I understand that VHS tapes, for many, are very beautiful and some are very collectible. Which all of us film folk out there like very much - Because It makes our balls bigger and other film folk at some forum might look up to us! But when you have a movie that has been released uncut on DVD with a bunch of other probably (Haven't seen many of them yet, but guessing) really cool eastern horror flicks in a great Box set - Why would you buy it on Japanese VHS with Indonesian language and Japanese subtitles? You wouldn't understand shit! Unless you know Japanese or Indonesian - Which most of these VHS madmen probably can't! I recently bought A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 on Japanese VHS, so why am I ranting about this? Well, because I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't get it for the price I got it for - $9! And it's nostalgic for me. I love watching some of my all time favourites on VHS when I get the chance. Because it's nostalgic - That's how crappy they looked like on the TV! So it gets me back to the good ol' times, scratching my beard as a 8 year old boy, watching horror movies on NRK (Which is a channel you probably never have heard about!)
But back to Pengabdi Setan: the cover is amazing. Just look at it:
Who wouldn't like that on their shelf? I know I wouldn't, BUT currently this movie is $89 on Ebay. And there are still many days left of bidding. And you can get it on
this box set, with 9 other fantastic movies! Fully uncut and with ENGLISH subtitles! Pengabdi Setan translated is Satan's Slave - Which it goes by in the box set. So are people just ignorant because of the title, or do they love spending to much?
38 comments:
Firstly, I'm not gonna get this tape cos some mofo who isn't even into the film is probably gonna get it simply because it's rare! :-(
It would've been nice tho because, yes there is a dvd but it's a crappy, crappy dvd where the picture disappears in psychedelic pixelation colors at least ten times, and the bottom of the picture has been covered up (to hide the Japanese subtitles) so altho it IS a cheap release it's not very good, I'm afraid. The Brentwood people screwed up royally with that one!
By the way, it's an Indo version of PHANTASM!!
Hm, I didn't know that. That's a shame! I haven't bought the box set yet, it's oop now - But I have some of the movies on double bill.
But it's alot of money for something your not gonna understand. But yeah, we are movie collectors, and we are crazy!
I know. Don't tell anyone this - But I don't like Phantasm very much! :O sssssh
It's ok, probably have to give it another go.
Then I was the ignorant one and didn't know that the DVD was crap! Haha. But I'll keep my ranting on the blog anyways! I'm NORWEGIAN!
You certainly are. :-/
The dvd isn't a complete waste tho! I mean, I can fully live with its problems and I'm not such a schmuck that I can't see how nice it is to finally be able to watch this film which I had been on the hunt for for years (it's previously been released on a VCD that was reviewed in an old issue of 'Is it uncut?').
So it's cool enough to be able to watch it - with subtitles even. But it's still a mess of a release (but go for it, do watch it if you find it). Uh, it's not a straight remake tho. They just use some of the imagery.
I've been looking for it, but there is only people with poor feedback on ebay. I'm sure I'll find it soon.
You mean the box??
It's less than £5 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=eastern+horror
:-)
Hehe. Amazon, the place I'll never bought from because a friend of mine got a CD there once that was smashed - actually smashed to pieces!
But that was 6 years ago and I'll have to use them sometime. Maybe I'll do it now!
Thanks man!
Haha, oh noo, say it isn't so!!! You've kept away from Amazon because of ONE incident 5 yrs ago, haha :-O :-O :-O
That place is really really good! If you order a dvd from Amazon UK you pay less than $3 for postage from America instead of $10 on eBay. Just don't deal with Amazon.COM where it's $13 per dvd EVEN THO they come from the same stores! Go figure.
Haha. I've just kept away because I've found what I have wanted on other sites. But I'll be sure to check out Amazon.co.uk from now on.
It's going to be very interesting seeing just how much Alastair gets for the VHS. I actually have one of those Japanese Tapes myself, so a current value may make me hide it away in cotton wool even more I suspect :) . It is rare, and the Ebay keyboard hitters love the bidding wars eh. Paul
http://ballisticbloodbullets.blogspot.com/
It's at 122 right now. I think it's gonna go higher. Jack bid 120, but was outbid. Hehe.
Geez I now know Jack bids as G***i , had I known I would not have bid last week on Double Edge. Pushed the price up !!!. Sorry Jack, one I have been after for the Rom Kristoff collection. Hope its a cracker when you receive. There are a lot of Japanese VHS collectors on the scene again & with big pockets !.
Patrick, it will be very interesting to see just how high Pengabdi Setan goes for. I remember seeing that Freddy Krueger hopping vampire one go for over $1000 once !!!. Makes my $40 I paid for mine seem worthy of a place in fort Knox. Paul
No need to apologise, Paul. An auction is an auction. That's how it is. If one isn't happy with a certain price level one should stop bidding. If I hadn't wanted to bid 30+ dollars then I shouldn't have made that bid. As simple as that. But thank you for you kindness.
And then... wauw: You have that tape!!! And then... wauw: You paid FOURTY bucks for it!!!! I mean 40 bucks is 40 bucks and I sure as hell don't tell my mum I've spent 40 dollars on a 30 year old video tape but compared to the 120+ dollars Ali's tape is gonna sell for it's peanuts. Congrats with that, Paul!
About "Satan's Slave" (Pengabdi Setan): I would so much have loved to get this tape because I'm a FAN of these films and this is the only way of getting to see a proper version of this film (I don't download). As I've mentioned in an above post, the Brentwood dvd is not very good I'm afraid. If there were a dvd version out I'd buy that right away instead.
The sorry ass fact is that often the people who make these enormous bids are people who are VHS collectors much more than they are actually FANS of these films. I may very well be wrong in my suspicions but that's what I think.
And OBVIOUSLY this doesn't do for all other collectors of Japanese video tapes that aren't called Jack. I bloody well know there are heaps of other real fans out there like yourself and that drunkard Patrick but, again, that's my paranoid theory anyway (was that a black helicopter that just flew past?).
Unfortunately, I think it has become somewhat FACTIONABLE for a small group of film nerds (who are loaded with cash) to buy these films simply on the grounds of their being obscure. It annoys me greatly (and I may be completely off on a wrong track here but that's what I think).
I'd hate to think that rare and entertaining world-weird films end up on some geek's shelf who probably might not even watch it. Boo-hoo. Now, Paul, mate, buddy. Is there any way I can convince you to do me a dvd-r? ;-)
''And OBVIOUSLY this doesn't do for all other collectors of Japanese video tapes that aren't called Jack. I bloody well know there are heaps of other real fans out there like yourself and that drunkard Patrick but, again, that's my paranoid theory anyway (was that a black helicopter that just flew past?).''
YES. I agree, also on the drunkard bit!
I feel I have to edit this post, or remove because of your info on the quality, Jack. But I'm not going to do so. Haha.
Haha, okay. If nothing else I should have caught my "doesn't do" blunder. Obviously it should've been "doesn't go".
:-(
Btw, stupid question to ask you, but do you think that "Pengabdi Setan" is worth $122? I should really say anything. I made a bid for the Greek VHS of Snake Queen, and I think my top bid was $200, and I was almost willing to bid more. Or did I bid 220? I can't remember. HEhe
Well, one man's trash in another man's treasure.
I can't tell you if it's worth that much money cos taste is individual. To each their own as you say. I hate dark chocolate but I had a gf who loved it. So is dark chocolate good or bad? If I had more money I would outbid that bidder so yes I think it's worth 120 bucks. But to someone else who would rather spend money on the latest re-release of the "much better" digitally cgi "improved" version of 'Star Trek The Org. Series' they would probably shake their head in disbelief.
Would I pay $120 if there was a Mondo Macabro "Satan's Slave" dvd? Fuck no, not a change. I guess I would pay $120 for being able to get a good original release and of the EXPIRIENCE of watching a good version of the film. That's what I'd pay for.
And yes I managed to misspell 'experience' in capitals, haha.
Jack, do you have the 10% Discount Voucher from Ebay in your account ?. It expires today, but that's another $10 plus saving to assist in the bid.
With regard to a DVDr, I would have no problem in assisting you good buddy but I do not have the facility to copy over NTSC. My VCR plays NTSC but in pseudo PAL, so when copying it is out of synch & unwatchable. I am in the process of upgrading my Desktop computer to a DELL XPS 630 which with a connection kit movie programme I may be able to get around this problem. Or indeed I am still looking for a good deal on a true NTSC VCR player / multi system as there are many movies I'd like to ensure are backed up. I'll keep you updated, and if successful, of course, with pleasure I'll hook you up. Paul
Ehh, no this is the first I hear of that discount. :-O
No worries, and thanks for wanting to help me out if you get the chance down the line. Unfortunately I have the same problem as you; I bought the wrong dvd recorder! :-(
I went for $161.49. Someone made a bid when it was 3 seconds left. So I guess it's worth more then $122. Hehe.
You are very welcome Jack. Getting NTSC copied across to DVD is one of my to do things, so stay tuned.
Now, have you checked out Ballistic Blood Bullets this weekend ? ... there's a Firebird Conspiracy taking pace. Please stop by guys. Paul
http://ballisticbloodbullets.blogspot.com/
I'll be sure to do so, Paul.
Jack:
Didn't you just get a Japanese VHS of Firebird Conspiracy?
I've had the Japanese VHS for a little while now Jack. I started slow work on Tough To Kill Book 2 which we are dedicating to Jungle Action flicks, so the Philippines is right up there. Geez I even watched Bloodfist 2050 . Now that was Fun too. Paul
Paul, I'm fully updated with your blog, LOL. In fact yesterday I made a link to your review in connection with my showing off of my new Japanese "Firebird Conspiracy":
http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41542&page=6
- which by the way I paid a whooping 7 euros for!
But didn't he also have No Blood No Surrender?
I thought you made a bid for that on ebay?
He did but it was 150 kr + postage it was a Greek tape. Firstly, I'm a little low on cash right now and secondly I'm aware there are both Dutch and Japanese releases of that film. Now, I love Greek tapes for the sheer output (there are so many) but the picture quality isn't always that grand so I think I'd rather wait for another copy. Oh, and besides, I hear it's a crap film, haha.
Haha.
That's also a good reason!
I love all Rambo ''spoofs'', so I'll pick it up one day. But I also have my doubts about it.
Paul be a little more humble will ya!!! For Christ's sakes! Haha.
I've known about your existence for about a year of so thru the Filipino section at the Maniacs and not ONCE have I heard you mention that you have published a book on these films, bloody hell mate, haha. People on the Danish scene are sick of me cos I keep pestering them with my damn magazine that I haven't even published a new issue of for five years, and you and David Z have a cool book out and you don't even mention it once! Haha.
Anyhoo, I did a Google and found yet another one of your (to me anyway) secret blogs where there's a post about the book. Wauw! Good on ya mate, that looks brilliant.
Is it still in print? If so I'm gonna get one (I see there's a eVersion but I want a real hard-copy. I mean how much use is there gonna be for an eBook after the III WW, haha). So when is this new one scheduled for?
I might as well link to that blog post:
http://euroactionmovies.blogspot.com/2008/03/tough-to-kill-volume-1-now-available.html
Paul, sign me up as well! A book on the subject would be very nice.
Guys, I love Movies just like you & particularly the Eighties Euro Action movies. Doing the book with my great friend David Zuzelo was a work of love & we are both darned proud of it. We have interest from a 'Proper' publisher now to tidy it up & throw some money at it to deliver the Store Book we strive for. I love to share my knowledge of movies with true fans like yourselves, one reason I am 'humble', Jack. Like you touched on with some Ebay purchasers, they don't do it to collect the movie, but to make money from it. Myself & David did not do the book to make money, we did it to open up the word on so many rare movies. Trust me there is over twenty years of collected tapes that went into bringing over Eighty reviews along with bios etc. If people like yourself & Patrick are kind enough to sing the praises of the book, that is all we could ask for, as the word will reach the true fans. That is what we want :) .
Please do pick up a proper version each, LULU on line, where we published through, is likely the best place to purchase. Yes, I'm afraid on Ebay the book has sold for double the price through a couple of those money making chancers !. It would be great to have either or indeed both of you Review Tough To Kill.
