The Killer DVD Comparison -TF1 Vidéo (Edition Collector Limitée) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Hong Kong Legends (UK) Region 2/4 vs. Criterion Region 0 vs. Fox/Lorber

(aka "Die xue shuang xiong")
by John Woo
Hong Kong 1989

"An absolute cinematic masterpiece which believe me, is not for everyone. It features probably the most insanely orchestrated shootouts and gun battles ever put to film. Forget ANNA AND THE KING, this is Chow Yun-Fat in all his ass kicking glory. Wielding handguns, machine guns, and shotguns, he becomes the ultimate personification of cool. Amidst all the bloodshed, we see Yun-Fat as the honorable killer who has his own code of values. Many people will dismiss this film as mindless violence but that’s a complete injustice. Despite the movie’s heavy reliance on gun battles, look carefully and you’ll discover a deeper tale of friendship and betrayal. Most shoot ‘em up movies fail to exhibit such an intriguing blend of story and action but this one goes the distance. A lot of credit should go to director Woo for orchestrating all the choreographed mayhem. Look specifically for the exchange in the church which amidst all the ensuing chaos, becomes a virtual ballet of bullets. Granted the audio dubbing isn’t the greatest, but the movie’s strength is its plot and onscreen action. If you’re bored with the conventional Hollywood action vehicles, check out this classic movie, you will not be disappointed."

Excerpt of a review by Dr. Drew at DVD Clinic, HERE

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DVD COMPARISON:

TF1 Vidéo (2 disc Edition Collector Limitée) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Hong Kong Legends (UK) Region 2/4 vs. Criterion Region 0 vs. Fox/Lorber - Winstar Region 0

Thanks to Ole for the HK Legends Screen Captures and Vincent BOUCHÉ for the TF1 screen caps

(TF1 Vidéo (Edition Collector Limitée) - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Hong Kong Legends (UK) Region 2/4 2nd vs. Criterion Region 0 NTSC 3rd vs. Fox/Lorber - Winstar Region 0 NTSC - RIGHT)

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Distribution	TF1 Vidéo Region 2 - PAL	Hong Kong Legends Region 2/4 PAL	Home Vision - Criterion Region 0 NTSC	Fox/Lorber - Winstar Region 0 NTSC
Runtime	1:46:15 (4% PAL speedup)	1:47:08 min(4% PAL speedup)	1:50:48 min	1:50:30 min
Video	1.78:1 Letterboxed WideScreen anamorphic Average Bitrate: 6.44 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.78:1 Letterboxed WideScreen anamorphic Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Letterboxed WideScreen Average Bitrate: 4.65 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Letterboxed WideScreen Average Bitrate: 6.33 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
Bitrate	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
TF1 Video
Hong Kong Legends:
Criterion:
Fox/Lorber (Winstar):
Audio	Cantonese DD2.0 (mono) and French DD2.0 (mono)	Cantonese (Dolby Digital 5.1), English Dubbed 5.1	Cantonese (Dolby Digital 1.0)	Cantonese (Dolby Digital 1.0) or dubbed English mono
Subtitles	French (forced on Cantonese soundtrack)	(white) English or none	English or none	English or none
Features	Edition Details: • Contains both the theatrical version and the longer Taiwanese cut (2:04:10) • Documentary (32:15) • Photo Gallery • Filmographies • Theatrical Trailer • Web Link • Bonus Trailers Note : The Extended cut is presented on a second disc, has Cantonese DD2.0 (mono) only, removable French subtitles and burnt-in Chinese/English subtitles. This extended cut is in much poorer condition than the theatrical, from which screen captures have been made.	Edition Details: • Commentary with Bey Logan • Animated menus • HKL's own trailer (2:10) • Original trailer (4:58) • Interviews (all in English): Kenneth Tsang (15:07), Sally Yeh (14:56) and Peter Pau (14:06) • 5 deleted scenes (4:31), (0:27), (0:49), (0:48) and (0:18). • Trailers for other HKL titles - Red Wolf, Project A Part II, Story of Ricky, The Young Master and The Avenging Fist.	Edition Details: • All Regions • Color • Commentary by director John Woo and producer Terence Chang (same commentary as the 1992 Criterion laserdisc) • Deleted scenes • Theatrical Trailer • DVD Production Credits • Widescreen letterbox format	Edition Details: • All Regions • Color, Widescreen • Commentary by John Woo • Production notes • Widescreen letterbox format • Biographies • Filmographies • Trailers ( Hard Boiled and The Killer )
Comments:	The slightly saturated Hong Kong Legends recent release with the upgraded sound is too much for the older Criterion and Fox releases... they have anamorphisized the image too, and cleaned it up. The Criterion looks artificially brightened a bit. The TF1 Video anamorphic image is sharper, better contrast and the colors are superior, but it is not cleaned up (see large capture #3) and it has no English subtitles which most will want. The audio boosted on the HK Legends is the best. The TF1 has the extended Taiwanese cut as well. As I require the Eng subs I think I'll stick with the Hong Kong Legends DVD, but if I spoke French - no contest in getting the TF1 Video release.
Sundry:	DVD Release Date: 17 October, 2001 Double Digipack Chapters 18	DVD Release Date: 21 October, 2002 Keep Case Chapters: 34	DVD Release Date: June 16, 1998 Keep Case Chapters: 41	DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000 Keep Case Chapters: 30

Recommended Reading in Chinese/Hong Kong/Taiwanese Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy by Zhen Ni, Chris Berry, Ni Zhen	Zhang Yimou: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers) by Frances Gateward	Chinese Films in Focus: 25 New Takes by Chris Berry	Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time (Bfi World Directors) by Stephen Teo	China into Film: Frames of Reference in Contemporary Chinese Cinema (Envisioning Asia) by Jerome Silbergeld	New Chinese Cinemas by Nick Browne	Once Upon a Time in China : A Guide to Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese Cinema by Jeff Yang	Chinese Film Theory by George S. Semsel	Women Through the Lens: Gender and Nation in a Century of Chinese Cinema by Shuqin Cui	Tsai Ming-Liang by Tsai Ming-Liang

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Menus

(TF1 Vidéo (Edition Collector Limitée) - Region 2 - PAL TOP LEFT vs. Hong Kong Legends (UK) Region 2/4 TOP RIGHT vs. Criterion Region 0 NTSC BOTTOM LEFT vs. Fox/Lorber - Winstar Region 0 NTSC - BOTTOM RIGHT)

(TF1 Vidéo (Edition Collector Limitée) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Hong Kong Legends (UK) Region 2/4 2nd vs. Criterion Region 0 NTSC 3rd vs. Fox/Lorber - Winstar Region 0 NTSC - BOTTOM)

Title Screen Capture

Report Card:

Image:	HK Legends - cleaner / TF1 - sharper/ better colors
Subtitles	Criterion
Sound:	HK Legends
Extras:	TF1 Video
Menu:	TF1 Video

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Distribution

TF1 Vidéo
Region 2 - PAL

Hong Kong Legends
Region 2/4 PAL

Home Vision - Criterion
Region 0 NTSC

Fox/Lorber - Winstar
Region 0 NTSC

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