Iron Monkey – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writers: Tsui Hark, Cheung Tan, Tang Elsa, Lau Tai-Mok
Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rongguang, Jean Wang, Angela Tsang Sze-Man, Yuen Shun-yi

Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG-13
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.98

"Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, this martial arts classic is set against the end of the Qing Dynasty and tells the tale of a chivalrous robber, Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang, Supercop 2), who robs the rich and gives to the poor in Zhejiang province. A famous kung fu master (Donnie Yen, Ip Man) is enlisted in the capture of Iron Monkey. He is thus torn between upholding the law and siding with this unknown hero…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

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

Iron Monkey comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.4 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

For this release Shout! Factory uses the same source that Eureka Video used for their 2018 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity, contrast, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with five audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. The Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks are noticeably more robust than the English language tracks. Included are English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and English SDH for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/poster), 7 TV spots (3 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (5 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), footage of Li Fai and Angie Tsang Sze-Man Competing at the 2003 Wushu Championships (9 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival extra titled Shadow Boxing with Alex Yip (8 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yuen Cheung-Yan titled Iron Fist: A Look Behind the Action of Iron Monkey (16 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Angie Tsang Sze-Man (20 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Li Fai (25 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yu Rong-Guang (26 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with producer Tsui Hark (24 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Donnie Yen (19 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Ricky Baker titled New from Monkey Business to the Big Time, he discusses Donnie Yen’s rise to stardom (12 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer Richard Epcar titled International Iron (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer James L. Venable titled Scoring A Fresh Take, he discusses his score for Iron Monkey’s American release (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po and film critic Sean Tierney.

Summary:

Yuen Woo-Ping directed Iron Monkey. He is also known for directing films such as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Tai Chi Master. Besides directing, he is one of Hong Kong cinema’s most acclaimed martial arts choreographers.

A masked bandit named Iron Monkey steals from the rich and gives to the poor, making the governor of a region look foolish and take excessive action to bring him to justice.

Hong Kong cinema during the early 1990s was going through a transition; many of its stars and directors were being lured away by Hollywood. While Yuen Woo-ping took his talents working as an action choreographer on The Matrix and Kill Bill, he never directed a film in Hollywood like most of his contemporaries. Throughout his career, Yuen Woo-ping directed several significant films in the careers of actors who would later achieve stardom, Jackie Chan (Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Drunken Master); Sammo Hung Kam-bo (The Magnificent Butcher); and Donnie Yen, an actor he worked with four times before his breakout film Iron Monkey.

Iron Monkey is a period-set martial arts film that draws inspiration from Chinese and English folklore. The premise, a Robin Hood-like scenario in which a masked hero character and his accomplice take on a corrupt injustice system, is superbly realized. The narrative, which is a perfect balance of exposition and action, moves at a breakneck momentum that effectively builds to an exemplary action set-piece finale where all wrongs are righted.

All around, the performances are excellent. While Iron Monkey gives Donnie Yen a role that showcases his abilities to the fullest, the most memorable performance is Angela Tsang Sze-Man in the role of Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial artist and folk hero. Making her film debut in such an iconic role, she more than holds her own and delivers when it comes to her acrobatic fight sequences. Other performances of note are Yu Rong-guang (Taxi Hunter), who portrays Yang Tianchun, aka Iron Monkey, and James Wong (Tiger on the Beat) in the role of a corrupt governor named Cheng Pak-Fong.

While the premise and narrative are perfectly executed, when discussing martial arts films, the main draw is their action set pieces. It's not surprising that the action set pieces often exceed expectations, since Yuen Woo-ping is someone whose action choreography is inventive and features movements that one did not know were possible. There are several memorable action set pieces; the most notable are the scene that introduces Iron Monkey, a scene where Wong Fei-hung quickly dispenses with a gang of grown men trying to teach him a lesson, and a jaw-dropping finale that takes place on poles as fire rages on the ground below. Ultimately, Iron Monkey is a high-water mark of 1990s Hong Kong cinema, making it a must-see for fans of classic martial arts cinema.

Iron Monkey gets an excellent release from Shout! Factory that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Eastern Condors – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1987
Director: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo
Writer: Barry Wong
Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Yuen Biao, Joyce Godenzi, Haing S. Ngor, Yuen Wah, Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Woo-ping, Corey Yuen, Billy Chow

Release Date: December 17th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 98 Minutes 47 Seconds (Theatrical Version), 94 Minutes 35 Seconds (Export Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese (Theatrical Version), Dolby Digital Mono English (Export Version)
Subtitles: English (Theatrical Version)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Eastern Condors follows a ragtag band of Asian American prisoners dropped into Vietnam on a secret suicide mission to prevent a cache of weapons from falling into the hands of the Viet Cong, who are more than ready for a fight." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Theatrical Version), 3.5/5 (Export Version)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K digital restoration of theatrical version.", "2K digital restoration of export version."

Eastern Condors comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.1 GB

Feature: 27.8 GB (Theatrical Version), 8.8 GB (Export Version)

The source used for Criterions release is comparable to Eureka Video's 2019 Blu-ray. The source looks great; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression. That said, though the export version is in great shape, quality-wise it's a few notches below the theatrical version.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese - Theatrical Version), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English - Export Version)

The theatrical version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. There is some dialogue in English. This audio track is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

The export version comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English, with no subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. That said, this audio track lacks the Cantonese track's oomph.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a teaser trailer (3 minutes 14 seconds ,Dolby Digital mono with Cantonese text and removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer #1 (3 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer #2 (3 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), footage from a theater adaption of Eastern Condors titled Eastern Condors Live! (13 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor/director Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (8 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (17 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung titled Evolution of a Legend  (8 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung titled Meet the Filmmakers (8 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with stuntman/actor Wah Yuen (8 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic Tony Rayns for the theatrical version, a poster, and on the other side of the poster an essay titled Collective Action written by Sean Gilman, cast & crew information, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Hong Kong cinema, more than any other country or region, is insulated from the rest of the world. Where just about every country/region is influenced by what was popular in Hollywood. Hong Kong cinema's influence over cinema beyond its borders is greater than Hollywood’s influence over Hong Kong cinema. With that being said, because examples of Hollywood influencing Hong Kong cinema are so rare, that's what makes a film like Eastern Condors so special.

However, Eastern Condors is a war film that takes place in Vietnam during a time when there was an influx of Vietnam War films in Hollywood. The result is a film that distances itself from other Vietnam War films by putting an inventive twist on the reason why the soldiers are in Vietnam. In many ways, Eastern Condors is more akin to films like Dirty Dozen and The Inglorious Bastards than to films like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.

The bombastic action films that were coming out of Hollywood in the 1980’s from companies like Cannon Films clearly influenced Eastern Condors. With the bulk of the action set pieces revolving around gun battles and explosions, having said that, while there are martial arts sequences in Eastern Condors, martial arts takes a back seat until the breathtaking finale.

Without a doubt, the Eastern Condors' greatest assets are their colorful characters. And, in terms of performance, the cast are all excellent in their respective roles. Eastern Condors’ most memorable performance was by Wah Yuen (Mr. Vampire) in the role of a Vietnamese general who has a maniacal laugh. Other notable performances include Joyce Godenzi (License to Steal) in the role of an underground resistance fighter and Yuen Biao (On the Run) in the familiar role of a trouble maker who provides comic relief. Ultimately, Eastern Condors is an exceptional action film and one of the high water marks of 1980s Hong Kong action cinema.

The Criterion Collection gives Eastern Condors an exceptional release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Highly recommended. 

Tai Chi Master – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writer: Kim Yip
Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Chin Siu-ho, Fennie Yuen, Yuen Cheung-yan, Lau Shun

Release Date: October 10th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 40 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"Jet Li stars in this thrilling martial arts epic about two childhood friends falsely accused of cheating and expelled from their Shaolin Temple. As they grow up, their paths diverge, with one embracing the peaceful teachings of Tai Chi and the other seeking power and joining the military. Set against the backdrop of a civil war, their friendship deteriorates into betrayal, leading to a climactic showdown between the two." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 4K Remaster from the original negatives".

Tai Chi Master comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 76.8 GB

Feature: 68.7 GB

The source looks excellent; it's a massive upgrade over this film's previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, color saturation is perfect, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Tai Chi Master comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41 GB

Feature: 25.8 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 5/5

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

Extras:

There are no extras on the 4K UHD disc.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), export opening credits (2 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in English), an archival interview titled Twin Warriors with director Brett Ratner and film critic Elvis Mitchell who discuss Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh (14 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled The Birthplace of Tai Chi: On Location in Chen Village (14 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Mandarin with removable English subtitles for Mandarin), and an interview with actor Chin Siu-Ho titled Nemesis (20 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles). 

Other extras include reversible cover art, a double sided poster (limited to the first pressing), a slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled A Tai Chi Masterwork written by Tom Cunliffe, an essay titled The Return of Shaolin Temple’s Prodigal Son: How Tai Chi Master Established Jet Li as a 90’s Action Icon written by Paul Bramhall, and archival images.

Summary:

Yuen Woo-Ping directed Tai Chi Master. He is also known for directing films such as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Iron Monkey. Tai-chi Master was released in North America under the alternate title Twin Warriors.

Two childhood friends were forced to leave a Shaolin temple after one of them offended an elder. Now, on their own, they struggle to make a living. And when one of them accepts an offer to join the government's military, this puts a strain on their once inseparable bond.

At the heart of Tai Chi Master is a story about two inseparable friends, Junbao and Chin Bo, who grew up in a Shaolin temple. Though they were inseparable, after being expelled from the shaolin temple, Chin Bo became an evil governor’s henchman, which caused a rift between the two friends. The narrative's main conflict arises from the two friends who are now on opposite sides. That said, the narrative does an excellent job setting everything up and establishing who all the main players are.

Though there is a familiarity to the story at hand, these similarities are easy to look past because of extraordinary fight scenes and exceptional performances from the entire cast, with the most surprising performance coming from Jet Li (Once Upon a Time in China). The scenes in which his character Junbao tries to deal with the betrayal of his friend Chin Bo are some of the strongest of his career.

Besides Jet Li, another performance of note is Michelle Yeoh (Yes! Madam), who portrays Siu Lin, a woman whose husband left her for another woman. In a film where every fight scene leaves a lasting impression, Michelle Yeoh’s character has the most memorable introduction. In this scene, a drunken Siu Lin confronts the woman who steals her husband, and a fight breaks out. This scene is an exceptional example of Michelle Yeoh’s martial arts prowess, in which her character uses her surroundings.

Not only is Yuen Woo-Ping the director, he was also a fight and stunt coordinator, two areas in which he’s world-renowned. When other students surround Junbao and Chin Bo at the Shaolin temple, this is a notable action set piece early in the film. In this sequence, the students stand on top of each other holding poles. In many fight scenes, the characters find themselves outnumbered. The finale provides the most impressive fight sequence: Junbao and Chin Bo fight on a net with spiked poles below them.

Though the action sequences overshadow everything else, one must not undervalue the use of humor in Tai Chi Master. That said, a lot of comic relief comes at the expense of Yuen Cheung-yan’s character, who in one scene pretends he’s dead. Ultimately, Tai Chi Master is an exceptional martial arts film, making it a must-see for fans of the genre.

Tai Chi Master gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Tiger Cage I-III: Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1988 (Tiger Cage), Hong Kong, 1990 (Tiger Cage II), Hong Kong, 1991 (Tiger Cage III)
Director: Yuen Woo-ping (All Films)
Cast: Simon Yam, Carol Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Irene Wan, Donnie Yen, Bryan Leung, Ng Man-tat, Wang Lung-wei (Tiger Cage), Donnie Yen, Rosamund Kwan, David Wu, Robin Shou, Garry Chow, Carol Cheng, Cynthia Khan, Lo Lieh (Tiger Cage II), Sharla Cheung Man, Kwok Leung Cheung, Michael Wong, Kam-kong Wong, John Cheung, Fung Woo (Tiger Cage III)

Release Date: August 8th, 2022
Approximate running times: 93 Minutes 34 Seconds (Tiger Cage), 96 Minutes 18 Seconds (Tiger Cage II - Hong Kong Cut), 96 Minutes 36 Seconds (Tiger Cage II - Malaysian Cut), 93 Minutes 38 Seconds (Tiger Cage III)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese (All Films), LPCM Mono Mandarin (Tiger Cage), LPCM Mono English (All Films) 
Subtitles: English (All Films), English SDH (Tiger Cage III)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: OOP

"Bought to you by legendary martial arts stalwart Woo-Ping Yeun, the original Tiger Cage (1988) was an explosive, fast-paced Hong Kong feature replete with criminal gangs and a dedicated law enforcement team in a battle for the city.

Just as a crack drug unit celebrates a successful operation one of their numbers is killed. This leads them on a mission to expose the killer and the underground operation and more importantly to discover who the mole in the team might be. Fun, furious and rammed with glorious fight choreography, Tiger Cage is the perfect late 80s Kung Fu spectacular.

It was quickly followed by two sequels Tiger Cage 2 (1990) and Tiger Cage 3 (1991) also directed by Woo-Ping Yeun." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Tiger Cage, Tiger Cage II, Tiger Cage III)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2K Transfer from the Original Negative."

Tiger Cage comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 27.6 GB

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2K Transfer from the Original Negative."

Tiger Cage II comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.6 GB

Feature: 23.7 GB (Hong Kong Cut), 20.8 GB (Malaysian Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "New 2K Transfer from the Original Negative."

Tiger Cage III comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.1 GB

Feature: 26.3 GB

The sources used for these transfers are in great shape; there is no source-related debris or damage. Quality-wise, all of these transfers are comparable. Colors and flesh tones, and though the image generally looks crisp, there are moments where it looks soft. Also, black levels are strong, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese - Tiger Cage, LPCM Mono Mandarin - Tiger Cage, LPCM Mono Cantonese - Tiger Cage II Both Cuts), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English - Tiger Cage II Both Cuts, LPCM Mono Cantonese - Tiger Cage III, LPCM Mono English - Tiger Cage III), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English - Tiger Cage)

Tiger Cage comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with an alternate music score. All three audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, the Cantonese and Mandarin language tracks sound more robust than the English language track. Also, there are a few moments where the English language track sounds muffled. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for the Mandarin track.

Tiger Cage II, the Hong Kong cut, comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Tiger Cage II, the Malaysian cut, comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. All of the audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. The main difference is that the Cantonese language track sounds more robust than the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Tiger Cage III comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both audio mixes sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles and removable English SDH subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras for Tiger Cage include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 23 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English theatrical trailer (4 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a conversation with actor Vincent Lyn and Frank Djeng titled  Triads (4 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), three extras shots from the Taiwanese version (33 seconds, LPCM mono), English language titles (2 minutes 27 seconds, LPCM mono), an archival interview with actor Donnie Yen titled Tiger King (17 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), Vincent Lyn’s personal 'behind-the-scenes' footage (6 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and Vincent Lyn.

Extras for Tiger Cage II include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 57 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with action specialists Mike Leeder and Arne Venema for the Hong Kong cut, and an audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng.

Extras for Tiger Cage III include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), alternate theatrical trailer (3 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM mono English with removable English subtitles for Cantonese text), English language titles (2 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Phil Gillon and Kenneth Brorsson of the Podcast on Fire Team.

Other extras include a double sided poster, and a one-hundred page booklet with cast & crew information for each film, an interview with Vincent Lyn conducted by Matthew Edwards, an interview with Stephan Berwick conducted by Matthew Edwards, and an interview with Michael Woods conducted by Matthew Edwards.

Summary:

Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, Tiger Cage and its two similar-themed sequels, Tiger Cage II and Tiger Cage III, are a trio of films that showcase his ability to create inventive action sequences. His other notable films as a director include Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, Iron Monkey, and Tai Chi Master.

Tiger Cage: The narrative revolves around a criminal who narrowly escapes death in a shootout with law enforcement, who then tracks down and kills the cop who almost killed him. Another subplot revolves around corrupt cops who are working with drug smugglers.

Tiger Cage is cut from the same mold as the violent bullet ballets that were at the height of their popularity in the latter half of the 1980s. And though the premise covers well-traveled ground, the result is a highly entertaining mix of action and carnage that does a great job maintaining the momentum established in its opening setup.

The performances range from adequate to very good. With most of the performances falling into the latter category. The most memorable performance is by Simon Yam (Naked Killer) in the role of police inspector Michael Huang. He delivers a performance that is in line with the types of characters he often portrays. Another performance of note is that of Donnie Yen (In the Line of Duty IV) in the role of a police inspector named Terry. This is an early role where he is not the lead, and his character's tragic fate is Tiger Cage’s most potent moment.

Though there is a predictability to the story at hand, cops vs. criminals, cops often use brutality to get results. This is not a problem since what Tiger Cage lacks in narrative, it more than makes up for with its crazy stunt work and bombastic action set pieces. Ultimately, Tiger Cage is a solid action film that fans of 1980s Hong Kong cops vs. criminal films should thoroughly enjoy.

Tiger Cage II: The narrative revolves around a lawyer, an ex-cop, and a gangster who are forced to work together when they become suspects and are targeted by the actual culprit.

Once again, it is another cop vs. criminal scenario. That said, unlike its predecessor, this time around the premise offers an ample amount of twists and turns. With a case of money that has disappeared being the plot device that drives the narrative.

The cast is very good in their roles, especially Donnie Yen (Ip Man) in the role of an ex-cop named Dragon Yau and Rosamund Kwan (Once Upon a Time in China) in the role of a lawyer named Mandy Chang. Their combative relationship and budding romance give Tiger Cage II a strong backbone. Their interactions provide an ample amount of humor, with Mandy Chang often inadvertently inflicting pain on Dragon Yau.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Tiger Cage II does not deliver. The premise is well executed, the briskly paced narrative ensures there is never a dull moment, and a sword fight finale provides a perfect coda. Of course, when it comes to stunts and action setpieces, Yuen Woo-ping delivers in spades. Ultimately, Tiger Cage II is a rare example of a sequel that is superior.

Tiger Cage III: The narrative revolves around two cops working in the commercial crime bureau who are trying to get evidence of fraud against a rich businessman. One of the cops' girlfriends works for the businessman, giving them someone on the inside.

Tiger Cage III is a sequel in name only. Though there are no characters trying to put the three Tiger Cage films together, the first two Tiger Cage films have a few areas where they overlap, while Tiger Cage III feels like a different film.

The cast is all very good in their roles, especially Sharla Cheung Man (God of the Gamblers) in the role of Suki, the girlfriend assisting her cop boyfriend. Her character is best described as a femme fatale type that is associated with film noir. Another performance of note is that of Michael Wong (City Hunter) in the role of John, a cop who works for the commercial crime bureau. His characters, like Suki's, are not who they seem to be.

Though Tiger Cage III's story is not as eventful as the other two Tiger Cage films, it has a strong premise, and the narrative does a good job building momentum. There are crazy stunts, and the action set pieces are solid. Also, when it comes to carnage, Tiger Cage III is the most brutal and graphic of the three Tiger Cage films. Ultimately, Tiger Cage III is the weakest of the three Tiger Cage films.

The Tiger Cage trilogy gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with strong audio/video presentations and informative extras, recommended.

Note: 88 Films has rereleased Tiger Cage I-III in a standard edition.

Written by Michael Den Boer