The Blood Rose – Le Chat Qui Fume (4k UHD/Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1970
Director: Claude Mulot
Writers: Claude Mulot, Jean Larriaga, Edgar Oppenheimer
Cast: Philippe Lemaire, Anny Duperey, Olivia Robin, Elizabeth Teissier, Michèle Perello, Valérie Boisgel, Gérard-Antoine Huart, Jean-Pierre Honoré, Jacques Seiler, Michel Charrel, Véronique Verlhac, Roberto, Johnny Cacao, Howard Vernon

Release Date: May 15th, 2019
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 6 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono French (4K UHD, DVD), Dolby Digital Mono English (4K UHD, DVD), DTS-HD Mono French (Blu-ray), DTS-HD Mono English (Blu-ray)
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD, Blu-ray), Region 0 NTSC (DVD)
Retail Price: OOP

"The painter Frederic Lansac lives an idyllic love with Anne in their isolated castle in the center of France when a drama brutally breaks this passion. Seriously burned, Lansac's’wife is disfigured, with no hope of recovery. Until one day a surgeon agrees to give him a face back. But for the operation to succeed, the donor must be sacrificed.." - synopsis provided by the distributor

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

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “4K Restoration realized by Le Chat Qui Fume from the original negative.”

The Blood Rose comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 44.6 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic look.

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

Disc Size: 46 GB

Feature: 23.5 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4/5

Though the Blu-ray presents the two audio tracks in DTS-HD, for whatever reason the 4K UHD presents them in Dolby Digital. That said, whether DTS-HD or Dolby Digital, all of these audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise, they all sound great. Included are removable English subtitles for the French language track.

Extras:

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include French language theatrical trailer for the film (2 minutes 54 seconds (2 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French, no subtitles), English language theatrical trailer for The Blood Rose (1 minute 48 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled On the Set of The Rose Flayed (3 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French, no subtitles), an interview with actress Brigitte Lahaie titled Memories of Claude Mulot by Brigitte Lahaie (9 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter/producer Edgar Oppenheimer (25 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French, no subtitles), an interview with cameraman Jacques Assuérus (34 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French, no subtitles), an interview with Hubert and Georges Baumann (11 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French, no subtitles), a VHS sourced presentation of the film under the alternate title Devil’s Maniac (84 minutes 14 seconds, letterboxed widescreen, Dolby Digital mono French, no subtitles), and trailers for La saignée, Maniac, Haine, Return of the Living Dead 3, Vigilante, and Next of Kin.

The DVD has the same extras except for the VHS-sourced presentation of Blood Rose and these trailers: Maniac, Return of the Living Dead 3, Vigilante, and Next of Kin.

Summary:

Claude Mulot directed The Blood Rose. His other notable films include The Contract, Sins of the Flesh, and Knife Under the Throat.

After a tragic accident disfigures his wife, an eccentric painter blackmails a disgraced doctor whose controversial experiments could restore her former beauty.

When it comes to the visuals, The Blood Rose is a film that is filled with striking imagery and overflowing with atmosphere. Although the aesthetic of The Blood Rose was clearly influenced by Gothic cinema, its striking use of colour sometimes evokes the vivid palette characteristic of Mario Bava’s work. Another strength of the visuals is how the disfigured wife’s face is rarely shown after the accident, and when she is in the room, the images onscreen represent her fuzzy perspective due to her loss of sight.

Sections of The Blood Rose’s narrative unfold through flashbacks, the majority of which take place during the first thirty minutes. There is a simplicity to the story at hand that makes the far-fetched premise easier to accept. The Blood Rose’s premise is reminiscent of films like Eyes without a Face and Jess Franco’s Orlaff films. Though The Blood Rose’s advertising proclaimed it as the first sex-horror film, many Jess Franco fans might argue that he made these types of films first. While watching The Blood Rose, it becomes clear that Jess Franco's films may have significantly influenced director Claude Mulot in creating The Blood Rose.

Besides featuring a bevy of attractive women, the cast of characters in The Blood Rose also includes two deformed midget servants. Although The Blood Rose has many memorable moments, the scene that stays with me is where a young woman, posing as a writer researching châteaux, looks around the château for clues about her missing sister. Only lit by dim candlelight while she walks around in a see-through nightgown, the cinematography is striking.

The Blood Rose features a melancholy main theme that perfectly sets the stage for what is about to unfold. Besides the magnificent main theme, the score as a whole does a superb job maintaining the tone. Jean-Pierre Dorsay composed the score for The Blood Rose, whose filmography consists of four entries. It is a shame that he did not compose another score after The Blood Rose.

When it comes to the performances, the cast are all excellent, especially Philippe Lemaire (When You Read This Letter) in the role of Frédéric, an eccentric painter who becomes obsessed with restoring his wife’s beauty. Another performance of note is Howard Vernon (She Killed in Ecstasy) in the role of Professeur Römer, a disgraced doctor whose controversial experiments led him to lose his medical license and go to prison.

From a production standpoint, The Blood Rose is a film that exceeds the sum of its parts. The premise is superbly released, and the narrative does a phenomenal job building to an unbelievable ending that is truly out of this world. Spoiler: The ending features a showdown between the two midget servants and their master. Other craziness that occurs during this knock-down, drag-out fight includes the unfortunate demise of the doctor, thus ending the experiments and any chance to repair the wife’s disfigured face. End of Spoiler: Ultimately, The Blood Rose is a cautionary tale about the consequences of obsession.

It's unfortunate that all of the extras are in French with no English subtitles. Fortunately, when it comes to the audio/video presentation, The Blood Rose has never looked or sounded better. 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

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay: Limited Red Case Edition – Mondo Macabro (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1971
Director: Bruno Gantillon
Writers: Jacques Chaumelle, Bruno Gantillon
Cast: Dominique Delpierre, Alfred Baillou, Mireille Saunin, Régine Motte, Ursule Pauly, Michèle Perello, Nathalie Chaine, Velly Beguard, Solange Pradel, Patricia Lecarpentier, Pamela Stanford

Release Date: March, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 29 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $42.00

"Driving in their car through Auvergne one summer, two young girls, Anna and Françoise, find themselves in the kingdom of the mythic Morgana, Queen of the Fairies.

Ever since Merlin taught her his skills centuries ago, Morgana has gone on living by obtaining the souls of the young women who pass through her kingdom. In exchange, she gives the captives who agree to her pact of eternal youth and beauty. Those who refuse her grow old and ugly in the dungeons of her castle." - synopsis provided by the distributor

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

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand new 4K restoration from the original negative."

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 59.5 GB

Feature: 45.6 GB

The source looks phenomenal; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always retains an organic look.

Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.4 GB

Feature: 23.5 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), a stills and poster gallery titled Publicity Parade, a short film directed by Bruno Gantillon titled An Artistic Couple (13 minutes 12 seconds, 1.66:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), a deleted scene (48 seconds, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), an archival interview with Bruno Gantillon (10 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Bruno Gantillon titled Holds up the Ceiling Part 1 (26 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with Bruno Gantillon titled Holds up the Ceiling Part 2 (16 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Dominique Delpierre (45 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Bruno Gantillon.

The extras are the same on both discs.

Other extras include 4 double sided full color art cards reproducing Italian fotobusta posters, a slipcover, and a 24-page booklet with liner notes written by Pete Tombs.

Summary:

Two women stay the night in an abandoned barn after getting lost while traveling the French countryside. In the morning, one of them awakens to the discovery that the other has vanished. While looking for her missing friend, she is confronted by the dwarf-like man she saw in the pub the evening before, who says he can lead her to her friend. He takes her to a castle filled with beautiful women, where she is introduced to Morgana Le Fay, the lady of the manor, who ultimately gives her two choices: either eternal beauty or forever being enslaved in the castle's dungeon, where she will grow old and die.

Bruno Gantillon’s directorial debut, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay, is a film that fits firmly into the fantastic cinema movement of 1970s French cinema that filmmakers like Jean Rollin, Jean-Louis Van Belle, and Claude Mulot’s The Blood Rose are part of. These films often feature a loose narrative, and they flow more like poetry than a conventional narrative. They rely heavily on atmosphere, and they are filled with visually arresting moments. When it comes to all of these elements, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay delivers in every way.

Though the cast are given minimal work, this is not an issue since they are mere pieces moved around for maximum effect by Bruno Gantillon. It also does not hurt that the cast is mostly filled with beautiful women, many of whom participate in lesbian encounters and remove clothing. The strongest performance is Dominique Delpierre; her strong screen presence makes her the perfect choice for the role of a sorceress named Morgana Le Fay. The most memorable performance is Alfred Baillou, who portrays a dwarf named Gurth; he delivers a genuinely creepy performance where he leers and takes delight when women are tortured.

Despite its minimalism, Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay, like other 1970s French fantastic cinema, is a film that maximizes its limited resources, notably the use of a castle as its main location and moments in a forest. It is not difficult to overlook the narrative's shortcomings because of the beautiful cinematography and dreamlike atmosphere. Girl Slaves of Morgana Le Fay, like most 1970s French erotic horror films, leans more towards erotic fantasies than your typical visceral horror film. Ultimately, Girl Slaves of Morgana le Fay is a truly unique and enchanting film.

Mondo Macabro gives Girl Slaves of Morgana le Fay a definitive release; it has never looked or sounded better, and there are a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 2000 copies.

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

Jakoman and Tetsu – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1964
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writers: Keizo Kajino, Akira Kurosawa, Senkichi Taniguchi
Cast: Ken Takakura, Tetsurô Tanba, Isao Yamagata, Yôko Minamida, Kumeko Urabe, Wakaba Irie, Hizuru Takachiho, Shinjirō Ehara

Release Date: April 21st, 2025 (UK), April 22nd, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 30 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"Set in 1947 in a small coastal village among the majestic snowy landscapes of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, Ken Takakura (the Abashiri Prison series, Ridley Scott’s Black Rain) is Tetsu, the prodigal son who returns from the war to help out his father Kyubei with the family herring fishing business. His arrival coincides with that of a one-eyed miscreant named Jakoman, played by Tetsuro Tamba (Harakiri, You Only Live Twice), who bears a long-standing grudge against Kyubei and is intent on causing as much mayhem among the hordes of seasonal fishermen as possible." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio".

Jakoman and Tetsu comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33 GB

Feature: 27.3 GB

The source is in great shape; some minor debris remains. Though black levels are generally strong, there are moments where they are not convincing; image clarity is solid, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise, things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/poster), an introduction by Mark Schilling (18 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio Commentary with Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay titled Jakoman and Tetsu written by CHRIS D.

Summary:

When Kinji Fukasaku directed Jakoman and Tetsu, it was very early in his career; he had only directed 8 films and was still searching for his voice as a filmmaker. A screenplay co-written by Akira Kurosawa was made into a film in 1949, and Kinji Fukasaku's Jakoman and Tetsu is based on that. Though only written by Akira Kurosawa, one can see many elements that are synonymous with his films. That said, it is fascinating to see Kinji Fukasaku's interpretation of a source connected to Akira Kurosawa.

The narrative revolves around an aging fisherman, Kyubei, and a man named Jakoman, who holds a grudge against the former. Things are already not running smoothly with the fishery, and the arrival of Jakoman causes additional problems. Jakoman bullies the workers hoping to inflict the pain and suffering he felt because of Kyubei’s actions. Another issue for Kyubei: it's believed that Tetsu, Kyubei's son, is presumed dead at sea. However, one day, events take a dramatic turn when Tetsu returns home, and his presence compels Jakoman to somewhat rein in his behavior.

What starts off as one man’s quest for revenge evolves into a story rooted in grievances. Besides Jakoman’s conflict with Kyubei, there is a woman, Yuki, who was a former lover of Jakoman, and she has her grievances. Then there are the workers at the fishery, and Jakoman whips them into a frenzy about their wages, causing another grievance. That said, the way that Kinji Fukasaku brings all of these grievances together is masterful.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles, and yet it is the two leads, Ken Takakura’s (Abashiri Prison) portrayal of Tetsu and Tetsurô Tanba’s (The Wolves) portrayal of Jakoman, that carry this film. Ken Takakura is given the task of taking on a role originally portrayed by Toshirô Mifune, and he proves he is up for the challenge. That said, it is Tetsurô Tanba’s portrayal of Jakoman; he perfectly captures this character's spitefulness and bleak outlook. Another performance of note is Shinjirō Ehara's (House of Terrors) portrayal of Osaka, a man who tries to convince Jakoman that holding onto a grudge is not the way. Though we are forever shaped by our past, Osaka proves from experience that nothing is gained from dwelling on it.

It is always refreshing to see a filmmaker work outside of their comfort zone. Though Jakoman and Tetsu is a departure from the type of films Kinji Fukasaku is known for, it still retains a core element of his cinema: conflict. The well-constructed narrative gives key moments an ample amount of time to resonate, and pacing is not an issue as things move briskly to a very satisfying conclusion. Another strength is how the visuals allow the performances to be the focal point. Ultimately, Jakoman and Tetsu is arguably one of Kinji Fukasaku’s most underrated films.

Jakoman and Tetsu gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Adventurers – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1995
Director: Ringo Lam
Writers: Ringo Lam, Yip Kong-yam, Sandy Shaw
Cast: Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Jacklyn Wu, Paul Chun, Ben Ng, David Chiang

Release Date: April 28th, 2025 (UK), April 29th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 110 Minutes 34 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Stereo Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Wai Lok-yan (Lau) was just eight years old when his parents were killed before his eyes in Cambodia, where his father had been working for the CIA during Pol Pot’s ascent to power in the latter days of the Cambodian Civil War. Taken to Thailand by his father’s colleague Shang (Chiang), Yan grows up to join the Thai Air Force and comes to discover that his father’s murderer – Ray Lui (Paul Chun, Royal Tramp), once a double agent – has now become a wealthy arms dealer based in the United States. With the help of the CIA, Yan intends to get close to Lui and have his revenge by taking on an assumed identity and gaining the trust of Lui’s daughter, Crystal (Jacklyn Wu, A Moment of Romance) – but first he will need to go undercover in San Francisco’s criminal underworld to rescue her from the clutches of the criminal Black Tiger Gang." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "a brand new 2K restoration".

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

Disc Size: 43.3 GB

Feature: 34.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity, black levels and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Stereo Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese), 3.5/5 (LPCM Stereo Cantonese - Unrestored)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese labeled unrestored, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese. The unrestored stereo mix is the weakest of these three tracks; it sounds tiny compared to the other two audio tracks. Though the other two audio tracks sound more robust than the unfiltered track, there are a few moments where the dialog sounds noticeably lower than the rest of the sounds. That said, when it comes to overall clarity of dialog on these two audio tracks, it is always easy to hear and follow. Included are removable English subtitles for all dialog, even though there are some moments where characters speak in English.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 17 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with writer and producer Sandy Shaw (14 minutes 26 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Gary Bettinson, editor of Asian Cinema journal titled Two Adventurers (21 minutes 26 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic David West, an O-Card slipcase (limited to 2000 copies), and a 20 page booklet (limited to 2000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Unconventional Heroism The Moral Dilemmas of Revenge in The Adventurers written by Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

The Adventurers was directed by Ringo Lam, who rose to prominence in Hong Kong cinema in the latter part of the 1980s after directing films like City on Fire, Prison on Fire, and School on Fire. Even though he has made three films in Hollywood with Jean-Claude Van Damme, unlike most of his contemporaries, he has also managed to stay active in Hong Kong cinema.

A man who witnessed his parents' killings as a boy during the latter days of the Cambodian Civil War searches for the man responsible and seeks revenge.

