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Weinsteins Establish DVD 'Dynasty'
By Rich Drees
May 25, 2006- The Weinstein
Company has announced that they will be launching a new specialty
DVD label, Dragon Dynasty, which will showcase the Weinstein
Company’s numerous Asian film acquisitions featuring such popular
actors such as Javkie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Stephen Chow and Gordon
Liu and directors such as John Woo and Yeun Woo-ping.
Among the
nearly 100 titles in the Weinstein’s catalog are such current Asian
hits such as Seven Swords (2005) from director Tsui Hark and
The Protector (aka Tom Yum Goong, 2005)
starring Tony Jaa as well as 50 classic 1970s kung fu films from
Hong Kong’s famed Shaw Brothers Studio. In addition, Dragon Dynasty
will control the North American distribution rights to 43 titles
from Asia’s Fortune Star Entertainment including such popular films
such as Police Story (1985) and Crime Story (1993),
both starring Jackie Chan. The label also holds the distribution
rights to several independent titles from the late 1980s/early 1990s
Asian action boom including director John Woo’s classic films The
Killer (1989), Bullet In The Head (1990), Hard Boiled
(1992) and A Better Tomorrow 1 & 2 (1986, 1987)
In a press
release, the company plans to “redefine the presentation of Asian
Cinema on DVD.” In the same release they also announce plans for
numerous 2-disc Special Editions of certain titles, including
Fist Of Legend (1994) and Tai Chi Master (1993), both
starring Jet Li.
While heads of
Miramax Films, Weinstein Company honchos Bob and Harvey Weinstein
were instrumental in bringing several Asian films to American
screens including Academy Award nominee Farwell, My Concubine
(1993), the animated Princess Mononoke (1997) from director
Hayao Miyazaki, the box office hit Hero (2002), Stephen
Chow’s comedy Shaolin Soccer (2001) and several of Jackie
Chan’s films including The Legend Of Drunken Master (aka
Drunken Master II, 1994) and Supercop (aka Police
Story 3: Supercop, 1992). Miramax also aggressively released
more titles directly to home video. Syill, some Asian film fans
complained that many of the films handled by Miramax were released
in versions that were edited down from their original length, had
much of their soundtrack music replaced and were poorly dubbed.
A list of
titles currently announced as part of the Dragon Dynasty library can
be found here. |
