MovieChat Forums > 'A' gai wak (1983) Discussion > The dub kills this movie

The dub kills this movie

posted 16 years ago by starmars
18 replies | jump to latest

I ordered this off blockbuster video online to show it to my wife. I had seen it years ago, and it is one of my fav. HK action movies. When it got in I was totally disappointed! The music had been changed from it's original score to some generic synth crap, the dubbing felt like MST3K, like the volume was turned down and actors were talking over the dialog, very nasty. Several scenes were cut, no outtakes over the credits, and this weird intro that looked like a porn movie intro (cheesy CG pirate flag with some corny font).

I wish I could track down an original version :(

If you haven't seen Project A, it's a really great film. But make sure you do not get the dub.

[–] thommystrmdahl 15 years ago

I think the original english dubbing from back in the day when it was avaliable on video was done the best for western audiences. It had the original score and nothing was cut and the dubbing itself was top notch. I happen to have a copy of it on video (lucky me) but i have no idea of where to get a hold of one today on dvd.

[–] AdventureClub 14 years ago

Reminds me of when I rented his Drunken Master movie and the DVD has only English and French. Utterly retarded.

[–] [email protected] 14 years ago

The Hong Kong Legends DVD R2 UK contains the original Eng dubb from the early 80's VHS version. Bizarre because alot of their other releases don't! Sadly the 5.1 mix lets it down a bit, worth buying though....

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] dalldorfw 13 years ago

I saw the uncut version on VHS in the late nineties. I remember it being a great film, but sadly the Weinsteins seem to hate Asian cinema and will always go out of their way to see it destroyed.

[–] ironhedd 13 years ago

I agree 100%. I bought the tape at Tower Records in the 90's and, although expensive, it was my favorite Jackie Chan movie! The DVD cut out some of the best fights. The awesome Sammo Hung fight where he beats up about 10 guys while still playing his mahjjong tiles - gone! Even the fight in the gentlemen's club was so sped up that it looked ridiculous. It's too bad...

[–] dalldorfw 13 years ago

GRRR!

[–] filmbuff1974 13 years ago

Just caught this movie on Hulu and I completely agree with your assessment. It would have been better if they just had subtitles and left the integrity of the movie intact.

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[–] Cloud43 13 years ago

Has anyone taken a look at the Blu Ray version of this movie? I don't expect the HD to be mind blowing, the transfer may not be all that great at all but I might be surprised.

[–] Cloud43 13 years ago

I finally watched the HK version of this movie for the first time ever. I loved it. It felt complete. I would like to make a comment about the dubbing in English though.
I must have seen the dubbed version dozens of times and when I compare the dialogue between the sub and dub version I find that the dub version wasn't THAT bad. It actually felt like the VAs for the dub version tried to have fun with it. Calling Hung's character "Fats" for example, or when he's waiting for Ma at the rendezvous his scene starts with him saying "...and a slice of pie"...lol...or when Tzu is asked what the password is and he starts talking like a crazy conspiracy theorist. I don't know, maybe its just me but it wasn't that bad.
The bad part of the dubbing was cutting out all those scenes that were included in the original version. The one thing I did kinda prefer in the dub version is the music during the fight against Lo, it added more tension and excitement to the fight, at least it did for me, I am certainly not speaking for everyone.
I think the one thing we can all agree on though is that is such a bad ass movie.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (3428153) 9 years ago

Also i watched this on netflix not long ago and they cut so much out.Think ill have to stick to my vhs copy lol

Yea dnt worry mate we will save u the roach

[–] Henry J Sosenite 12 years ago

Like most film fans, I'm always for subtitles over dubbing. And OF COURSE, not cutting scenes out. However, I don't necessarily dislike dubbing. It obviously is easier on the eyes, and I think Project A and Project A Part 2 actually have some of the best dubbing I've heard. There's lots of funny voices and inappropriate accents.

Still, I plan on buying the imported DVDs of both films online some day.

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[–] Movie_Piranha_1979 11 years ago

Personally i think that the english dubbing have ruined all the Hong Kong flicks. For some reason are simply horrible and badly done...
I prefer by far the original language with subtitles!

Prostitute: What the *beep* are you doing?
Johnny: I'm gonna kill a bunch of people.

[–] Danneq 11 years ago

I usually loathe dubbing, but for some reason I think HK movies become better with slightly cheesy English dubbing. In some wat it adds to the sense of bizarreness that the crazy fight scenes create.

[–] BigBadDolemite 10 years ago

This is not aimed at anyone in particular but I can't understand why people actually complain about dubbing bringing the movie down. Like do you really watch martial arts movies for dialogue. I know sometimes it does bring the movie down, but most of the times it doesn't. Subtitled to me only means that I'm not watching it late at night. Dubbed to me means that I can sit with a group people and watch. Contrary to what us films snobs think most people don't want to read when they watch a movie. Now a days all these foreign films should have a dubbed and subtitled version to please everyone. Oh and there is a pretty good dub version of Project A on Netflix.

[–] AtoZ2014 8 years ago

I had trouble with the dubbed version for the first five or 10 minutes, but then I got used to it.

[–] 9 years ago

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