Is there a decent release of King Of New York?

[charlie angel]

I have been led to believe that the Carlton R2 (UK) is big trousers.

Anyone know?

[APPRIA40WR]

The Region 1 (http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/kingofny.shtml) disc is pretty impressive IMO. I don't think the film was ever looked after so it's better than nowt. Dirt cheap too if you look around.

The UK disc (http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/reviews/details.asp?Index=208) is a bit pants -4:3 pic.

[Arch Stanton]

Not that i know of.

The R2 is indeed big combat style trousers with the waist let out for a more comftable fitting.

[EvaUnit02]

While doing a search for this film in various e-stores I came across this (http://www.lasersedge.com/item_detail.asp?id=75337). Lion's Gate are putting out a new R1 release of King of New York with a new THX-approved transfer on 24th October.

This film any good? I've been curious about it for a while now.

I blind-bought Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant, which is supposed to be his masterpiece. I'll see how that is first.

EDIT: Ahhhh, now I see.

From DavisDVD:-
THX Optimum Resolution

DVDs just got better with the all-new THX Optimum Resolution DVD process. See and hear the difference with Lionsgate Home Entertainment's re-releases of King of New York and Total Recall, both due on October 24th. THX Optimum Resolution is a THX Certified process designed to maximize the visual quality of standard definition DVDs and provide crisper, more detailed images on any standard definition DVD player (think Sony's Superbit). The discs will include all same extras as their regular special editions. Retail is $19.98 apiece.

[anephric]

King of New York is a radically different film from Bad Lieutenant, so even if you don't like the latter, if you go for moody gangster flicks of most description you're bound to like KoNY. Walken's mesmerising in it. Great supporting cast too, great Bojan Bazellli cinematography and great soundtrack. All-round great then. And if you believe writer Nicholas St. John, it's not even a gangster film - it's a vampire flick in gangster clothing (metaphors - gotta love 'em).

[captaineyecatch]

Its about time someone finally released a full uncut dvd of Abel Ferrara's classic Ms. 45. A special edition of that would go down nicely. Talking of Ferrara's movies has Nine lives of a wet pussy come out on dvd yet????

[KRW]

Was there something cut from the old Palace VHS release of this? As its the only version I've seen...the reviews made mention of a back street torture scene that was absent from the VHS. Did it ever exist, or did I just imagine them reviews.

[anephric]

Don't remember that. There's nothing you could really cut from KoNY, it's not really graphic.

[EvaUnit02]

King of New York is a radically different film from Bad Lieutenant, so even if you don't like the latter, if you go for moody gangster flicks of most description you're bound to like KoNY. Walken's mesmerising in it. Great supporting cast too, great Bojan Bazellli cinematography and great soundtrack. All-round great then. And if you believe writer Nicholas St. John, it's not even a gangster film - it's a vampire flick in gangster clothing (metaphors - gotta love 'em).Sounds up my alley, I'll pick it up then. Cheers.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Was there something cut from the old Palace VHS release of this? As its the only version I've seen...the reviews made mention of a back street torture scene that was absent from the VHS. Did it ever exist, or did I just imagine them reviews.

According to imdb a lot was cut to prevent to film getting an x rating by the mpaa.

[anephric]

Really? The film's never been cut from its R-rated version, though, has it in this country?

[KRW]

Don't remember that. There's nothing you could really cut from KoNY, it's not really graphic.

I don't remember it either, I do remember a bit of the film where it could have happened, but the version I saw just faded away, thats why I wondered if there was a longer version somewhere. As I say, I only read it in one review and it said the very highlight of the film was a vicious backstreet torture sequence. *stupid reviews*

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Really? The film's never been cut from its R-rated version, though, has it in this country?
Not that i've ever heard. the violence in the film is brutal but not sadistic enough to cut.

"They're for the bullet holes puta1"

[KRW]

IMDB claims it was originally rated X but edited for an R rating. I suspect the review I read was a review of the uncut version. The IMDB message board has this, but I take these with a pinch of salt.

"All VHS/DVD versions released to date are the 103/106 minute cut. The original cut was 118 minutes and the 15 lost minutes have never been seen on DVD or Video.

What was removed between the 118 and 103 minute cuts remains unknown.

Only a Unrated Director Cut will reveal... "

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Cant imagine ever seeing a dc of this being released.

[anephric]

I'm thinking that if this extra violent "DC" actually exists (not that I don't trust random crap on imdb *cough*) and it's not just referring to the workprint (since 15 mins is a ridiculous amount for the MPAA to request be cut - even Verhoeven etc normally only gets slapped with a few seconds) that Ferrarra could get it released on DVD, if he so desired, since KoNY is one of his most commercially successful/respectable flicks.

[Gary Couzens]

If I remember rightly (and I was following the MPAA wars of 1989 at the time, in Variety and elsewhere), King of New York was originally X-rated then passed R on appeal. It's ages since I saw it but I don't remember anything that looked cut. The issue was violence after all, rather than sex (cf. Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!; Henry and June etc etc), and we all know where the MPAA's biases lie.

[anephric]

Yeah, I thought as much. Henry and June's NC17 seems utterly ridiculous retrospectively too.