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DVD Video Review - Initial D
DVD Video Review
Initial D: Driftracer in July
06-06-2006 17:43 | 1968 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
Contender Entertainment have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of Initial D: Driftracer for 17th July 2006 priced at £19.99. Based on the hugely popular Manga comic by Shuichi Shigeno, adapted by Felix Chong and directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak – together the filmmaking trio responsible for the phenomenally successful Infernal Affairs trilogy – Initial D: Driftracer was a massive success in Hong Kong.
The "D" in the title stands for ‘drifting', a motor racing technique of putting a car into a controlled slide around bends without losing any speed. It is a technique used to great effect by the Night Kids, an illegal street racing team who are keen to pit their skills against the mysterious "Akina Racing God", a driver who has unwittingly perfected the art of drifting around the notorious and deadly hairpin bends of Mount Akina.
Unknown to everybody, including himself, the mystery driver is actually a teenage student named Takumi (played by Taiwanese hearttrob Jay Chou), who uses drifting merely as an insanely high-speed method of returning home after delivering tofu for his father's takeaway business. Uninterested in racing, Takumi is more concerned in pursuing his relationship with a cute fellow student, Natsuki (Anne Suzuki). But when his identity as the racing god's is eventually revealed, Takumi is convinced by his father, himself a former racing driver, to take part in a series of perilous illegal downhill races. For Takumi the adrenaline and fame soon become irresistible as he accelerates towards a full-throttle three-way showdown against the best of the best.
Features include:
The "D" in the title stands for ‘drifting', a motor racing technique of putting a car into a controlled slide around bends without losing any speed. It is a technique used to great effect by the Night Kids, an illegal street racing team who are keen to pit their skills against the mysterious "Akina Racing God", a driver who has unwittingly perfected the art of drifting around the notorious and deadly hairpin bends of Mount Akina.
Unknown to everybody, including himself, the mystery driver is actually a teenage student named Takumi (played by Taiwanese hearttrob Jay Chou), who uses drifting merely as an insanely high-speed method of returning home after delivering tofu for his father's takeaway business. Uninterested in racing, Takumi is more concerned in pursuing his relationship with a cute fellow student, Natsuki (Anne Suzuki). But when his identity as the racing god's is eventually revealed, Takumi is convinced by his father, himself a former racing driver, to take part in a series of perilous illegal downhill races. For Takumi the adrenaline and fame soon become irresistible as he accelerates towards a full-throttle three-way showdown against the best of the best.
Features include:
- Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Cantonese DD5.1 (Original Music Soundtrack)
- Cantonese DD5.1 & DTS 5.1 (UK Music Soundtrack)
- English subtitles
- Audio commentary by Richie Warren (Fuel) and Dan Joyce (Dirty Sanchez)
- Interview Gallery
- Making-of documentary
- Promotional Gallery
- Fuelled Up - Area dedicated to Fuel, producers of the UK Soundtrack
Comments
Banned
Posts: 2907
There are lovely R1 and R4 DVDs (identical) with Original Cantonese DTS + ALL the HK Extras (including deleted scenes). The R1 is about £8 delivered:
http://www.dvdpacific.com/item.asp?ID=701506
I checked and couldn't see an affiliation for DVD Pacific, why? It's a no brainer IMO, those new extras do nothing but insult me.
If you buy R1 make sure you get the WHITE cover version as Tai Seng originally ported over the HK DVD (the same minus the English DD5.1 dub and English friendly extras).
das contributor
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Member
Posts: 56
Banned
Posts: 2907
Member
Posts: 56
Don't know why they didn't go with the original Eurobeat soundtrack from the anime. Okay, it was cheesy, but it was good cheese, and what the fans would want, who are largely the target audience for this release.
Random person
Posts: 174
Banned
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vj
Posts: 3
Ok, there seems to be a bit of confusion on this due to a 'less than descriptive' press release..but the commentary (or bits I have been priveledged to hear), is not only very funny, but VERY informative, as Ritchie Fuel, knows his cars, and drift racing. So we have an expert on drift racing doing a commentary on drift racing..kinda fits doesn't it ? Yes HKL are obviously promoting this to gear-heads rather than just Asian fim fans, but it is a racing movie !!
The new music in the film is very good, way better than Jay Chou's limp rap, (which if you actually watch the editing of the film seems tacked on as well).
And Bravadon, as far as bein insulted by 'HKL', and constantly degrading the work everyone does there, here and on other forums, I suggest you watch the end of 'Jajavascript:smilie(':D')y and Silent Bob' as a warning to what happens to faceless internet geeks who comment on DVD releases they have not even seen yet...javascript:smilie(':D')
(harsh I know, as it all actually boils down to is a release good enough to spend my hard earned dough on, but this is INITIAL D:, a manga based slice of popular entertainment, not a re-release of a classic like say Big Boss)
I am NOT defending shoddy releases in any way, and any changes to a film are almost always unwanted but remember your comments WILL be seen by Contender and Tartan etc, as another reason to just chuck things out rather than try and reach a bigger audience. As you can see I am passionate about the industry, but I feel sometimes the people who love it most are killing it.
VJ
Banned
Posts: 2907
Ok, there seems to be a bit of confusion on this due to a 'less than descriptive' press release..but the commentary (or bits I have been priveledged to hear), is not only very funny, but VERY informative, as Ritchie Fuel, knows his cars, and drift racing. So we have an expert on drift racing doing a commentary on drift racing..kinda fits doesn't it ?
Thanks for the comments and yes it makes sense to include an expert on drift racing. At least they've found an expert in his/her field, that's something. I guess it's just for me I'd much have preferred a HK or Asian film expert so they can give background information on the characters and the history of manga etc . . . But you're right this is TFATF in another language.
The new music in the film is very good, way better than Jay Chou's limp rap, (which if you actually watch the editing of the film seems tacked on as well).
It's interesting you would make this distinction when so many DVD Times and similar members get so angry over 5.1 remixes or the DVD being cropped or even cut BUT of course HKL should be praised for listening to their mess up with Ong-bak. It does still amaze me PA mostly got away with that one, like I said MASSIVE double standards. It's "an Asian action flick" and as it's not art isn't worth the same the same degree of respect Once upon a time in the West does (for example).
I would've been more than happy with Original DTS/DD5.1 and Remixed DD5.1, not DTS being given precedence. It's clear HKL want you to listen to "their" supped up remix.
I do wonder who asked for it though? Was the original music "that" bad to need a new soundtrack created.
I suggest you watch the end of and Silent Bob' as a warning to what happens to faceless internet geeks who comment on DVD releases they have not even seen yet...
There's no way I'm watching any more Jay and Silent Bob. Kevin Smith is an incredibly overrated hack.
and any changes to a film are almost always unwanted
Well durh. For the record I originally watched the Musa: Director's Cut and thought the pacing was wrong, with bad editing. I then checked out PA's Cut version (not cut by them) and definitely preferred the Cut version but this has been the exception to the rule.
The cuts to Seven Swords make no sense at all, the film is already cut to much and doesn't flow correctly to cut it further was madness. Volcano High didn't need cruds the Director's Cut flowed quite nicely (crud film though but yes I am citing a handful of Premier Asia examples when about a 2/3 haven't been altered at all (at the time I checked Premier Asia had released 12 titles and left 8 alone).
but remember your comments WILL be seen by Contender and Tartan etc
They will? Contender's forum is a complete joke. I've never seen a forum before where a moderator checks a post BEFORE submission. They could've used it to give us early info on DVD releases or answer some of their critics. Both of which Madman do and is very useful indeed.