The Project A Collection: 88 Films Blu-ray Review

When you think martial arts your usually think one of two actors, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Before Jackie Chan made it to American and was making Hollwood films he starred as a swashbuckling turn-of-the-century coastguard, who is after cut-throat pirates, smugglers and free-wheeling police officers with Project A.

88 Films have been killing it with their physical media releases on Blu-ray and 4K UltraHD. Recently we have seen such amazing deluxe releases as Beauty of Beauties, To Kill A Mastermind, The Golden Lotus and The Shadow Boxing. Now they have announced a super deluxe 4K Blu-ray of both of the Project A films in one box set.

Our Rating System:
****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend an evening.
*=You haven’t missed anything.

PROJECT A (1983) Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan, Rush Hour) is a lieutenant in the 19th-century Hong Kong marines. Pirates have been terrorizing local waters, with assistance from the corrupt authorities. Dragon Ma hopes to defeat the evil pirate clan led by Sanpao (Dick Wei), but his plan is short-circuited. Ma then teams with a navy admiral (Hak Suen Lau), a police captain Tzu (Biao Yuen) and a crafty thief (Sammo Hung) in a new round of high-seas battles with Sanpao and his pirates. ***

PROJECT A: PART II (1987) Corrupt police inspector Chun (David Lam) has made himself the most powerful law enforcement officer in Hong Kong by staging high-profile arrests of the criminals and mobsters with whom he's in cahoots. The British authorities know Chun is a dirty cop but have not been able to infiltrate his inner circle. Enter fearless and incorruptible military policeman "Dragon Ma" Yun (Jackie Chan), who comes back to his hometown to pose as Chun's new right-hand man and take down both cops and criminals. ***

Where Jackie Chan stands apart from the legendary Bruce Lee is Jackie Chan films were full of comedy sequences. His films were like martial art meets the Three Stooges. And that is what made his films so popular and are still popular with fans even all these years later.

While Project A 1 & 2 are fairly early in his career the style that people know and love about Jacki Chan films are here is full effect. All the martial arts action with amazing stuns and the comedy goodies that make us laugh.

88 Films have transferred these films to 4K and Blu-ray so they can be enjoyed. I love that fact. If perchance you have yet to make the plundge into UltraHD, no worries there is a Blu-ray you can enjoy till you decide to dive in. These transfers are really something special. The films look crisp and clean with no real damage to the prints and the audio tracks are clear as a bell. But 88 Flms went above and beyond here and loaded this release up with tons of bonus features. Take a look!

PROJECT A SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:

* Brand new 4K Remaster of the Hong Kong Cut [106 mins] from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in original 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio with Dolby Vision encoding (HDR10 Compatible)

* Brand new 4K Remaster of the Extended Taiwanese Cut [115 mins] from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in original 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio with Dolby Vision encoding (HDR10 Compatible)

* Cantonese & Mandarin-language options in Dolby Atmos and mono with newly translated subtitles and English Mono Dub [Mandarin Inserts during extended scenes in Taiwanese Cut]

* Audio commentary by Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto [Hong Kong Cut]

* Solo audio commentary by Frank Djeng [Hong Kong Cut]

* Interview with Jackie Chan’s Best Stunt Double, Mars Cheung

* Dancing With Danger — Interview with Stunt God Mars

* Master Killer — Interview with Grandmaster Lee Hoi-san

* The Elusive Dragon — Interview with Yuen Biao

* The Pirates Den — Interview with Dick Wei

* Can’t Stop the Music - Interview with Composer Michael Lai

* Project Collector with Paul Dre

* Plan B — Writer Edward Tang on Project A

* Out-takes

* Japanese Version Ending

* The Making of Project A

* Lunar New Year Introduction [Mandarin with English Subtitles]

* Hong Kong Trailer

* English Trailer

* Stills Gallery

PROJECT A PART II SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:

* Brand new 4K Remaster of the Hong Kong Cut [107 mins] from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in original 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio with Dolby Vision encoding (HDR10 Compatible)

* Brand new 4K Remaster of the Export Cut [98 mins] from the Original Negatives presented in Ultra High Definition (2160p) in original 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio with Dolby Vision encoding (HDR10 Compatible)

* Cantonese-language options in mono and Dolby Atmos and Mandarin mono with newly translated subtitles [Hong Kong Cut]

* English Mono Dub [Export Cut]

* Audio commentary by Frank Djeng and FJ DeSanto [Hong Kong Cut]

* Interview with Anthony Carpio

* The Big Boss — Interview with Chan Wai-Man

* Someone Will Know Me — 1988 documentary focusing on three members of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team

* Japanese Ending

* Full-Screen Jackie Chan Recording Session

* Hong Kong Trailer

* Export Trailer

* Tai Seng Trailer

* Stills Gallery

From audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, outtakes, trailer and so much more. 88 Films went all in with the bonus features found on these discs. But that is not all that is included in this great deluxe box set. There is also amazing physical bonuses.

* Rigid Slipcase featuring new art by “Kung Fu” Bob O’Brien

* Six double-sided collectable art cards

* Double-sided foldout posters for both films

* 100-page Illustrated collectors’ book featuring Labor of Love: Jackie’s PLAN A Worked Out by Thorsten Boose and Project A, No Plan B: A Look into how Project A I & II defined the Jackie Chan 1980s style by Paul Bramhall, PLUS Someone Will Know Me an inter

* Double-sided artwork for both sleeves featuring new art by “Kung Fu” Bob O’Brien & original Hong Kong posters

I have always enjoyed a good Jackie Chan film, all because they are so much fun. The Project A double feature is again so much fun. I am so glad 88 Films decided to include the English dub. That makes these film so great for me as I love hose bad English dubs.

I love movie artwork and there is so much to enjoy here. 2 sides full movie poster, art card and so much more. Take this release from awesome to an absolute must own for Jackie Chan fans.

So, if you love martial arts films or Jackie Chan this new deluxe 88 Films 4K/Blu-ray set is one you are going to want to add to your collection. Head over to MVDShop or Oldies.com and order your copy today. You are going to love this set!