The Killer Meteors: Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong/Taiwan, 1976
Director: Lo Wei
Writer: Ku Lung
Cast: Jackie Chan, Jimmy Wang Yu, Chu Feng, Lan Yu-Li

Release Date: June 6th, 2022
Approximate running time: 104 Minutes 25 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"Known as “Killer Meteors”, local hero Mei Xing He (Jimmy Wang Yu) is invincible due to his ‘secret weapon’. However, when his services are sought by another powerful figure, Hua Wu Bin (Jackie Chan), he finds himself drawn into the deadliest challenge of his life." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "2K Transfer from Original Film Materials."

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

Disc Size: 36.7 GB

Feature: 34 GB

Though the source used for this transfer looks very good, any source debris has been cleaned up. There are moments where the image looks soft and times where the black levels are not convincing. Colors and flesh tones look correct, and compression is very good. Also, there appears to be some digital noise reduction, which fortunately is never too overbearing.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with four audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English, and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. All four audio mixes sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, the two 5.1 tracks are comparable. Though the 5.1 tracks sound good for remix tracks, the two mono tracks are a better overall experience. The English mono track has some faint background hiss. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language tracks and a second removable English subtitle track for Mandarin text.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Kung Fu experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout Poster (limited to 3,000 copies), a gloss O-ring slipcase (limited to 3,000 copies), and a 32-page booklet with an essay titled When Jackie Chan Goes Bad: Rumble in Hong Kong and The Killer Meteors written by Matthew Edwards, and rare archive stills and posters.

Summary:

The Killer Meteors was directed by Lo Wei, who is most remembered for his collaborations with Bruce Lee, The Big Boss, and Fists of Fury. In 1976, Lo Wei cast Jackie Chan in the lead role for New Fists of Fury, the first of their six collaborations. when "New Fists of Fury" did not perform to expectations. Lo Wei would then cast Jackie Chan in their next collaboration, The Killer Meteors, in a supporting role and a rare villain role.

The narrative revolves around a local hero named Mei Xing He, aka Killer Meteors, who is constantly fending off other fighters who want to make a name for themselves. From there, he is hired by a man who has ulterior motives, which come to a head in the finale.

The main attraction of The Killer Meteors is its two leading men, Jimmy Wang Yu (One-Armed Boxer) in the role of Mei Xing He and Jackie Chan (Drunken Master) in the role of Hua Wu Bin. Though Jackie Chan’s screen time is limited, his character is in the two best fight scenes. Jimmy Wang Yu plays the hero with a deadly weapon that those who have seen did not live to tell the tale.

Though The Killer Meteors does a good job laying the foundation for the events that follow, Outside of a brief scuffle in the opening moments, it is almost twenty-five minutes before the first fight scene. To make matters worse, the narrative is convoluted, and there are pacing issues. Also, Lo Wei's direction is best described as serviceable. Ultimately, The Killer Meteors is a by-the-numbers martial arts film that would be forgotten if it were not for its two leads.

The Killer Meteors gets a strong release from 88 Films that comes with a good audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary.

Written by Michael Den Boer