Audition: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (4K UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1999
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Daisuke Tengan
Cast: Ryô Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi, Miyuki Matsuda, Toshie Negishi, Ren Ôsugi 

Release Date: June 15th, 2026 (UK), June 16th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 115 Minutes 40 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK), R (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 4.0 Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"When recent widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, American Yakuza) is advised by his son to find a new wife, he seeks the advice of a colleague having been out of the dating scene for many years. The two men decide to take advantage of their position working at a film company to stage an audition to find the perfect partner. Interviewing a series of women, Shigeharu soon becomes enchanted by Asami (Eihi Shiina), a quiet, 24-year-old woman, who is immediately responsive to his charms. However, events quickly take a very dark and twisted turn as we find that Asami isn't what she seems to be..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The original Super 16mm camera negative was scanned at 4K/16 bit at Imagica, Japan. The film was restored in 4K and color graded by Dragon Post Production, Wales.” 

Audition comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 92.1 GB

Feature: 74 GB

The source looks excellent; it is easily the best Audion has ever looked on home media. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic appearance.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Japanese), 0/5 (DTS-HD 4.0 Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese, a DTS-HD 4.0 stereo mix in Japanese, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese. The stereo mix is in excellent shape; dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. The other two tracks have issues; the 4.0 stereo track goes out of sync and the 5.1 track is wrongly pitched. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (30 images), a Japanese theatrical trailer (1 minute 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an international theatrical trailer (1 minute 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Deeper Deeper Into Audition (11 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an appreciation by Japanese cinema historian Tony Rayns titled Damaged Romance (35 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Ryo Ishibashi titled Tokyo Hollywood (16 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Eihi Shiina titled From Audition to Vampire Girl (20 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Renji Ishibashi titled Miike’s Troy (20 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Ren Osugi titled The Man in the Body Bag Speaks (16 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Takashi Miike titled Ties That Bind (30 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an introduction by Takashi Miike (1 minute 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Ryo Ishibashi titled Callback (8 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan in Japanese with removable English subtitles, an audio commentary with Takashi Miike biographer Tom Mes, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a 44-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Everyone in Japan is Lonely: Audition as a Breakdown of Communication written by Jennie Kermode, an essay titled Deeper, Deeper, Deeper: How Audition’s Wounds Have Grown More Severe written by Jamie Graham, an essay titled Guilty of Romance: Love, Loneliness and Loss in Takashi Miike’s Audition written by Anton Bitel, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Takashi Miike directed Audition. His filmography stretches over 45 years and encompasses over 120 entries, including notable films like The Bird People of China, Agitator, Visitor Q, Ichi the Killer, The Happiness of the Katakuris, Gozu, and Lesson of the Evil.

Seven years after the death of his wife, a widower’s son convinces his father that it is time to find a new wife. With the help of a colleague, the father holds auditions under the pretense that they are producers casting for a film. From there, he connects with one woman in particular, whose grief mirrors his pain. Has he found the person who will bring joy back into his life, or will the trauma from her past return to haunt him?

When one thinks of horror cinema, what often springs to mind are themes about psychopaths who go on a killing spree and the body count that they amass. Another common plot device exploited in horror cinema is supernatural entities. Despite these tried and true examples of the genre, it is always exhilarating when a filmmaker brings something new to the table. Case in point: Takashi Miike’s tour de force exercise in psychological horror, Audition.

While it is not immediately clear where things are building to, once the shift occurs, the result is unlike anything you have seen before. Where the first half of the film could be called a romantic comedy where a widower looks for a woman for the first time since his wife's death, the latter half nosedives into darker territory when more is revealed about the woman he’s chosen's past. That said, despite the two halves being distinctly different, they perfectly intersect, creating an unforgettable climax.

The most surprising aspect of Audition is its visuals, which do a phenomenal job creating an unsettling mood. Where the first half of the film lets the performances take center stage, things become more stylized in the latter half when the focus shifts to Asami’s past. Without giving away too much about these moments, they push the envelope when it comes to violence, especially the finale, which is arguably the most disturbing scene in Takashi Miike’s filmography.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast gives their all and then some, especially the two leads, Ryô Ishibashi (Suicide Club) and Eihi Shiina (Tokyo Gore Police). While most films have a central protagonist, Audition is just as much Asami’s story as it is Shigeharu's story. Another performance of note is Renji Ishibashi (Deadly Outlaw: Rekka), who portrays Asami’s tormentor and source of her childhood trauma.

From the moment that Audition was unleashed upon unsuspecting audiences, it is a film that divides those who watch it. There seems to be no middle ground with Audition; either you embrace this film or you loathe it. That said, Audition is a film that is rich with subtext, and those who dig deeper than what is on the surface are sure to get more out of it. Going so drastically against what the audience expects could backfire and yet the result is an extraordinary film with one of the most potent payoffs in the history of horror cinema.

While the issues with the two audio tracks are disappointing, Audition’s original stereo track is fortunately unscathed. Audition makes its way to 4K UHD via a first-rate release from Arrow Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

A Colt Is My Passport – New Wave Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1967
Director: Takashi Nomura
Writers: Hideichi Nagahara, Nobuo Yamada
Cast: Jô Shishido, Jerry Fujio, Chitose Kobayashi, Ryôtarô Sugi, Kanjūrō Arashi, Shōki Fukae, Eimei Esumi, Jun Hongô, Akio Miyabe, Toyoko Takechi, Takamaru Sasaki, Asao Uchida, Kōjirō Kusanagi

Release Date: June 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 84 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR (Australia)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95 AUD (Australia)

"A Colt Is My Passport follows solitary hitman Kamimura (Joe Shishido) after a routine contract collapses into betrayal. Branded expendable by his employers, he flees with only his gun, his personal code, and a woman inadvertently drawn into his escape—moving through desolate industrial zones toward an end that feels both inevitable and self-chosen." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p High Definition Presentation."

A Colt Is My Passport comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.3 GB

Feature: 23.3 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape. Dialogue comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a video essay by Phillip Jeffries titled The Neo-Noir Yakuza Cool of Shishido Jo (21 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by film critic Derek Smith titled A Colt Is My Passport and the Borderless Action Film (15 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with author and filmmaker Jasper Sharp, reversible cover art, a UV/Spot Gloss slipcover, and a 16-page booklet with an essay titled Jo Shishido: A Colt Is My Passport written by James Balmont and information about the transfer. 

Summary:

Takashi Nomura directed A Colt Is My Passport. Though he began his career at Nikkatsu and worked with them until their shift to romantic pornography films, he’s not as well known as his contemporaries, Shōhei Imamura and Seijun Suzuki. Notable films he directed are Quick Draw Joe and Blood Vendetta.

A hitman who kills a crime boss is betrayed by those who hired him when they join forces with a rival gang who retaliate for the killing.

A Colt Is My Passport, made in the same year as Branded to Kill, shares many similarities with it. Their narratives revolve around a hitman who is marked for death after their latest job is successfully completed, and the protagonist is portrayed by Jô Shishido in both films. Similarities aside, stylistically and tonally, A Colt Is My Passport could not be more different from Branded to Kill.

The opening setup does an excellent job drawing you in. The well-crafted narrative effectively builds momentum to an exemplary finale. Through a series of moments where the protagonist and his driver try to evade assassins, the narrative is able to create tense moments that build upon each other. Another strength of the narrative is how it fleshes out the protagonist, giving him depth, making him more than a faceless killer.

Jô Shishido (Cruel Gun Story) is cast in the role of a hitman named Shûji Kamimura. Most known for his five collaborations with Seijun Suzuki, he was often cast in the role of a cold-blooded killer, a part he always excelled at. Another performance of note is Jerry Fujio (Yojimbo) in the role of Shun Shiozaki, Shûji Kamimura’s driver and the person he most trusts. The most surprising performance is Chitose Kobayashi (Outlaw: Goro the Assassin) in the role of Mina, a woman who works at an inn with Shun Shiozaki and Shûji Kamimura, and she falls in love with the latter.

The premise and the look of A Colt Is My Passport are firmly entrenched in Film noir. Although the visuals are not as striking as other Nikkatsu films from this era, that is not to say that there are not a few moments that make you go wow. The most notable is the finale where a greatly outnumbered Shûji Kamimura sets traps for his assassins. The main theme has a spaghetti western vibe, while the rest of the score is infused with jazz. Ultimately, A Colt Is My Passport is a solid example of Nikkatsu’s no borders, no limits action cinema.

If you are a fan of 1960s Nikkatsu action films, you should definitely consider owning this release. It is region-free, and the packaging does not include any ratings logos. That said, Nun in Rope Hell gets an exceptional release from New Wave Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Nun in Rope Hell – New Wave Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1984
Director: Katsuhiko Fujii
Writer: Akira Nakano
Cast: Miki Takakura, Asami Ogawa, Hiromi Yamaguchi, Kazuko Honjô, Maya Itô, Takashi Kanematsu, Chigusa Takayama, Hiroshi Takayama, Hiroshi Unayama, Shingo Yamamoto

Release Date: June 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 68 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR (Australia)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95 AUD (Australia)

"After a brutal act of violence shatters her illicit affair, guilt-ridden Takako (Miki Takakura) seeks salvation within the walls of a secluded convent. But the promise of absolution is a cruel illusion. Behind the convent’s holy façade lies a hidden world of ritualized cruelty, domination, and forbidden desire—where a group of nuns, aided by a notorious novelist, transform religious devotion into an elaborate twisted theater." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p High Definition presentation of a 2K restoration by the Nikkatsu Corporation."

Nun in Rope Hell comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20.5 GB

Feature: 17.7 GB

The source is in excellent shape; there is some very minor print debris that remains. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include with music from the film playing in the background, a video essay by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Kiss from a Rose: Nun in Rope Hell and Nunsploitation Cinema (13 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), reversible cover art, a UV/Spot Gloss slipcover, and a 16-page booklet with an essay titled Portrait of Passions Constrained: The Provenance of Nun in Rope Hell written by Jasper Sharp and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Katsuhiko Fujii directed Nun in Rope Hell. He’s most known for Cruelty: Black Rose Torture, Momoe’s Lips, and Snake Hole. Nun in Rope Hell is adapted from a story written by Oniroku Dan, who is best known for Flower and Snake.

A woman running away from her sinful past becomes a nun.

At their core, Nikkatsu romantic pornography films are exploitation films that lean heavily into sexual content. A non-exploitation-themed Nikkatsu romantic pornography film is a perfect fit for a genre that revolves around sinful behavior.

Nun in Rope Hell’s main location is a secluded nunnery whose nuns are anything but holy. Their main benefactor is an author named Kumaki, who writes sexually themed novels. They show him thanks by indulging in his sexual desires. The narrative revolves around Takako, a sinful woman who's no stranger to the acts that turn Kumaki on. Has she found the sanctuary or will she fall prey to her sexual desires?

When one considers their relative short running times and required amount of sexual content, it's often surprising how much actual story works its way into a Nikkatsu romantic pornography film. Nun in Rope Hell's opening moments perfectly set the tone for what follows and its narrative effectively builds momentum with a series of moments that offer further insight into her psyche. That said, Nun in Rope Hell is a satisfying mix of erotica and exposition.

The cast fully immerses themselves in their characters' perversity. The standout performance is Miki Takakura, who portrays Takako, a woman whose sinful behavior causes her to become a nun. She delivers a remarkable performance that captures her character's guilt and desires. Another performance of note is Asami Ogawa (Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls), who portrays a nun that fully embraces her libido.

Although sexually themed content is the main draw of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, Japanese censorship laws require filmmakers to come up with creative ways to shoot these moments. The artful placing of objects to obscure naughty parts and the striking use of color are areas where the visuals excel. There are many striking moments that heighten the mood, notably scenes where Takako is experiencing an erotic nightmare. Ultimately, Nun in Rope Hell is one of the better examples of a Nikkatsu romantic pornography film that effectively blends erotica and horror.

If you are a fan of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, you should definitely consider owning this release. It is region-free, and the packaging does not include any ratings logos. That said, Nun in Rope Hell gets an exceptional release from New Wave Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Legend of the Sacred Stone: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Taiwan, 2000
Director: Chris Huang
Writer: Chris Huang
Cast: Vincent Huang

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Taiwanese Hokkien
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"a group of warriors of Wulin led by white-maned hero Su Huan-Jen trying to prevent Mo Kuei and his spectral assassins called "The Unkind" from gaining possession of the all-powerful Sacred Stone.  The Unkind in particular are a riot with their screechy Skeksis-like voices and unexpected sense of humor:  “We’re the most handsome men in the world!” one chortles.  Along the way you get treated to martial arts moves like Aeolian Surprise, Thunder Bars, heroes riding a flying sword like the Silver Surfer, living corpses with melting flesh – oh, and if you’ve ever wondered how a puppet bleeds, you’ll see that too." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Legend of the Sacred Stone comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.5 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source looks excellent; colors look correct, and image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; Diaglue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include original theatrical trailer #1 (1 minute 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with non-removable English subtitles), original theatrical trailer #2 (1 minute 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with non-removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Deluxe Edition Artwork Creation (44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo with music from the film playing in the background), an interview with director Chris Huang and members of the PILI puppeteering team, moderated by Dennis Bartok (41 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles), Su Huan-Jen Character Spotlight – a newly-edited compilation for this release showing the evolution of the character of Su Huan-Jen over the course of nearly 40 years of PILI TV (5 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles), a video essay by film historian Evan Chester titled Puppets, Wuxia, and Spirituality: The Lore and Inspirations Behind Legend of the Sacred Stone (17 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with puppeteer and filmmaker Ben Wolf Page, associate editor of The Puppetry Journal for the Puppeteers of America.

Summary:

Set 400 years in the past, the martial world is threatened by Mo Kuei, and a sage named Su Huan-jen gathers three martial warriors together to defeat him. Central to their quest is the Heavenly Question Stone, which grants those who possess it a wish.

Legend of the Sacred Stone is a Wuxia-themed adventure that employs bùdàixì, a type of gloved puppetry that uses gloved puppets and computer-generated imagery during action sequences. The first question that arises is how they could convincingly create a Wuxia film entirely populated with puppets. When one thinks of a Wuxia film, there are high-flying and fluid action set pieces that often feature intricate acrobatics. And yet, despite all of these things, Legend of the Sacred Stone somehow pulls them off extremely well.

Despite being a spin-off of a long-running Pili television series, Legend of the Sacred Stone is a self-contained film that doesn't necessitate any prior knowledge of the series. The opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out the main characters and setting the stage for what unfolds. While exposition-heavy, the narrative moves rather quickly, and it never has an issue as it builds to its big action set-piece finale.

When it comes to content, Legend of the Sacred Stone is standard fare for a Wuxia film; it hits all the essential elements one expects for the genre. While the premise and story that unfold cover familiar ground, it's never an issue since the main attraction is the puppetry. Ultimately, Legend of the Sacred Stone is a highly entertaining film that exceeds expectations.

Legend of the Sacred Stone gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of Legend of the Sacred Stone that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page booklet with an essay written by Fantasia Festival programmer Rupert Bottenberg and an essay written by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer

Iron Monkey – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writers: Tsui Hark, Cheung Tan, Tang Elsa, Lau Tai-Mok
Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rongguang, Jean Wang, Angela Tsang Sze-Man, Yuen Shun-yi

Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG-13
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.98

"Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, this martial arts classic is set against the end of the Qing Dynasty and tells the tale of a chivalrous robber, Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang, Supercop 2), who robs the rich and gives to the poor in Zhejiang province. A famous kung fu master (Donnie Yen, Ip Man) is enlisted in the capture of Iron Monkey. He is thus torn between upholding the law and siding with this unknown hero…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original film elements."

Iron Monkey comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.4 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

For this release Shout! Factory uses the same source that Eureka Video used for their 2018 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity, contrast, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with five audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. The Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks are noticeably more robust than the English language tracks. Included are English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and English SDH for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/poster), 7 TV spots (3 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (5 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), footage of Li Fai and Angie Tsang Sze-Man Competing at the 2003 Wushu Championships (9 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival extra titled Shadow Boxing with Alex Yip (8 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yuen Cheung-Yan titled Iron Fist: A Look Behind the Action of Iron Monkey (16 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Angie Tsang Sze-Man (20 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Li Fai (25 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yu Rong-Guang (26 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with producer Tsui Hark (24 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Donnie Yen (19 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Ricky Baker titled New from Monkey Business to the Big Time, he discusses Donnie Yen’s rise to stardom (12 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer Richard Epcar titled International Iron (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer James L. Venable titled Scoring A Fresh Take, he discusses his score for Iron Monkey’s American release (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po and film critic Sean Tierney.

Summary:

Yuen Woo-Ping directed Iron Monkey. He is also known for directing films such as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Tai Chi Master. Besides directing, he is one of Hong Kong cinema’s most acclaimed martial arts choreographers.

A masked bandit named Iron Monkey steals from the rich and gives to the poor, making the governor of a region look foolish and take excessive action to bring him to justice.

Hong Kong cinema during the early 1990s was going through a transition; many of its stars and directors were being lured away by Hollywood. While Yuen Woo-ping took his talents working as an action choreographer on The Matrix and Kill Bill, he never directed a film in Hollywood like most of his contemporaries. Throughout his career, Yuen Woo-ping directed several significant films in the careers of actors who would later achieve stardom, Jackie Chan (Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Drunken Master); Sammo Hung Kam-bo (The Magnificent Butcher); and Donnie Yen, an actor he worked with four times before his breakout film Iron Monkey.

Iron Monkey is a period-set martial arts film that draws inspiration from Chinese and English folklore. The premise, a Robin Hood-like scenario in which a masked hero character and his accomplice take on a corrupt injustice system, is superbly realized. The narrative, which is a perfect balance of exposition and action, moves at a breakneck momentum that effectively builds to an exemplary action set-piece finale where all wrongs are righted.

All around, the performances are excellent. While Iron Monkey gives Donnie Yen a role that showcases his abilities to the fullest, the most memorable performance is Angela Tsang Sze-Man in the role of Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial artist and folk hero. Making her film debut in such an iconic role, she more than holds her own and delivers when it comes to her acrobatic fight sequences. Other performances of note are Yu Rong-guang (Taxi Hunter), who portrays Yang Tianchun, aka Iron Monkey, and James Wong (Tiger on the Beat) in the role of a corrupt governor named Cheng Pak-Fong.

While the premise and narrative are perfectly executed, when discussing martial arts films, the main draw is their action set pieces. It's not surprising that the action set pieces often exceed expectations, since Yuen Woo-ping is someone whose action choreography is inventive and features movements that one did not know were possible. There are several memorable action set pieces; the most notable are the scene that introduces Iron Monkey, a scene where Wong Fei-hung quickly dispenses with a gang of grown men trying to teach him a lesson, and a jaw-dropping finale that takes place on poles as fire rages on the ground below. Ultimately, Iron Monkey is a high-water mark of 1990s Hong Kong cinema, making it a must-see for fans of classic martial arts cinema.

Iron Monkey gets an excellent release from Shout! Factory that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1983
Director: Tsui Hark
Writers: Shui Chung-yuet, Sze-to Cheuk-hon
Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Yuen Biao, Brigitte Lin, Adam Cheng, Moon Lee, Judy Ongg

Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.98

"An army deserter (Yuen Biao) is chased by vampires in the mountains of Zu. He is rescued by a master (Adam Cheung) and becomes his devoted pupil. But when they are ambushed by the Blood Devil, the pair find themselves in need of the assistance of a devil chaser (Damian Lau) and his pupil (Mang Hoi). With the additional help of Master Chang Mei (Sammo Hung), they manage to hold off the Blood Devil…but they will need to find the Dual Swords to destroy it!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original film elements."

Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 26.1 GB (Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain), 8.7 GB (Zu: Time Warrior)

For this release Shout! Factory uses the same source that Eureka Video used for their 2020 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. That said, there is a dip in quality with moments that are special effects-heavy.

Audio: 4.5/5 (All Audio Tracks)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, and a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. All of the tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced and range-wise robust when they should. Included are English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and English SDH for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), alternate opening credits (2 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese, no English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Mang Hoi (18 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Moon Lee (21 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yuen Biao (12 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Tsui Hark (61 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival select scene audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns, an interview with academic Lin Feng titled New the Majesty and Magic of a Hong Kong Milestone (17 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with author and academic Victor Fan titled New Riding a New Wave (27 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with visual effects consultant Peter Kuran titled New from West to East (21 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po and film critic Sean Tierney, and Zu: Time Warrior, an alternate export cut produced for European theaters (97 minutes 16 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Tsui Hark directed Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain. He’s known for Don't Play with Fire (aka Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind), Shanghai Blues, Peking Opera Blues, Once Upon a Time in China, The Banquet, Twin Dragons, and Time and Tide. Besides directing, he’s also produced these notable films: A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II, A Chinese Ghost Story, The Killer, Iron Monkey, Burning Paradise, and Black Mask.

During a civil war, a Chinese warrior flees the battlefield and becomes entangled in a battle of good versus evil.

The reason foreign cinema does not connect with audiences abroad is that many cultural elements are lost in translation. A significant example of how audiences interpret humor that’s derived from dialogue when they are not familiar with cultural elements. That said, another genre whose elements far too often get lost in translation is fantasy films.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a film firmly rooted in Xianxia, a genre heavily influenced by Chinese mythology. While it has many elements that are in common with Wuxia, if you’re not familiar with Chinese mythology, there are some things that might not translate well. While Western audiences may be familiar with fantasy cinema, Chinese fantasy films are in a realm all their own.

Without a doubt, Zu Warriors from Magic Mountain’s action set pieces are its greatest asset. The action set pieces are inventive, explosive, and highly entertaining. Another strength of Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is its cast of colorful heroes and villains. That said, while special effects have made significant advancements since Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, there is something oddly endearing about how they are employed in this film.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain features a solid cast that’s headlined by Biao Yuen (On the Run) in the role of Ti Ming-Chi, a soldier who finds himself on a fantastical journey where the forces of evil are being held at bay by the forces of good; Hoi Mang (Pedicab Driver) in the role of a monk’s disciple named Yi Zhen; and Moon Lee (Devil Hunters) in the role of Mu Sang, one of the ice queen’s guards.

Other notable cast members include Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (The Magnificent Butcher) and Brigitte Lin (The Bride with White Hair). Sammo Kam-Bo Hung is cast in two roles: a Red Army soldier and an ancient priest named Chang Mei, who uses his ‘long brows’ to restrain his opponents. Brigitte Lin portrays the Ice Queen, a character who has magical powers that can save the gravely wounded.

Tsui Hark's first three films, known collectively as the Chaos Trilogy, are known for subversive content and rejection of traditional Hong Kong cinema filmmaking. His films since then have become more commercially minded. While Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain was not a success at the box office, it's a significant film in Tsui Hark’s evolution as a filmmaker, and over the years it's gained a considerable following. His direction is solid and there is a kinetic energy throughout that ensures there’s never a dull moment. Ultimately, Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a visual extravaganza that fans of Xianxia cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Shout! Factory gives Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain a solid release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer