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Latest news_________________
[06.12.2004] News
Espionage for Dummies
- forthcoming action comedy.
Honorable doctor degree for Woo
-
John Woo became Doctor.
[02.12.2004]
News

Blackjack DVD (R2 Finland)
- November 19. 2004.
Princess Chang Ping DVD (R0)
- subtitled DVD in Hong Kong .
Once a Thief DVD (R0 HK)
- IVL / January 2005
[30.10.2004]
News

Once a Thief DVD releases (R2)
- HKL release of Once a Thief December 27. 2004
[17.09.2004] News
Few Italian John Woo DVD releases (R2)
- Hand of Death DVD in Germany September 27. 2004
Hand of Death - Germany DVD (R2)
- Hand of Death DVD in Germany September 27. 2004
Paycheck - Hong Kong DVD (R3)
- Info about Hong Kong DVD release of Paycheck
[07.07.2004] News
Hard Boiled - Japan DVD (R2)
- New Japanese remastered DVD in September
Peace Hotel - Japan DVD (R2)
- New Japanese DVD
[17.06.2004] News
Once a Thief - The serie availability on DVD
Japanese re-releases - DVD
- Hard Target (07.07.2004)
- Bullet in the head (09.07.2004)
- Broken Arrow (02.08.2004)
- Paycheck (28.08.2004)
 
News archive
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December

 

[24.12.2003] News
A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (German DVD) Supposed to be uncut and anamorphic with original Chinese soundtrack. Most propably no English subtitles. I hear there's some extra material too.
Hard Boiled 1 & 2 German DVD New DVD releases with Cantonese soundtrack released by Laser Paradise.
Once a Thief R1 DVD specs Some info about new R1 DVD.
A Better Tomorrow 2 DVD (R2) from Spain Another DVD release of A Better Tomorrow 2 comes from Spain. Anamorphic DVD has no original Cantonese soundtrack.
Dragon Tamers DVD available! Rare early John Woo movie was finally released in DVD in China but unfortunately it is not subtitled.

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April

[19.04.2003]  News
Rosebud Rumours Asian newspapers have reported that John Woo might be interested in filming the life story of Mary Ong a.k.a. "Rosebud"..
Bulletproof Monk taken by Pirates "Bulletproof Monk", John Woo's latest producing effort  is out as a pirated VCD copy hit four months before the scheduled release on April 16.
Honor Among Thieves obsolete Digital Dream Studios (DDS), Rainbow Studios, John Woo and Terence Chang have joined to form Digital Rim Inc which will produce Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and console games.
Once a Thief R1 from Columbia John Woo's early action-comedy Once a Thief will be released in DVD format in USA and Canada by Columbia TriStar April 22.  
Windtalkers Special Edition (Japan) John Woo's war epic Windtalkers was released in Japan as a Special Edition. I don't have much details of this release.   
Bulletproof Monk released Bulletproof monk was finally released in theaters in US. Release date was April 16.  

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February
 
[28.02.2003] News
Windtalkers directors cut Windtalkers was released in US May 20th 2003 as 3 disc Director's cut release with longer John Woo's version of the movie and some extra material on 2 addidional disks..
Windtalkers DVD and VHS in Finland TWindtalkers was released on VHS and DVD in Finland May 9th 2003.

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Dragon Tamers available on DVD [24.12.2003] 

John Woo's second feature film as director, martial arts actioner Dragon Tamers (1974) is available on DVD! I just found it from eBay. I was told that this DVD is released in China. This DVD is the only video version I know being available of this movie at the moment. Technically speaking DVD is not that much high quality product but if you want to see this rare early Woo film it is worth getting anyway. 

One of the major problems with this DVD is that it is not subtitled at all. Two optional soundtracks has been provided in Cantonese and Mandarin. So if you don't understand spoken Chinese then you will miss the dialogue. 

Movie was filmed with wide Cinemascope format (2,35:1) but this DVD provides pan&scan version only in aspect ratio 1,33:1 (4:3) o we are losing big part of the original picture. Only opening credits are letterboxed. Picture quality is not that great but at least you can see the movie.

