The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1975
Director: Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-leung)
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Wong Yue, Chia-Hui Liu (Gordon Liu), Cecilia Wong, Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-Wing), Lee Hoi-Sang, Norman Chu, Wilson Tong 

Release Date: September 9th, 2024 (UK), September 10th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 101 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"a pair of very special undertakers who transport dead bodies by magical means. But their latest trip is proving tricky; it’s bad enough that a strong-willed young woman has invited herself along for the ride but, even more awkwardly, one of the corpses might not actually be dead..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "HD Transfer From the Original Negative".

The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 25.8 GB

Feature: 25.3 GB

The source is in excellent shape; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in background, a theatrical trailer (1 minute 6 seconds, LPCM mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles),  reversible cover art, 4 collectable art cards (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Lau Kar-leung directed The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2). He is also known for directing 38th Chamber of Shaolin, Heroes of the East, My Young Auntie, and Drunken Master II.

The narrative revolves around two corpse herders transporting a fugitive hidden among a group of vampires.

The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) is a family affair, bringing together brothers Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-Wing) and Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-leung) and the godson of their parents, Chia-Hui Liu (Gordon Liu). Besides directing, Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-leung) also choreographed the fight sequences. Though they share lead actor and director, The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) and The Spiritual Boxer are not sequels.

The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) is seen as a precursor to films like Encounters of the Spooky Kind and Mr. Vampire. All of these films feature Jiangshi, a reanimated corpse, aka a Chinese hopping vampire. The earliest example of Jiangshi is Midnight Vampire, a film from 1936.

By the latter half of the 1970s, humor was becoming more prevalent in martial arts cinema. Though there were straight-up action films that effectively used humor, it is the combination of humor, horror, and action that hit a sweet spot for most audiences. Case in point: The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) is a film that finds a perfect balance between humor, horror, and action.

The performances are what make The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) work as well as it does. The cast are all great in the roles, especially Wong Yue's (He Has Nothing But Kung Fu) portrayal of the protagonist, an apprentice corpse herder. Chia-Yung Liu’s (Lau Kar-Wing) portrayal of the protagonist Sifu and Chia-Hui Liu’s (Gordon Liu) portrayal of the fugitive who disguises himself as a Jiangshi—these are two other performances of note.

From a production standpoint, The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) is a film that delivers and then some. The well-executed narrative does a superb job building momentum, and the phenomenal action sequences are in line with what we expect from Chia-Yung Liu (Lau Kar-leung). Not to be overlooked is how effectively The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) uses humor, notably when it comes to characters interacting with Jiangshi. Ultimately, The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) is a highly entertaining supernatural martial arts film that's a must see if you're a fan of the Liu’s.

The Shadow Boxing (aka The Spiritual Boxer: Part 2) gets a strong audio/video presentation from 88 Films, recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer