A Better Tomorrow: Ultimate Edition
Region: Two [UK Two Discs]
DVD Release: Optimum Asia
Slipcase: No
Disc One Contents;
- Feature Movie (90 Minutes)
- Audio Tracks
- Cantonese Mono
- English Dub Mono
- Bey Logan Audio Commentary
- Subtitles
- English
- Trailer
- Other Releases Trailers
- Election
- Shaolin Soccer
- Memories of Murder
- Azumi
Feature Movie: Click here for full review
Picture: The movie is presented in a aspect ratio of 1.85:1 Anamorphic. The copy of the film is a German print from a company called 'World Sales Atlas International', the print hasn't been remastered, so the picture is quite grainy and sometimes blurred, but as you can expect it doesn't hinder the movie.
Audio: The English dub on this movie as you can expect is crap! Emily Chu's character is dubbing sounds like its done by a woman with a deep deep voice, terrible. Chow Un-Fat's dub is also a little off, their voice doesn't seem deep enough! Most of the soundtrack has been altered too (when compared to the Cantonese sound track. Most of it is all the same music, but its been rearranged, playing at different parts of the films.
Then I realized that it was actually the Cantonese soundtrack that has different music rather, which is crazy! Many, Many people love the original soundtracks, but with these new pieces added it does spoil it.
Although I haven't watched any other version of this movie for a good couple of years, so I might be wrong, but I have a feeling that I'm not.
Commentary: Bey Logan, everyone who buys Hong Kong Legend DVD's will be familiar with Bey Logan. This being one of first Audio Commentary Bey Logan has done since he has left HKL. Bey gives you quick backgrounds on all the cast and crew, including Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, Leslie Chung, Action directors Stephen Tung and Blacky Ko etc.
He tells you various story's behind the film and other rumors and stories such as Stephen Fung wanting to buy the rights to original movie (Story of a Discharged Prisoner) so he could remake it, Stories of Leslie Cheung's ghost and where Bey had first seen the movie (Taiwan).
Oh and he also spots a rather strange use of body doubles at the end of the movie.
Disc Two Contents;
- Documentary 'Crossing: John Woo'
- Interview with John Woo
- Interview with Chow Yun-Fat
Documentary: 'Crossing: John Woo' is a 47 minute documentary about the action packed career of John Woo. This documentary seem's set around the time of 'Pay Checks' release. It shows footage of John Woo back in Hong Kong at the PC premier. Also footage of him John wondering around Hong Kong waving to fans, his work at Shaw Brothers, how he hated directing comedy movies, helping out budding young directors and his journey to Hollywood. The Doc. shows you various footage from Woo's filmography all from his BMW advertisement with Clive Owen to behind the scenes action of Hard Target.
Here's a full list of all movies featured during the doc; Hard Target, The Hostage, Face Off, A Better Tomorrow, Dead Knot, Vengeance, The Young Dragons, From Rags to Riches, Run Tiger Run, Story of a Discharged Prisoner, The Killer, Mission Impossible 2,
An A list of Hollywood and Hong Kong stars tell the camera how much they love John Woo's work. Stars include; John Travolta, Annie Woo (John wife), David Chute, Terrance Cheng, Tsui Hark, Simon Yam, David Chiang, Nicholas Cage, Yuen Hau, Shu Kei, Arthur Anderson.
Interviews: The Chow Yun-Fat interview was taking in 1993 it's on for roughly eighteen minutes, speaking in english Chow Yun-Fat tells you the about his acting and introduction to John Woo, his dislikes of both A Better Tomorrow 2 & 3. Chow's thoughts of going off to Hollywood, how Chow Yun-Fat would have played Tony Leung's role in 'Bullet in the Head' and his thoughts of John Woo and the movie's they've worked together in and why Chow never get's the girl in these movies.
John Woo's interview, also recorded in 1993 and filmed in english. This is a 10 minutes interview, Woo tells you how he would love to direct a big epic film one day and his influences from other directors such as David Lean and Martin Scoresse. As you can expect he speaks highly of Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung.
Final Thoughts: I'm glad this movie has finally got a decent UK Release, we'll the MIA release was good, but hell this movie needs good release. This is better than the MIA release, it's got a Bey Logan Comm! The Bey Logan Comm is probably the best feature in this release, it's two interviews are good, but are only really worth one watch.
The Audio tracks did damage the my viewing pleasure, but I must say I really enjoyed the 'Crossing: John Woo' Documentary!
Rating: 7.0 Out Of 10.0
