Kid From Kwang Tung – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1982
Director: Hsia Hsu
Writer: Keith Li
Cast: Wong Yu, Yuen Tak, Chiang Kam, Yeung Pan-Pan, Kwan Hoi-San, Yen Shi-Kwan, Hwang Jeong-Ri, Ku Kuan-Chung, Lau Kar-Yung

Release Date: October 28th, 2024 (UK), November 12th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 53 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"after an evil martial arts master (played by the very great Hwang Jang-li (Snake in the Eagle's Shadow) kills their own teacher, Wong Yu (The Shadow Boxing) and Chiang Kam (The Young Master) realize that they're next. But can the squabbling duo put their differences aside long enough to defeat him?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "HD transfer from the original negative".

Kid From Kwang Tung comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.7 GB

Feature: 25 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. 

Audio: 4/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and an LPCM mono mix in English. The differences between these two audio tracks are minor; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise they sound very good. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a trailer (1 minute 13 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, 4 collector’s art cards (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

When an evil master of the arts kills their teacher, two students put aside their differences in their quest to avenge their murdered teacher.

By the mid-1980s, the Shaw Brothers output had slowed down considerably. Content wise, Kid From Kwang Tung is typical of Shaw Brothers films from the 1980s. During this era, there was a shift to humor in martial arts cinema. This brings us to Kid From Kwang Tung, a film filled with mischievous characters in which humor plays a significant role.

Kid From Kwang Tung is a tale about revenge and redemption. Characters at odds with each other must work together and eliminate the man who killed their master before he kills them. Over the course of the narrative, the two students at odds revolve their differences and become a formidable force.

When it comes to the performances, they suit the story that unfolds well. The most memorable performance is Wong Yue (He Has Nothing But Kung Fu), who portrays one of the two mischievous students. His comedic timing is pitch-perfect, and when it comes to action sequences, he more than holds his own.

Besides humor, another popular 1980s element that Kid From Kwang Tung features is Jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampire). Despite bringing nothing new to the table, the result is a film that is always entertaining and never boring. Another asset is its briskly paced narrative, which culminates with a knockdown, drag-out finale. Ultimately, Kid From Kwang Tung is a highly entertaining film that effectively mixes comedy, action, and horror.

Kid From Kwang Tung gets a strong audio/video presentation from 88 Films, recommended despite its lack of contextual extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer