God of Gamblers II: Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1990
Director: Wong Jing
Writers: Wong Jing, Corey Yuen
Cast: Andy Lau, Stephen Chow, Monica Chan, Ng Man-tat, Sharla Cheung, Charles Heung, Chow Yun-fat

Release Date: April 27th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 104 Minutes 53 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £17.00 (UK)

"Back to the casino – only this time, the Joker's wild. After his adventures with the world's greatest gambler in the first film, crafty Knife (Andy Lau – Hard Boiled 2: The Last Blood) teams up with another preternaturally gifted card sharp, Sing, played by Stephen Chow (Forbidden City Cop), here at his absolute silliest. But the odds are stacked against them: a crooked rival wants to take Knife out for good – and he's dealing from the bottom of the deck." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer: "High-definition Blu-ray presentation in original 1.85:1 aspect ratio."

God of Gamblers II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.1 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 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 theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), additional scenes from the Taiwanese version (23 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Wong Jing titled Money Maker (21 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic and author David West, an audio commentary with Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival), reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster, and an O-ring slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

Someone has stolen the identity of the God of the Gamblers' protégé and plans on using it to steal millions in a fraudulent charity card game.

Although titled God of Gamblers II, the film serves more as a blend of All for the Winner and God of the Gamblers rather than a traditional sequel to the latter. Chronologically, God of Gamblers II stands as the third installment in a series that currently comprises 15 films.

Although Andy Lau’s (Infernal Affairs) character Michael Chan, aka Knight of Gamblers, is the protagonist, it is really a film that has two protagonists whose stories intersect. The other lead is Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) in the role of Chow Sing Cho, aka the Saint of Gamblers. While Andy Lau's performance leans towards seriousness, Stephen Chow's character encounters numerous absurd situations that offer ample comic relief.

When it comes to the humor, while most of it revolves around Stephen Chow’s character, once again he’s joined by Ng Man-tat, a frequent collaborator of Stephen Chow’s who’s often the recipient of his physical humor. There is a running gag where the Saint of the Gamblers has supernatural powers that aid him in his gambling endeavors. Unfortunately for him, his powers only work as long as he does not keep any of his winnings, which would give him bad luck.

The main constant throughout the God of the Gambler series is Wong Jing, who directed 10 of the 15 films. Anyone familiar with the films of Wong Jing knows what to expect; his direction is always solid, and he usually lets the cast do what they do best, instead of imposing a singular vision on them. That said, he does deliver a handful of stylish moments visually.

The narrative is a very satisfying balance of the Knight of Gamblers and the Saint of the Gamblers stories. When it comes to pacing, things move quickly, and the narrative does an excellent job building to its finale, a card game between the Knight of Gamblers and the man who stole his identity. While humor is key to the story, there are also well-crafted action scenes. Although Chow Yun-Fat's character, the God of the Gamblers, casts a significant shadow over the story, he is only referenced frequently by other characters. He appears in just two brief moments, both of which are archival footage from the original film, God of the Gamblers. Ultimately, God of the Gamblers II is a highly entertaining film that stands on its own, making prior knowledge of the two films that came before it unnecessary.

God of Gamblers II gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Future Cops: Webstore Exclusive – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Wong Jing
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Chingmy Yau, Dicky Cheung, Simon Yam, Ekin Cheng, Winnie Lau, Charlie Yeung, Andy Hui, Ken Lo, Billy Chow

Release Date: October 21st, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: OOP (Limited Edition Webstore Exclusive 1000 copies)

"In the year 2043, the evil crime lord The General (Ken Lo, Drunken Master II) has been imprisoned for his heinous crimes. His loyal followers Kent (Ekin Cheng, Young and Dangerous), Thai King (Billy Chow, High Risk) and Toyota (William Duen, Crime Story) have a plan to free him, though: they will travel back in time and eliminate the Judge who sentenced him. They are followed into the past by Lung (Kwok), Broomhead (Cheung), Ti Man (Lau) and Sing (Yam), “Future Cops” who intend to keep The General in jail where he belongs. But as both cops and criminals arrive in the year 1993 to search for the Judge – who back then was just a teenager – they find themselves embroiled not just in a battle for the future… but high-school drama, too." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "This release of Future Cops is presented from a studio supplied HD transfer that Eureka had no involvement in. Sadly the master is just below the level of quality that we would normally expect. Despite our persistent efforts, the studio would not allow us to restore the film. As this may be the last opportunity for this cult classic to get a physical media release in the UK, we have decided to proceed but on a very limited number and as a Eureka store exclusive. We don’t believe that the slight imperfections in the feature master will affect your enjoyment of this wacky martial arts extravaganza."

Future Cops comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 26.8 GB

Digital noise reduction has given the source an over processed look. That said, the source looks clean, flesh tones and colors look correct, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio fares better, dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 8 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), a documentary titled Super Street Culture Turbo (28 minutes 23 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and UDON Entertainment founder and CEO Erik Ko, an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an O-card slipcase, a double sided poster, and a 16-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled Street Fighter Man Arcade Adventures with Wong Jing and Future Cops written by James Oliver, archival images and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

Cops from the future are sent to the past to look for and protect a future judge against The General’s evil minions.

Though Future Cops is loosely based on Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, it's an unofficial adaptation. Future Cops was Wong Jing’s second live-action film to feature characters inspired by the Street Fighter series; his first adaptation was City Hunter. That said, Wong Jing’s cinematic style perfectly suits these types of films.

Future Cops does not require you to know anything about Street Fighter to enjoy the insanity that unfolds. Though the narrative begins in the future, I would not call Future Cops a sci-fi film since most of it takes place in the present. That said, Future Cops is best described as an action/comedy with minimal futuristic elements.

Future Cops’ cast is a who's who of Hong Kong cinema. And when it comes to the performances, the entire cast is exceptional in their respective roles. The cast enthusiasm and dedication to the story that unfolds ensure there is never a dull moment. That said, it's difficult to single out any performance since there are no weak links.

When it comes to humor, nothing is rooted in reality, and it's best described as overexaggerated. Also, Future Cops is overflowing with sight gags, and virtually all of these deliver in spades. The scene where Andy Lau and Chingmy Yau’s characters go inside of a video game and become Luigi and Mario is one of the more memorable sight gags. This sequence culminates with Chingmy Yau’s character taking too many orgasm pills.

Wong Jing is a filmmaker who always makes the most of what he has to work with, and though there are some things that do not hold up in Future Cops, they are easy to overlook. The fight scenes are inventive, and the stunt work is impressive. Also, there is a manic energy that drives the narrative, rarely giving the viewer a moment to recover from the previous moment of humor. Ultimately, Future Cops is a highly entertaining blend of action and humor that fans of Hong Kong cinema should thoroughly appreciate.

Despite the limitations of the transfer, Eureka Video has put together a first-rate release, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Meltdown (High Risk) – Sony Pictures (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1995
Director: Wong Jing
Writer: Wong Jing
Cast: Jet Li, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Yeung, Yang Chung-hsien, Jacky Cheung, Wu Ma, Valerie Chow

Release Date: May 13th, 2001
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 56 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen & 4:3 Aspect Ratio
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English, Dolby Digital Stereo French
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: OOP

“After failing to save his wife the evil ‘Doctor’, Kit Li (Jet Li: Romeo Must Die, The Black Mask) takes a job working as a bodyguard for the world famous actor Frankie Lane. But history repeats itself and Kit is forced to confront his past when The Doctor and his gang take over a luxury hotel in an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels of Russia on exhibition there. Surrounded by the ruthless gangsters and with only his bare hands to protect him and the hostages, Kit must seek his own brand of vengeance." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 2/5

Meltdown (High Risk) comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4 GB

Though a lot of DVDs look poor by today's standards, this DVD transfer was mediocre when it was released. There is mild print debris, image clarity is generally strong, and there are compression-related issues.

Audio: 2.5/5 (Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English)

This release comes with three audio options, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English, and a Dolby Digital stereo mix in French. For this review, I only listened to the English language tracks. The 5.1 audio track sounds too spread out when compared to the stereo audio track, and both tracks leave room for improvement when it comes to range. Fortunately, dialog comes through clearly enough to follow. Included are removable English SDH and Spanish subtitles, and there are burnt-in English subtitles for Cantonese text.

Extras:

Extras for this release include talent files for Wong Jing, Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, and Charlie Yeung, a photo gallery with Jet Li trivia, and a trailer (1 minute 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for Once Upon a Time in China, Red Dragon, Gorgeous, and The Prisoner.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

A former police officer who worked in the bomb squad now works as a bodyguard and stunt double for an action movie star. The man responsible for his wife's tragic death crossed paths with him, thrusting him into the spotlight despite his efforts to stay in the background.

Meltdown (High Risk) is a sendup of Hollywood films like Speed and Die Hard through the lens of Hong Kong cinema. Reportedly, Meltdown (High Risk) is Wong Jing’s negative response to working with Jackie Chan on City Hunter. The character Frankie Lone in Meltdown (High Risk) is a mix of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.

Meltdown (High Risk) is all about action, with most exposure thrown in as an afterthought. The narrative is a bare bones good versus evil scenario that features stereotype villains that are over the top and then some. Despite an anemic narrative, pacing is never an issue as things move at breakneck momentum with each action sequence topping the next.

When it comes to the action sequences and stunts, Meltdown (High Risk) does not disappoint. And though there are moments where Jet Li gets to show off his martial arts prowess, most of the action set pieces are shoutouts. In the most ridiculous action sequences, the protagonist enters a hotel lobby, gets in a car, drives in a circle shooting an AK-47 at the bad guys, and then takes the car up an elevator.

When it comes to the performances, they work well within the story that unfolds. The most memorable performance is Kelvin Wong’s (Supercop) portrayal of The Doctor, the leader and mastermind behind a criminal gang responsible for the protagonist's wife's death. He delivers a deliriously over-the-top performance that perfectly captures his character's megalomania. Unfortunately, Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) is not given much to work with in her role as an investigative reporter.

Though Jet Li is the main draw of Meltdown (High Risk), it is really Wong Jing’s show. Throughout Meltdown (High Risk), it's filled with elements that are synonymous with the films of Wong Jing. His use of subversive humor, including pop culture references, and his favoring of styles of substance are on full display. Ultimately, Meltdown (High Risk) is a highly entertaining film that does a superb job mixing action and humor.

Meltdown (High Risk) is begging for an HD upgrade over this ancient audio/video presentation.

Written by Michael Den Boer

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story & A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1994 (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story), Hong Kong, 1998 (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2)
Directors: Bosco Lam (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story), Cho Kin-Nam (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2)
Cast: Yvonne Yung, Lawrence Ng, Tommy Wong, Ching Mai, Oh Yin-hei, Kenny Wong, Elvis Tsui, Kingdom Yuen (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story), Mark Cheng, Yolinda Yam, Lam Wai-Kin, Yeung Fan, Yang Hsiung, Chu Ben-Ke (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2)

Release Date: July 23rd, 2024
Approximate running times: 93 Minutes (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story - Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 91 Minutes 50 Seconds (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Both Films), DTS-HD Mono English (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story)
Subtitles: English (Both Films), English SDH (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $44.98

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story: "A beautiful young woman named Little Cabbage is sold by her family to a wealthy scholar named Yang in order to become his future concubine. However, Yang's overbearing wife becomes jealous of Little Cabbage and arranges to have her married off to a well-endowed peasant. When Little Cabbage's new husband is found dead, poisoned by a powerful aphrodisiac, Little Cabbage and Yang are brought in front of a bloodthirsty court to face charges of conspiring to commit murder. Maintaining their innocence, Little Cabbage and Yang are forced to endure unspeakable torture at the hands of a corrupt judge in an attempt to make them confess. Cleverly told in a series of flashbacks, this horrific and hilarious film features wall-to-wall sex and violence, culminating in an explosive "climax" unlike anything you've seen before." - synopsis provided by the distributor

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2: "Ma, a man rising in the ranks of politics, is traveling to the capital when he is accosted by two down-on-their-luck bandits, Wong and Cheung. Taking pity on the two lowly peasants, Ma agrees to help his new friends better their lives, partly due to Ma's attraction to Wong's sister (who also happens to be Cheung's fiancée), the young and beautiful Lotus. When they all arrive in the capital to take Ma up on his generous offer, they discover that Ma has embroiled them in an elaborate con, and soon find themselves caught up in a saga of jealousy, betrayal, and of course...torture. An equally deranged follow-up to its infamous predecessor, this in-name-only sequel does its best to increase not only the amount of sex and eroticism, but also the levels of cringe-inducing violence." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story - Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 4/5 (A Chinese Torture Chamber Story - Alternate Mandarin Language Edit, A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from their 35mm original negatives."

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 45 GB

Feature: 24.8 GB (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 19.7 GB (Alternate Mandarin Language Edit)

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 34.3 GB

Feature: 24.6 GB

All of the sources are in great shape; any source imperfections are very minor and never intrusive. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (All Audio Tracks)

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English.

Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track, removable English SDH for the English language track, and a second removable English subtitle track for Cantonese dialog and text when watching the English language track.

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles.

All of the audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, they should sound robust when they should, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras on disc one include an alternate Mandarin language edit of A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (92 minutes 19 seconds, DTS-HD mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Samm Deighan for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story, the Hong Kong theatrical cut.

Extras on disc two include a English language theatrical trailer for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (1 minute 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a Cantonese language theatrical trailer for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (2 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 (2 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English opening title sequence for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story (1 minute 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with English text), an interview with Wong Jing, producer of A Chinese Torture Chamber Story and A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 (5 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by film historian Erica Shultz titled Titillating Torture (17 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Justin Decloux of The Important Cinema Club titled The CAT III Films of Wong Jing (17 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Frank Djeng for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 6,000 units), and a 20-page booklet with an essay titled A Taste of Sugar, A Taste of Shit: Two Wong Jing Torture Chamber Stories written by Grady Hendrix.

Summary:

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story: A young woman named Little Cabbage falls in love with her master, a scholar named Yeung Naai Miu. When her master is away, Little Cabbage discovers that his wife has been having an affair. Then the master's wife finds out that Little Cabbage knows her secret; she then marries off Little Cabbage to a poor villager with an unusually large member. To cover up her affair, the scholar's wife sets up her husband and Little Cabbage for a murder to keep her secret hidden.

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story wastes no time establishing itself as one of the most notorious Category III films ever made. The opening credits set the tone immediately, with various acts of torture on display, including the severing of a man’s balls and penis. After the opening credits have finished, the narrative moves quickly, and we learn most of the story through flashbacks. In-between each flashback, there are torturous scenes. 

Though the moments of torture are what A Chinese Torture Chamber Story is most known for, not far behind is its sex-themed martial arts sequence. In this sequence, there are two lovers who incorporate sex into their martial arts battles. Some of the names of the martial arts moves are “Invincible Mouth,” “Oral Attack,” “Invincible Wheel,” and “Wonder Screw,” all of which make up their wondrous arsenal of carnal fun. You cannot fully appreciate this style of martial arts until you see it in all its glory.

Despite its graphic moments of torture, humor actually plays a role in the story that unfolds. One such moment of note is a running gag where the song Unchained Melody plays every time Little Cabbage touches her husband with the usually large member. The funniest moment in the film is when Little Cabbage’s husband's penis is about to explode, and she mounts him so he can go out with pleasure instead of pain. This scene borrows heavily from the scene in the movie Ghost where Demi Moore is making pottery.

From a production standpoint, A Chinese Torture Chamber Story is a film that achieves its goals and then some. Its well-constructed narrative does a phenomenal job building moments towards its climax, and brisk pacing ensures there is never a moment to catch your breath. Also, when discussing A Chinese Torture Chamber Story, one cannot overlook Wong Jing’s connection to this film. In the 1990's, no one brought the masses trashy violent cinema like producer Wong Jing, whose other Category III classics include Naked Killer and Naked Killer 2: Raped by an Angel. Wong Jing would hit the peak with A Chinese Torture Chamber Story. Ultimately, A Chinese Torture Chamber Story is a perfect blend of violence and sex, making it a must-see film for fans of Cat III cinema.

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2: This time around, the narrative is mostly told via a series of flashbacks. A well-connected political man befriends a trio of bandits, two men and a woman, who revolve around him. Two bandits, despite coming from different worlds, lower their guard. When it becomes apparent that someone has betrayed them, it's too late for them to take action. The third party has already taken advantage of their momentary lapse.

Many sequels fail to live up to their predecessor, case in point: A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2. Though it carries over violent scenes of torture and moments of erotica, the two staples of its predecessor, the result is a film that never reaches the delirious heights that A Chinese Torture Chamber Story did.

Though A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 might feel like a letdown when compared to its predecessor, at least when it comes to moments of torture, this is one area where it's on par. In the main torture set piece, the female bandit is restrained by a spider web-like net, and she is sliced with 1,000 slices, resulting in the removal of her own nipples. Ultimately, A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 is a much darker film and has a more serious tone than its predecessor.

Vinegar Syndrome gives A Chinese Torture Chamber Story and A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 a solid release, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Kung Fu Cult Master – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Wong Jing
Writers: Wong Jing, Louis Cha
Cast: Jet Li, Sharla Cheung, Gigi Lai, Chingmy Yau, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Francis Ng, Sun Mengquan, Bryan Leung, Collin Chou, Richard Ng 

Release Date: January 29th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 26 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"While various martial arts sects fight over a pair of mythical swords that grant great power, Zhang Wuji (Jet Li) goes on a quest to become a great martial artist and end the conflict." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a new restoration of the original film elements."

Kung Fu Cult Master comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.3 GB

Feature: 31.2 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape, free of any source damage. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels are strong.

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

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and an LPCM mono mix in English. The English language track is not as clean as the Cantonese language track; it has a noticeable hiss throughout. That said, dialog comes through clearly, and range-wise, things sound serviceable. The Cantonese language track is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for text and a song in Cantonese. It should be noted that when watching the English language track, there is a brief dialog exchange in Cantonese, and this comes with removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English export theatrical trailer (3 minutes 5 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival Interview with actor Sammo Kam-Bo Hung titled Kung Fu Master (23 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian film expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, an O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 20-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled We Don't Need Another Hero: or, Revenge of the Kung Fu Cult Master written by Simon Abrams, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Directed by Wong Jing, a prolific producer and director who is now into his fifth decade of making cinema in Hong Kong. Anyone who's familiar with Hong Kong's heyday of the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s is sure to have seen one of his films. And though he often takes on the role of producer, most films he is associated with have his distinctive bombastic style.

Kung Fu Cult Master is a Wuxia film that was adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Over the years, there have been numerous TV and film adaptations of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, notably the Shaw Brothers films Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and The Hidden Power of the Dragon Saber.

The narrative revolves around martial arts sects that are battling over two mythical swords.

Though adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Kung Fu Cult Master is not a faithful adaptation. Whereas in the novel the protagonist is portrayed as a righteous hero, in Kung Fu Cult Master he is the polar opposite. Reportedly, this change of protagonist had a negative effect on Kung Fu Cult Master at the box office, and it was originally planned to be the first of three films.

From its opening moments, it becomes clear that action comes first and exposition takes a backseat. There is no time given to establish characters and build them up; pretty much all of the characters are already in peak form and have no room for growth. The only character who evolves is Zhang Wuji, whose parents' deaths traumatized him. Though this character does not start off as a skilled fighter, once he learns the Nine Yang Skill, he becomes an imposing fighter whose skills are second to none. This character's evolution is one of the few bright spots in Kung Fu Cult Master.

The cast is filled with recognizable faces, and for the most part, they are all very good in their roles. The most memorable performance was that of Chingmy Yau (Naked Killer) in the role of Xiaozhao, a woman who helps Zhang Wuji after they fall off a cliff. Though Jet Li (Once Upon a Time in China) is billed as the star of Kung Fu Cult Master, this film is really an ensemble cast in which multiple actors are given an equal amount of screentime. That said, when it comes to the action sequences, he once again delivers, and then some.

Content-wise, Kung Fu Cult Master has all the elements that one would expect and want from a Wuxia film. The tale is firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy, and when it comes to the fight scenes, they are high-flying and often defy gravity. When it comes to the characters, there is a clear distinction between good and evil. Also, some of the action sequences can be bloody, with severed body parts.

Though Kung Fu Cult Master has a solid premise, rival clans fight to obtain a pair of magical swords. The execution of said premise is not as effective, and some of the blame for this falls on a narrative that tries to cram too much into 103 minutes. Another strike against Kung Fu Cult Master is its open-ended ending. That said, not being able to make the two additional planned films does not do Kung Fu Cult Master's ending any favors.

Kung Fu Cult Master gets a first-rate release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer