Hong Kong Rescue #6: Project A

[jrodefeld]

Note: I figure many people here already know about our releases, but I wanted to post about them for people who are not familiar with our work.







The Restoration:  

This is the first title from Hong Kong Rescue where we perform our own meticulous frame-by-frame restoration. Using the professional restoration software Phoenix and PFClean, thousands of instances of dirt, dust, scratches and broken frames were removed or fixed.  

Disc 1:  

Three versions of Project A are included sourced from two separate sources.  The Hong Kong Version is nearly identical to the Japanese version but it includes slightly different opening titles and different outtakes. Uses the US Echo Bridge transfer.  The US Version is the shortest of the three, heavily cut in different areas. Uses the US Echo Bridge transfer.  The Japanese version is the longest owing to the extended ending outtakes. Not only that, but this uses a different Japanese source for the transfer. This is the transfer that we meticulously restored so should be considered the definitive version.  

Audio tracks:  

Hong Kong Version and Japanese Version:  

1. Original Cantonese 2.0 LPCM  

2. Cantonese Surround Remix 5.1 DTS-HD  

3. Mandarin Surround Remix 5.1 Dolby  

4. English Dub 2.0 Dolby  

5. Bey Logan Commentary  


US Version:  

1. New English Dub 5.1 DTS-HD    

Disc 2 Special Features:  

1. A Classic Revisited  

A lengthy documentary about the making of Project A hosted by Bey Logan  

2. Jackie Chan Interview  

3. Yuen Biao Interview  

4. Composer Michael Lai Interview  

5. Dick Wei Interview  

6. Lee Hoi-San Interview  

7. "Stunt God" Mars Interview  

8. TV Special  

9. Deleted Scenes  

10. Behind the Scenes  

11. How to Do Action Comedy  

12. Sammo Hung Interview  

13. Charitable Chan  

14. Jackie Chan on Japanese TV  

15. Lunar New Years Introduction  

16. Image Gallery  

17. Outtakes  

18. Trailers  

19. TV Spots  

20. The Restoration  

21. Hong Kong Rescue Trailer

What Other People Are Saying About Hong Kong Rescue:

Note: I'm withholding the names of the individuals who sent me these messages at their request.

Message 1:

"I received three blu rays from you recently. As a long-time lover of Hong Kong film I am over the moon by what you have put together here. The love and dedication are very obvious, as well as your thoughtfulness on things to include and to do with these releases. You are literally saving some of these films for generations to come - these are the discs of these films I will show my kids, and I know many others will be doing the same thing. They will become the standard versions of these movies as time goes by, I am sure. I am a film editor and know very well the massive work this must have taken you to pull off. Please know it does not go unappreciated, and these efforts will echo for many people for a very long time.
As somebody who also has had to deliver items of this fashion to others on my own, I also want you to know I understand the difficulties this must bring to a single individual trying to handle. So please, know that there are some people out there who definitely "get it". In the end, I got the discs I ordered, I absolutely love them, and I really, really appreciate what you have done here. This is one of the greatest bits of film preservation I have ever seen, and I will definitely be ordering more from you."

Message 2:

"I received my Blu-ray for Police Story in the mail a few days ago and I love it! You've outdone yourself with this amazing re-release."

Message 3:

"I just wanted to tell you that your new Police Story release is absolute perfection; beyond my wildest dreams and expectations even. Your restoration and de-subtitling of the unique Japanese print footage and seamless melding with and re-editing of the restored HK print is nothing short of astonishing. AND, your custom edit of the awesome Criterion mono Canto track restoration mixed with the necessary bits of the Pony Canyon LD track is the icing on the cake — sounds spectacular and even gives us the breakdancing music during Jackie’s moonwalk, my pet request!!!

Incredible job, thank you SO SO MUCH!!!!!"

Message 4:

"Wow I am really really impressed with your updated version of the JP version of PS. How did you manage to erase the sidetitles on the JP version? It looked so seamless. I didn't know there was any copy around of the JP version without the burnt-in subs hehe. Very nice work indeed!"

