The Chinese Boxer – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1970
Director: Jimmy Wang Yu
Writer: Jimmy Wang Yu
Cast: Jimmy Wang Yu, Lieh Lo, Ping Wang, Hsiung Chao, Mien Fang, Lei Cheng, Sing Chen, Li Tung, Kuang Yu Wang, No Tsai, Chung Wang, Ling Chiang

Release Date: November 8th, 2021 (UK), November 9th, 2021 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 52 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $29.95 (USA)

"When his martial arts school is viciously attacked by a rival gang of Japanese thugs, Lei Ming swears to bring them down with violent justice." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “HD master from the original 35mm negatives.” 

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

Disc Size: 36.4 GB

Feature: 26.3 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. There’s no debris or other source-related damage. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, and black levels fare well. That said, this transfer is on par with 88 Films' other Shaw Brothers transfers.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, the fight sequences sound robust. Included with this release are two subtitle options: English for the Mandarin language track and a second English subtitle track for Mandarin text and signs.

Extras:

Extras for this release include US TV spot (31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), English trailer (3 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong trailer (4 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt in English and Cantonese subtitles), US ‘Hammer of God’ trailer (2 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Wong Ching titled Wong Ching at Shaw (13 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with David West titled Open Hand Combat (17 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic and author Samm Deighan, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, a limited edition slipcover and a twenty-four page booklet with an essay titled Hong Kong’s Famous Fight Life written by Andrew Graves. 

Summary:

Like all genres that catch fire, martial arts cinema quickly reached a point of oversaturation. Fortunately, no matter how oversaturated a genre gets, really good films always rise to the top. Case in point The Chinese Boxer, a landmark martial arts film that foreshadows many elements that Bruce Lee would expand upon.

Before The Chinese Boxer, weapons played a large role in martial arts films' fight sequences. And though the Chinese Boxer features weapons in its fight sequences, What sets it apart from martial arts films that preceded it, is The Chinese Boxer’s use of hand to hand combat.

Jimmy Wang Yu (One-Armed Swordsman) is the creative force behind The Chinese Boxer. Besides acting in the role of the protagonist, he also wrote the screenplay and directed the film. Jimmy Wang Yu has a strong onscreen presence that dominates every moment he’s in.

The narrative features two common Martial Arts tropes, a student avenging his murdered master and Chinese Kung Fu versus Japanese Judo. Other Martial Arts tropes include the use of music from another film (in this case music from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) and a character with a specialty fighting style, “Iron Fists”.

From its opening moments, The Chinese Boxer does a great job of balancing exposition moments and fight sequences. Pacing is never an issue, and an explosive finale provides the perfect coda. The fight sequences are well-executed and inventive. Also, the fight sequences are a good mix of hand-to-hand and weapons. Ultimately, The Chinese Boxer is a must-see film if you’re a fan of martial arts cinema.

The Chinese Boxer gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer