July 14, 2004
Uncut Hero Hits DVD in China July 16th!
I'm still looking for some details on this, but it looks as though the uncut version of Hero is finally hitting DVD in mainland China on July 16th. It's been available on EVD - a China only format - for a good while now, but this'll be the first DVD edition of the extended cut anywhere. No word yet on availablity or subtitles, but you can bet subbed boot copies will turn up a week or so after the originals if they're foolish enough not to subtitle it ... If you happen to be able to read Chinese you can find the full specs here.
Woah ... hold on boys! Another update on this thanks to the kind souls on the KFC message boards who have offered up an interpretation of that page. Three releases. A DVD-5 film only version, a DVD-9 version with 32 minutes of extras and a DVD-9 version 62 minutes of extras packaged in a special edition box. And YES! ALL EDITIONS INCLUDE ENGLISH SUBTITLES!!! I know which version I'll be getting, now I just gotta find me a retailer ...
Posted by John Campea at July 14, 2004 11:31 AM
Comments
Posted by: Jim Biancolo at July 14, 2004 11:46 AM
Oh, those rumors are absolutely true. Miramax was a funding partner and they had Yimou cut the film down from 118 minutes to 98. The 98 minute version is the only one that's been seen in theaters anywhere. I'm pretty sure I know where I'll be able to get these, I'm just waiting on confirmation ...
Posted by: Bubba at July 14, 2004 12:35 PM
Ah! That clarifies it, thanks. I didn't realize they were a funding partner; I just thought they had US (North American?) distribution rights. Bastards.
Posted by: Jim Biancolo at July 14, 2004 12:41 PM
Hmm. Not who I was looking for but I found someone who appears to be a dead solid seller that's got these. Based in the US, free shipping, hardcore no bootleg stance, and he's got them in stock and ready to ship on the release date. Nummy. I just ordered three. Those of you claiming the other two should know who you are ...
http://stores.ebay.com/Foreign-Movie-Buff-DVDs
Now I gotta go check the rest of what he stocks ...
Posted by: Bubba at July 14, 2004 12:42 PM
I've ordered from this guy before. He's legit and has some really great stuff.
Posted by: tracy at July 15, 2004 09:52 AM
This ebay seller has all three versions:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid;=herodvd&include;=0&since;=-1&sort;=3&rows;=50
I just ordered the Limited editions box (3000 copies printed).
good luck.
Posted by: mike_Hawaii at August 19, 2004 08:27 PM
That guy's charging WAY too much. Get them from Layoyo. www.layoyo.com ... legit, cheap and excellent service. The foreign-movie-buff guy turned out to be a horror show, by the way ...
Posted by: Bubba at August 19, 2004 10:01 PM
I thought both Hero and crouching tiger hidden dragon were very boring movies.
Posted by: john at July 14, 2005 02:31 AM
Wow, this is thrilling news! Please keep us posted on where you get yours, and what you think of the extended cut when you see it. In my fantasy world, this is the version that Miramax releases theatrically. My fantasy world couldn't be farther from reality, I realize, especially considering the rumors that Miramax managed to pressure Zhang into making cuts for the *Chinese* theatrical release (although how they can exert such pressure in foreign markets I have no idea, and I don't think I've ever seen those rumors verified).