The Lady Is the Boss – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1983
Director: Chia-Liang Liu (Lau Kar-Leung)
Writers: Chia-Liang Liu (Lau Kar-Leung), Li Tai Heng, Huang Pa Ching
Cast: Lau Kar Leung, Kara Hui, Chia-Hui Liu (Gordon Liu), Hsiao Ho, Robert Mak Tak-Law, David Cheung Chin-pang, Wong Yue, Johnny Wang Lung Wei 

Release Date: March 24th, 2025 (UK), March 25th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 7 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"A thoroughly Americanized young woman (Kara Hui, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter) returns to Hong Kong to visit the martial arts school founded by her father and shakes it up with some trendy new ideas. But not everyone is keen on her innovations, a lesson she'll have to learn the hard way.." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

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

The Lady Is the Boss comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27 GB

Feature: 23.2 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: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese 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 trailer (1 minute 13 seconds, LPCM stereo Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Sam Ho who discusses Lau Kar-leung (13 minutes 56 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, a double sided foldout poster (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Lau Kar-leung directed The Lady Is the Boss. He is also known for directing 38th Chamber of Shaolin, Heroes of the East, My Young Auntie, and Drunken Master II.

After a martial arts school is forced to move and reopen in a new location, its sick master, who now lives in San Francisco, sends his daughter to be in charge.

There are only so many scenarios, and martial arts cinema is known to recycle the best ones. If you get a feeling of déjà vu while watching The Lady Is the Boss, that is because it is a modern retelling of My Young Auntie; both of these films star Kara Hui. In both of these films, a woman character is in a leadership role in a male-dominated world, in which she ultimately proves she’s their equal. The other main theme that runs throughout The Lady Is the Boss is old versus modern techniques when teaching martial arts.

Comedy has long been a staple of martial arts cinema, and in The Lady Is the Boss it plays a significant role. Some of the humor comes from the protagonist's westernized upbringing, while most of it comes from characters just goofing off. The most memorable moment related to humor is a scene where five students are learning from their teacher, while the protagonist's silhouette can be seen through a door. The seductiveness of her movements makes the five students fall over themselves, and her silhouette makes it look like she’s nude.

All around, the cast is excellent, especially Kara Hui (Mad Monkey Kung Fu), who portrays the lady boss, and Lau Kar Leung (who also directs), who portrays the teacher who is set in old traditions and does not like change. There are several recognizable faces in the cast; the most notable is Gordon Liu (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), who portrays one of the students. Though his character has hair (which looks like a ridiculous wig), later on he’s sporting his more familiar bald look.

Everything about The Lady Is the Boss screams 1980s: the fashion, its synth score, and BMX-like bike riding, which are used in its standout action sequence. When it comes to stunt work and action sequences, this is an area where things always over deliver. The other standout action sequence is the finale, where gymnastics equipment is used during the fights. Ultimately, The Lady Is the Boss is a well-made martial arts film that never fails to entertain.

The Lady Is the Boss gets a solid release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer