Diskino's World Cinema Library / MLIFE Series

Vinegar Syndrome, Deaf Crocodile, Imprint, Cinema Guild, and more.
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Glowingwabbit
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#26 Post by Glowingwabbit » Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:40 pm

I joined the groupbuy for The Horse Thief pretty early but this is also my first time doing it so I'm still uncertain how it all works. Should I be concerned that I haven't gotten an invoice?

Edit: Nevermind. An hour after posting this I got it.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#27 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:07 pm

...as did I! I panicked a bit because it seemed like some people had already got their copies and I never got a confirmation that mine had been secured. All's well that ends well.

Glowingwabbit
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#28 Post by Glowingwabbit » Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:18 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:
Mon Feb 25, 2019 5:07 pm
...as did I! I panicked a bit because it seemed like some people had already got their copies and I never got a confirmation that mine had been secured. All's well that ends well.
Haha it was your post that had me concerned. Glad things worked out.

Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#29 Post by Calvin » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:42 pm


Glowingwabbit
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#30 Post by Glowingwabbit » Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:36 am

Just got my copy of The Horse Thief from the groupbuy. Haven't watched it yet, but the packaging is a thing of beauty. This was my first groupbuy with Media Psychos and although I'm still confused by the whole process it was definitely worth doing and they were super helpful. I'll be doing more of these for sure.

Also in regards to shipping this is the best packaged box for a digipack I've ever gotten. I really love the special care they took with shipping these.

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jsteffe
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 9:00 am
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#31 Post by jsteffe » Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:07 pm

It looks as if the package was created by the World Cinema Library to go specifically with their editions, but you're right - it is among the most careful packaging I have ever seen.

I had a minor issue with one of my group buys, but the people at Media Psychos are indeed really friendly and conscientious about solving problems. This is not something I would do all the time, but for these WCL titles it has proven invaluable.

Glowingwabbit
Joined: Wed May 01, 2013 1:27 pm

Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#32 Post by Glowingwabbit » Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:20 pm

The groupbuy at Media Psychos for Chen Kaige's King of the Children is now open.

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Michael Kerpan
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#33 Post by Michael Kerpan » Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:49 pm

Is there any other way to get these releases?

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#34 Post by swo17 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:56 pm

Or past releases for which the group buys have ended?

Glowingwabbit
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#35 Post by Glowingwabbit » Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:58 pm

swo17 wrote:
Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:56 pm
Or past releases for which the group buys have ended?
Given the limited nature of these releases, I guess see if someone on Ebay is selling it (although I'm sure the price will be outrageous). My experience with Media Psychos was great and their shipping was superior to any place else I've ordered from.

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#36 Post by swo17 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:08 pm

It's just sort of strange that a print run can be so limited as to be available to only a single obscure internet forum

Glowingwabbit
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#37 Post by Glowingwabbit » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:19 pm

swo17 wrote:
Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:08 pm
It's just sort of strange that a print run can be so limited as to be available to only a single obscure internet forum
It definitely is, but that's what the WCL is doing with these. I'm sure there is a way to get to their ebay store, but I don't know Chinese or what those channels are like. Media Psychos at least know is secure and I believe is also the cheaper route.

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#38 Post by swo17 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:28 pm

I don't doubt they're a trustworthy site--just kind of kicking myself for missing out on The Horse Thief, though I have to imagine that some boutique label will get to it eventually

Glowingwabbit
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#39 Post by Glowingwabbit » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:48 pm

The Horse Thief was a title I wasn't willing to take a chance on since it's among my favorite films ever, but yeah I would hope another boutique label would pick it up as it deserves a larger audience.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#40 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Thu Apr 18, 2019 2:28 pm

Glowingwabbit wrote:
Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:19 pm
It definitely is, but that's what the WCL is doing with these. I'm sure there is a way to get to their ebay store, but I don't know Chinese or what those channels are like. Media Psychos at least know is secure and I believe is also the cheaper route.
WCL sells through retailers on Taobao; their recent releases are available from KBM, Execution Paradise, and Movie World. (The links are for The Black Cannon Incident, I'm not sure if King of the Children is up for perorder yet.) There are detailed tutorials online to help non-Chinese-readers order off of Taobao and you can ship stuff basically anywhere these days, but I would advise against it since individual DVD/Blu-ray orders have a high probability of getting flagged as "contraband," which can supposedly be circumvented by just switching to a different shipping company but adds a bunch of inconvenience (as well as cost). I speak from experience on this, as my first attempt at obtaining the WCL Red Sorghum was thwarted in exactly this way.

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#41 Post by swo17 » Thu Apr 18, 2019 2:37 pm

Long story short: Do you know if Horse Thief is available from one of these sources if I'm willing to put in the effort and pay through the nose?

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#42 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Thu Apr 18, 2019 2:44 pm

Unfortunately they're all sold out. But there is a reseller on Taobao with two copies in stock for around $120.

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Luke M
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:21 pm

Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#43 Post by Luke M » Fri Apr 19, 2019 12:45 pm

If I didn't already snag it from eBay, I'd try for The Horse Thief at $120. The one in the DVD Beaver auction ended at $300.

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Luke M
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#44 Post by Luke M » Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:38 am

Just wanted to give a heads up, the group buys are open at MediaPsychos for The Black Cannon Incident, King of the Children, and The Swordsmen of Double Flag Town.

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#45 Post by swo17 » Mon May 06, 2019 9:20 pm

I'd just like to thank The Fanciful Norwegian for pointing out those extra copies of The Horse Thief. I was able to place an order rather smoothly through taobaoage.com (they order it from Taobao and then ship it to you, you pay in two steps with Amazon gift cards) and it looks like I actually got the last copy. This set is so lovely I don't mind that I had to pay extra for it.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#46 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Wed May 08, 2019 11:41 am

The Horse Thief has been picked up by sales agent Rediance, suggesting that we may soon see it get distribution elsewhere. Problem is that the version they're handling (and the one screening in Cannes Classics) is the China Film Archive restoration, which has been motion-interpolated up to 48fps and is reportedly heavily DNRed as well. Not sure the 48fps interpolation will make much difference for home video—presumably there's also a 24fps version of this restoration for venues and formats that don't do 48—but the WCL release may still end up being the best version on Blu-ray, which makes its limited numbers all the more a shame.

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#47 Post by swo17 » Wed May 08, 2019 12:27 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:
Wed May 08, 2019 11:41 am
the WCL release may still end up being the best version on Blu-ray, which makes its limited numbers all the more a shame.
Mine says it was one of only 350 copies!

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#48 Post by swo17 » Wed May 08, 2019 1:41 pm

If anyone's still desperate for The Horse Thief, here's a copy on eBay for (gulp) $300

toddly6666
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#49 Post by toddly6666 » Wed May 08, 2019 1:44 pm

That’s just a bit too pricey!

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swo17
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Re: Chinese Cinema on DVD/BD

#50 Post by swo17 » Wed May 08, 2019 1:51 pm

Yes, but not owning this also comes with a high cost

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