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Hard Boiled AKA Lat sau san taam AKA God of Guns (1992)
As a cop, he has brains, brawn, and an instinct to kill.Director: John Woo
OVERALL: Draw-
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Commentaries:Audio commentary by director John Woo, producer Terence Chang, filmmaker Roger Avary and critic Dave Kehr
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Extras:"Accidentally" student film by John Woo (10:29)
Production notes (23 pages)
Guide to Hong Kong crime films (11 pages)
Theatrical trailer (3:21)
John Woo's HK movie trailers:
- "The Young Dragons" (3:45)
- "Hand of Death" (3:57)
- "Princess Chang Ping" (4:32)
- "Last Hurrah for Chivalry" (4:31)
- "From Riches to Rags" (4:29)
- "A Better Tomorrow" (3:04)
- "A Better Tomorrow II" (2:37)
- "The Killer" (1:24)
- "Bullet in the Head" (3:30)
- "Once a Thief" (1:21)
DVD Production Credits (text)
Help (text) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:1.92:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 1.0
English Dolby Digital 1.0 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Comes with a 4-page booklet featuring an essay by Barbara Scharres, chapter index and a fact sheet of the transfer.
Features an overmatted (cropped) transfer. Subtitles are actually dubtitles. -
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Commentaries:Audio commentary by director John Woo
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Extras:Production notes
Filmographies
Theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:English
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Aspect Ratio:1.70:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Also included in the "John Woo Action Pack" with "The Killer".
Both the 2-pack and this DVD are currently OOP.
Dubtitles rather than subtitles. -
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Extras:2 theatrical trailers
Cast & crew details
Film synopsis -
Subtitles:English
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1
Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:This disc is a flipper.
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Extras:Cast & crew (1 page)
Film synopsis (1 page) -
Subtitles:Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, Japanese
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Aspect Ratio:1.77:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese DTS 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:This is the remastered release, with DTS. Packaged in an amaray case with a card slipcase.
Transfer is slightly cropped on the sides. -
Special thanks to Rewind user BuggSuperstar & Åsmund_Utvik for providing these specifications.
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Extras:Biographies (Japanese text)
Theatrical Trailer -
Subtitles:Japanese (FORCED)
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Aspect Ratio:2.00:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Case incorrectly states the disc to be region 2 encoded.
Reported to be over-matted and cropped. -
Special thanks to Rewind user Richard_Manri for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Subtitles:English + Mandarin Traditional (burned-in)
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Aspect Ratio:1.60:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Both subtitle options are BURNT IN simultaneously for the film.
Features the longer "Preview" version of the film, screened in Taiwan before director John Woo made his final edits for the Hong Kong release. It is NOT the director's preferred cut.
There is a skippable black screen between 52:42-57:48 due to the studio using a master that came in two separate parts.
Black screen excluded the runtime is still roughly 4 minutes longer than the Hong Kong Theatrical cut on all the other releases. -
Special thanks to Rewind user hspace for providing these specifications.
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Subtitles:English
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Extras:Theatrical Trailer (2:55)
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Subtitles:English
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese DTS 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
English Dolby Digital 5.1
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:There is some extreme window-boxing on the opening 2 minutes to preserve the exact aspect ratio. New subtitle translation from the original language.
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Easter eggs:Go to the Scene Selection menu and with Opening Titles highlighted press right to reveal the hidden word Alternate. This gives you the English version of the opening and closing credits which are anamorphic and not window-boxed.
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Extras:Cut & uncut scenes comparison
Interview with director John Woo
Stills gallery
Star filmographies
Chow Yun Fat article
Film reviews
Theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:English (burnt-in)
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Release date 19/03/2001, re-released on 01/01/2002. The transfer is reportedly very dark.
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Extras:Interview with director John Woo (29:41)
Theatrical trailer (2:55)
Stills gallery (10 pictures)
Cast and Crew
- Chow Yun Fat
-- Text Interview (6:29)
-- Filmography (3:59)
- Tony Leung
-- Filmography (2:29)
- John Woo
-- Biography (2:59)
-- Filmography (2:59) -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Release date 24/04/2000.
The John Woo interview is in Cantonese with burned-in Chinese and English subtitles. -
Special thanks to Rewind user Gav Salkeld & Åsmund_Utvik for providing these specifications.
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Extras:DISC ONE
* The Film
Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
DISC TWO
"A Baptism of Fire" - A Featurette with Iconic Director John Woo (38:18)
Interview Gallery:
- "Partner in Crime": An Interview with Producer Terence Chang (24:56)
- "Art Imitates Life": An Interview with Co-star Philip Chan (15:56)
- "Mad Dog Bites Again": An Interview with Lead Villain Kwok Choi (25:03)
Hard Boiled Location Guide (8:49)
Trailer Gallery:
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- US Promotional Trailer
"Stranglehold" Video Game Mini Making-of (3 min) -
Subtitles:English (dubtitles), Spanish, English HoH
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese DTS 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
English Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Contrary to what the box states, the mono is Cantonese and not English. The transfer is slightly cropped. Uses "dubtitles".
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Special thanks to Rewind user estebon_spielbergo for providing these specifications.
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Extras:"With the Test of Time" documentary
Interviews
Photo gallery
Alternate & deleted scenes
Theatrical trailers -
Subtitles:French (forced on Cantonese tracks)
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono
French Dolby Digital 5.1
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Special thanks to Rewind user cornelius666 and ThePrimitive for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
Buy this disc from
Amazon France
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Extras:"Behind the Scenes" featurette (1:20)
Picture Gallery (1:30, slideshow)
"Hard Boiled" essay (6 pages)
Cast & Crew bio- & filmographies:
- John Woo (7 pages)
- Chow Yun Fat (6 pages)
- Tony Leung (8 pages)
Cantonese Theatrical Trailer (3:12)
English Theatrical Trailer (2:55)
German Theatrical Trailer (3:12)
Bonus Trailers:
- "Prison on Fire" (5:01)
- "Shiri" (2:37)
- "Oldboy" (2:26)
- "Ju-On" (1:29)
- "Old Men in New Cars" (2:00)
- "Ginger Snaps III" (1:53)
- "The Machinist" (0:55)
- "Re-Animator" (1:49) -
Subtitles:German
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
German DTS 5.1
German Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Cover is identical to the SPIO/JK Uncut version, except for omitting the small "Uncut version" tag on the front cover.
The text based extras, German Theatrical trailer and all bonus trailers are in German. -
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Extras:Theatrical Trailer
Bonus Trailers:
- "Die Apothekerin"
- "Rumble in the Bronx"
- "American Yakuza"
- "Never Talk to Strangers" -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):German Dolby Digital 5.1
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Features only a dubbed audio track.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:"Behind the Scenes" featurette (1:20)
Picture Gallery (1:30, slideshow)
"Hard Boiled" essay (6 pages)
Cast & Crew bio- & filmographies:
- John Woo (7 pages)
- Chow Yun Fat (6 pages)
- Tony Leung (8 pages)
Cantonese Theatrical Trailer (3:12)
English Theatrical Trailer (2:55)
German Theatrical Trailer (3:12)
Bonus Trailers:
- "Prison on Fire" (5:01)
- "Shiri" (2:37)
- "Oldboy" (2:26)
- "Ju-On" (1:29)
- "Old Men in New Cars" (2:00)
- "Ginger Snaps III" (1:53)
- "The Machinist" (0:55)
- "Re-Animator" (1:49) -
Subtitles:German
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
German DTS 5.1
German Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Cover is identical to the heavily cut "FSK 16" version except for featuring a small "Uncut version" tag on the front cover.
The text based extras, German Theatrical trailer and all bonus trailers are in German. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Bonus Trailers:
- "Full Contact"
- "Treasure Hunt"
Theatrical Trailer -
Subtitles:Japanese (FORCED, see notes)
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Aspect Ratio:1.78:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Japanese subs are forced on the Cantonese audio tracks and trailers, but on the main feature they can be turned off by ejecting the disc during playback and reinserting it, selecting Japanese 5.1 and "Subtitle track 1" via the remote, then switching to Cantonese again and they will be deactivated permanently until the film is over.
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Special thanks to Rewind user Richard_Manri for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Theatrical Trailer (3:11)
Cantonese Bonus Trailer
- A Better Tomorrow (4:02)
English Bonus Trailers
- A Better Tomorrow (3:47)
- A Better Tomorrow II (3:23)
- A Better Tomorrow III (4:33)
- Once a Thief (1:16)
- The Killer (3:42)
- Bullet in the Head (3:54) -
Subtitles:Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese DTS 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Cantonese Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Also available in the 4-film 4-disc "John Woo Collector's Edition Volume 2" boxset which includes "Hard Boiled", "The Killer", "Bullet in the Head" and "Once a Thief".
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Special thanks to Rewind user Keaton & Åsmund_Utvik for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Theatrical trailer (2:59)
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Subtitles:English, Thai
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Aspect Ratio:1.78:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):Cantonese Dolby Digital 5.1
Thai Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo -
Case type:Keep Case
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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OVERALL: Draw
* The R1 "Dragon Dynasty" UE has the best selection of extras, and a DTS track. Purists note the subtitles are "dubtitles".
* The UK CE release has DTS and a remastered anamorphic picture, but is short on extras. Purists note the subtitles are proper subtitles from a new translation based on the original dialogue.
* R0 Criterion has exclusive Audio commentary, but is non-anamorphic, in a slightly different aspect ratio and OOP (although it has dropped significantly in price and is not so hard to find second-hand).
* The R0 Fox Lorber release has also Audio commentary, but is non-anamorphic.
* The French release has a documentary, but the subtitles are "forced" (and only in French). It´s also remastered.
* The Taiwanese disc is the longest cut of the film, but is dubbed, in an incorrect aspect ratio, has "burnt-in" subtitles and is not director John Woo's preferred version.
Fans may want to consider several releases.
This film is also known as:
-Hot-Handed God of Cops
-Ruthless Super-Cop
-La shou shen tan -
CUTS:
- R0 America- Criterion Collection - No cuts (127:27 NTSC).
- R0 America- Fox Lorber/Winstar - No cuts
- R0 Hong Kong- Mei Ah Home Entertainment - No cuts
- R0 Remastered Hong Kong- Mei Ah Home Entertainment - No cuts (127:28 NTSC).
- R0 Japan- Pioneer - No cuts (127:30 NTSC).
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R0 Taiwan- Long Shong International - No cuts - "Preview" version (136:19 [131:13] NTSC).
- The longer preview version screened in Taiwan before director John Woo made his final edits for the Hong Kong release; NOT the director's preferred cut.
- Features skippable black screen between 52:42-57:48 due to the studio using a master that came in two separate parts.
- Black screen excluded running roughly 4 minutes longer than the Hong Kong Theatrical cut featured on all the other releases. - R0 United Kingdom- Prism Leisure - No cuts
- R0 Collector's Edition United Kingdom- Tartan Video - No cuts (122:24 PAL).
- R0 New Release United Kingdom- Tartan Video - No cuts (122:16 PAL).
- R0 Original Release United Kingdom- Tartan Video - Yes - 5 seconds of violence removed (122:24 PAL).
- R1 Ultimate Edition America- The Weinstein Company - No cuts.
- R2 France- HK Video - No cuts
- R2 FSK 16 Germany- e-m-s - Yes - Heavily cut "FSK 16" version (92:20 PAL).
- R2 FSK 16 Germany- Splendid Film - Yes - Heavily cut "FSK 16" version (92:14 PAL).
- R2 SPIO/JK Uncut Germany- e-m-s - No cuts (122:23 PAL).
- R2 Japan- Geneon - No cuts (127:28 NTSC).
- R2 Scandinavia- Scanbox Entertainment - No Cuts (122:40 PAL).
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R3 Thailand- Rose Media & Entertainment - No censor cuts (127:22 NTSC).
- No censor cuts but visual blurring during scenes where the "business end" of weapons are in direct contact with persons.
- Scenes with drinking or smoking feature a burnt-in Thai warning for the dangers of these habits.
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Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
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Comparison added by Craig on 19/07/01
Comparison last updated by James-Masaki_Ryan on 11/06/17UPDATE LOG:
01/06/14 - Added the German e-m-s/Splendid Film and Thai releases, more details and notes to R0 Criterion, more details and runtimes to UK releases and further cut notes to R0 Taiwan.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
02/06/14 - Added 2 x Japanese releases.
11/06/17: Updated UK original Tartan, capsaholic.
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