The Tournament – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1974
Director: Huang Feng
Writer: Huangpu Kuan-Hua
Cast: Angela Mao, Carter Wong, Hwang In-Shik, Guan Shan, Maria Yi Yi, Wong Sam, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"After one of his students dies at a martial arts tournament in Thailand, kung fu master Lau (Ko Hisiang-ting) suffers deep dishonour and kills himself. His children - Carter Wong (Big Trouble in Little China) and Angela Mao, Lady Whirlwind herself - vow to restore his reputation, and that of Hong Kong kung fu. But to do so, they'll have to travel to Thailand themselves and fight in the same tournament - but if they fail, they could lose everything." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

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

Disc Size: 36.6 GB

Feature: 28.4 GB

The sources look excellent; 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: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and fight scenes sound appropriately robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (lobby cards/stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), English-language openings and closing credits (1 Minute 27 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview with Carter Wong titled Muay Thai Memories (11 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with Ricky Baker titled An Absolute Knockout (12 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and an O-card slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed The Tournament. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

Two students who are part of the Chinese Martial Arts Association disgrace them when one of them dies and the other is injured in a boxing tournament in Thailand.

The premise follows a trend set by Fist of Fury, Chinese martial arts against other countries' fighting styles. This film pits Chinese martial arts against Thailand’s Mauy Thai. That said, where other similar-themed films would showcase how Chinese martial arts is superior, The Tournament’s protagonist Lau Siu-Fung studies Mauy Thai and changes her fighting style to combat it.

The opening setup does an excellent job setting the foundation. While the story starts off about saving a sister who’s been kidnapped by gangsters, it turns into a story about revenge when the protagonist's father kills himself. There is never a shortage of tense moments, which the narrative effectively builds upon and an exemplary final provides a very satisfying conclusion.

Angela Mao (When Taekwondo Strikes) delivers another outstanding performance in the role of Lau Siu-Fung. While so many actors were propped up as a possible successor to Bruce Lee, Angela Mao, more than any other, came the closest. Where others try to emulate Bruce Lee, she brought a uniqueness to her roles that made her standout among her peers.

All around, the acting is excellent. Other notable cast members are Carter Wong (Big Trouble in Little China), who portrays Lau Siu-Fung’s brother, and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher), who portrays one of the leaders of the Martial Arts Association. Sammo Hung Kam-Bo also played a pivotal role in choreographing the fight scenes.

When compared to other martial arts films from this era, The Tournament features a different kind of action that leans more into Mauy Thai than martial arts. Although the Mauy Thai tournament scenes are the focal point of the action, the moments where Angela Mao showcases Chinese martial arts are the highlight. Ultimately, The Tournament is a solid revenge-themed martial arts film.

The Tournament gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Stoner – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1974
Director: Huang Feng
Writers: Huang Feng, Ni Kuang
Cast: Angela Mao, George Lazenby, Betty Ting, Hwang In-shik, Joji Takagi, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

Release Date: August 11th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 114 Minutes 58 Seconds (Hong Kong Version/Malaysian Version), 106 Minutes 9 Seconds (Export Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin (Hong Kong Version/Malaysian Version), LPCM Mono English (Export Version)
Subtitles: English (Hong Kong Version/Malaysian Version)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Someone's flooding Australia with designer drugs and Sydney's toughest cop, Joshua Stoner - George Lazenby (On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Queen's Ransom) - has travelled to Hong Kong to find out who. He's not the only one on the hunt - Taiwanese super-cop Li (Angela Mao, the first lady of kung-fu) is also on the case; between them, the mob is in big trouble." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Hong Kong Version/Malaysian Verson, Export Version)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

Stoner comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 32.6 GB

The sources look excellent; 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: 4.25/5 (Both Mandarin Audio Tracks), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English)

The Hong Kong version comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and an alternate LPCM mono mix in Mandarin for the Malaysian version. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin tracks. The export version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English subtitles for text in Mandarin. The track sounds clean, clear, and balanced. That said, it is not as robust as the Mandarin tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with burnt-in English subtitles), an alternate title sequence from the Malaysian version (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview with Kim Newman on Stoner titled Kangaroo Kung Fu (15 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and an O-card slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed Stoner. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

An Australian cop investigating a new deadly drug becomes personal when his sister overdoses. From there he travels to Hong Kong, looking to take down those responsible for his sister's death.

Stoner originally began as The Shrine of Ulitmalte Biss, and it was supposed to be Bruce Lee’s next film after Game of Death. The Shrine of Ulitmalte Biss would have paired Bruce Lee with Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba; it was the first of three films George Lazenby made for Golden Harvest. After Bruce Lee’s death, The Shrine of Ulitmalte Biss would morph into something completely different with Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba dropping out and Angela Mao being added to the cast.

While Stoner has most of the elements that one expects from 1970s martial arts films, the result is a film that leans heavily into exploitation elements, notably T&A. Another clear influence is the spy film genre, which is not a surprise since George Lazenby did portray James Bond. That said, despite Hong Kong cinema’s long history of successfully mixing genres, Stoner is not as effective in this regard.

Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwind) and George Lazenby (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) deliver solid performances, but they truly excel during action sequences. That said, the loss of Bruce Lee and Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba is devastating and impossible to overcome. Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher) is cast in yet another evil henchman role before he had his breakout as a leading man.

The opening setup does a good job setting the foundation; unfortunately, the narrative that unfolds has trouble building any momentum. While the narrative is not without its issues, the action sequences for the most part are solid. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, Stoner is a film that can be a lot of fun if you're in the right frame of mind.

Stoner gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, two versions of the film and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Himalayan – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1976
Director: Huang Feng
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Angela Mao, Chan Sing, Dorian Tan, Guan Shan, Ling Hon, Angela Wang En-Chi, Han Ying-Chieh, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo 

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 116 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Set against the stunning mountain vistas of Nepal, Tseng Ching Lam (Mao), a noblewoman betrayed and falsely accused of adultery by her devious brother-in-law. Fleeing into exile, she vows vengeance and begins her transformation by mastering the secret Tibetan fighting art of Mi--a discipline of spiritual strength and deadly precision." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

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

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 33.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. The differences between these two tracks are minuscule. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/lobby cards/posters), a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), English language opening and closing credits (3 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview with actor Dorian Tan titled Tales from the Monastery (9 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed The Himalayan. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

A power-hungry man seizes his opportunity when his brother is chosen to marry the daughter of a noble and well-respected man.

While there are several action set pieces, The Himalayan is better described as a melodrama than a typical martial arts film. The Himalayan deals with familiar themes like deception and vengeance. In the case of deception, the power-hungry brother murders his sibling and enlists a look-alike who will obey his every command. Vengeance arises from the daughter, who has been falsely accused of adultery and narrowly escapes a certain death.

The main draw of 'The Himalayan' is its scenic Nepal locations; they give it a look that’s unlike any other martial arts film of this era. Where so many 1970s martial arts films were shot on a soundstage or in countries like South Korea and Taiwan, filming in Nepal really opens up 'The Himalayan' in a way that those other locations could not have. That said, some of the interior scenes were shot on a soundstage, according to Dorian Tan.

Although Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwand) is the star of 'The Himalayan.' The most memorable performance is Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury) in the role of the power-hungry brother named Kao Chu. His character is ruthless and impulsive in his quest for power, and he delivers a pitch-perfect performance. Other performances of note are Angela Mao in the role of Tseng Ching Lam and Dorian Tan (The Hand of Death) in the role of Hsu Chin Kang, an old childhood friend of Tseng Ching Lam. Another cast member of note is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher), portraying an evil henchman.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job drawing you in and setting a solid foundation for what unfolds. Although there are many peaks and valleys over the course of 117 minutes, the narrative never lags; it always maintains and builds momentum. While the film emphasizes exposition over action set pieces, it is important to note that the action sequences are still exemplary. Ultimately, 'The Himalayan' is an enthralling film that finds a satisfying blend of exposition and action.

The Himalayan gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Invincible Eight – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1971
Director: Lo Wei
Writers: Lo Wei, Lo Tai-Wai
Cast: Nora Miao, Angela Mao, James Tien, Tang Ching, Han Ying-Chieh, Lydia Shum, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Lam Ching-Ying, Bruce Leung

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"The story follows eight warriors, each driven by the same burning purpose: to avenge the brutal murders of their fathers at the hands of a ruthless general. Among them are two of the era's most iconic stars—Nora Miao (The Way of the Dragon) and Angela Mao (Enter the Dragon)—whose fierce determination and commanding presence anchor the film's emotional and physical battles alike. Backed by an ensemble that includes Sammo Hung, James Tien, and Lydia Shum, The Invincible Eight balances breathtaking action choreography with heartfelt human drama." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This stunning Blu-ray edition from 88 Films restores The Invincible Eight in 2K from the original negative."

The Invincible Eight comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27.3 GB

Feature: 25.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. That said, there are a few instances where image clarity is not as strong.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with removable English subtitles. While the track sounds clean, it is not the most expansive when it comes to range. Fortunately, dialogue comes through clearly enough to follow and ambient sounds during action sequences are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (posters/stills), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-Ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Lo Wei directed The Invincible Eight. He is best known for directing two Bruce Lee films and six Jackie Chan films.

8 offspring of 8 different generals join forces in their quest to avenge the deaths of their fathers by killing the man responsible, General Hsiao.

After making a name for himself at the Shaw Brothers, directing such films as Dragon Swamp, The Golden Sword, and Brothers Five, Lo Wei would make the move to a new company called Golden Harvest. His first film for Golden Harvest was The Invincible Eight, a film that has many elements associated with Wuxia, a genre that the Shaw Brothers dominated in the 1960s. While The Invincible Eight and his next film for Golden Harvest, The Comet Strikes, have a workman quality that’s a hallmark of his filmography, The Big Boss and Fist of Fury would make him one of the most prominent directors in Hong Kong.

Revenge is the most central theme explored throughout martial arts cinema. The Invincible Eight is a film about revenge where 8 strangers who all have a common goal join forces. Standing in their way is the man who had their fathers killed, and when he learns of their desire for revenge, he sends his army of men after them. Along the way, the 8 strangers form a bond as they face a series of obstacles; notably, a few of them are captured and tortured for information.

The Invincible Eight has a solid cast; several of them, like Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwind) and Nora Miao (Fists of Fury), are in their first prominent roles. In the case of Nora Miao, it is her film debut. Angela Mao portrays a character who disguises herself as a man (a familiar martial arts trope), while Nora Miao portrays a gifted martial artist whose ability to be one step ahead of her opponent is unrivaled. Another performance of note is Han Ying-Chieh (The Big Boss) in the role of General Hsiao. The Invincible Eight also features Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher) and Lam Ching-Ying (Mr. Vampire) in early roles, portraying General Hsiao’s henchmen.

The narrative quickly jumps right into the action with a scene where General Hsiao's men chase several rebels. This opening setup does an excellent job setting the stage for what follows, and out of all of the action sequences, it is the strongest. That said, when it comes to most of the action sequences, they lack inventiveness and play things too safe. While there is a case to be made that The Invincible Eight is one of Lo Wei’s best films not associated with Bruce Lee, it still has some shortcomings that are a hallmark of his films, notably a deliberate pacing that disrupts momentum. Ultimately, The Invincible Eight’s positives far outweigh any of its negatives, making it a must-see film for fans of 1970s martial arts cinema.

88 Films gives The Invincible Eight a strong audio/video presentation and there is an insightful audio commentary. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Angry River – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1971
Director: Huang Feng
Writer: Huang Feng
Cast: Angela Mao, Kao Yuen, Pai Ying, Fung Ngai, Han Ying-Chieh, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Lan Feng, a courageous young woman on a desperate mission to find a cure for her gravely injured father. But danger lurks at every turn, as the very villains responsible for her father's fate pursue her relentlessly. What follows is a whirlwind of acrobatic combat, breathtaking choreography, and fierce determination, as Lan Feng's journey becomes a battle for justice and survival." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This 88 Films Blu-ray edition brings the film roaring back to life in a stunning 2K restoration from the original negative."

The Angry River comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28 GB

Feature: 26.1 GB

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

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Mandarin), 3/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. The Mandarin language track sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust. The English language track has some background hiss and other imperfections, and range-wise, it does not sound as full as the Mandarin track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/lobby cards/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed The Angry River. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

When her father is given a fatal poison, Lan Feng, a gifted martial artist, sets out on a dangerous journey to retrieve the antidote. Faced with the decision of her dying father running out of time, she relinquishes her martial arts skills for the antidote, which puts her in danger on her way back home.

The Angry River marked Golden Harvest's inaugural official release, a company that gained prominence after collaborating with Bruce Lee on four films. Golden Harvest was founded by a trio of film producers: Raymond Chow, Peter Choi, and Leonard Ho, who had been working at Shaw Brothers, the most dominant studio in Hong Kong cinema throughout the 1960s. For their first film, The Angry River, they would draw some inspiration from the Shaw Brothers by making a Wuxia film, their most popular genre at that time.

The Angry River is a film of two halves. The first half revolves around the protagonist Lan Feng’s quest to obtain a rare herb that has the power to reverse the fatal poison in her father's body. The latter half shifts from a heroic journey to a story rooted in revenge when the protagonist's father dies before she’s able to return with the antidote. From there she ingests the herb, which also has the power to restore her martial arts skills, which were taken away from her.

The Angry River is an important film in another way; it marked the first time Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwind) was a lead in a film. She would go on to become one of martial arts cinema’s biggest stars of the 1970s. While she is given a few moments to showcase her martial arts prowess, there is a long stretch where her character is passive because her skills have been taken away. Another cast member of note is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher) in an early role as an evil henchman.

Although the premise retreads all too familiar ground, it does a superb job balancing exposition and action sequences. In the case of the latter, they are mostly weapon-oriented, and while they are well-executed, they lack inventiveness. Another byproduct of this era of martial arts cinema is hearing familiar uncredited music cues like Tiger Tank from Kelly’s Heroes and the main theme from On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Ultimately, The Angry River is a well-crafted martial arts film that foreshadows better things to come from its leading lady Angela Mao.

88 Films gives The Angry River a strong audio/video presentation and there is an insightful audio commentary. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Broken Oath: Special Edition – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1977
Director: Jeong Chang-hwa
Writer: Jeong Chang-hwa
Cast: Angela Mao, Chan Wai-Man, Dean Shek, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Bruce Leung

Release Date: October 21st, 2024 (UK), October 22nd, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 97 Minutes 57 Seconds (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 102 Minutes 9 Seconds (Extended Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin (Both Versions), LPCM Mono English (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Orphaned and angry, Lotus (Mao) is raised by Buddhist nuns before she is exiled for her violent ways - and skipping classes to improve her martial arts skills. Finding herself alone in the world, she quickly comes to discover the truth of her past: that her father was once a respected member of the Imperial Court who was murdered in cold blood, and that her mother gave birth to her in a jail cell after being unjustly imprisoned for killing one of the culprits. With revenge on her mind and a newfound accomplice in tow (Bruce Leung, Magnificent Bodyguards), she sets out to track down the men responsible for tearing her family apart - armed with both her considerable martial arts prowess and a nest of scorpions with which to poison her enemies." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Both Versions)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "the uncut theatrical version from a brand new 2K restoration."

Broken Oath comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.8 GB

Feature: 19.9 GB (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 20.4 GB (Extended Cut)

The source used for this transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones look accurate, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (All Audio Tracks)

The Hong Kong theatrical comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. The extended cut comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin. All audio tracks sound great; dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language tracks and a second removable English subtitle for Mandarin text when watching the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with film writer Patrick Macias titled Female Revenge: Scorpion vs Katana (7 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Broken Oath: an appreciation by Andrew Heskins (11 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival), an audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 28-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled From Whirlwind to Lotus, Angela Mao and Broken Oath written by Gina Marchetti, an essay titled Sympathy for Lady Whirlwind: Broken Oath and Lady Snowblood written by Leon Hunt and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Jeung Chang-hwa directed Broken Oath. His other notable films are King Boxer, The Skyhawk, and The Double Crossers. Though not credited, Broken Oath is an adaptation of Kazuo Koike’s manga Lady Snowblood.

When an orphan learns about her mother's last wish, she sets out to find the four men who killed her father and raped her mother.

Broken Oath’s strongest connection to Lady Snowblood is its opening setup. Though there are Lady Snowblood moments throughout Broken Oath, after the initial setup it really becomes its own entity. And nowhere is this clearer than Angela Mao’s (Lady Whirlwind) portrayal of the protagonist. Instead of piggybacking off of Meiko Kaji’s Yuki Kashima, she creates a character that stands on its own. That said, Angela Mao’s portrayal of Lotus is arguably her best performance.

Despite its lineage, Broken Oath is not as bloody as Lady Snowblood; when there is carnage, these moments rival Lady Snowblood’s bloodiest moments. When it comes to the fight sequences, they are exemplary, and Angela Mao’s acrobat skills are on full display. Another strength of the fight sequences is the variety of weapons, especially the protagonist, who carries around deadly scorpions.

Though Angela Mao’s performance overshadows the rest of the cast, the supporting cast are all very good in their roles. A secondary cast member of note is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher), who portrays one of the bad guys standing in the protagonist's way. Throughout the 1970s, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung appeared in so many films in minor roles that would be unforgettable in the hands of a lesser actor.

Besides being a tale about revenge, Broken Oath is also a story about redemption. This subplot revolves around one of the men who murdered the protagonist's father and raped her mother. A chance encounter gives him an opportunity to save the protagonist's life; unlike the other three men, he’s a changed man.

Broken Oath finds a perfect balance between action and exposition. The well-executed narrative does a superb job building momentum, and an exceptional finale brings the protagonist's journey to a very satisfying conclusion. Also, Jeong Chang-hwa’s direction for his Swan song is outstanding. Ultimately, Broken Oath is a bona fide martial arts classic, making it a must-see for fans of this genre.

Broken Oath gets a solid release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer