1244 Eastern Condors - criterionforum.org (2024)

1244 Eastern Condors

Post Reply

17 posts• Page 1 of 1

Message

Author

swo17
Bloodthirsty Butcher
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#1 Postby swo17 » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:13 pm

Eastern Condors

1244 Eastern Condors - criterionforum.org (2)

Legendary actor-director Sammo Hung delivers a bazooka blast of pure adrenaline in this exemplar of Hong Kong action cinema at its most entertaining. Drawing inspiration from Hollywood war films like The Dirty Dozen, Eastern Condors follows a ragtag band of Asian American prisoners dropped into Vietnam on a secret suicide mission to prevent a cache of weapons from falling into the hands of the Viet Cong, who are more than ready for a fight. Propelled by a dynamic ensemble cast that includes the ever-charismatic Yuen Biao as a black-market trader and a superhuman Yuen Wah as a giggling martial-arts monster, this rip-roaring spectacle offers a nonstop barrage of turbocharged set pieces that defy death, logic, and gravity itself.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New audio commentary featuring film critic Tony Rayns
• 2K digital restoration of the English-dubbed "export cut" of the film
Meet the Filmmakers, a new interview with director Sammo Hung
• Interviews from 2001 with Hung and actor Yuen Wah
Eastern Condors Live!, an onstage performance from the 1987 Miss Hong Kong Pageant
• Teaser and trailers
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Sean Gilman

Top

ryannichols7
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:26 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#2 Postby ryannichols7 » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:15 pm

since I'm always one of the first to point out my disappointment with lack of new extras, I'll be one of the first to praise the inclusion of a new Tony Rayns commentary. more of that, please

Top

Mr Sausage
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:02 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#3 Postby Mr Sausage » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:22 pm

It’s been like 15 years since I saw this, but it was a blast, managing to out-do Rambo at a third of the budget. I am really enjoying how much attention HK has been getting these last few years.

Top

nicolas
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2023 11:34 am

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#4 Postby nicolas » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:30 pm

Also it’s a pleasant surprise to see a new interview with Sammo Hung. I don’t think the UK boutiques that did his other films on BD ever got him for an new interview.

Top

Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
Location: Edinburgh, UK

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#5 Postby Finch » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:30 pm

That is a very nice surprise. I can sell on the Eureka since I never cared about the other two films in there.

Top

yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#6 Postby yoloswegmaster » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:46 pm

Glad to see a Sean Gilman essay included. I credit him with helping to expanding my horizons when it came to HK films.

Top

Mr Sausage
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:02 pm
Location: Canada

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#7 Postby Mr Sausage » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:47 pm

yoloswegmaster wrote:Glad to see a Sean Gilman essay included. I credit him with helping to expanding my horizons when it came to HK films.

What of his work do you recommend?

Top

therewillbeblus
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#8 Postby therewillbeblus » Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:49 pm

Mr Sausage wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:22 pm

It’s been like 15 years since I saw this, but it was a blast, managing to out-do Rambo at a third of the budget.

I'm so glad they prioritized this release after acquiring the rights - it's a phenomenal action picture, and one of Sammo Hung's best directed efforts, right up there with Wheels on Meals and Dragons Forever. If you think you just might be interested in this, it's one of the safest blind-buys in the HK canon of this era

Top

yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#9 Postby yoloswegmaster » Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:06 pm

Mr Sausage wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:47 pm

What of his work do you recommend?

So I'm trying to find the website but I either forgot the name or he nuked but here is his LB page. There's a link to his website but you have to pay a subscription to read it. I just remember getting into Johnnie To just because I encountered his reviews for To's films.

Top

ryannichols7
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:26 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#10 Postby ryannichols7 » Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:07 pm

Mr Sausage wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:47 pm

yoloswegmaster wrote:Glad to see a Sean Gilman essay included. I credit him with helping to expanding my horizons when it came to HK films.

What of his work do you recommend?

Gilman's site is The Chinese Cinema

Top

Mr Sausage
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:02 pm
Location: Canada

1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#11 Postby Mr Sausage » Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:09 pm

therewillbeblus wrote:

Mr Sausage wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:22 pm

It’s been like 15 years since I saw this, but it was a blast, managing to out-do Rambo at a third of the budget.

I'm so glad they prioritized this release after acquiring the rights - it's a phenomenal action picture, and one of Sammo Hung's best directed efforts, right up there with Wheels on Meals and Dragons Forever. If you think you just might be interested in this, it's one of the safest blind-buys in the HK canon of this era

This might be the easiest point of entry to Hung’s work. I remember it having little of the crass humour and bizarre tonal shifts that can make his other work offputting to the unfamiliar. I think you’re right: this is a safe bet for someone with even mild curiosity.

Top

Jean-Luc Garbo
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:55 am
Contact:

Contact Jean-Luc Garbo

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#12 Postby Jean-Luc Garbo » Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:25 pm

ryannichols7 wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 2:07 pm

Mr Sausage wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:47 pm

yoloswegmaster wrote:Glad to see a Sean Gilman essay included. I credit him with helping to expanding my horizons when it came to HK films.

What of his work do you recommend?

Gilman's site is The Chinese Cinema

I second this. It's well worth the subscription too. Just him and Rayns on the supplements would be a day one purchase but it's really encouraging Criterion went the extra mile.

Top

Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
Location: Edinburgh, UK

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#13 Postby Finch » Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:18 pm

Brandon Bentley said on the film's BR thread that he's reconstructed the original Cantonese mono from the original dialogue, music and FX stems, and the export cut has the original English credits in HD. Markgway mentioned that the subs have been improved a bit as well.

Top

yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#14 Postby yoloswegmaster » Tue Sep 17, 2024 10:33 am

More info on the release from Irongod2112

Having worked on both the Eureka and this new Criterion release. It always bugged me with the how dark & blue the night scenes were on the Eureka.

Criterion worked with me to correct this and I'm happy to report all the action is bright & clear for those scenes now.

I also worked hand in hand with the great Brandon Bentley on the new audio (Criterion provided original audio stems) and I have to say this new Cantonese track is absolutely amazing!!

Subtitles have also been improved by Markgway and Ken Zhang and the Eastern Condors LIVE SHOW Extra will finaly have subtitles now for we missed the deadline on the Eureka release.

Eastern Condors is my absolute favorite HK film of all time and ALOT of love went into this.

I'm so happy that Criterion let me correct and improve everything to bring the fans the ultimate version of Sammo's greatest achievement!

Trust me, even If you own the great Eureka release this will be well worth the double dip!!

Hopefully if this sells well perhaps Criterion will release a few more Sammo films.

He also confirms that Criterion were trying their hardest to find the deleted scenes but that the footage was discarded, something that was confirmed by Sammo Hung.

Top

dwk
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#15 Postby dwk » Tue Sep 17, 2024 1:09 pm

At the Kung Fu Fandom forum, when asked about Spooky Kind 2 being included in when Criterion gets around to the first one, Irongod2112 said that "it's being looked into but no promises yet."

Hopefully they can convince WB to license out that (and the Mr. Vampire title they have. And The Blade and Pedicab Driver, and insert Golden Harvest title of your choice locked up in WB jail.)

Top

beamish14
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 3:07 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#16 Postby beamish14 » Tue Sep 17, 2024 2:35 pm

nicolas wrote:

Mon Sep 16, 2024 1:30 pm

Also it’s a pleasant surprise to see a new interview with Sammo Hung. I don’t think the UK boutiques that did his other films on BD ever got him for an new interview.

He also sat for a series of interviews with the Academy of Motion Picrtures Arts & Sciences, which has been recording testimonials from key figures of the Hong Kong film industry. I could see Criterion sprinkling some of these into future releases

Top

yoloswegmaster
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:57 pm

Re: 1244 Eastern Condors

  • Quote

#17 Postby yoloswegmaster » Wed Sep 25, 2024 7:34 am

Here's a comparison that someone was able to provide between the Eureka and Criterion release:

Eureka:

SpoilerShow

1244 Eastern Condors - criterionforum.org (17)

Criterion:

SpoilerShow

1244 Eastern Condors - criterionforum.org (18)

Between the two, I prefer the latter since the former looks a bit too dull and washed out for my taste.

Top

Post Reply

17 posts• Page 1 of 1

Return to “The Criterion Collection”

Jump to

  • ↳ Films
  • ↳ General Film Discussion
  • ↳ Filmmakers
  • ↳ TV
  • DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD
  • ↳ DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD News and Discussions
  • ↳ International DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD News and Discussions
  • The Criterion Collection
  • ↳ The Criterion Collection
  • ↳ Criterion Rumors and News
  • Masters of Cinema
  • ↳ The Masters of Cinema Series
  • ↳ Masters of Cinema Rumours and News
  • Other Labels
  • ↳ Arrow
  • ↳ BFI
  • ↳ Indicator
  • ↳ Radiance Films
  • ↳ Second Run
  • ↳ Boutique Labels
  • Other
  • ↳ The Lists Project
1244 Eastern Condors - criterionforum.org (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 6051

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.