Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1990
Director: Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-wing)
Writer: Kwok Chi Tsang
Cast: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Karl Maka, Ming Yan Lung, Wanda Yung, Chia-Yung Liu, Fung Woo, Carrie Ng, Tai-Bo, Kuang Ni, Ching-Ching Ng

Release Date: February 21st, 2022
Approximate running time: 104 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £23.99 (UK)

"Sammo Hung invokes the spirit of Bruce Lee in this high-energy action-tribute, playing a cop obsessed with the physical legacy of “The Little Dragon”.

Teaming up with the infamous “Skinny Tiger” (Karl Maka – the Aces Go Places series), Sammo becomes the larger ‘half’ of a luck-starved, crime fighting duo forced to fight a running battle against a crime syndicate of triad gangsters." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.7 GB

Feature: 32.7 GB

The source used for this transfer looks fantastic. Colors are nicely saturated, the image looks crisp, black levels are strong throughout and there are no issues with compression.

I Am the White Tiger comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.7 GB

Feature: 21.6 GB

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

This release comes with three audio options: a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. All three audio mixes are in great shape. The two mono mixes are comparable, and the 5.1 mix does a good job of expanding the mono source. Dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight sequences sound robust. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle tack for a song that’s in Cantonese on the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include International theatrical trailer (5 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an extended version of the climactic fight sequence from the Taiwanese version of the film (8 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor, stuntman, and action choreographer Ridley Tsui (19 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Lau Kar-wing (25 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio interview with stuntman and martial artist Mark Houghton (6 minutes 35 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist/actor Robert “Bobby” Samuels, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema, a limited-edition O-card slipcase (3000 copies) and a limited-edition booklet [3000 copies] with cast & crew information, an essay written by James Oliver and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Included with this release is a limited edition (3000 copies) Blu-ray disc that contains the documentary I Am the White Tiger (79 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

A buddy cop movie that pairs Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (The Magnificent Butcher) in the role of a detective named Fatty Dragon and Karl Maka (Aces Goes Places) in the role of a detective named Baldy (Skinny Tiger). These two characters often push the boundaries when it comes to following rules by roughing up suspects and fondling women who they think are men in disguise. Also, they often play the "good cop, bad cop" routine on suspects.

Though comedy played a large role in 1980’s martial arts cinema, there are not many 1980’s martial arts films that find the perfect balance between comedy and action set pieces like Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon. Also, what makes the humor in Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon work so well is that it's not just funny one-liners. With the action sequences featuring most of Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon’s funniest moments, notably a scene where Fatty Dragon and Baldy steal a gangster's car, who then pursues them in another car, and during the chase they trash his car.

The two leads, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung and Karl Maka, are the main attractions. They steal every sequence, especially the ones they are in together. Also, their onscreen chemistry is off the charts. Other notable cast members include Carrie Ng (Naked Killer) in the role of a gangster’s girlfriend, and Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-wing) makes an appearance as a villain.

From its opening moments, Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon establishes a fast-moving narrative that rarely gives you a moment to catch your breath. When characters are not saying silly things, the spectacular action sequences deliver and then some. Another highlight of the action sequences is Sammo Kam-Bo Hung’s impersonation of Bruce Lee. Ultimately, Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon is a highly entertaining martial arts film that fans of 1980’s martial arts comedies are sure to enjoy.

Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, a bonus documentary, and a wealth of extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer