Ju Dou
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Movie Reviews of Ju Dou
Movie Review: False advertising by the publisher
Summary: 1 Stars
I guess I can't blame Amazon.com for claiming this DVD (the MagicPlay release - UPC 690445022424) has an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 because that is what it says on the back cover (MagicPlay didn't even get the syntax right, they printed it as "2:35-1"). While I'm sure they would claim it is a typographical error, as it stands it is false advertising perpetrated by MagicPlay Entertainment, because this DVD is actually "pan and scan" 4:3 aspect ratio. Razor Digital Entertainment also takes credit for this release but since MagicPlay takes the copyright credit for the cover design, I place the blame on them for this fraud. I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if there is no actual panning of the image. I think they just cropped it right up the center and left it at that. The Internet Movie Database states that the aspect ratio for this film is 1.66:1 (5:3), so 2.35:1 would not be correct even if it had been transferred as widescreen letterbox. And to add salt to the wound they obviously started with a very poor quality print from which to make the digital transfer. There is also a problem with the audio. My first point here is that I experienced about a 24dB difference in volume between the main feature soundtrack and the audio loop that accompanies the main menu screen; specifically it is the menu screen audio that is too loud. So if you set the volume based on the film's audio track, remember to quickly mute or turn it down when the film ends or you will get blasted out of your seat when the menu returns. The second point is that it appears the audio is only basic stereo, which may in fact be how the film was made, but again we have misleading information on the DVD case cover, because it says "Dolby Digital 5.1" but based on the behavior of my receiver, there was no "5.1" even if there is some aspect of "Dolby Digital" to the audio. The Setup menu gives you a choice of "AC3-2.0" (Dolby Digital 2-channel) or "LPCM" (while LPCM can theoretically support up to 7.1 channels, here it sounded nearly the same as the AC3-2.0). One final discrepancy which I'll mention is that the cover of my DVD appears to imply it is a "Region Zero" disc, while Amazon.com lists it as "Region 1" but I have no way of knowing which is correct. My rating for this product is based strictly on the quality of the MagicPlay DVD, not the movie, which I would rate very high.Movie Review: Ju Dou: Razor D. E. lo-fi remix
Summary: 1 Stars
Ju Dou is a great movie, I'd only previously seen it on VHS borrowed from the public library and was so looking forward to this release, but sadly I concure, this DVD is as bad as the other reviewers have previously stated. Worse than the old VHS recording I saw 7 years ago. So bad, that it's gotten someone like me, one who never writes reviews, to comment on it. This DVD should not be sold in the United States, or anywhere. Unfortunately, I picked this DVD up on a whim before reading any reviews.
I'd suggest you just cherish your memories of this wonderful film until a better transfer is made available. It was good to be reminded of the story, but very sad to see how carelessly Razor Digital Entertainment handled this transfer.
It really baffles me how terrible this transfer is. A few moments here and there the picture actually looks acceptable, but then the rest of the time it's blurry, washed out, monochromatic yellows and browns, lines and dust marks everywhere, and occasional digital glitches. This dvd has probably any bad transfer cliche you can imagine; more than I've seen anyway.
Yimou Zhang is a great director, Li Gong a wonderful actress, and it was from two beautiful films(seen only on VHS :( ) that I discovered this, Red Sorgum and Ju Dou. But heed the reviews, this DVD lo-fi remix of Ju Dou by Razor Digital Entertainment is a nightmare.
Movie Review: zhang yimou
Summary: 1 Stars
Rating - 5 stars for the film, of course, but zero stars for the copy.
Thank you so much for the information on the new editions of Ju Dou, Qui Ju. (Razor). I have cancelled my order. I will keep reading your commments and continue my search for these films (Red Sorgum also). And will let you know if I find anything. Thanks to Amazon for letting us give and receive helpful opinions.
Looking for excellent copies of RED LANTERNS (allright edition), TO LIVE (MGN), and SHANGHAI TRIAD (Shanghai film studio) ? You can get them in France at www. FNAC.com. They are about 20 Euros each which is about 17$. Of course you will have to pay postage, and perhaps customs, but they are worth it. From new copies and brilliant colors. Only TO LIVE has English sub titles. All three have French subtitles. You also will need a DVD player which can read zone2 disques.
FOSSES-ST-B.
Movie Review: Superb film, shockingly bad dvd
Summary: 1 Stars
I first saw this film on British TV some years ago and was mesmerised - beautiful and compelling. Sadly, the only DVD release was the long out of print cropped US disc, which was not worth the hundreds of dollars it sold for on e-bay, or a reportedly dreadful import from China. When I heard it was getting a new release I was extremely excited, and pre-ordered it immediately. "It can't be worse than the alternatives", I thought. How wrong I was :( This DVD release (along with Raise The Red Lantern from the same company) is simply one of the worst DVDs I have ever seen - and I've seen some of the worst the format has to offer. How any company can justify releasing such a shoddy product is beyond me - it must take some effort to make the film look even worse than it does on VHS or the import from China. Amazon should refuse to sell it.Movie Review: STOP!!!! TOTAL RIPOFF
Summary: 1 Stars
I just got my copy of this dvd which i was awaiting for anxiously having read the terrible reviews it has gotten last night and too late to cancel I cannot believe the bad quality of this dvd - the image is deplorable - it jumps, it has black scratches as if rain were falling, the colors are completely washed out and the sound is the worst I have ever heard or purchased. Be forwarned. I cannot believe the Zhang Yimou would let this product be sold with his name on it - the manufacturer should be ashamed for selling this and Amazon should give people back their money who bought this and accept the fact that is is not worth two cents.