Arrow Video knows that there are a lot of martial art films fans out there. So, for those physical media enthusiasts they are bringing many of these films to Blu-ray so that we can enjoy those films for years to come. And share with a whole new generation the action of these classics. Take a look at some of the latest releases.
Brothers and partners-in-crime, Yipao (Biao) and Taipao (Warriors Two's 'Beardy' Leung Kar-Yan), have made an up-and-down career out of being hustlers, conning everyone from bank tellers to casino dealers. One day, they push their luck with the wrong man, martial arts master Chia Wu Dao (legendary Shaw Brothers fight choreographer Lau Kar-Wing), but convince him to reluctantly become their teacher in hand-to-hand combat. But upon learning Chia's dangerous true nature, Yipao turns to another master: a portly blinking beggar (Hung) trained in the ways of the monkey fist. Will this new skill defeat Chia's secret snake style?
Special Features
* 2K restorations from the original elements by Fortune Star of both the original HK Theatrical Cut and the shorter Export Cut
* High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
* Original lossless Cantonese and Mandarin mono audio for the HK Theatrical Cut, plus lossless English mono for both cuts
* Two choices of English dubbed audio for the HK Theatrical Cut: the original export dub mono and the newer 5.1 dub created for international DVD presentations
* Optional English subtitles for the HK Theatrical Cut and English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on the Export Cut
* Commentary on the HK Theatrical Cut by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
* Commentary on the Export Cut by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
* Archival interview with Sammo Hung
* Archival interview with Bryan “Beardy” Leung Kar-Yan
* Archival interview with Grandmaster Chan Sau Chang (aka The Monkey King), a master of Monkey Style kung fu
* Deleted “Red Room” scene, featuring stars Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung in a teaser promo for the film’s Japanese release
* Original theatrical trailer
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
* FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by Simon Abrams and original press materials
Purchase the Blu-ray of Knockabout on Amazon.
After a traitor of the Shaolin temple, Shih Shao-Feng (James Tien, The Big Boss), has eliminated thousands of his former colleagues in exchange for power from the Manchus under the Qing dynasty, a surviving master of Shaolin, Yun Fei (Tan Tao-Liang), is tasked with the mission of bringing Shih to justice. In order to defeat Shih's overwhelmingly large army - led by the ruthless Tu Qing (Sammo Hung) - Yun Fei will need to team up with a skilled blacksmith (Jackie Chan) and a reluctant swordsman to beat the odds and avenge his fallen brothers.
Special Features:
* 2K restoration from original film elements by Fortune Star
* High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray transfer
* Original lossless Mandarin and English mono, plus Cantonese stereo and 5.1 remixes in Mandarin and English
* Optional English subtitles
* Brand new feature commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
* From Hong Kong to Hollywood, an archive featurette on John Woo's early career, including interviews with Woo, Chow Yun-fat and Peter Lau
* Never-before-seen archive interview with star Tan Tao-Liang, filmed by his former student Michael Worth
* Archive interview with co-star Sammo Hung
* Alternate credits sequence, as Countdown to Kung Fu
* Trailer gallery
* Image gallery
* Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch
* Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by film programmer William Blaik
* Limited Edition slipcover featuring newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch
Purchase the Blu-ray of Hand of Death on Amazon!
Shanghai, 1910. With the Jing Wu martial arts school in shambles and pressure from the Japanese armies to suppress a Chinese uprising after Chen Zhen's martyrdom, Chen's fiancée Li Er (Nora Miao, reprising her role from Fist of Fury) escapes to Japanese-occupied Taiwan to hide at her grandfather's school. Despite her attempts to lay low, she runs afoul of karate master Okimura (Chan Sing, The Iron-Fisted Monk), who plans to take over all of the Chinese-run schools in Taiwan. Amidst all of this, a young aimless thief, known only as Ah Long (Jackie Chan), befriends Li Er after unknowingly stealing the nunchaku once yielded by the late Chen. Will he give into his fears, or will he learn the martial arts of Jing Wu and fight alongside Li Er against the Japanese?
Special Features:
* New 2k restoration from the original negatives by Fortune Star
* High Definition (1080p) Bluray transfers of the 120-min Original Theatrical Cut and the 82-min 1980 Re-release Cut
* Original Mandarin and English lossless mono audio for the Theatrical Cut, plus newly uncovered alternate Mandarin and Cantonese mono audio
* Original Cantonese and English lossless mono audio for the Re-Release Cut
* Newly translated optional English subtitles
* New feature commentary on the Theatrical Cut by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth, co-producers of Enter the Clones of Bruce Lee
* New feature commentary on the Re-Release Cut by action cinema expert Brandon Bentley
* New Fist, Part Two Fist, a new video essay by Bentley comparing New Fist of Fury to the rival sequel made simultaneously, Fist of Fury Part Ii
* Trailer gallery, including a Chen Zhen trailer reel of sequels and reboots
* Image gallery
* Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella
* Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Jonathan Clements and an archival retrospective article by Brian Bankston
Purchase New Fist of Fury on Blu-ray at Amazon!
Rice Miller Luk (Hung) is just a simple man trying to live a quiet life, until one day the Manchu Bannermen bully their way through town, killing his uncle in the process. When a nearby Shaolin monk, San De (Chen Sing, The Shaolin Plot), easily defeats them and sees the fallen Luk, he offers him a chance to learn martial arts at the Shaolin Temple. However, Luk’s impatience with his training sees him return to his town to witness an even more ruthless organization of Manchus, led by a depraved official (Fung Hak-An, Warriors Two) who has a nasty and violent habit of taking whatever (and whoever) he wants. Will Luk’s incomplete Shaolin teachings, combined with the skill set of San De, be enough to put an end to the Manchu stronghold plaguing their people?
Special Features:
* 2k restoration from original film elements by Fortune Star
* High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the original uncensored version
* Original lossless Cantonese and Mandarin mono audio, plus lossless English dub mono option
* Two choices of English dubbed audio: the original export dub mono (first time ever in the Us) and the newer 5.1 dub created for international Dvd presentations
* Optional English subtitles
* Audio commentary by martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng
* Two archival interviews with Sammo Hung
* Archival interview with Casanova Wong
* Original theatrical trailer
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Mills
* Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Mills
* Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Brandon Bentley
Prince Daglen (Sing) is hellbent on completing his comprehensive collection of Chinese martial arts manuals and mastering each form against his opponents. With only two manuals left to obtain, he sends his most dangerous henchman, a renegade monk (Hung) armed with two golden cymbals acting as flying guillotines, to steal the manual of Wu-Tang. To steal the sacred texts of Shaolin, however, the wicked Daglen will have to infiltrate the temple himself. The stage is set for a clash between Daglen, his cronies and surviving Wu-Tang student Little Tiger (James Tien, The Big Boss), alongside a lethal duo of Shaolin warrior monks (Casanova Wong, Warriors Two and Kwan Yung Moon, My Young Auntie).
Special Features:
* 2K restoration from the original film elements by Fortune Star
* High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
* Original lossless Mandarin and English mono options
* Optional English subtitles
* Commentary by martial arts film experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
* Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
* Alternate English credits
* Original theatrical trailers
* Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
* Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Peter Glagowski
Purchase The Shaolin Plot Blu-ray at Amazon!
As with every release Arrow Video never ceases to amaze me at how much work they put into the Blu-rays. From tremendous, stunning looking film restorations to adding commentaries, interviews, booklets and the best part is the English dubbings! One Word... Awesome!
If you grew up on martial arts films like I did. Or if you are looking to expand your film watching horizons. I suggest any of these 5 releases. They are filled with great stories, acting and action. Thrilling fun awaits you with these Arrow Video Blu-rays.
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