Wicked City

[mcarocks2003]

Thanks, i guess i'll buy most of the stuff on my list and see for myself.

One last release i found was R3 of Wicked City, does anyone know if it's a)legit and b)remastered video ?

Wicked City R3 at DvdfromKorea (http://www.dvdfromkorea.com/shop/p_detail.asp?idx=540&location=Search&genre=)

EDIT - please move to R3 topic, started new thread by accident

[Skywise]

I'm not familiar with Flex Entertainment - they could just be a distributor for another company. That said my guess is that this is a rip of the R1 DVD as it contains both English subtitles, audio and uses the R1 cover art. Even the story description on the website is just a rewrite of the back cover of the R1 DVD. In other words I highly doubt that this disc is anywhere close to legit given Korean practices, and I'd stay far away if I were you.

[ZenAmako]

I picked this up a couple of years ago, hoping for remastered video. The video quality is just so-so. I'm not sure how it compares to the R1 release, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're about the same.

The R3 release of Perfect Blue, on the other hand, trounces the R1.

[kakugo]

The R1 was progressive and had accurate subtitles, but it was taken from an old composite master made by Streamline in the early 90's. It looks pretty godawful, with very 'orange' skin tones and a lot of grain. It's a little better than the Urban Vision release of Vampire Hunter D, but not by much. With the R3 having the same subtitle options and special features as the R1, I'd bet the retail it's a port (though I've no idea if it's legit). It's a good deal compared to the R1 to be sure, but the R1 just isn't very good.

The R2 is a bit expensive (3,800 yen - $34 or so) in comparison to the Korean release, but the print from the original camera negative is beautiful. Component master, original credits, and it even includes the 2.0 and 5.1 English tracks featured on the R1. It's a hybrid progressive transfer with only occasional interlaced frames after reel changes and the like. It's also got a LOT of extras, including 100 stills, several animatics, a Yoshiaki KAWAJIRI trailer reel, a horror make-up costume contest with the staff, and the same subtitled interview from the Urban Vision R1 (though the actual questions are now in Japanese text, the interview itself is still subtitled in English). It also comes with a nice fold-out booklet and a reversible cover. Only thing it DOESN'T have are English subtitles, but if you can stand the dub (or know enough Japanese to watch it raw) it's a great release.

[Thanatos]

Subtitled extras, unsubtitled feature? That's irony.

[kakugo]

Well, the feature DOES have Japanese subtiles... :)