h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

JackieChanJackieChanJackieChanJackieChanJackieChanJackieChan.

Possibly the coolest thing ever to come out of Hong Kong, though I Sammo, Yuen and a lot of others as well. I've just resisted buying Police Story 1 & 2, Project A and Drunken Master on dvd in the HMV sale. Can't see that lasting if they are still there after pay day...

I know what you mean.

My bank balance took a hefty blow in my third year of uni when Project A, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, Police Story I,II and III, Dragon's Forever, Miracles etc. bevcame available in my local HMV!

On another note, how do you feel about dubbing in Oriental movies? I personally can't stand it (particulalry when it's badly done) but it's often the only way that people here in the UK can get to see things like Godzilla and, until recently, many martial arts films.

However, the dubbed version of 'Gamera: Guardian of the Universe' is a work of genius! I'd love to see the original to compare them.

Hmm, there's a lot of Jackie's movies I wouldn't buy in any format-Miracles and PS III being close to the top, along with Twin Dragons, First Strike and Rumble in HK. But I must admit I am sorely tempted by the 'platimnum' Project A dvd, which looks really nice. I think the real trouble is that most HK movies are so cheap that the extra quality iasn't there to bring out.

Dubbing is a funny business. HK film fans are a lot less snobby than anime fans, with whom I've been known to rub shoulders (A724484 for further details ). I'm fairly easy going, though I'd prefer sub-titles if you can get them.

On the other hand, subtitles won't give you the nmarvellous sound bites of such films as Mystery of Chess Boxing;

'The sky is high, the cloud is low...but my water technique is hard to beat!'

Or indeed the immortal Shaolin vs Wu Tang;

'Shaolin shadow boxing, and the Wu-Tang sword style. If what you say is true, then then the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang could be dangerous! Do you think your Wu-Tang sword can defeat me? En garde!'

But sub-titles give you the chance for such lovely phrases as

'I think her bra also has cock in it!' (Tiger on the Beat-Chow at his finest)

and

'Fire! Men! Combat it!' from Barefoot Kid and one of my alltime favourites;

'So you are the cold blood 13 eagles I have heard about!' from what else but the magnificent 13 Cold Blooded Eagles.

Each has it's own unique charm, to my mind.