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THE CHINESE BOXER
88-films.myshopify.com
I’ve previously mentioned that there is just no market for high definition Shaw Brothers films in the USA. In fact, the last official BluRay release was Five Element Ninjas by Tokyo Shock in 2012… prior to this Web of Death by Well Go USA (under their Sword Masters banner) and Five Deadly Venoms by Dragon Dynasty, in 2011. Let’s just say that there is just a lack of HD representation of these classic Shaw Brothers films.
If you wanted these films in Bluray, you basically have to import them from other countries… which I have been doing with 88 Films, a company based in the UK, specializing in this niche market. Thankfully, their latest release for Jimmy Wang Yu’s The Chinese Boxer, is available domestically in the USA (their first simultaneous UK and US release).
The film came out November 9th, which arrived on my doorstep on the same day, thanks to pre-ordering it via Amazon. The retail price is $29, but these are usually discounted to $20 or $25… which is a normal price for these type of releases. Like Criterion and Arrow, the 88 Films features a full clear case in a nice slip case, featuring new artwork by “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien. For the first pressing (“Limited Edition”), it comes with a folder poster and a booklet, featuring ‘Hong Kong’s Famous Fight Life’ by Andrew Graves… as well as a nice reversible cover artwork (new artwork vs original artwork).
There is also a brand new audio commentary by journalist Samm Deighan, plus interviews with journalist David West and actor Wong Ching, which were produced by 88 Films.
Like with all the previous 88 Films releases, this HD transfer (restored HD Master in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio) is pretty amazing. I think the HD is very impressive, considering these films were produced in the 70s.
So, going forward, I’ll just purchase 88 Films’ US releases. The next Shaw Brothers film to be released in the US/UK will be Disciples of Shaolin. It is available December 13th, which I will pre-order in early December to make sure I get the film before Christmas.
I’m also hoping that 88 Film goes back and perhaps re-issue their previous UK-only releases for the US market. There are some out-of-print films that I would love to get my hands on… but unfortunately, I’m not sure if there is a big market in America for these films.
88-films.myshopify.com
I’ve previously mentioned that there is just no market for high definition Shaw Brothers films in the USA. In fact, the last official BluRay release was Five Element Ninjas by Tokyo Shock in 2012… prior to this Web of Death by Well Go USA (under their Sword Masters banner) and Five Deadly Venoms by Dragon Dynasty, in 2011. Let’s just say that there is just a lack of HD representation of these classic Shaw Brothers films.
If you wanted these films in Bluray, you basically have to import them from other countries… which I have been doing with 88 Films, a company based in the UK, specializing in this niche market. Thankfully, their latest release for Jimmy Wang Yu’s The Chinese Boxer, is available domestically in the USA (their first simultaneous UK and US release).
The film came out November 9th, which arrived on my doorstep on the same day, thanks to pre-ordering it via Amazon. The retail price is $29, but these are usually discounted to $20 or $25… which is a normal price for these type of releases. Like Criterion and Arrow, the 88 Films features a full clear case in a nice slip case, featuring new artwork by “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien. For the first pressing (“Limited Edition”), it comes with a folder poster and a booklet, featuring ‘Hong Kong’s Famous Fight Life’ by Andrew Graves… as well as a nice reversible cover artwork (new artwork vs original artwork).
There is also a brand new audio commentary by journalist Samm Deighan, plus interviews with journalist David West and actor Wong Ching, which were produced by 88 Films.
Like with all the previous 88 Films releases, this HD transfer (restored HD Master in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio) is pretty amazing. I think the HD is very impressive, considering these films were produced in the 70s.
So, going forward, I’ll just purchase 88 Films’ US releases. The next Shaw Brothers film to be released in the US/UK will be Disciples of Shaolin. It is available December 13th, which I will pre-order in early December to make sure I get the film before Christmas.
I’m also hoping that 88 Film goes back and perhaps re-issue their previous UK-only releases for the US market. There are some out-of-print films that I would love to get my hands on… but unfortunately, I’m not sure if there is a big market in America for these films.
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA
criterion.com
I wasn’t a fan of the Once Upon A Time in China movies, simply because I don’t really like “historical” films, or films based on real events. This series is based on China in the late 19th century, and it’s most famous for introducing the (international) world to Jet Li.
Even though I didn’t like the films, the fact that all five films are collected in a nice boxset and released by Criterion, I may have to pick it up for my collection. It retails for $130, but currently it’s on sale for about $60 (which is a fair price for five films).
Here’s how Criterion describe the boxset:
criterion.com
I wasn’t a fan of the Once Upon A Time in China movies, simply because I don’t really like “historical” films, or films based on real events. This series is based on China in the late 19th century, and it’s most famous for introducing the (international) world to Jet Li.
