The Adventurers (1995) Blu-ray Review

Ringo Lam was the award-winning Hong Kong producer, screenwriter and director He was probably best known for his action and crime films. Arguably his best film was the one he won the Hong Kong Best Director award for, that film was 1987 film City on Fire.

In 1995 Ringo Lam wrote and directed the action film The Adventurers. Eureka Entertainment have been releasing some amazing deluxe Blu-rays. Some of the amazing releases I had the pleasure to review is The Cat and The Canary, The Double Crossers, Horrible History: Four Historical Epics by Chang Cheh and Mabuse Lives!

Synopsis: Wai Lok-yan (Lau) was just eight years old when his parents were killed before his eyes in Cambodia, where his father had been working for the CIA during Pol Pot's ascent to power in the latter days of the Cambodian Civil War. Taken to Thailand by his father's colleague Seung (Chiang), Yan grows up to join the Thai Air Force and comes to discover that his father's murderer - Ray Liu (Paul Chun, Royal Tramp), once a double agent - has now become a wealthy arms dealer based in the United States. With the help of the CIA, Yan intends to get close to Liu and have his revenge by taking on an assumed identity and gaining the trust of Liu's daughter, Crystal (Jacklyn Wu, A Moment of Romance) - but first he will need to go undercover in San Francisco's criminal underworld to rescue her from the clutches of the Vietnamese Black Tiger Gang.

The Adventurers was Ringo Lam's final Hong Kong film before he left for Hollywood to direct Maximum Risk starring Jean-Claude Van. The Adventurers is an action-packed adventure film that when seeing it is like you discovered a hidden treasure. Although the title should have been changed. The Adventurers? This is a revenge story.

Ringo Lam lets loose and goes full on guns blazing with unlimited bullets and building exploding. There is no denying the action of this film. But there is the romantic aspect in this film as well. So, this is a full-scale story!

The acting of Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Jacklyn Wu and Victor Wong is pretty impressive. Victor Wong probably for most film fans being the most recognizable as he was in many films American audiences would know including John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China and Tremors.

Eureka Entertainment has transferred this film to Blu-ray in 1080p and presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This transfer features a brand new 2K restoration. There are optional audio tracks available on this disc. There is the original unrestored Cantonese stereo, the restored Cantonese stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. There are also newly translated English subtitles.

Eureka Entertainment did a wonderful job with this restoration. This restoration is truly impressive. There is no dirt, debris, scratches or damage that I witnessed when screening this film. Truly another great Blu-ray transfer from Eureka Entertainment. But that's not all! Take a look at the bonus features included on this disc.

* New audio commentary by film critic David West
* Two Adventurers – new interview with Gary Bettinson, editor of Asian Cinema journal
* Previously unseen archival interview with writer and producer Sandy Shaw
* Theatrical trailer

But wait there's more. In addition to the on-disc bonus features seen above Eureka Entertainment. There are some awesome packaging bonuses.

* Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Time Tomorrow
* A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Hong Kong cinema scholar Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park

David West is a great listen in the film's audio commentary and the addition of interviews are always a welcomed bonus. The collector's booklet is a great addition along with the O-card. spectacular. Eureka Entertainment really never ceases to amaze with the quality of their releases.

The Adventurers is a nice little action film from the 90s. Okay no one is ever going to put it on the top of their list of the best films of the 90s, but it is extremely entertaining. And after all that's why we go to the movies, is to be entertained.

If you love these deluxe Blu-ray releases from Eureka Entertainment and are enjoying the Japanese action film, well, The Adventurers are going to be right up your alley. Head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy for your home video library today.