Saga of the Phoenix: Deluxe Collectors Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1989
Directors: Lam Ngai Choi, Lau Sze-Yue
Writers: Chan Sau-Ling, Wong Chui-Wa, Leung Yiu-Ming
Cast: Yuen Biao, Gloria Yip, Hiroshi Abe, Loletta Lee, Lau Sek-Yin, Shintarô Katsu

Release Date: December 15th, 2025 (UK), December 16th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 8 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £25.00 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"When an ancient evil stirs once more, monks Peacock (Yuen Biao) and Lucky Fruit (Hiroshi Mikami) are called back into action to confront a new supernatural threat. This time their quest draws them to Hong Kong, where they must protect the innocent and face an unholy alliance of demons and dark sorcery. Alongside them is Ashura (Gloria Yip), still torn between her human heart and her fated link to the underworld, as her powers become the key to either salvation or destruction." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-Ray Presentation in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio".

Saga of the Phoenix comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37 GB

Feature: 25.4 GB

Although this transfer is comparable to 88 Films' Peacock King release, there are a few times where it is not as strong. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music playing in the background (Japanese Press Book/Stills/Posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), alternate Japanese footage (11 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Albert Lee titled Saga of Golden Harvest - The International Connection, in which he discusses Golden Harvest’s strategy of distribution overseas (22 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with HK cinema experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, reversible cover art, a collectable postcard, an O-ring and rigid slipcase, and a 40-page perfect-bound book with cast & crew information, an essay titled From Panel to Screen: The Saga of Hong Kong’s Fascination with Japanese Manga written by Andrew Heskins, and an essay titled The Japanese Connection: Positioning Saga of the Phoenix in a Brief History of the Cultural and Cinematic Exchanges of Hong Kong and Japan written by David West.

Summary:

Peacock King was co-directed by Lam Ngai Choi, whose other notable films include The Seventh Curse, Her Vengeance, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky, Erotic Ghost Story, and The Cat. Peacock King is an adaptation of Makoto Ogino’s manga of the same name. Saga of the Phoenix is a sequel to Peacock King; both films were adapted from mangas written by Makoto Ogino.

Two Buddhist monks must protect Ashura, the Holy Maiden of Hell, to prevent the wrong hands from claiming her while she spends 7 days in the human realm.

Cinema has a long tradition of sequels, but subsequent films rarely surpass or even match their predecessor. Case in point: Saga of the Phoenix, a film that feels more like a rehash of Peacock King than its sequel. Another thing that sets Saga of the Phoenix apart from Peacock King is how its tone greatly differs.

Anyone familiar with the cinema of Lam Ngai Choi knows that most of his fantasy and horror films are very dark in tone. While he’s credited as co-director of Saga of the Phoenix, it just does not have the vibe one expects from him, and I suspect his involvement is mostly linked to the special effects moments and action set pieces. That said, Saga of the Phoenix feels like a kids' film, while Peacock King is a dark fantasy film.

Although the three central characters from Peacock King return for Saga of the Phoenix, only two of the actors reprise their roles: Yuen Biao in the role of Peacock King (The Prodigal Son) and Gloria Yip (The Blue Jean Monster) in the role of Ashura. In the case of the latter, his role in Saga of the Phoenix is relatively minor. Hiroshi Abe (Survive Style 5+) replaces Hiroshi Mikami (Parasite Eve) in the role of a Buddhist monk named Lucky Fruit. Another notable cast member is Shintarô Katsu, known for his role in The Tale of Zatoichi, who plays an abbot named Jiku Ajari.

There are too many areas where Saga of the Phoenix falls short. Its premise is too much like its Peacock King; the narrative is predictable, and when it comes to pacing, things tend to drag. The fight sequences and stunt work are not as impressive as in Peacock King; it's some of the most unimaginative I’ve seen for a film in which Yuen Biao appears. That said, the best moments are the ones that are special-effects-heavy. Ultimately, Saga of the Phoenix is a major letdown that does not come close to matching the magic of Peacock King.

Saga of the Phoenix gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer