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Though featuring the Shaw Brothers custom brand of martial arts mayhem, HUMAN LANTERNS also taps into the early 80s craze for the American slasher film and the earlier Hammer horrors by providing a grisly take on the serial killer feature in an inimitable Hong Kong style. When an unbalanced craftsman decides to get revenge on two Kung Fu masters by creating special lanterns constructed from the human skin of their dead relatives, all hell breaks loose in this gruesome tale of bloody retribution. Taking its inspiration from movies like Psycho and real cases like Ed Gein, HUMAN LANTERNS is clearly not for the faint-hearted with its over the top gore and sadistic qualities but this slice of darker than dark fantasy still manages to be both wonderfully horrible and impressively entertaining.
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It seems that 88 Films is the only company releasing old classic Shaw Brothers martial arts film on a monthly/regular basis.
I know that Arrow Video also has the license, but so far they’ve only release three items: Shaw Scope Vol 1, Come Drink With Me, and The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter. That was in December 2021, and April 2022… meanwhile, 88 Films has released about one Shaw Brothers title per month. So far, they’ve released five titles since 2022… with three more listed below.
I own or am planning on buying all of them, of course, and will be reporting when more Shaw Brothers titles are announced. Please, more Venoms and Chang Cheh titles.
Continued from Shaw Brothers in 2022.
I own or am planning on buying all of them, of course, and will be reporting when more Shaw Brothers titles are announced. Please, more Venoms and Chang Cheh titles.
Continued from Shaw Brothers in 2022.
Human Lanterns (1982)
Release date: June 7, 2022
I got the Bluray of Human Lanterns from Amazon in mid-June, so I haven’t had a lot of time to really get into it. I never liked the horror (with Martial Arts) film, but it’s one of the first Shaw Brothers DVD I purchased from Celestial Pictures (I would later buy the US version).
There are very few Shaw Brothers horror that I like. I like the Black Magic films, Boxer’s Omen and Bewitched is just the best. The more gruesome, the better, in my opinion.
The problem with Human Lanterns is that it’s a little tame compared to some of the other Shaw offerings. The human skinning looks bad, I think it’s cheesy… but everyone seems to think it’s gruesome. Boy, wait until you see Bewitched, it will blow away anything in Human Lanterns.
The audio commentary by Podcast On Fire (an obvious nod to City on Fire) wasn’t amazing either. I just thought it was a boring commentary. The worst is the interview with director Lau Wing. The audio is terrible. It is almost unwatchable with the sound. I suggest just putting on the subtitles and turning the audio off.
For casual Shaw Brothers fan, I wouldn’t recommend Human Lanterns. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t recommend this, even if you love horror film. It’s not a great horror film or a good martial arts film.
For those collecting the Shaw Brothers series, like myself, you’ll need to buy this. For the first run, it has all the standard 88 Film stuff: a nice slip case, new artwork, reversible poster, and booklet. You may not get the slip case and poster in later re-issues, so be sure to grab the Bluray now.
Also, this is just my opinion, but I really don’t care for the artist creating all these new 88 Films covers. I wish they would hire a different artist… maybe look at who Arrow Films hires for their art.
Release date: June 7, 2022
I got the Bluray of Human Lanterns from Amazon in mid-June, so I haven’t had a lot of time to really get into it. I never liked the horror (with Martial Arts) film, but it’s one of the first Shaw Brothers DVD I purchased from Celestial Pictures (I would later buy the US version).
There are very few Shaw Brothers horror that I like. I like the Black Magic films, Boxer’s Omen and Bewitched is just the best. The more gruesome, the better, in my opinion.
The problem with Human Lanterns is that it’s a little tame compared to some of the other Shaw offerings. The human skinning looks bad, I think it’s cheesy… but everyone seems to think it’s gruesome. Boy, wait until you see Bewitched, it will blow away anything in Human Lanterns.
The audio commentary by Podcast On Fire (an obvious nod to City on Fire) wasn’t amazing either. I just thought it was a boring commentary. The worst is the interview with director Lau Wing. The audio is terrible. It is almost unwatchable with the sound. I suggest just putting on the subtitles and turning the audio off.
For casual Shaw Brothers fan, I wouldn’t recommend Human Lanterns. Personally speaking, I wouldn’t recommend this, even if you love horror film. It’s not a great horror film or a good martial arts film.
For those collecting the Shaw Brothers series, like myself, you’ll need to buy this. For the first run, it has all the standard 88 Film stuff: a nice slip case, new artwork, reversible poster, and booklet. You may not get the slip case and poster in later re-issues, so be sure to grab the Bluray now.
Also, this is just my opinion, but I really don’t care for the artist creating all these new 88 Films covers. I wish they would hire a different artist… maybe look at who Arrow Films hires for their art.
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Hero (1997)
Release date: July 5, 2022
This is a title that I didn’t care for… first of all, it’s a late-90s Shaw Brothers film, which meant that most of their star directors and actors from the 70s and 80s have already gone on to doing other things. Also, this film is this is basically a rip off of Chang Cheh’s Boxer from Shantung (1972), but re-done for the modern (90s) audience. It doesn’t outshine the original, so, I suggest just buying the original film and call it a day.
Even the reviews, from Sandra Chang on Amazon said, “This is one, awful movie...the editing ruins the movie! The flow of the movie is interrupted with abrupt scene cuts. Certain scenes are sped up and look ridiculous. This is one of the worst edited movies I've ever seen...it's almost unwatchable.”
Still, because I’m such a loyal Shaw Brothers fan, I will buy this title when it comes out, July 5, 2022.
Release date: July 5, 2022
This is a title that I didn’t care for… first of all, it’s a late-90s Shaw Brothers film, which meant that most of their star directors and actors from the 70s and 80s have already gone on to doing other things. Also, this film is this is basically a rip off of Chang Cheh’s Boxer from Shantung (1972), but re-done for the modern (90s) audience. It doesn’t outshine the original, so, I suggest just buying the original film and call it a day.
Even the reviews, from Sandra Chang on Amazon said, “This is one, awful movie...the editing ruins the movie! The flow of the movie is interrupted with abrupt scene cuts. Certain scenes are sped up and look ridiculous. This is one of the worst edited movies I've ever seen...it's almost unwatchable.”
Still, because I’m such a loyal Shaw Brothers fan, I will buy this title when it comes out, July 5, 2022.
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Martial Club (1981)
Release date: July 19, 2022.
So Martial Club is coming. It’s a Lau Kar-leung, so it tends to be on the comedy-side. It’s not one of my favorite film. I was always more of a Chang Cheh fan, anyway.
I previously own Martial Club on the US DVD and Hong Kong DVD, so I’m looking forward to the high definition treatment.
Description
Release date: July 19, 2022.
So Martial Club is coming. It’s a Lau Kar-leung, so it tends to be on the comedy-side. It’s not one of my favorite film. I was always more of a Chang Cheh fan, anyway.
I previously own Martial Club on the US DVD and Hong Kong DVD, so I’m looking forward to the high definition treatment.
Description
A gloriously typical entry from Shaw Brothers, Martial Club starring Kara Wei (THE BRAVE ARCHER 2 and MAD MONKEY KUNG FU) and Gordon Liu (THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN) and directed by Lau Kar-Leung (LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA), affords us a fast-paced, cleverly choreographed piece of martial arts fun combining many elements that lovers of this kind of cinema will be more than appreciative of. Rival fight schools, an old master and beautifully designed set pieces tumble together in a colourfully kinaesthetic unceasing parade of flying fists and action set pieces. Bonus features include: Limited Edition Collectors Booklet with Behind the Scene Photos and writing by Critic and AuthorBarry Forshaw, Limited Edition Slipcase with new Artwork by Kung Fu Bob O'Brien, Reversible Artwork, Interviews with Hung San Nam and Tony Tam, Interview with Johnny Wang, ‘Kung Fu and Dancing’ - An Interview with Robert Mak, Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, ‘Instructors of Death’ Trailer, Instructors of Death - Grindhouse Presentation, High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio, 2.0 DTS-HD MA Mandarin Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles, 2.0 DTS-HD MA English Soundtrack
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