August 07, 2006

Kill Zone DVD Update: All is well, I repeat, all is well

(Posted In Action Asia DVD News Drama Martial Arts )

Kill-Zone-new-DVD.jpgThanks Logboy for the heads up. I will not question if this is due to fan protests or not. Regardless, news has come out that the R1 release of SPL, titled Kill Zone, to make it more... more... something for non-fans I gather, will not be as butchered as we had feared. The man in the know, Grady over at Kaijushakedown, has received word from Brian White, formerly of Hong Kong Legends, and currently the head of post production at TWC. Word for word here we go...

16:9 Anamorphic version enhanced for widescreen TVs (With no alterations or cuts)
Dual Language Format (Cantonese with re-mastered English Subtitles and English Dubbed)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio tracks (Cantonese & English)
DTS Audio track (Cantonese)
A feature-length audio commentary with Hong Kong Cinema Expert, Bey Logan

Born to be Bad: an exclusive featurette with incomparable martial arts legend, Sammo Hung
First amongst Equals: an exclusive featurette with legendary leading man and action-director, Donnie Yen
Echoes of Darkness: an exclusive featurette with prolific co-star, Simon Yam
A Dragon Rising: an exclusive featurette with explosive lead-villain, Jacky Wu
A Man Apart: an exclusive featurette with visionary director, Wilson Yip
Anatomy of a scene featurette: Alleycats (With optional commentary by action director, Donnie Yen, and Bey Logan)
Anatomy of a scene featurette: Challenge of the Masters (With optional commentary by action director, Donnie Yen, and Bey Logan)
Kill Zone: A 'making of' documentary
Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
US Promotional Trailer
4 x Hong Kong TV Spots
Fully animated interactive menus

I would also like to pick up on a few concerns that your readers may have concerning the specification change:

1. Audio Commentary: We are naturally disappointed that Donnie's schedule did not allow him to engage in the recording of the feature-commentary, but he has been incredibly supportive of this project and has provided one hour of audio commentary for the two 'Anatomy of a Scene' featurettes, as well as a great 'to camera' interview, which is the backbone of the 40 minute 'First Amongst Equals' featurette.

2. Never Before Seen Footage: Far from being cancelled, the "Never Before Seen Footage" content has now been dramatically expanded. Each of the featurettes on the DVD showcases a significant amount of previously unseen 'behind-the-scenes footage', including rehearsal footage for a Donnie Yen fight sequence that was cut from the final print of the movie. The two 'Anatomy of a Scene' featurettes are composed entirely of Grade A behind-the-scenes footage: Alleycats features Donnie Yen fighting Jacky Wu in the alleyway sequence and Challenge of the Masters showcases his climactic battle with Sammo Hung. If you want to get an insight into just how amazing and talented these guys really are, you need to check this out!

3. Breaking News / Hong Kong Press Conference footage: I had to make a decision to pull this off the disc to make room for all the new exclusive behind-the-scenes footage we recently uncovered. I am convinced the fans will find the replacement content much more compelling, as a good proportion is action-based, and gives a fascinating insight into how the fight sequences were created for this movie.

4. Martial Arts Demonstration By Jacky Wu: This has not been cancelled; the footage has been incorporated into Jacky's A Dragon rising featurette instead.

5. Anatomy Of A Scene Featurettes: both featurettes definitively include an optional commentary by Bey Logan and Donnie Yen in the finalized specification.

So rest easy everyone. TWC is out of the choppy waters, for now. But I don't get this whole Jacky Wu english name bit. Can we stop with the Ellis Island nonsense and let somone keep their Chinese name? Oh, and check out the new cover design. Uhm. Well. There is a stylized number 1 on the spine now. And it looks to be a gatefold package rather than a plastic case now. Fingers crossed.

» Posted by Mack at August 7, 2006 10:09 AM
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Reader Comments

The name is still lame but at least it did not get butchered too much.

» Posted by Quoc Nguyen at August 7, 2006 01:08 PM

It's also a new ass-kicking ULTIMATE Edition rather than just a mamby pamby Collector's Edition.

» Posted by Monkey Monk at August 7, 2006 01:40 PM

Okay, it does sound good all this extra stuff, i'll just print a copy of the HK DVD and put it over the "KillZone" piece of crap and problem solved.

» Posted by DragonEyeMorrison at August 8, 2006 02:26 AM

LOL damn that's a good idea!

» Posted by Quoc Nguyen at August 8, 2006 02:31 PM

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