Member waywardsage Posted May 10, 2012 Member Share Posted May 10, 2012 For as much guff as people gave Funimation for their Shaw line, I personally think they did a good job. Here's why: 1. They ACTUALLY RELEASED the ones they said they would. And they did it pretty quickly. 2. I know a lot of people hated the covers, but I kinda dug them. It put a new spin on the Shaw formula. Sure the tag lines were cheesy. But you can't tell me that no Shaw movie doesn't have cheesy dialog! 3. I really liked the little bar on the back cover that had a miniature theatrical poster, year released, directed by and starring list. It would have been nice to have it bigger, but I liked that they included the info. You know how many other R1 distributors don't list the year the film was released on the back cover?! 4. The cut a video trailer for the whole release! How many other companies do that?! It seems like if they would have sold better, Funimation would have invested more into the line. But, it seems like it tanked. Does anyone know this for sure? Has Funimation left their Shaw line for dead? Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member massa_yoda Posted May 10, 2012 Member Share Posted May 10, 2012 I thought they did a great job. The releases were well done (good transfers and such) and they released good movies I hadn't seen before. I liked the covers too. The poster art and info on the back was a nice little bonus...you felt like these people actually cared about these movies. Too bad they couldn't do more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Killer Meteor Posted May 10, 2012 Member Share Posted May 10, 2012 Funimation just got what BCI has liscensed. Bad transfers for 14 Amazons and Shaolin Handlock aside, the releases were fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Run Run Posted May 12, 2012 Member Share Posted May 12, 2012 I like the Funimation releases, too. I like when companies have a uniform template for the artwork for their Shaw/Kung Fu releases. They look great on the shelf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member 66 Mantis Posted July 13, 2012 Member Share Posted July 13, 2012 Still haven't caught up with all the ones they released (severe budgetary restraints), but from the couple that I did get, it appears job well done. Hey, they released Hing Kong Godfather and that alone did it for me. Hope they eventually release more, regardless of apparent lukewarm sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member John Posted July 14, 2012 Member Share Posted July 14, 2012 Because of FUNi, I'm now the happy owner of some great Shaws (really dug The Duel and thought HKG was a blast), and it's great to have nice transfers without the PAL-NTSC issues of IVL's discs (with a couple exceptions, 14 Amazons being one of them). My only real beef with these releases is that I can't skip that dumb promo on the DVD advertising their Shaw titles each time I fire up a disc. It's really unnecessary and just reeks of desperation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I have a couple of Funimation titles in my collection. All it takes is a progressive anamorphic transfer, decent subs, and original language mono to satisfy me. I don't need Criterion status or 3 hours worth of extras. Just get the film right and we're good. Real shame about The 14 Amazons screw-up as that's one I would've liked to double dip on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member nectarsis Posted July 14, 2012 Member Share Posted July 14, 2012 Funimation just got what BCI has liscensed. Bad transfers for 14 Amazons and Shaolin Handlock aside, the releases were fine! Pretty much this, and they were still watchable (along the likes of the DD Fist of Legend release). I enjoyed a vast majority of what they put out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member inframan Posted July 16, 2013 Member Share Posted July 16, 2013 Looks like they are going OOP, Bastard Swordsman for $35, Shaolin Rescuers for over $100 currently at Amazon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member blue_skies Posted July 16, 2013 Member Share Posted July 16, 2013 Looks like they are going OOP, Bastard Swordsman for $35, Shaolin Rescuers for over $100 currently at Amazon. Yeah I noticed those ludicrous prices. I've always wondered if anyone actually purchased any of those DVDs that you find listed $60 and upwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member TibetanWhiteCrane Posted July 16, 2013 Member Share Posted July 16, 2013 Luckily I got the ones I needed when they first came out, and was reasonably priced. Seen some on eBay for way less than that. Amazon is always way overpriced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member MLee Posted July 16, 2013 Member Share Posted July 16, 2013 I only ever bought 2 releases from Funimation. 14 Amazons and Hong Kong Godfather. Both were good releases from what I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member masterofoneinchpunch Posted July 16, 2013 Member Share Posted July 16, 2013 I only ever bought 2 releases from Funimation. 14 Amazons and Hong Kong Godfather. Both were good releases from what I remember. 14 Amazons like with Shaolin Hand Lock suffers from really bad pal-to-ntsc transfer which hurt the viewing of it. Luckily I own all the Funimation Shaw releases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I own four of them: 1. The 14 Amazons (for mono) 2. Shaolin Hand Lock (for mono) 3. Invincible Shaolin 4. The Sword of Swords The last two are good progressive DVDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member inframan Posted July 18, 2013 Member Share Posted July 18, 2013 I found another online retailer with a few remaining copies of Shaolin Rescuers. Still plenty of Red Sun boots on ebay and amazon:frown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member reason108 Posted July 21, 2013 Member Share Posted July 21, 2013 I just picked up Shaolin Rescuers not too long ago for a decent price. But, I will gladly sell mine for $5,000. No, make that $500,000. No, no, make that $5,000,000. Any takers? Funimation were probably better than Image Entertainment as far as pq goes. But, I felt that they did not have the best titles. Though, they did try to copy Celestial`s package design somewhat. They had the tiny funimation logo in the bottom right hand corner; Celestial had theirs on the bottom left. And, on the back cover, on the left side of the box, funimation had the stripe with a mini replica of the poster art. My only real complaint on all of these releases (other than the botched remasters and remixed soundtrack and sometimes pal-ntsc issues) is that the original poster art was not used as the front cover; or, as a reversible wrap-around. Got to thank BCI for giving us poster cover art and a booklet I was able to get Bastard Swordsman I & II, Shaolin Rescuers and Soul of the Sword. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Run Run Posted July 23, 2013 Member Share Posted July 23, 2013 I have most of them: The Duel Invincible Shaolin Soul of the Sword Life Gamble Shaolin Rescuers Shaolin Prince Bastard Swordsman Opium and The Kung Fu Master The Supreme Swordsman Return of Bastard Swordsman Hong Kong Godfather Shaolin Hand Lock Edited to add that Invincible Shaolin, Life Gamble, and Shaolin Prince are in the "Shaw Brothers Triple Threat" box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Run Run Posted July 23, 2013 Member Share Posted July 23, 2013 All it takes is a progressive anamorphic transfer, decent subs, and original language mono to satisfy me. I don't need Criterion status or 3 hours worth of extras. Just get the film right and we're good. This is the way I am, too. I'm not picky, other than language, and subs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Run Run Posted July 24, 2013 Member Share Posted July 24, 2013 I stopped by FYE on the way home from work last night, and they have a new copy of Shaolin Rescuers for 13.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member venomchamber Posted August 7, 2013 Member Share Posted August 7, 2013 You can still find authentic Funimation releases on ebaY between $15.99 and $19.99 each, gohastings has more than 10 copies (only 2 sold) of R1 Bastard Swordsman (w/ English dub option) available for US$18.52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member TibetanWhiteCrane Posted August 7, 2013 Member Share Posted August 7, 2013 Weren't the Funimation Bastard Swordsman releases cut and had completely changed soundtrack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member massa_yoda Posted August 7, 2013 Member Share Posted August 7, 2013 Weren't the Funimation Bastard Swordsman releases cut and had completely changed soundtrack? There was some gripe about the releases having a new dub and newly recorded music for the dub, but not the original soundtrack. I haven't heard a thing about it being cut. Earlier thread: http://kungfucinema.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12832 it's more likely they didn't have a clean music track to master from for the dub, as the Mandarin track apparently has the original music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member TibetanWhiteCrane Posted August 7, 2013 Member Share Posted August 7, 2013 Ok, thanks. I actually bought the Thai boxset cuz I heard about the music change and cuts. Good to know for others that the Funi version is still a viable option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Markgway Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Aren't the Funimation DVDs of Bastard Swordsman and its sequel Mandarin dubs only? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member massa_yoda Posted August 7, 2013 Member Share Posted August 7, 2013 Aren't the Funimation DVDs of Bastard Swordsman and its sequel Mandarin dubs only? Mandarin Mono and English Dolby Digital Stereo I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.