Tartan Films closed?

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Tartan Films closed?

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

That sure sucks..I have virtually all the UK tartan releases and i buy a lot of the Tartan US asian stuff which has a lot more titles and genres then what is released here.It is a shame if it does go bust.Thankfully though with the internet and other distibuters,we should be alright for asian movies.

-- Edited by Totoro101 at 01:36, 2008-07-04

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Thasts weird. I just went onto the site to see if they had closed down and as you enter the site, a pop up comes up with latest job vacancies at Tartan on it...? I may have to contact the PR at Tartan to find out more....

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Gah! I hope not. First HKL and now Tartan? A large chunk of my DVD collection is from them.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Ah, HKL haven't closed down, they ahve just finished producing all their titles. The Fist of Fury 2 disc was the last one. Although there are some rumblings that a Bruce Lee Blu ray set is in the offing so who knows could see some more from HKL very soon.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Then why did the HKL website shut down with a note saying it was ceasing operations then redirects the visitor to Play.com?

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Well, if they have no more product to produce it's a bit silly running what is probably a non cost effective site. You can still get their stuff on Play I take it?

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Right - so if they are not producing anything new then clearly they've closed down like I said! They can't still exist if they've got nothing to do.

I just wonder who will pick up the licenses for these titles and whether they will be able to do as good a a job as HKL did.

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

Deogastini (Part works magazine company) currently hold the HKL rights as they have their Hong Kong legends magazine (Bi Weekly) running. Also, I think the HKL were part owned by Play so they are still alive and kicking just.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

That explains it a lot more clearly. So I assume the Premiere Asia sister label is dead and buried then if HKL is only living on via this magazine deal?

Darth Mattitude · The Dark Admin

maybe Im, not sure. maybe Diagostini will do that after they have exhausted the HKL one, who knows?

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Oh god, I hadn't heard anything about KHL and Premier Asia. I can't think of any other BIG Asian Distribution companies except from the newish Third Window Films(which is excellent! may I add). Lets just hope that we don't lose a lot of great films that would be getting released over here.

Discussion; how badly do torrents effect these companies?

Man In Black · Anime Mod

There's always Optimum Asia, Metrodome and Contender films (who I believe were associated with HKL) still providing Asian titles.

As for torrents - I think that is another excuse like ADV claiming downloading effecting the Anime biz when other companies still prosper. That said, it's the same Catch 22 situation as with Anime of people downloading stuff not available over here (like I do) which won't get released over here due to Asian cinema being another niche market.

It's just downloaders it's people buying from E-bay or international retailers online. It's really more a case of supply and demand, with the demand being met through non-domestic sources.

That said, some dude has just uploaded a DVD rip of the HK release of Forbidden Kingdom on the torrent site I belong to. And yes - I am getting it!

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

I can imagine torrents effect a lot of things, i dont watch anything that way myself.It is a shame about Tartan and HKlegends, but im sure we will have access to asian cinema movies through other distributers and such, and we can always buy them from abroad online anyway so for me,im not to bothered myself.

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Hmmm is that Avistaz MIB?

I download some movies from Torrent sites but it's one that aren't released over here or ones that won't get released over here. And when they do I buy the DVD anyway cause I prefer owning it to watch on my TV and having it in my collection etc. If it's on a Torrent site but it's out on DVD to buy I don't download it, as hard as it is haha I just feel better about myself for going out and buying the actual DVD.

Oh I forgot about Optimum Asia, they are pretty big. And I guess this will give the other companies a chance to grow and get some great titles to release.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

No it's not Avistaz. I've not heard of them. The site I belong to has DVD only torrents (iso) so you are burning directly to DVD+R and watching them on a regular DVD player. But you can do that with avi files too but the picture quality obviously isn't the same.

Out of all the titles I have download, only four have been released over here while a majority of the rest are unlikely to see the light of day over here.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

If you are interested here is a list of the titles I have downloaded from that DVD torrent site:

Films/TV

Suicide Club
L: Change The World
A Tale of Legendary Libido
The Guard Post (aka GP506)
Nightmare
Gamera : The Brave
My Boyfriend is Type B
Yesterday
Drunken Master 2
Welcome to the Quiet Room
The Machine Girl
Lord of Amusement
The Girls Rebel Force Of Competitive Swimmers
Scare 2 Die
Sakigake!! Otokojuku (Be a Man! Samurai School)
Fatal Move
Tokyo Eyes
The Wall Man
Raw Summer
The Mysterians
Sexy Teacher
Wheels on Meals
Catch Me Now Disc 1
Catch Me Now Disc 2
Catch Me Now Disc 3
Catch Me Now Disc 4
Catch Me Now Disc 5
Catch Me Now Disc 6
Catch Me Now Disc 7
Catch Me Now Disc 8
Catch Me Now Disc 9
Catch Me Now Disc 10
Cutie Honey THE LIVE Vol. 1
Cutie Honey THE LIVE Vol. 2
The Vanished
Simply Actors
Funuke Show Some Love You Losers!
F***/Off
My School Mate The Barbarian
One Stone and Two Birds
Wo Hu
Man, Woman & The Wall
Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon
What a Hero!
Miss Gold Digger
The Temptation of Eve - 1 of 4 (Angel)
The Temptation of Eve - 2 of 4 (A Good Wife)
The Temptation of Eve - 3 of 4 (Kiss)
The Temptation of Eve - 4 of 4 (Her own Technique)
Kamikaze Girls
An Empress And The Warriors
Kung Fu Dunk
CJ7
Yes, I Can See Dead People
Rodan - Monster of the Sky
I Like It Hot
Victim
M
Yo Yo Girl Cop
Kuroneko

Anime

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Amazing Nurse Nanako (Complete Series)
A Kite [UNCUT]
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone *Fansubbed*
Battle Athletes Victory Vol. 1-8
Kara no Kyoukai Movie 1 - Fansubbed
Kara no Kyoukai Movie 2 Fansubbed
School Rumble Ova Extra Class
Gunparade March Vol. 1
Gunparade March Vol. 2
Gunparade March Vol. 3
Shrine Of The Morning Mist
Night on the Galactic Railroad
Melty Lancer OVA Vol. 1
Melty Lancer OVA Vol. 2
Someday's Dreamers (Complete Series)
Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (S1)
Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (S2) + Summer Special
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (Complete Series)
Katsuhiro Otomo Presents: Memories

YUI - First Live Tour 2006 (music)

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Wowzees an impressive list I must say. Feel like sharing the link? ;)
I tend to use http://www.avistaz.com the majority are AVIs but they do post some DVD Rips and even Blu Ray Rips! Excellent! They post a lot of movies that I wouldn't have heard about otherwise, less known ones with fansubs which is cool. I love blog layout look cause it's easy to check for updates and see what the movies about and that.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

I'll PM you the link Jack!

Avistaz has an impressive collection too. Shame they are avi format though. It's great to be able to see them (I first saw Battle Royale that way) but DVD is much better.

jack_jeckel · On The Casting Couch

Yeah it's a shame about the AVI especially if you are burning it to DVD but I have downloaded many a films of Avistaz that I probably wouldn't get to see otherwise. Still got a whole bunch to watch aswell.

Thanks ;)

Man In Black · Anime Mod

Check your PM.

Man In Black · Anime Mod

The new issue of NEO magazine has confirmed this story about Tartan closing down.

Totoro101 · Movie Executive Producer

:( sad news indeed