There is no additional material, not even menu. DVD starts with some copyright notices in English and Chinese and then the movie begins. to the top

 

Spanish A Better Tomorrow 2 DVD [24.12.2003] 

I just found another DVD release of A Better Tomorrow 2. Spanish release may not be the most recommended version because it is dubbed in English and Spanish only but at least it is supposed to be anamorphic widescreen version. DVD was released in September 19 2001. to the top

 

Once a Thief R1 DVD [24.12.2003] 

Once a Thief R1 DVD from Columbia TriStar. 

Sound : Dolby Digital 5.1 Cantonese & English
Picture: Anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 / 1.33:1
Subtitles : English, French, Spanish
Extra : Theatrical trailer, production notes. 

 

Hard Boiled 1 & 2 Germany [24.12.2003] 

Language: Germany, Cantonese
Subtitles: Germany
Region 2, widescreen, DTS, DD 5.1, DD 2.0
Extras : John Woo interview, John Woo special, Chow Yun-fat special, Eastern trailershow.
Released by Laser Paradise Germany. 
 

Better Tomorrow trilogy Germany [24.12.2003] 

Language: Germany, Mandarin
Region 2, anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1, 
Germany DD 5.1, DD 2.0
Mandarin DD 2.0
John Woo interview, Ti Lung interview
deleted scene
press conference
picture gallery
trailer
 

 

Bulletproof Monk released 16.04. [21.04.2003] 

Bulletproof monk was finally released in theaters in US. Release date was April 16. Movie starring Chow Yun-fat as a nameless monk is based on a comic book about invincible monk. Movie was produced by John Woo and Terence Chang.

Premiere of the movie was held in April 7th at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. Chow Yun-fat was not on the event. Because of desease called SARS and travel warnings issued by World Healt Organization Chow Yun-fat decided not to travel to US from his home in Hong Kong. 

But how is the movie itself? Unfortunately I haven't seen it yet so I must take the word of those who has. Chow Yun-fat has received very good reviews when movie itself hasn't. "Chow Yun-fat deserves so much better than Bulletproof Monk" as Chris Kaltenbach writes in the Baltimore Sun.

Bulletproof monk was released on Wednesday April 16 in 2955 theaters. On opening day monk was second on box office After Anger Management wich has collected over $50 million so far. Bulletbroof had $1,443 million on first day. We'll see soon how much it makes during long holiday weekend.

Release dates 

USA           - 16 April 2003
Australia     - 17 April 2003
Singapore   - 17 April 2003
Hong Kong- 18 April 2003
UK            - 18 April 2003
Iceland       - 25 April 2003
Netherlands- 05 June 2003
Norway      - 06 June 2003
Germany     - 26 June 2003
Russia         - 26 June 2003
Austria        - 26 June 2003
New Zealand- 24 July 2003
Belgium        - 30 July 2003to the top
 

Windtalkers R2 SE DVD in Japan [19.04.2003] 


John Woo's war epic Windtalkers was released in Japan as a Special Edition. I don't have much details of this release. 

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Once a Thief R1 DVD from Columbia [19.04.2003] 


John Woo's early action-comedy Once a Thief will be released in DVD format in USA and Canada by Columbia TriStar. DVD will be released in April 22. So far I haven't heard many details of this disc but most likely it is region coded for American audience only (Region 1). to the top

 

Woo and Chang to Judge Ninja Film Content [19.04.2003] 


Woo/Chang Judge Ninja Film Contest

John Woo and his Lion Rock partner Terence Chang will form the jury of Activision's Reel Ninja Film Contest in February. The contest is part of the software house's efforts to publicize upcoming PS2 game "Tenchu; Wrath od Heaven."

Entries by College and film students are accepted between Feb. 3 and Feb. 17. Contestants are asked to submit up to 3-minute "Ultimate Ninja" shorts (live action or animated). Forty randomly drawn finalists will then be judged by Woo and Chang, who'll award $15000 to their favorite.

Five runner up flicks are then presented at http://www.ninjafilmcontest.com/ to be voted for. The public voting favorite can garner a special price of $5000.

http://www.ninjafilmcontest.com/

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Honor among Thieves obsolete [19.04.2003] 

"Honor Among Thieves" won't be a John Woo vechile any more. Previously Warner thouthgt that this script written by George Nolfi could have been suitable material for Woo to direct but now this script has been turned into a sequel to Steven Soderbergh's film "Ocean's Eleven". Soderberg is about to direct "Ocean's Twelve" as this project so cleverly is now called.

