The Bodyguard from Beijing – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1994
Director: Corey Yuen
Writers: Chan Kin-chung, Gordon Chan
Cast: Jet Li, Christy Chung, Kent Cheng, Sing Ngai, Joey Leung

Release Date: August 26th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"Jet Li stars as Allan Hui Ching-Yeung, a top Chinese bodyguard hired to protect Michelle Yeung, the girlfriend of a wealthy businessman who witnessed a brutal murder. As relentless assassins close in, Allan uses his exceptional martial arts skills and tactical expertise to keep her safe. The assignment turns personal as he forms a bond with Michelle, all while navigating a deadly game of cat and mouse." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K Remaster from the original negatives".

The Bodyguard from Beijing comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 84.5 GB

Feature: 65.5 GB

The source looks excellent; it's a massive upgrade over this film's previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, color saturation is perfect, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

The Bodyguard from Beijing comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.4 GB

Feature: 25.7 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 5/5

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

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Gordon Chan (38 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Cantonese with burnt-in English subtitles for Cantonese), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Gordon Chan (38 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Cantonese with burnt-in English subtitles for Cantonese), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng.

Other extras include reversible cover art, A3 fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), a silver-board O-ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled The Hero from China Jet Li in Contemporary Hong Kong written by Tom Cunliffe, an essay titled The Case for Corey Yuen Gun For Hire or Genre Pioneer? written by David West, and archival images.

Summary:

Cory Yuen directed The Bodyguard from Beijing. He is also known for making the films Yes, Madam, Righting Wrongs, My Father is a Hero, So Close, and The Transporter.

An elite bodyguard sent from Beijing protects a woman who has witnessed a murder in Hong Kong.

Despite Hong Kong cinema having a history of taking elements from Hollywood films, it’s clear this is not the case with The Bodyguard from Beijing. Any similarities that The Bodyguard from Beijing shares with Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard are superficial. That said, these two films' only real link is the male protagonist’s similar background working for the government as a ‘bodyguard’.

When it comes to the films of Corey Yuen, something you can always count on are exceptional action sequences. And The Bodyguard from Beijing opens with a phenomenal sequence where Jet Li’s character Allan Hui Ching-Yeung is forced to quickly improvise a safe escape for the man he’s protecting. This sequence does a superb job laying the groundwork for what follows by showcasing Allan Hui Ching-Yeung’s skills as a bodyguard.

Though the action is front and center in The Bodyguard from Beijing, it is more Gun Fu than hand-to-hand martial arts. Also, there are many action sequences where a hellfire of bullets contribute to a ridiculously large body count. For a film where each new action set piece somehow tops the last, it saves its best for a 17-minute finale that is arguably one of Cory Yuen’s finest moments as a director.

Despite all of the characters being caricatures, performance-wise, all of the cast are great, especially Christy Chung (Love on Delivery), who portrays Michelle Yeung, the woman who needs protection. Though there are many tense moments in The Bodyguard from Beijing, the main tension comes from Allan and Michelle’s combative interactions. Another performance of note is Kent Cheng’s (Dr. Lamb) portrayal of a Hong Kong police officer nicknamed ‘Fat Po’. This character provides most of the comic relief.

Despite being action-heavy, The Bodyguard from Beijing devotes a sufficient amount of time to backstory. Momentum is never an issue as things move along at a brisk pace. The most surprising aspect of The Bodyguard from Beijing is the visuals; especially the scene where Michelle finally reveals her feelings for Allan. This is a beautifully photographed moment of seduction. Ultimately, The Bodyguard from Beijing is an exemplary action film whose bittersweet finale lingers on in your mind.

The Bodyguard from Beijing gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly 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

Tai Chi Master – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writer: Kim Yip
Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Chin Siu-ho, Fennie Yuen, Yuen Cheung-yan, Lau Shun

Release Date: October 10th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 40 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"Jet Li stars in this thrilling martial arts epic about two childhood friends falsely accused of cheating and expelled from their Shaolin Temple. As they grow up, their paths diverge, with one embracing the peaceful teachings of Tai Chi and the other seeking power and joining the military. Set against the backdrop of a civil war, their friendship deteriorates into betrayal, leading to a climactic showdown between the two." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K Remaster from the original negatives".

Tai Chi Master comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 78.5 GB

Feature: 70.5 GB

The source looks excellent; it's a massive upgrade over this film's previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, color saturation is perfect, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Tai Chi Master comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41 GB

Feature: 25.8 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 5/5

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

Extras:

There are no extras on the 4K UHD disc.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), export opening credits (2 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in English), an archival interview titled Twin Warriors with director Brett Ratner and film critic Elvis Mitchell who discuss Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh (14 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled The Birthplace of Tai Chi: On Location in Chen Village (14 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Mandarin with removable English subtitles for Mandarin), and an interview with actor Chin Siu-Ho titled Nemesis (20 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles). 

Other extras include reversible cover art, a double sided poster (limited to the first pressing), a slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled A Tai Chi Masterwork written by Tom Cunliffe, an essay titled The Return of Shaolin Temple’s Prodigal Son: How Tai Chi Master Established Jet Li as a 90’s Action Icon written by Paul Bramhall, and archival images.

Summary:

Yuen Woo-Ping directed Tai Chi Master. He is also known for directing films such as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Iron Monkey. Tai-chi Master was released in North America under the alternate title Twin Warriors.

Two childhood friends were forced to leave a Shaolin temple after one of them offended an elder. Now, on their own, they struggle to make a living. And when one of them accepts an offer to join the government's military, this puts a strain on their once inseparable bond.

At the heart of Tai Chi Master is a story about two inseparable friends, Junbao and Chin Bo, who grew up in a Shaolin temple. Though they were inseparable, after being expelled from the shaolin temple, Chin Bo became an evil governor’s henchman, which caused a rift between the two friends. The narrative's main conflict arises from the two friends who are now on opposite sides. That said, the narrative does an excellent job setting everything up and establishing who all the main players are.

Though there is a familiarity to the story at hand, these similarities are easy to look past because of extraordinary fight scenes and exceptional performances from the entire cast, with the most surprising performance coming from Jet Li (Once Upon a Time in China). The scenes in which his character Junbao tries to deal with the betrayal of his friend Chin Bo are some of the strongest of his career.

Besides Jet Li, another performance of note is Michelle Yeoh (Yes! Madam), who portrays Siu Lin, a woman whose husband left her for another woman. In a film where every fight scene leaves a lasting impression, Michelle Yeoh’s character has the most memorable introduction. In this scene, a drunken Siu Lin confronts the woman who steals her husband, and a fight breaks out. This scene is an exceptional example of Michelle Yeoh’s martial arts prowess, in which her character uses her surroundings.

Not only is Yuen Woo-Ping the director, he was also a fight and stunt coordinator, two areas in which he’s world-renowned. When other students surround Junbao and Chin Bo at the Shaolin temple, this is a notable action set piece early in the film. In this sequence, the students stand on top of each other holding poles. In many fight scenes, the characters find themselves outnumbered. The finale provides the most impressive fight sequence: Junbao and Chin Bo fight on a net with spiked poles below them.

Though the action sequences overshadow everything else, one must not undervalue the use of humor in Tai Chi Master. That said, a lot of comic relief comes at the expense of Yuen Cheung-yan’s character, who in one scene pretends he’s dead. Ultimately, Tai Chi Master is an exceptional martial arts film, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.

Tai Chi Master gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

                                                            Blu-ray Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman/The Warrior and the Ninja – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Indonesia, 1983 (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), Indonesia, 1985 (The Warrior and the Ninja)
Directors: Dasri Yacob (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), H. Tjut Djalil (The Warrior and the Ninja)
Cast: Barry Prima, Advent Bangun, Gudi Sintara, W.D. Mochtar, Syamsuddin Syafei, Gino Makasutji (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), Barry Prima, El Manik, Rita Zahara, Syamsuri Kaempuan, Tizar Purbaya, Piet Pagau, Zurmaini, Syamsuddin Syafei (The Warrior and the Ninja)

Release Date: November 12th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 92 Minutes 36 Seconds (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), 98 Minutes 37 Seconds (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Indonesian, DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman: "In this explosive sequel to The Warrior, Jaka Sembung is back, organizing resistance to the Dutch colonialist army in West Java and spreading the message of rebellion throughout the land. The Dutch commander organizes a martial arts tournament to select the best warrior to defeat Jaka Sembung. The winner is Si Buta, a mysterious blind swordsman from a place Called Devil’s Mountain. For a chest full of gold coins, Sin Buta returns with Jaka Sembungs’s decapitated head. However, things are not quite what they seem and they become even more complicated when a seductive sorceress, Dewi Magi, sets her sights on the blind swordsman and demands Jaka Sembung as her sex slave. The Dutch send in their heavily armed troops and an apocalyptic battle ensues, filled with magic, mayhem and mystical martial arts." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Warrior and the Ninja: "In this final entry in Rapi Films’ Warrior Trilogy, Jaka Sembung teams up with a female freedom fighter known as The Black Squirrel. The film opens with a spectacular volcanic explosion and from there on the tension never lets up. Numerous high energy scenes of brutal martial arts are interspersed with sustained action, gore, and outrageous special effects sequences. This may well be the most action packed of all the films in the series and is directed by Mystics in Bali helmer H. Tjut Djalil. Jaka Sembung comes up against one of his most fearsome opponents in the seemingly invincible, iron skinned Balung Wesi. The film features one of the most over the top scenes in the entire trilogy when one of the villains has her face ripped off by the Black Squirrel." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), 3.5/5 (The Warrior and the Ninja)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "HD transfer from the original negative".

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman and The Warrior and the Ninja come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.6 GB

Feature: 21.5 GB (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman), 23.2 (The Warrior and the Ninja)

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman: The source is in great shape; any imperfections are minor. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels fare well.

The Warrior and the Ninja has the weakest source out of these two films; darker moments lack clarity, and black levels are not convincing.

Audio: 4.25/5 (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman - DTS-HD Mono Indonesian), 4/5 (The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman - DTS-HD Mono English), 3.5/5 (The Warrior and the Ninja - Both Audio Tracks)

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear and balanced. That said, the Indonesian language track sounds fuller than the English audio track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track.

The Warrior and the Ninja comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The audio tracks sound satisfactory range-wise, but at times their dialog is muffled and they seem confined. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release are limited to a 10-page booklet with an essay titled The Significance of Jaka Sembung written by Ekky Imanjaya.

Summary:

The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman: The oppressive Dutch occupiers hold a tournament to find the fighter who can eliminate Jaka Sembung.

Whenever a film is successful, it won’t be long before a sequel happens. And though The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman literally pick up where their predecessor left off, the result is a film that feels more like a rehash than a sequel; there are several moments that feel like Deja Vu. That said, when it comes to carnage, this is one area where The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman bests its predecessor.

The best part of The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman is Barry Prima, who reprises the role of Jaka Sembung. With The Warrior under his belt, he’s even more comfortable in the role; his performance is overflowing with enthusiasm. Another performance of note is Advent Bangun’s portrayal of a blind swordsman.

From a production standpoint, it is obvious that The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman has even fewer resources than its predecessor. It is a film that is light on plot and heavy on action; fortunately, pacing is never an issue. Ultimately, The Warrior set the bar so high that The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman feel like a letdown that retreads familiar ground.

The Warrior and the Ninja: Jaka Sembung joins forces with a Robin Hood-like ninja in his fighter against the oppressive Dutch occupiers.

H. Tjut Djalil directed The Warrior and the Ninja. He is also known for directing Mystics in Bali, Lady Terminator, and Dangerous Seductress.

Where the first two films were similar, in this third installment there is some new blood thrown into the mix. The Ninja character Black Squirrel takes the lead this time, with Jaka Sembung having less screen time as the focal point is shifted. That said, no matter which of these characters are on screen, The Warrior and the Ninja is an improvement in every way over The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman.

From a production standpoint, despite its shortcomings, The Warrior and the Ninja succeeds because of its two lead performances. And though it has the most anemic narrative of these three films, its non-stop action sequences ensure there is never a dull moment. Also, besides well-executed action sequences, the ample amount of gory carnage is another area where The Warrior and the Ninja stands out. Ultimately, The Warrior and the Ninja is a positive move in the right direction after The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman.

Mondo Macabro gives The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman and The Warrior and the Ninja their best audio/video presentations to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Warrior – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Indonesia, 1981
Director: Sisworo Gautama Putra
Cast: Barry Prima, W.D. Mochtar, Dana Christina, Eva Arnaz, Dorman Borisman, Rukman Herman, H.I.M. Damsyik, S. Parya, S. Suryabrata

Release Date: November 12th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 91 Minutes 36 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Indonesian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Witchcraft and black magic versus mystical martial arts! This outrageously entertaining fantasy flick stars Indonesian action hero Barry Prima. He plays Jaka Sembung a kind of Robin Hood figure who possesses mystical powers. As a leader of his country’s rebellion against the oppressive Dutch colonialists, Jaka Sembung is captured, tortured and left for dead. But he returns, even more powerful than before. In desperation the invaders resurrect an evil wizard and set him against Jaka Sembung in a fierce fight to the death." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this transfer, "HD transfer from the original negative".

The Warrior comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.4 GB

Feature: 28.2 GB

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, the English-language track sounds more robust than the Indonesian audio track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include theatrical trailers for The Warrior (4 minutes 15 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman (2 minutes 56 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles) and The Warrior and the Ninja (3 minutes 21 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with screenwriter Imam Tantowi (9 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Indonesian with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with producer Gope Samtani (11 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with SFX maestro EL Badrun (22 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Indonesian with removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Joko Anwar (37 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an interview with Imam Tantowi (21 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Indonesian with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

When word spreads about an impending revolt, the Dutch occupiers set their sights on eliminating the leader of the rebellion, Jaka Sembung, once and for all.

Sisworo Gautama Putra directed The Warrior. He is also known for making Primitives, Satan's Slave, Sundelbolong, and The Hungry Snake Woman.

With only one film under his belt, The Warrior would make Barry Prima a star who would rule 1980s Indonesian action cinema. The Warrior would also reteam Barry Prima with director Sisworo Gautama Putra; they had already worked together on Primitives. Barry Prima would portray Jaka Sembung in four films: The Warrior, The Warrior and the Blind Swordsman, The Warrior and the Ninja, and Jaka Sembung and the Ocean Goddess.

The Warrior is a melting pot of the outlandish and the bizarre. Body parts are dismembered and reattached with ease, eyes are gouged, the dead are raised, and in one scene the protagonist is transformed into a pig. An ample amount of bloody carnage is present, and the fight sequences are ridiculously exaggerated.

The main attraction is Barry Prima in the role of Jaka Sembung, a Christ-like character who refuses to bend to Dutch occupiers. He delivers a solid performance that more than fulfills the role of the hero; is it not surprising that out of all the characters he’s portrayed, Jaka Sembung is the one he’s most identified with. Also, the deliriously over-the-top bad guys should not be overlooked when discussing the performances.

The Warrior, like all Indonesian cinema from this era, is not known for its polished production values, and yet it is a film that succeeds despite its shortcomings. And though the bloody moments of carnage far outnumber moments of exposition, this does not affect pacing in any way as things move along briskly. Ultimately, The Warrior is a satisfying mix of carnage, action, and mayhem that often exceeds expectations.

The Warrior gets an exceptional release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer