The Flag of Iron – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1980
Director: Chang Cheh
Writers: Chang Cheh, Kuang Ni
Cast: Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok, Sheng Chiang, Li Wang, Feng Lu, Tien-Hsiang Lung, Hsiu-Chun Lin, Feng Kuan

Release Date: February 8th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 113 Minutes 13 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: $29.95

"When the master of the Iron Flag clan is killed by a mysterious assassin known only as Spearman, it sets off an explosive chain of events which pits two brothers against each other in an action-packed adventure of fist flying fury." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

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

The Flag of Iron comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.1 GB

Feature: 32.8 GB

The source used for this transfer looks clean and it is in great shape. Colors look good, the image looks crisp, and black levels fare well.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

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 are in great shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, action sequences sound robust. That said, the English language track feels confined when compared to the Mandarin language track. 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 an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, a limited edition slipcover and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Red and Black Attack written by Andrew Graves.

Summary:

The Flag of Iron is one of nineteen films that are connected to a collective group of actors named the Venom Mob. Besides actors, the other main contributor to these films is director Chang Cheh, who directed eighteen of the nineteen films.

What starts off as a story about rival clans quickly turns into a tale about betrayal and revenge. Where most similar themed martial arts films are about vengeance against an enemy, The Flag of Iron is a story about an enemy from within whose betrayal sets in motion the revenge.

Though The Flag of Iron is an action-heavy narrative, The majority of action sequences are actually brief. With the longest and best fight sequence being the finale, Also, most of the fight sequences revolve around ten assassins who each have their own unique weapon and way of killing.

Though the narrative is at times lacking, this is easily overlooked because the action sequences are the main attraction. The cast are all very good in their respective roles, especially Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok (Five Deadly Venoms) in the role of "Iron Panther" Lo Hsin, a member of the Iron Flag clan who goes into hiding after the death of his master. Ultimately, The Flag of Iron is a solid martial arts film that has all the elements that are synonymous with the cinema of Chang Cheh.

The Flag of Iron gets a good release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer