What began as a cut down of Double Team (more details below) quickly became a ‘Double Feature’ with ‘Knock Off’. The two crazy action films Director Tsui Hark made with Jean Claude Van Damme in the mid 90’s we’re both visually stunning and a confusing mess as East and West film making collide.

Double Team.



Originally a script called ‘The Colony’. The plot focused on Ex-Spies being retired to an island colony to fight Terrorism and gather ‘information’ for world government's (All ‘The Prisoner’ fans turn away now!).
We follow protagonist Jack Quinn as he tries to escape to save his wife and unborn child from terrorist ‘Stavros’, who he failed to capture during a botched black Op that got him sent to the colony in the first place.

An interesting Plot to set up some awesome action fair, The Muscles from Brussels, Tsui Hark behind the camera with Sammo Hung providing fight dutys. Sign me up!

While there is little information on the production, one can only surmise that to many cooks got into the kitchen! With heavy script re-wrights in both tone and focus, Colony became Double Team. a cartoon to introduce the world to Dennis Rodman.

The Skeleton of the original concept is still there and this edit tries to reflect that in some form.
Removing as much of Dennis Rodman and the Basket ball humor that plagued the movie, we now have a slick 1hr 20min action flick.
One which bares a little closer resemblance to the version of the film both Tsui Hark and Van Damme signed onto in the first place.

It’s still a cartoon! And looking closely at it there is a definite elevation of this style as the film progresses. At the shorter running time Double Team (re-titled ‘The Colony’ for this fan edit) flies by with lightning pace. Which, by its climax, left me feeling I wanted some more.

Which leads me to……  

Knock Off.



1997 was the year Hong Kong was handed back to China from British rule. So why not make a movie involving nano bombs being put into knock off designer jeans, with the Kung Fu fighting CEO and fashion designer, kicking his way to the truth.
With the hand over looming in the back ground, Van Damme is aided by his trusty partner (Rob Schneider), who is about to find out being a undercover CIA agent is harder than it looks! 

Knock Off is f**king crazy! I don’t think there is anything like it. 'Crank' and 'Shoot em up' are the closest comparisons, and they came much later.
Saying Knock Off was ahead of it’s time is high praise indeed, as at the time it felt somewhat dated!  
It’s very ‘Hong Kong Cinema’ of the time, with a visual flair that only Tsui Hark could deliver. And with a script from 'Die Hard' and 'Commando' scribe Steven e De Souza, (which can be called original in every sense of the word!) 'Knock off' should have been a smash!

Alas the final product was a victim of East and West film making not molding.
On my first viewing in the late 90’s I have to admit I didn't like it!
The humor fall’s flat in most cases (although it reminded me of De Souza's 'Street Fighter', so not just the cultural difference’s) and it just felt a mess, both is plot and execution. But it’s a curious mess, and over time Ive gotten quite the soft spot for it.
 
In a climate of remakes and reboots I just wish we had more ‘Knock Off’s’.

In order to match it to it’s 'Double Bill' counter part, Ive cut the movie down to 1hr 20mins.
While this was my only motivation for this edit, I kept to the rule of keeping things moving and used the opportunity to remove any of my personal gripes that didn’t hinder the plot.
I think I have created a much more slick (and less confusing!) version of Knock Off, that works great as part of Double Bill for a Beer and Pizza cinema night.

Sources, Software, Equipment and Work Done.

Double Team GERMAN BLURAY
Double Team HDTV Rip
- For burnt in English onscreen subtitles
Knock Off R1 DVD
- Upconverted using AVISynth using various filters and scripts.

All assets converted to 1080p UT codec 420 with 5.1 or 2.0 audio wav where applicable, using TMPGENC Video Works 6.

The edit's were cut in Adobe Premiere CC with some additional work done in After Effects CC.


Cut list.

Ive not created a detailed cut list because there are so many to document it’s mainly to do with the fact that I wish people to go in fresh. It helps with feedback also, as to what works and what does not.
(I may update in time)

Final versions we're rendered to 1080p UT Codec with 5.1 wav for final delivery conversion.

Release Specifications.

The Colony (Double Team)

BD - 4. Burnable Blu-Ray image to DVD 5 Discs. (multi 7-Zip files that uncompress to .iso file) PM for Details.
Details - H264 1280 x 720p , Dolby Digital 5.1, Menu.

Media info -

General
ID                             : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : BDAV
Format/Info                    : Blu-ray Video
File size                      : 3.86 GiB
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 6 886 kb/s
Maximum Overall bit rate       : 10.9 Mb/s
FileExtension_Invalid          : m2ts ssif

Video
ID                             : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : AVC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                 : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC         : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames      : 6 frames
Codec ID                       : 27
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 6 044 kb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 10 000 kb/s
Width                          : 1 280 pixels
Height                         : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 16:9
Frame rate                     : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Standard                       : Component
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.274
Stream size                    : 3.45 GiB (89%)
Writing library                : x264 core 148
Encoding settings              : cabac=1 / ref=6 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=1 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / slices=4 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / minigop=1 / stitchable=1 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=1 / weightp=1 / keyint=48 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=6044 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=10000 / vbv_bufsize=10000 / nal_hrd=vbr / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Color range                    : Limited
Color primaries                : BT.709
Transfer characteristics       : BT.709
Matrix coefficients            : BT.709

Audio
ID                             : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : AC-3
Format/Info                    : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                 : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness    : Big
Codec ID                       : 129
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Bit rate mode                  : Constant
Bit rate                       : 448 kb/s
Channel(s)                     : 6 channels
Channel positions              : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                     : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf)
Bit depth                      : 16 bits
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 257 MiB (7%)

Screens -



Knock Off

BD - 4. Burnable Blu-Ray image to DVD 5 Discs. (multi 7-Zip files that uncompress to .iso file) PM for Details.
Details - H264 1280 x 720p, Dolby Digital 5.1, Menu.

Media info -

General
ID                             : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : BDAV
Format/Info                    : Blu-ray Video
File size                      : 3.82 GiB
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 6 837 kb/s
Maximum Overall bit rate       : 10.9 Mb/s
FileExtension_Invalid          : m2ts ssif

Video
ID                             : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : AVC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                 : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC         : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames      : 6 frames
Codec ID                       : 27
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 5 981 kb/s
Maximum bit rate               : 10 000 kb/s
Width                          : 1 280 pixels
Height                         : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 16:9
Frame rate                     : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Standard                       : Component
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.271
Stream size                    : 3.41 GiB (89%)
Writing library                : x264 core 148
Encoding settings              : cabac=1 / ref=6 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=1 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / slices=4 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / minigop=1 / stitchable=1 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=1 / weightp=1 / keyint=48 / keyint_min=1 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=5981 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=10000 / vbv_bufsize=10000 / nal_hrd=vbr / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Color range                    : Limited
Color primaries                : BT.709
Transfer characteristics       : BT.709
Matrix coefficients            : BT.709

Audio
ID                             : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : AC-3
Format/Info                    : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                 : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness    : Big
Codec ID                       : 129
Duration                       : 1 h 20 min
Bit rate mode                  : Constant
Bit rate                       : 448 kb/s
Channel(s)                     : 6 channels
Channel positions              : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                     : 31.250 FPS (1536 spf)
Bit depth                      : 16 bits
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 256 MiB (7%)

Screens -

I think inpainting ranges from good to great when used on images, but it's not good with video, as there is no temporal filter (AFAIK) that help to average inpainted image between frames, hence result is "stuttering" somehow...

Still, I wanted to give it a try with a bit of help... got three different inpainted versions (Avisynth exinpaint and greycinpaint, plus Batch Inpaint), then median them with previous and next frame, and overlaid the usual 35mm grain plate to hide artefacts a bit more...

TFA deleted scene #1 - timecode removal test (no manual correction made)



far from perfect, still better than the timecoded version, isn't true?

Opinions?

This is an event, and I think it's worth talking about this here, too!

Still downloading, so can't speak about it (right now); can say it would be surely great; waiting for your comments.

EDIT: downloaded, watched, GREAT!

Found these comparisons on OT:

• Hoth battle
  
• Luke viewing probe droid crash with binoculars
  
• Han entering Echo Base on Tauntaun
  
• Wampa lunging at Luke in cave
  
• An example of added snow flurries
  
• Obi-Wan force ghost
  
• Luke in bacta tank
  
• Probe droid taking photos of shield generator
  
• Echo Base interior matte replacement
  
• Stand-by ion control…fire!
  
• Walkers in the distance
  
• First transport escape
  
• First transport escape - X-Wing gets destroyed
  
• Ion cannon takes out Star Destroyer
  
• Approaching walkers through binoculars
  
• Approaching walkers through binoculars 2
  
• Approaching walkers through binoculars 3
  
• Lots of Snowspeeders
  
• Lots of walkers
  
• You can actually see the Rebel trench
  
• New AT-ST and a speeder gets shot down
  
• Another shot of new AT-ST
  
• Significantly improved Vader hologram
  
• AT-AT crushes Luke’s speeder
  
• Walkers arrive at Rebel trench
  
• D-D-D-Double Kill!
  
• Walker prepares to fire on shield generator
  
• Shield generator destruction
  
• Shield generator destruction 2
  
• Falcon in the Echo Base hangar
  
• Post-battle hangar exterior
  
• Pinkface
  
• Asteroids
  
• Asteroids 2
  
• Asteroid canyon
  
• Asteroid canyon explosion
  
• Asteroid canyon explosion (reverse)
  

Hi everyone!  I'm brand new here and glad to be a part of this forum.  I have seen WONDERFUL restorations and I wanted to be a part of it.  Thank you everyone for your hard work and I'm definitely looking forward to being part of this group!

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the classic PBS series from KCSM-TV and the Interregional Program Service (now American Public Television), I'm working on an HD restoration of the complete series, beginning with the very first season, produced in 1983 and broadcast nationally in 1984.

Mission: to restore the PBS classic Computer Chronicles in the correct episode order, from start to finish.

Video sources: MPEG-2 files from the Internet Archive.
Audio sources: original soundtrack from the same files, also French and Spanish tracks as applicable.

Subtitle sources: English SDH, to reflect soundtracks; other languages, direct translations of the English original.

Project info:
There's a lot of confusing information all over the Internet about the order in which each episode of Computer Chronicles was made or broadcast; not even the Internet Archive is helpful in that regard. For this project, I'm going to go with the order given by stquantum.com, a fansite for the series which has been active since 2006 and appears to be the definitive source for all things Computer Chronicles. Each set will include a series of special features produced by yours truly titled Computer Chronicles: Then and Now, detailing how much has changed in the industry since the series was originally broadcast on PBS stations.

Source Material

Video:

• Computer Chronicles - MPEG-2 Internet Archive
  
• Viewers Like You tags - Pledge drive broadcasts recorded to VHS tape in 4:3
  
• American Public Television closing logo - Broadcasts of recent APT programming with the original APT music playing over the logo, also recorded to VHS tape in 4:3
  

• Computer Chronicles - Various Internet Archive files
  

• English, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
  

• Blu-ray: x264 960x720, 59.94 fps progressive, ~5mbps
  
• DVD: MPEG-2 720x480, 29.97 fps interlaced, ~3mbps
  

• English AC3 192kbps 2.0 16bit 48kHz Dolby Surround
  
• French AC3 192kbps 2.0 16bit 48kHz Dolby Surround - as applicable
  
• Spanish AC3 192kbps 2.0 16bit 48kHz Dolby Surround - as applicable
  

• English
  
• French
  
• German
  
• Italian
  
• Spanish
  

1. Mainframes to Minis to Micros
   
2. Microchip Technology
   
3. Storage Devices
   
4. Printers
   
5. Networking
   
6. Programming
   
7. Operating Systems
   
8. Database Software
   
9. Integrated Software
   
10. Business Application Software
    
11. Word Processing Software
    
12. Decision Support Systems
    
13. Robotics
    
14. Simulator Software
    
15. Computer Graphics
    
16. Computer Music
    
17. Computer Games
    
18. Speech Synthesis
    
19. Computers in Education
    
20. Computer Ergonomics
    
21. Computer Entrepreneurs
    
22. Computer Security
    
23. Artificial Intelligence
    
24. Supercomputers
    
25. Fifth Generation Computers
    

1. Computer Games
   
2. IBM Clones
   
3. Software Piracy
   
4. Computers and the Disabled
   
5. UNIX
   
6. Computers in Sports
   
7. Personal Finance Software
   
8. Profile of Big Blue: IBM
   
9. Lasers and Computers
   
10. Computers in Communications
    
11. Low End Computers
    
12. Japanese PCs
    
13. Computer Graphics
    
14. Slowdown in Silicon Valley (2-parter)
    
15. Women in Computing
    
16. Printers and Business Graphics
    
17. Computers and the Media
    
18. Modems and Bulletin Boards
    
19. Computer Networks
    
20. Computers and Politics
    
21. Computers and Medicine
    
22. Optical Storage Devices
    
23. Business Applications
    
24. Amiga and Atari
    

• Main animated menu, static soundtrack and subtitle settings menu, static chapters menu (all tentative)
  
• Blu-ray and DVD custom made outside and inside covers, plus disc label; number of chapters to be determined; Computer Chronicles: Then and Now; interviews with Stewart Cheifet and Gary Kildall; assorted Comdex videos
  

• Micro Focus (Season 1)
  
• McGraw Hill (Seasons 2-4)
  
• American Federation of Information Processing Societies (Seasons 2.5 and 3)
  
• Leading Edge (Seasons 3.5 and 4)
  
• CompuServe (Season 4.5)
  
• Public television viewers (35th Anniversary Edition)
  

• BronzeTitan (for directing me to stquantum.com)
  
• Dan Bricklin (for the Comdex '83 footage)
  

Just thought I would start a thread about why YOU (anyone) does this sort of thing with video editing or want to learn or improve video?

I myself personally want to slip into something in my later years that is not physically demanding. We all Love film and so on but what is your end goal?

Do you simply just wish to learn stuff or are you driven by just simply wanting to see a film like how you remember it?

I am asking an honest question about personal motivation and what YOU want out of doing what you are doing and why?

Do you want to land a job?

Do you already have a job in Video or the film industry and feel that some things simply are not good enough?

It's a basic question and I would like you to bare all, well not get naked or anything I just want you to say why are you doing what you are doing if there is any other reason other than simply I just want it to be right! / or better in terms of doing work on something for nothing....

Hi there,

Working restoring some of the classic animation era of Disney and looking for some workprints. There have been a number  available over the years, but had no luck tracking any down, can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks in advance

Hi all,

Huge fan of the restoration projects, been following Original Trilogy website for a while and came across this site, thanks for a great scene! 

PCC

Something that would be interesting to do but It's something I am not sure it would be possible.

Basically the signature series 2 disc edition has a special feature on the disc that has the MPAA cut's which were dropped for the original cut rather than have a I think perhaps 18 Rating (UK).

When the extended version was released the violence cut's were not re-instated and people were left scratching there heads a bit on why not?

The footage on the DVD in the "Treasure Chest" does have some really fantastic shots in it and it's not all violence related some of it is simple cut down for time or other reason but it has a overlay of very thin vertical lines. At least it does on the UK edition....

I am wondering if the footage can be found without the vertical lines or a way to possibly remove them? 

Found Some here without the Vertical lines... This has his son being actually run over by the horse and the cut's to the first battle to tone the film down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQYLGNba...2c&index=1

But the UK edition has some of the more graphic footage from the Gladiator Rings in Africa... And from memory perhaps a bit more.

http://www.movie-censorship.com/special.php?ID=8&Page=6

I also found this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu29evuurgc

^ this is actually a joke video but this is the part with the most graphic footage cut for censorship Including the impalement at the end of this battle. The Hand being cut off I can't remember if that is there or not, also after the fight a guy comes around crushing people heads to make sure they are dead. And a Vulture is also pecking at a dead body also.

Basically I think it would be quite cool to actually do an unrated cut of the film.

Anyone Game for it?