Message 5:

"Hello there, I just wanted to reply and tell I could not be more satisfied with my copy of Hard Boiled! It is everything I anticipated. And let me just say your packaging was amazing! I honestly didn’t expect such professional grade packaging. That’s not a backhanded compliment or anything lol...just way better than some custom blus I’ve gotten in the past. Everything from the menus down to the two sides cover was top notch. And the movie itself was as advertised, blew every other edition I’ve seen, owned or heard about completely out of the water. I definitely plan to order other titles in the future (Drunken Master most likely), and I can’t freaking WAIT for your edition of The Killer, I’m sure it will be worth the wait. Fantastic work you’re doing, please keep it up!"

Message 6:

"The quest for the perfect editions of John Woo classics in HD continues... This could be the one for Hard Boiled... Holy shit...this is amazing. The print is great, sourced from a Japanese release, minimal grain in the dark scenes, multiple soundtracks and commentaries, I checked it out with the Criterion LD audio and it sounded pure perfection !! The subtitles have been properly translated too from a person that is fluent in Cantonese ! Loads of extras collected from other releases including the longer (20 mins+ more) Taiwanese version.... Took just over a week for delivery, I'll definitely be grabbing more of their stuff."

Message 7:

"I am just emailing to say what an amazing purchase the Hard Boiled Hong Kong Rescue Blu Ray was. I first watched this film on vhs many years ago and then purchased it on dvd (tartan extreme version) and cannot day how thrilled I am to watch it in such a high quality format. The picture quality is second to none and is akin to watching a brand new film. Gone are the washed out, grainy and dark textures that I have been so used to viewing. John Woo was one of my favourite directors growing up, making all other action films (especially those outside Asia) pale in comparison. I really look forward to you rescuing both The Killer and A Better Tomorrow (those will complete my holy trinity of heroic bloodshed films that I have loved for so long!)

Keep up the good work, you are doing things that some of the bigger studios should have done a long time ago!"

Message 8:

"I got my copy of the new HKR version of SUPER COP yesterday..., but I was too busy to check it until today on my lunch break. The discs work perfectly. I previously purchased the original HKR SUPER COP release, but decided to get the new upgrade and planned to give my son my old copy. Wow, I was not disappointed- SUPER COP has never looked better! The color upgrading is impressive. I saw the Hong Kong version projected in 35mm, and later, when Dimension put out the US release I saw that theatrically as well. I have always thought that the home video releases looked a little yellow and sickly, and was surprised because I remembered it looking quite vibrant in the theater. How nice to see it popping with natural colors once again. I think I may actually get another copy of SUPER COP V2.0 instead of giving my son the original one, because he appreciates a quality presentation and after seeing the difference I don't want him to see the original, shoddy-colors version now.

My son (who was born the year after the film came out) hasn't seen it yet, and we were excited about watching it together. But now with the pandemic going on, even though he lives less than 15 minutes away, to stay safe, we can't. But it'll be worth the wait."

[pipefan413]

Have you by any chance seen the UK Eureka! release? I'd be interested to hear what you make of it, since it's from 2018 (after the US release but before you did this, it seems, unless you did the editing beforehand and just added extra stuff in 2019).

I gather that it's the Hong Kong cut, since it has the shorter outtakes during the credits (which is bizarre because the outtakes/credits finish on a freezeframe and the music just keeps going because they obviously cut stuff out and didn't insert anything else). They did however include the extended outtakes as a bonus feature, and they're much more natural because they end when the music does!

[tjmackey]

I have your releases for HARD BOILED, SUPERCOP, DRUNKEN MASTER 2, and POLICE STORY!

Love them!

[bendermac]

He doesn't reply here anymore, because he got called out for selling the releases.

[tjmackey]

whoops! Didn't realize it was an older post

[Serums]

Have you by any chance seen the UK Eureka! release? I'd be interested to hear what you make of it, since it's from 2018 (after the US release but before you did this, it seems, unless you did the editing beforehand and just added extra stuff in 2019).

I gather that it's the Hong Kong cut, since it has the shorter outtakes during the credits (which is bizarre because the outtakes/credits finish on a freezeframe and the music just keeps going because they obviously cut stuff out and didn't insert anything else). They did however include the extended outtakes as a bonus feature, and they're much more natural because they end when the music does!

For what it's worth, HKRs Project A was completed well before Eureka announced their release of the 2k remaster. Eureka did use the HK version. And I agree with you concerning the outtakes, at least the extended ones were included.