When we get Tough To Kill 2 out, may be a while, I'll for sure metion you guys as part of my ongoing Internet adventure discovering Action flick fellow fans :) .
Jack, very well done in seeking out my postings & other blogs. Hey, I've even written material under an alia ;) . Have you found my Full article on the FULL version of YOR THE HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE ?. Edoardo Margheriti himself sent me the movie, now how very Cool is that :) . Thanks guys. It truly is great hanging with you. Paul
There he goes being all humble again, hehe.
I would review it, and I'm glad you consider me as a reviewer for it. I guess that means I'm doing something good. See, I ain't being humble. Hehe.
I just have to check out 3-4 more movies from the book, before I really get deep into it. But I'll buy it soon.
Thanks, Paul. Same her.
Jack:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/tough-to-kill-volume-1---italian-action-explosion/2197482
Here is the link! I know how lazy you are when it comes to searching for stuff.
Firstly, sorry this late response but I've been offline for two days.
And then secondly: MY GAWD!!! I just realise... Paul... you're Poul Kuk, aren't you!!?? You gotta be; it fits!! 20 yrs of collecting (those Jonathan Ross docus are almost 20 yrs old) and mr. Kuk is in the UK. My god. Ever since last summer, I've known about those YouTube uploads and have been thinking about writing to "that guy" and ask if he'd do me proper copies of those shows cos I'd really love to get them (YouTube is nice but the quality is not the best. I tried and converted a couple of shows to dvdr but unfortunately they don't come out so grand when you watch them on the big screen). The only one of the shows I have already is the David Lynch show which I taped off tv in London in 1990.
About your book; Thanks for the reply. And yes I'll definitely pick up a copy ... on payday as I'm already skint :-(
haha. Too many cool releases, old and new. And yes I'll give it a plug.
I know what you mean about why you do this; if this weren't for a genuine love of the media it would be a waste of time. There is no money in this. I guess you could make some if you worked for Fango but, well, we don't. I'm not so sure how much that helps though. I'm in the fortunate position of never having received ONE bad review when I did the zine but even so nobody wrote and said "I read so and so review and now I wanna check out your mag". But, hey, of course you never know how many go and pick up your stuff from a shop and never tell you it was because of a review. Women readers is something else I'd like to get more of, LOL.
And if we get a mention that'll certainly be great. Cheers. If there's ever anything film wise that you see mentioned on my blog or in posts that you'd like me to help you out with don't hesitate to let me know. As of now, I can't do ntsc to dvdr but everything else should be of no problem.
I have only gone thru a fraction of those blog posts of yours that I've found so no I haven't got to (or even found) the YOR review yet. You got it from Edoardo M.!! Wauw!
I miss the old days with it's plethora of cool fanzines but I wouldn't want to be without the grand world of the Internet. Imagine how many "meetings" you missed out on in the old days. How many fans like you and Patrick you just never met.
PS: thanks for the link, Patrick.
I hope it's not some big secret in the world of YouTube I revealed there (if I'm right at all), Paul, but I'm curious; am I right? Paul Kuk = you??
Haha. I love that this post has almost become an online chat site for Pino war movie buffs! Kinda nice looking at your own post and see 35 (36 after this one) comments. Keep it up guys :)
Hehe
I'm NOT Paul Kuk Jack, sorry. I did once interview Andreas Schnaas though on the German front. He has a new Zombie flick in the can, looking forward to checking that out.
Hey Patrick, maybe we should become the Internet Musketeers & set up a Euro Blog of the obscure, call it Movie Moths To The Flame or such like :) . Paul
Damn!! I was so happy you were mr. Kuk for a moment there (in my imagination anyway)!! Usch!! The thing is Paul Kuk is someone in the UK who had taped all the Jonathan Ross "The Big Picture Show" programs back in the early 90s and had uploaded them to YouTube and altho I did manage to download them all I really wanted to get in contact with him and convince him that he really ought to be a nice chappy and make dvd-r copies of all of them for me. Oh well, I guess I can forget about that now. Boo-hoo. Those shows were the best! Are you sure you're not Paul Kuk, Paul? Just a wee bit?? Haha.
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