Shaw Brothers News
09/02 - Most of Ground Zero's and Crash's Shaw Brothers Titles are going out of print, this is probably Celestial starting to flex their muscles in the US market.
01/09/02 - The most recent news was VCD releases in Summer 2002 and DVD in early 2003.
The first deadline has passed and still the Celestial site is not up properly and there is no news at retail-level in the US or Hong Kong.
Celestial are currently having problems with the legal / bootlegging issues, and in the remastering process which is a time-consuming affair.
Apparently a (Malaysian?) company Speedy Video Distributors are in charge of the VCD distribution, but rumours suggest that little will be happening before the new year?
13/07/02 - Not much to report recently, but here is William Pfeiffer on Yahoo:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020626/film_nm/leisure_film_hongkong_dc_4
11/06/02 - This is the new provisional list for Celestial Titles being distributed around Cannes. The full list can be found at DVDCULT - http://www.dvdcult.com/KFDVD1.htm - These are the martial arts titles only.
- COME DRINK WITH ME (1966)
- THE HEROIC ONES (1970)
- THE SHADOW WHIP (1970)
- KILLER CLANS (1976)
- THE 36 CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (1977)
- RETURN TO THE 36 CHAMBER (1980)
- CLANS OF INTRIGUE (1976)
- TWO CHAMPIONS OF SHAOLIN (1980)
- TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965)
- THE ANONYMOUS HEROES (1971)
- THE MAGIC BLADE (1976)
- THE PEARL PHEONIX (1966)
- DEATH DUEL (1977)
- HEROES TWO (1973)
- THE JADE TIGER (1977)
- BUDDHA’S PALM (1982)
- KNIGHT OF KNIGHTS (1966)
- THE MAGNIFICENT TRIO (1966)
- THE GOLDEN BUDDHA (1968)
- BLOOD BROTHERS (1973)
- LEGEND OF THE BAT (1978)
- THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE (1976)
- IRON BODYGUARDS (1973)
- THE LIZARD (1972)
- HAVE SWORD WILL TRAVEL (1969)
- NA CHA THE GREAT (1974)
- THE FIVE VENOMS (1978)
- BOXER FROM SHANTUNG (1972)
- SHADOW BOXER (1974)
- WEB OF DEATH (1976)
- ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS (1973)
- VENGEANCE (1970)
- JOURNEY OF THE DOOMED (1985)
- LION VS. LION (1981)
- EMPEROR AND HIS BROTHER (1981)
- TRAIL OF THE BROKEN BLADE (1967)
- DISCIPLES OF THE 36th CHAMBER (1984)
- HEROES OF SUNG (1973)
- INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN (1978)
- TWELVE GOLDEN MEDALLIONS (1970)
- SECRET SERVICE OF THE IMPERIAL COURT (1984)
- SOUL OF THE SWORD (1978)
- THE WATER MARGIN (1972)
- SHAOLIN HANDLOCK (1978)
- HEROES SHED NO TEARS (1980)
- THE MASTER (1980)
- SPIRITUAL BOXER PART 2 (1979)
28/05/02 - Release Dates!!! - We have info from a French Website currently at Cannes as to possible release dates. Both updates taken from (and translated!) from www.dvdrama.net
21/05/02 - Recently rediscovered thanks to the role of Jade Hyène in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon of Ang Lee, Cheng Pei-Pei, the female icon of Chinese Sword films (Wu Xia Pian) will come to present tomorrow in Cannes (non-competition) the film which made her a star of the genre, Come Drink With Me by King Hu. This film was remastered by the company Celestial Pictures which holds the rights to the entire catalogue of films produced by Shaw Brothers (+ of 600 feature films!). Battle will start in July with a score of titles of Shaw which will leave in VCD. The first DVD will leave at the beginning of 2003. One awaits them with a real impatience!
27/05/02 - Living legend of Wu Xia Pian, Cheng Pei-Pei (Tiger and Dragon, Jade Claws) will honour us with her presence (the interview arrives!!!) for the projection of Come With Drink Me by King Hu which was presented in a remastered version of incredible beauty (blazing colours, no dust on the copy, new English subtitles...). The company Celestial Pictures also presented 4 other Shaw Brothers films in original copies, the 36th Chamber of Shaolin by Liu Chia-Liang, the Martial arts of Shaolin with Jet Li, The Golden Lotus with Li Han-Hsiang (The Love Eterne), and Love In A Fallen City with Ann Hui and Chow Yun-Fat, films which will probably make part of the first batch of VCD which will leave HK in July 2002.
Promo for Come Drink with Me
26/05/02 - Not only is the prodigious Michelle Yeoh a judge at Cannes, but info on the Celestial presence at Cannes:
Remastered and Restored Films -
As for the Retrospectives, Cannes' heritage film program has grown noticeably. Starting this year, the Festival is launching a new tradition. A selection of the best remastered and restored films will now be presented every year in Salle Buñuel.
Come from all over the world (Europe, United States, Asia), these talking films have been chosen among a selection of possible pictures recommended by the archive departments, cinematheques, studios, and producers. The selection criteria included the choice of title, the quality of the film, the historical implications, the quality of the copy, the amount of technical work, etc.
By presenting the most splendid remastered films, Cannes honors the research and restoration work undertaken every year by the best national cinematheques.
Come Drink with Me (Da Zui Xia) by King Hu (Hong Kong). Restoration from original negative and 35mm print: Celestial Pictures/Shaw Brothers.
23/05/02 - Celestial Email Update Exclusive:
Hi there Paul,
Thank you very much for your email and your concern. Over the past few days we have received email from our
Shaw Brothers' fans who have also kindly informed us of the rumours.
With regards to your queries, can I get back to you next week - our distribution team will return from the Cannes Film Festival and only
then will I have more concrete information ref to release dates and their formats.
No - its not true that the Shaw Bros titles are for release for TV & cinema only. We are definitely remastering titles for Home Video release - this is a priority - and of course there will be territories that will include TV and cinema as well.
I will get back to you ASAP...please try to bear with me a little longer...I really understand how you guys feel.
Thank you for your patience and also for pacifying our fans!!
Kindest Regards,
Lui.
21/05/02- Here is another Screendaily article on Celestial - Hong Kong's Celestial lines up starry debut
17/05/02 - It is possible that the initial release list of Shaw Brothers titles from Celestial may have been a hoax? (see 19/03/02)
But word is that Have Sword Will Travel and a One Armed Swordsman Box Set is on the way. Still no fixed release dates though.
12/05/02 - Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures builds team for vertical integration
Liz Shackleton in Hong Kong 06 May 2002 04:00 (www.screendaily.com/story.asp?storyid=8090)
Fledgling Hong Kong studio Celestial Pictures has appointed industry veteran Gordon Cheung as executive vice president of distribution.
Cheung was formerly executive vice president of Hong Kong digital effects house, Centro Digital Pictures, where he was responsible for sales and distribution of the company’s own productions. He also spent 10 years at Golden Harvest Entertainment as vice president, distribution, and three years in a similar role at Vestron Pictures in the US.
In his new position, Cheung will oversee sales and distribution of the 760-title Shaw Brothers library along with Celestial’s new productions which will be unveiled during Cannes.
In addition, Celestial has appointed Tony Watts, former head of movies at pan-Asian satellite broadcaster Star TV, as head of network operations. The company plans to launch a bouquet of film channels, the first of which, a Chinese-language movie channel, will be rolled out this year.
With backing from Malaysian media empire Usaha Tegas, Celestial is gearing up to become a vertically integrated studio operation with interests spanning production, distribution and broadcast. The company is headed by former Sony TV executive William Pfeiffer and has also tapped leading Hong Kong producer-director Wong Jing to oversee production.
12/04/02 - Important update
Question: An issue that has brought a great deal of discussion and interest recently online is whether Celestial Pictures will release Shaw Brothers movies with a dubbed track as well as the promised 'original language track'?
Answer: Celestial will be releasing a dubbed audio track where available !!!!
09/04/02 - Email from Celestial to HKCinema:
Thank you for your email.
It's fantastic to see the great support for Hong Kong cinema! And a big thank-you for the dedicated page!
As you're already aware, we will be releasing the Shaw Bros movies on DVD worldwide some time around June. The exact release dates have not yet been confirmed - currently finalizing distributors. We will definitely add your details to our mailing list...and notify you of our exciting developments and the launch of our official web site in the not so distant future!
Once again, thank you for your patience and your continued support!
Best Regards,
Lui Yeung, Celestial Pictures
08/04/02 - Here is the url for the Celestial Pictures Homepage - http://www.celestialpictures.com.hk/
