Zhang Yimou/Gong Li

[Stuart N]

Anyone know the likelihood of any of Zhang Yimou's films with Gong Li getting a release on DVD with anamorphic transfer in UK? I would be interested in:
Ju Dou
The story of Qui Ju
To Live
Shanghai triad
Raise the red lantern
Temptress moon

[cm-9]

<s>Raise the Red Lantern has apparently been announced in R2 according to Amazon.co.uk today - the ASIN seems to be either B0000BK6QB or B0000BK6QD</s> - Amazon have sent a second email saying this announcement was wrong

To Live is out in R1, a fairly good quality anamorphic release too.
Temptress Moon (Chen Kaige, not Zhang Yimou!) is out in R1, is widescreen anamorphic and is currently on sale for about $9
Shanghai Triad has been out in R1 for several years and by all accounts its a good quality anamorphic release.

Ju Dou had a R1 release (not super quality) and is now OOP, selling second-hand for silly money like $50-$80.

Qiu Ju (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TLM7/qid=1079371437/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-0672315-2338340?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846) has been pre-announced

No news about my most-wanted Red Sorghum though - if anybody knows of an English-subtitled release of those I'd be grateful.

For Gong Li fans, it's worth adding that you can get Farewell My Concubine in both R1 and R3 (Hong Kong) - in R3 it's a nice 3 disk edition with non-anamorphic PAL, the transfer quality is reasonable but not stunning.

Edited because Amazon have sent a second email saying that in fact the release of Raise the Red Lantern is not imminent; also updated with Ju Dou / Qiu Ju news

[Shingster]

If you can understand Mandarin (or read Japanese) then there's the recently released R2 Japanese DVD for Red Sorghum (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KKDS-97)

[Njål]

Afaik not released in any home format with English subtitles, but if A Terracotta Warrior becomes available, check it out. Zhang Yimou doesn't direct, but rather plays the male lead against Gong Li, and a very competent actor he is, too.
Have seen it several times at the movies in Norway, and have an official Swedish VHS, that is very good for that format.

[cm-9]

hmm, looks like there have been lots of juicy Japanese releases of Zhang Yimou movies recently, unfortunately none with English subs, and all characteristically expensive (what is it with Japanese and DVD pricing?)

If I only knew of an alternative version with English subs (even a VCD) then perhaps I could make a homebrew DVD using DirectVobSub ...

[cm-9]

I've updated my earlier post now - note that there is to be a R1 release of Qiu Ju, apparently ...

and the original guy forgot Codename Cougar (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097144/) ...