A brutal pre-credits scene that takes place in the latter days of the Cambodian Civil War perfectly sets the tone. This pre-credits sequence where a young boy who is hiding sees his parents executed provides a solid foundation for the events that follow. This sequence showcases how Ringo Lam differs from his contemporaries, especially when it comes to the films he made from the 1990s onward. There is a realism to this moment that gives a humanity that a lot of similar scenes lack.

When it comes to the cinema of Ringo Lam, one thing you can always count on is solid action set pieces. Some of the notable action sequences in The Adventurers include a scene where the protagonist and his friend orchestrate an assassination attempt that goes awry and a scene where the protagonist and his men are ambushed by a rival gang trying to get back the daughter of the man he wants to kill. That said, the finale features the biggest and most bombastic action sequence.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles, especially Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs) in the role of the protagonist, Wai Lok-yan. Another performance of note is Rosamund Kwan (Once Upon a Time in China), who portrays Mona, the girlfriend of the man Wai Lok-yan wants to kill. Notable cast members include Jacklyn Wu (A Moment of Romance), who portrays the woman Wai Lok-yan falls in love with, and real-life brothers David Chiang (The Boxer from Shantung), who portrays a friend of Wai Lok-yan’s father, and Paul Chun (Raining in the Mountain), who portrays Ray Lui, the man who murdered Wai Lok-yan’s father.

From a production standpoint, The Adventurers is a film that fully exploits its resources. The narrative is well-executed; there are an ample amount of intense moments, notably a scene where Wai Lok-yan’s friend and accomplice is beaten to death after a failed assassination attempt and a scene where Mona throws Wai Lok-yan’s pregnant wife through a glass table. Pacing is not an issue, as the narrative does a superb job balancing exposition and action. Ultimately, The Adventurers is a well-made, revenge-themed action/drama whose poignant finale turns this genre on its head.

The Adventurers gets an exceptional release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lady with a Sword – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1971
Director: Kao Pao-shu
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Lily Ho, James Nam Seok-Hoon, Meng Yuen-Man, Wang Hsieh, Chai No, Lin Jing, Ou-Yang Sha-Fei

Release Date: April 21st, 2025 (UK), April 22nd, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 40 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"When her sister is attacked and murdered, swordswoman Feng Fei-fei (Lily Ho, Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan) knows just what to do – find the culprits and slice ‘em up. But her righteous vengeance is compromised when she learns just who her target is: the man her parents have arranged for her to marry..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-ray presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio".

Lady with a Sword comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 25.4 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

Though the transfer uses a dated source, it is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. That said, there does appear to be some digital noise reduction that is inherent to the source.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extra for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background (15 images), an audio commentary with David West, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

A young woman with extraordinary sword-fighting skills seeks vengeance against four bandits who assaulted and murdered her sister.

Lady with a Sword was directed by a first-time director named Kao Pao-shu; before directing, she was an actress who starred in over 75 films for The Shaw Brothers. Though Lady with a Sword explores the familiar theme of revenge, it does so from the perspective of a male-dominated world. In addition to being directed by a female filmmaker, Lady with a Sword features a female sword fighter as its protagonist, who is on a quest for vengeance.

If you have seen enough martial arts films, they start to blend into each other with their familiar scenarios. Fortunately, one aspect that all of the best martial arts films share is their captivating opening sequences. That said, Lady with a Sword has an exemplary opening sequence that draws you in and holds your attention.

Anchoring the story that unfolds is Lily Ho (Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan), who portrays Feng Fei-fei, the woman who seeks revenge. Her character is strong-willed and confident, and her performance perfectly captures these qualities. Another performance of note is Lin Jing (The 14 Amazons), who portrays the mother of the man who killed Feng Fei-fei’s sister. Her character's only concern is protecting her son, even when he should face consequences for his actions.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Lady with a Sword is lacking. The familiar premise is well-executed and given a solid plot twist where one of the men responsible for Feng Fei-fei’s sister was once romantically linked to her. The narrative does an excellent job balancing exposition and action, with everything building to a lengthy fight sequence finale where everything comes into focus. And when it comes to the fight sequences, they are all exemplary. Ultimately, Lady with a Sword is a must-see for fans of Wuxia films.

Lady with a Sword gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer