How Many DVD Versions Exist?

I have the same version, and initially I was impressed that it looked as good as it did and was in widescreen. Before DVD came along the transfer for most kung fu movies from Hong Kong was really poor. But it IS really sketchy- here's your solution. www.shawstudios.com is an unofficial website run by someone filled with a lotta love for these movies and has kept on top of things for a while- this is where I first heard about some company overseas securing the rights to Shaw Brothers' catalog with the intent to clean-up and completely remaster the movies and issue them on DVD. These DVDs are currently available from www.hkflix.com. Two catches, though, 1) They are,so far, only available as Region 3 DVDs, and 2)Naturally you need to have a Region 3 player or a region-free player, which you can buy through the website. I don't have a Region 3 or a region-free player and I haven't bought any of the new editions of any of the movies, so I don't know squat about the quality or remastering.
But THAT's the only other version I've heard of released of that movie in particular, and any of the other Shaw Bros films for that matter. I don't know how much the players are, I didn't look that up, but the new discs are $17.95 each and I already bought $5.00-$20.00 copies of just about all the kung fu I ever wanted, I'm not about to start replacing all of that AND another DVD player just to watch really crisp and clean kung fu movies. But what do you love? The movies DO rule....maybe if I win the lottery?

www.celestialpictures.com

these are mostly released in their original version and remastered and stuff. Only one big exception I can think of. The original version of Chu Lu Xiang, "Prince of Thieves" in english called "Clans of Intrigue," was edited to basically a PG-13 level. They did this to improve sales, so that it wouldn't get a III rating (HK rating system). The Prince of Thieves is a very famous Kung Fu novel, and he is basically the James Bond of Martial Arts. So the ladies man aspect has him sleeping with a lot of women. Some of the nudity was pared down, this caused a lot of controversy in Asia, where audiences remembered the film being much more risquee. Still a great movie anyway.

the best way to get these movies is to buy them on vcd. These can be played in most dvd players, and depending on the dvd player, some play them cleaner than others. in the asian press they consider the vcd as having nearly as good quality, while being cheaper--so it's a better bargain.

If you live near a chinatown, you can get them there for 10 bucks a pop. It is worth it even for the movies you already have. the original sound is much better, you can practice your chinese (subtitles on vcd's are bilingual Engl/Chin), and they are restored.

We will never be free until the last politician is hanging from the entrails of the last capitalist

They exist at our hardware store for $.25....