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Saw this excellent movie last night (downloaded it from rapidshare - no chance of buying it on DVD...)

Question: Does anybody know the flag next to the PRC one?

I also wonder if there exists a longer cut as in 'the credits' it 'credits' 4 american 'devils' but they didn't appear in the version I saw.

I am afraid that it is a flag of a non-existent country, and I do not know whether it was deliberate. I like to think yes, because I have an utmost respect for Jiang Wen, both as an actor and director.

I love the film for both its technique--photography and performances of the young actors--and its theme--a teenage coming of age during strange times, a very fresh look at the cultural revolution, without the almost distilled depression and political criticism of Zhang Yimou or Tian Zhuangzhuang. I have brought an excellent quality DVD from China (legal? not legal? do I care? (sorry)). The cover has Japanese characters on it. Unfortunately, the disc has no English subtitles. At the moment I cannot recall if it has Japanese and/or Chinese subtitles.

Come to think of it, the film would be perfect for the Collection...

For those who want to sample the quality of the 2k restoration I've got the Spectrum blu-ray with me.









The main feature file is at a healthy ~35GB, with no additional processing/filtering detected. Running time is 2h20 at 24 fps. I think it's safe to say this is the best the film has ever looked.

Yeah it's a nice looking 2013 2k restoration, though it definitely has the Ritrovata color stamp. But it's superior by a good margin to the accompanying movie (The Emperor's Shadow) though it also is quite better than many HD masters Spectrum had to rely upon for other movies.

Anyone know which of the two versions of the film this is? IIRC an "extended version" of the film was released to streaming before this Blu-Ray... I don't know if this is a cut from before the film was released or a retrospective reworking of the film.

pistolwink wrote: Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:08 am Anyone know which of the two versions of the film this is? IIRC an "extended version" of the film was released to streaming before this Blu-Ray... I don't know if this is a cut from before the film was released or a retrospective reworking of the film.

Except for the rumored 4-hour rough cut, this version restores the film to the longest running time, adding back scenes cut from different theatrical showings over the years, including the Venice premiere.