Even though I didn’t like the films, the fact that all five films are collected in a nice boxset and released by Criterion, I may have to pick it up for my collection. It retails for $130, but currently it’s on sale for about $60 (which is a fair price for five films).
Here’s how Criterion describe the boxset:
One of the pinnacles of Hong Kong cinema’s 1990s golden age, the Once Upon a Time in China series set a new standard for martial-arts spectacle and launched action star Jet Li to international fame. It brings to vivid life the colorful world of China in the late nineteenth century, an era of immense cultural and technological change, as Western imperialism clashed with tradition and public order was upended by the threats of foreign espionage and rising nationalism.
Against this turbulent backdrop, one man—the real-life martial-arts master, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei-hung—emerges as a noble protector of Chinese values as the country hurtles toward modernity.
Conceived by Hong Kong New Wave leader Tsui Hark, this epic cycle is not only a dazzling showcase for some of the most astonishing action set pieces ever committed to film but also a rousing celebration of Chinese identity, history, and culture.
Six-Blu-ray Special Edition Collector's Set Features
Against this turbulent backdrop, one man—the real-life martial-arts master, physician, and folk hero Wong Fei-hung—emerges as a noble protector of Chinese values as the country hurtles toward modernity.
Conceived by Hong Kong New Wave leader Tsui Hark, this epic cycle is not only a dazzling showcase for some of the most astonishing action set pieces ever committed to film but also a rousing celebration of Chinese identity, history, and culture.
Six-Blu-ray Special Edition Collector's Set Features
- Includes "Once Upon a Time in China and America" (1997)
- Rare alternate audio tracks
- New interview with Tsui Hark
- Excerpts from audio interviews with Jet Li
- Deleted scenes, documentaries, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage
- And more
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SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
marvel.com
Critics and audiences both loved Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which recently landed on streaming (after it debut in theaters in early September). I can see why normal people would like Shang-Chi, it really introduces Kung Fu into the Marvel Universe on a massive scale (if you don’t count the Iron Fist television show). However, as someone who’s seen better martial art films, I wasn’t impressed with Shang-Chi. In fact, I hated Shang-Chi… in my opinion, it’s not a very good film.
To me, this is two films, one that took place in modern times with Shang-Chi, and the other is about his father, The Mandarin. The decision to splice the backstory with the modern story was jarring. I might be enjoying following the modern-day story and it’s suddenly interrupted with a story about the past.
Most people haven’t read or own a collection of the original Deadly Hands of Kung Fu or the Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu series, so I know the source material really well. Shang-Chi was originally Marvel’s version of Bruce Lee… if Bruce Lee’s father was Fu Manchu. Since Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to Fu Manchu anymore, they decided to re-write Shang-Chi’s story to have him as the son of the Mandarin.
I don’t mind the changes, it made sense that they would go in this direction… but I really didn’t care for the backstory to the villainous Mandarin. What I really wanted to see was the story of Shang-Chi, not his father. It’s not that I don’t find it interesting, but they really could’ve moved all the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” stuff to a special on Disney Plus or make it a stand alone movie.
As for the Kung Fu part, I’ve seen better. For normal people, I think they might be blown away by the bus fight scene (a lot of people are raving about this scene)… but I think it’s just fine. I would recommend checking out any early Jackie Chan films, to see how he would do it better and more realistic.
marvel.com
Critics and audiences both loved Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which recently landed on streaming (after it debut in theaters in early September). I can see why normal people would like Shang-Chi, it really introduces Kung Fu into the Marvel Universe on a massive scale (if you don’t count the Iron Fist television show). However, as someone who’s seen better martial art films, I wasn’t impressed with Shang-Chi. In fact, I hated Shang-Chi… in my opinion, it’s not a very good film.
To me, this is two films, one that took place in modern times with Shang-Chi, and the other is about his father, The Mandarin. The decision to splice the backstory with the modern story was jarring. I might be enjoying following the modern-day story and it’s suddenly interrupted with a story about the past.
Most people haven’t read or own a collection of the original Deadly Hands of Kung Fu or the Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu series, so I know the source material really well. Shang-Chi was originally Marvel’s version of Bruce Lee… if Bruce Lee’s father was Fu Manchu. Since Marvel doesn’t really have the rights to Fu Manchu anymore, they decided to re-write Shang-Chi’s story to have him as the son of the Mandarin.
I don’t mind the changes, it made sense that they would go in this direction… but I really didn’t care for the backstory to the villainous Mandarin. What I really wanted to see was the story of Shang-Chi, not his father. It’s not that I don’t find it interesting, but they really could’ve moved all the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” stuff to a special on Disney Plus or make it a stand alone movie.
As for the Kung Fu part, I’ve seen better. For normal people, I think they might be blown away by the bus fight scene (a lot of people are raving about this scene)… but I think it’s just fine. I would recommend checking out any early Jackie Chan films, to see how he would do it better and more realistic.
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