found a method yet but I will check for a possibility and let you know. I'm sure we'd all love to get our hands on those erstwhile MIA Shaw rares. But sadly, aside of the five missing titles (OPERATION LIPSTICK 1966, THE BRAIN STEALERS 1968, THE KILLER 1971, THE VILLAINS 1973 and KILLERS ON WHEELS 1976) there are NO Celestial Shaw Library titles missing at all. It's odd that The Killer should be permanently absent given it was one of the most widely released VHS titles. The first reason is "difficult ownership" (which applies i.e. to co-productions!): THE CHAMPION (I know this is a Taiwanese co-prod, but I couldn't find with whom?) THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS (Hwa Kuo, Taiwan) THE SHADOW GIRL (Filmed in Taiwan, but I didn't realise it was a co-prod) THE GOURD FAIRY (Didn't know about this one...) THE BANDITS (South Korea, probably Shin's Films) IMPERIAL TOMB RAIDERS (Taiwanese co-prod) THE BOXERS (Hwa Kuo, Taiwan) THE BATTLE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (Central, Taiwan) Movies like THE ENCHANTED CHAMBER, PAYMENT IN BLOOD, THE PSYCHOPATH etc. are deemed unfit for restoration. Thankfully a tape of Enchanted Chamber did come out 20 years back so we at least have a subtitled boot kicking around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member spannick Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 all these Answers don't explain why KILLERS ON WHEELS is not in that Set - it is remastered by Celestial and it's even available as VOD in France. there is no reason not to include this title. so WHY is KILLERS ON WHEELS missing? and the other 4 mentioned titles? did they forget them? the only reason i'd buy that set would be THE KILLER anyway, i don't care for anything else that's on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SadShawFan Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 @Markgway: The 12 titles are: 0019 DEMON WET NURSE 0121 CASINO TYCOON I 0122 CASINO TYCOON II 0138 SHARK BUSTERS 0178 BIG STING 0287 COP SHOP BABES 0288 PERFECT GIRLS 0325 STOOGE, MY LOVE 0373 LOVE ON DELIVERY 0457 JUSTICE, MY FOOT 0481 SUICIDE 0528 MY SCHOOL MATE THE BABARIAN @ spannick: All five (OPERATION LIPSTICK, THE BRAIN STEALERS, THE KILLER, THE VILLAINS and KILLERS ON WHEELS) have been fully restored and are available as we speak ( I have personally seen teaser content at CP back in the days). The reason they did not come out on DVD/VCD is as hilarious as it is sad: Alongside some other 80+ titles slated for release in 24 batches in 2008 those five titles were meant to be the very last HK batch of the DVD/VCD to be released by IVL Intercontinental Video Limited. It should have ended with a bang like it all started with a bang and 10 movies (Heroic Ones, Come Drink with Me etc.). Everything was prepared, the two 2008 release catalogues were already printed, the designs done and press kits were slated for press release. But after former Celestial CEO Pfeiffer (one of the main reasons IVL did a deal with CP at all) quit his job to move on and after the first massive human resources blood loss (i.e. massive change of personnel) at CP, the newly Japanese held (Kadokawa had bought them in November 2007) company IVL did something like Wang Yu did with the Shaw Organisation some 30 years ago - They terminated the 7 year-contract with Celestial Pictures one year earlier than expected and did not want to fulfill their part as they restructured and cut expenses. Celestial started an half hearted search for a new distributor. Kam & Ronson was mentioned as were several other HK and Chinese companies. Then, in reference to the 50 Year Anniversary of the Shaw Library, it was announced that the reminder of the catalogue would finally be distributed but by then the staff was cut several times and all the good and interested personnel left CP in a hurry. Nothing worked, key positions changed hands several times a month and the corporate vision of providing home entertainment by way of DVD VCD and BluRay was declared dead and buried. CP went on to seek greener business pastures in telecom and mobile services and stuff like the ZiiEagle. But to end the explantion: In the midst of the personnel discharge and change of management, the last batch (gloriously advertised and prepared for media by CP's former PF-department) got lost in the papers and ads and despite them still being present in the first and every following catalougue of the company the new weirdos at Celestial simply forgot to include them in their deals. To be chosen to be special can backfire indeed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SadShawFan Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 ZiiEagle/Creative has answered a current query with the following statement: All 668 titles represent the complete titles available for distribution in Singapore. The 5 titles you mentioned form parts of the library but are not approved for distribution here. As it is a Celestial Shaw Library, and not simply a Shaw ...Brothers collection, the 12 titles you name have also been included as they are represented under Celestial Shaw. Thank you for your interest and feedback. Hope this answers your queries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member bobo Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 i don't know if this has been asked yet, but here goes. does this box set have the english subbed version of TO KILL A MASTERMIND ? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member HAZ Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 i don't know if this has been asked yet, but here goes. does this box set have the english subbed version of TO KILL A MASTERMIND ? thanks yes, it does! There are many other films in this box, too - like Thunderclap! Was the Killer advertised as being in this collection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member SadShawFan Posted January 19, 2011 Member Share Posted January 19, 2011 @ Bobo: Yes! TKAM is in the box and yes... all 668 movies have proper English subs. Therefore the fan project (mentioned here in November/December 2010) for TKAM is totally obsolete to say the least! @ HAZ: No it wasn't and - as CREATIVE stated in their current reply - it will not be included in the Singapore Box ever! However I wonder if another territory like a European country (France and Germany as Shaw hot spots come to mind) or the USA will distribute a box like this with all Celestial Shaw movies in it (673 altogether!)...?!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 @Markgway: The 12 titles are: 0019 DEMON WET NURSE 0121 CASINO TYCOON I 0122 CASINO TYCOON II 0138 SHARK BUSTERS 0178 BIG STING 0287 COP SHOP BABES 0288 PERFECT GIRLS 0325 STOOGE, MY LOVE 0373 LOVE ON DELIVERY 0457 JUSTICE, MY FOOT 0481 SUICIDE 0528 MY SCHOOL MATE THE BABARIAN AFAIK, the companies that produced these films - Cosmopolitan, United, and Film Power - are all subsidiaries of Shaw Bros run by either Mona Fong or Wong Ka-Hei. All 668 titles represent the complete titles available for distribution in Singapore. The 5 titles you mentioned form parts of the library but are not approved for distribution here. I've seen The Killer and The Brain Stealers and there's nothing in either of those that would prevent them from being 'approved' in Singapore - when much worse has been passed. They should at least be honest about their fuck-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member bobo Posted January 20, 2011 Member Share Posted January 20, 2011 well that's good news about the subs for TKAMM. now we we just have to make it available for everyone. would be nice if the long rumored english dub version surfaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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