The Shaolin Plot: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1977
Director: Feng Huang
Writers: Feng Huang, Kuang Ni
Cast: Sing Chen, Ho Wang, James Tien, Shan Kwan, Hsieh Wang, Kang Chin, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Mars, Yuen Biao

Release Date: February 13th, 2023
Approximate running time: 109 Minutes 49 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Prince Daglen (Sing) is hellbent on completing his comprehensive collection of Chinese martial arts manuals and mastering each form against his opponents. With only two manuals left to obtain, he sends his most dangerous henchman, a renegade monk (Hung) armed with two golden cymbals acting as flying guillotines, to steal the manual of Wu-Tang. To steal the sacred texts of Shaolin, however, the wicked Daglen will have to infiltrate the temple himself. The stage is set for a clash between Daglen, his cronies and surviving Wu-Tang student Little Tiger (James Tien, The Big Boss), alongside a lethal duo of Shaolin warrior monks (Casanova Wong, Warriors Two and Kwan Yung Moon, My Young Auntie)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K restoration from the original film elements by Fortune Star."

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

Disc Size: 34.8 GB

Feature: 32.3 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Image clarity is very good, colors look correct, and black levels are strong. The source used for this transfer is comparable to Eureka Video’s transfer for their Blu-ray release.

Audio: 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono Mandarin), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. Though the Mandarin language track has some minor issues related to background hiss, dialog always comes through clearly, and range-wise, things sound robust when they should. The English language track is clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should be. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track, a second removable English subtitle track for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track, and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (36 images - stills/lobby cards/posters/other promotional materials), a Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), a export theatrical trailer (2 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), alternate English language credits (2 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an audio commentary with martial arts film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to first pressing), a double-sided fold-out poster (limited to first pressing), and a booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay written by Peter Glagowski, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

The Shaolin Plot was co-written and directed by Feng Huang, whose notable films include Lady Whirlwind, Hapkido, and When Taekwondo Strikes.

Shaolin themed films were one of the more popular scenarios in 1970’s martial arts cinema. And though Shaolin plays a role in the story at hand, the main attraction of The Shaolin Plot is its villain, Manchu Prince Dagulen, who’s superbly portrayed by Sing Chen (The Heroic Ones). Not only does he throw himself fully into his character's diabolical persona, he also excels when it comes to fight sequences.

The Shaolin Plot is also known for being one of the first films that gave Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (Knockabout) a substantial role. In The Shaolin Plot, he portrays a Tibetan monk assassin whose weapons of choice are two golden cymbals, which he throws like boomerangs. This character, like many characters he’s portrayed, looks ridiculous. This character has a noticeable bald spot and equally silly-looking facial hair.

From a production standpoint, The Shaolin Plot is a finely tuned action extravaganza where the narrative often takes a backseat. Fortunately, when it comes to the action set pieces, they deliver and then some. And though the overall tone is very dark, when humor does occur, it is well-executed. Ultimately, The Shaolin Plot is a solid martial arts film that fans of 1970’s martial arts cinema are sure to enjoy.

The Shaolin Plot gets a first-rate release from Arrow Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative audio commentaries, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer