From: PETERC@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu (Peter Correnty)
Subject: ASIAN films and Video Distributors
Organization: Yale University
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:46:30 EST

Since I've had several requests for this information, I will
post it to the net rather than sending it to everyone who has
requested it.
 
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Sorry it took so long to gather this information, but here it is ...
 
Company 1 is Eccentri-Cinema, Company 2 is NYUE, Company 3 is
CCC Enterprises, and Company 4 is Video Search of Miami.
A 'Y' means that the particular company carries that title and version.
Obviously, an 'N' means that company does not carry that title
and version.  I gave a score for quality which follows the Y or
N,  A=superior, B=above average, C=average, D=below average, F=
forget it.  I found that the quality varies during a movie.  For
example, the uncut version of THE KILLER is beautifully transferred
for about 90% of the picture, but during some of the night scenes,
the picture becomes blurry.  I've noted variable quality by an
asterisk (*) after the rating.
 
 
Title and Version             Company                   Cost
 
                             1   2   3   4        Co. 1    2     3    4
 
 
John Woo's ....
 THE KILLER
 140 min. version not LBX   YB*  N   N  YD*          20   n/a   n/a  25
 110 min. version LBX       YA   N   N   N           20   n/a   n/a  n/a
       (subtitled)
 110 min. version LBX       YA   N   N   N           20   n/a   n/a  n/a
       (dubbed)
 140 min. version not LBX    N   N  YA*  ?           n/a  n/a   15    ?
       (NO Subtitles)
 
 HARDBOILED
 uncut version, slightly    YC*  N  YB   ?           20   n/a    15   ?
    letterboxed
 
 A BULLET IN THE HEAD
 uncut version, LBXed       YB  N   YC   ?           20   n/a    15   ?
 cut version, not LBXed     N   YA  N    ?          n/a   30    n/a   ?
 
HERO SHEDS NO TEARS
 I have only been able      YB* YC* YB*  ?           20   30     15   ?
 to find one version
 
TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL
 I have only been able      YC* YD*  N   N           20   30    n/a  n/a
 to find one version
 
A BETTER TOMORROW
 longer version,            YA  N   YB  YC*          20   n/a    15   25
  slightly LBXed
 shorter version            YA* YA*  N  ?            20   30    n/a   ?
  not LBXed
 
A BETTER TOMORROW II
 longer version             YB  N   YB* YC*          20   n/a    30   25
  slightly LBXed
 shorter version            YA  YA  N   ?            20   30     n/a   ?
  not LBXed
 
 
In your last mail to me you asked about the sources these companies use
to produce their videos.  I know that CCC Enterprises produces most of
their videos directly from laserdisc.  Some of CCC Enterprises movies
are duped right from awful videos and the quality is very poor.  For
example, I bought SWORDSMAN 2, and the copy is horrendous.  CCC Enter-
prises charges only $8 for these poor dubs; $15 for videos transferred
from LD.
 
NYUE dupes all of their films, but the quality is usually pretty good.
I have ordered about 200 movies from NYUE, and about 12 - 15 I sent
back.  Sometimes the very top portion of the picture will not track.
The result is an annoying wiggle in the top part of the frame.
Sometimes the catalog indicates that the movie is sub-titled when it
isn't.  Overall, I have been pleased, and the service is EXCELLENT!
 
Eccentri-Cinema transfers almost all of their videos from 16 or 35mm.
Unfortunately, this doesn't hold true for many of the Asian titles
because the films are difficult to get.  Their Asian masters, however,
usually come from 16 or 35mm.  The quality is usually excellent.  Three
titles I received (of about 250) are poor quality, but it is noted in
the catalog that these films are rare, so the quality suffers because
of lack of availability.  These titles are BLAST OF THE IRON PALM,
SEX AND ZEN AND THE ORGY OF SCREAMING VIXENS, and HARDBOILED.  Nearly
all of their videos are $15 with the exception of most of the Asian
titles ($20) and the following films ...  AMUCK! - $17,  BLOOD AND
LACE - $17,  BREAKFAST AT THE MANCHESTER MORGUE (uncut) - $17,
SOUND OF HORROR - $17,  DR. TARR'S TORTURE DUNGEON - $17,  HOUSE OF
WHIPCORD - $29,  CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST - $14,  JUNGLE HOLOCAUST - $17,
FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD - $14, VENUS IN FURS - $22.
 
Double-feature films ...
 
NOT OF THIS EARTH (1956) and BLOOD BATH (1966)  .........  $ 20
NOT OF THIS EARTH (1956) and CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962) ...  $ 20
BLACK SCORPION (1957?) and DEADLY MANTIS  (1957?) .......  $ 20
ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS and DEADLY MANTIS (1957?) ...  $ 20
 
 
Video Search of Miami dupes all of their videos, and the quality is
generally very poor.  Don't waste your money if you can find the titles
elsewhere.  Also, you don't get packaging ... just the regular video-
cassette box (from Certron or some other low-quality videotape).  I am,
however, very impressed by their catalog.  They have some nearly
impossible-to-find titles like THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (1970), DEMONIA,
a rare Lucio Fulci film, CRAZY BLOOD, and much more.  The cost of all
of their videos is $25 plus a one-time charge of $10 ... a bit steep
for dupes!
 
Hope this helps.
 
-Pete.