Soderbergh might not only direct the sequel but also produce it with George Clooney who propably will reprise his role from original film. Also Bratt Pitt and other star from original movie could be seen in this forthcoming sequel as well.

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Pirates hit Bulletproof Monk [19.04.2003] 

Seems like the "Bulletproof Monk", John Woo's latest producing effort, is less resistant to piracy as to gunfire. Four months before the latest Chow-Yun Fat feature's scheduled release on April 16, a pirated VCD copy hit Asian markets.

The illegal VCD, which Hollywood sources suspect of having been taped during a work-print industry screening, originates from Malaysia and is available throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the pirated "Monk" VCD is "the worst breach of security of a film's copyright ever". A MPAA spokesman told the Malay Mail newspaper that this very serious issue was already being investigated. A Far East syndicate with Hollywood connections is supected of the piracy.

The distributed VCD lacks key scenes, among them opening and climax, as the picture is still in post-production and some reshots have yet to be integrated. The disc features Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia subtitles. Also, shadows of moving heads are visible and audience laughter can be heard.

 

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Rosebud? [19.04.2003] 

"Rosebud" Rumours

Asian newspapers have reported that John Woo might be interested in filming the life story of Mary Ong a.k.a. "Rosebud". 46-year-old Ong, a former dollar smuggler who turned narcotics agent both for the Hongkong and the Philippine police, had a key role in blowing up a money laundering conspiracy alleged to include a Phillipine Senator and Police Chief. She's been living guarded in safehouses ever since.

Ong's Hollywood agent thinks of a six figure deal and is in talks with a number of companies, John Woo's Lion Rock among them. No deals have been struck yet, but Ong has her hopes on Hollywood as the subject was "too hot to handle" for local film industry. Gossip has top-notch names like Michelle Yeoh, Lucy Liu or Kelly Hu in for the role.

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Windtalkers DVD and VHS in Finland 9.5.2003 [19.04.2003] 

Windtalkers DVD and VHS will be released in Finland in May 9, 2003. Rental versions will be available a little earlier.As far as I know DVD version released in Finland will have original English soundtrack and additional dubs in German and Spanish. Extra material  includes documentary, two commentaries, making of featurette, interviews and picture galleries. Movie in itself has 16 different translation subtitles but unfortunately additional material will be subtitled in German, English, Spanish and Dutch only.  

 

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Windtalkers R1 3-DVD Director's cut [28.02.2003] 

MGM announced Windtalkers Director's cut 3 DVD disc edition for May  (5/20 - $39.98), which will feature a 20-minutes-longer version of the film, 3 audio commentary tracks and extensive historical and behind-the-scenes documentary material among other extras.
 

Disc One
-Personal on-camera introduction by John Woo.
-Audio commentary with John Woo & Terence Chang.
-Audio commentary with Nicolas Cage & Christian Slater.
-Audio commentary with some Navajo's.
-Theatrical Trailers

Disc Two
-The Code Talkers - A Secret Code Of Honor documentary.
-American Heroes: A Tribute To Navajo Code Talkers.
-The Music Of Windtalkers featurette.

Disc Three
-Battle Sequence: Multi-view of four key action scenes.
-Four fly-on-the-set diaries.
-Actor's Bootcamp featurette.
-Behind-the-scenes photo gallery.
-John Woo biography.

 

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Windtalkers R2 2-DVD -French Collector's Edition  [28.02.2003] 

In France two versions of Windtalkers DVD will be released in 19. March 2003. Both versions has anamorphic widescreen and p&s pictures and DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 in English and French. Subtitles are in French only.

2 DVD edition has many extras mentioned. Looks like most of them were included on Australian R4 Special edition. But the most interensting addition is commentary track by John Woo and Terence which was not on R4 DVD. This commentary will be on futher R1 DVD including Director's cut announces to be released in May. 

Price :  EUR 24,99  /  163,92 FF

1 DVD 

 

Price :  EUR 29,99  /  196,72 FF

Collector's Edition: 2 DVD !

 

Bonus (Collector's edition):
• 52 min documentary with Woo
• Interviews (actors, director, producers)
• Commentary by John Woo
• Making Of
• Documentary about Navajos
• trailers

 

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In 2003 Woo prepared his next film Paycheck after Windtalkers. . 

. . .