Where to Purchase Chinese Martial Art 4k Bluray Movies

Top 10 Martial Arts Movies on Blu-ray! - Kung Fu Kingdom

In the name of transparency, permit me start off by informing the reader that I sadly don't currently own a region-free Blu-ray thespian, and alive in the UK/Region B! There are some Region A and C releases that I covet (the Hong Kong restorations of "Righting Wrongs" and "Police force Story 3" would exist lovely), and some that are only available as (oftentimes lovingly-crafted) bootlegs (a fully restored, uncut "Drunken Main 2" with the original audio and attribute ratio a adept case). Which is ironic when you consider many fans from the early days of VHS could but buy bootlegs of many of these films!
The latest high definition releases however, really practice highlight the dazzler and artistic merit of a lot of films, that for many years were often dismissed by mainstream western audiences. Fifty-fifty the less "artistic" movies are just equally joyously entertaining every bit when fans first experienced them at a tardily-night cinema screening or dodgy, grainy videotape circular a mate's firm!

And then, with that said, after a mini delve into some historic, and nostalgic background, permit's continue the kung-fu love affair with some of our favourite Region-B Blu-ray releases in the Acme 10 Martial Arts Movies on Blu-ray! (in descending guild)

Fifty-fifty though there are some corking modern releases on Blu-ray, such equally "The Raid" or "John Wick" films, or niche titles such as "Re:Built-in", I am looking in particular at older films that take actually benefited from beingness polished upwards and published in the high definition format. There are now many official, beautifully-restored releases of some of the best martial arts entertainment available. Blu-ray players tin be institute in Playstation 3/4/five and Xbox One consoles up, making it easier than ever to bask these titles in the all-time condition they have ever looked or sounded.

The Japanese market aside, it was UK labels that originally led the way in restoring Hong Kong action films for fans. Starting out as a specialist shop in the 1980s in London called 'Eastern Heroes', Rick Baker and Toby Russell were among the first to officially learn the rights, and often the original prints, of many Hong Kong movies from the 1970'southward and 80's. A combination of Eastern Heroes magazines, books, late-night cinema screenings and events started to build a solid fan base.

They were the outset label to officially release Jet Li's "Shaolin Temple" trilogy of films in the Uk, and brought the star himself, too as others such every bit Chow Yun-fat, Gordon Liu and Donnie Yen to exclusive fan events in London, when they were virtually unknown outside of Asia.

Other labels such equally 'Fabricated in Hong Kong' and 'Hong Kong Classics', started to break into the booming VHS retail market, with popular titles such as "Dragons Forever", "Knockabout", "Wheels on Meals", "Once Upon a Fourth dimension in China", "Fist of Legend", "Eastern Condors", "Pedicab Driver", "Mr Vampire" and many more. Whole sections of major high street retailers, such as HMV, Virgin Music, and Blockbuster Video would exist dedicated to these releases.

Although sometimes edited differently, what was great nearly many of these video presentations was that the prints, effulgence and dissimilarity had been improved, with English dubs or new subtitles that you could actually read. They were, by and large, vastly superior in quality to their import or bootleg counterparts.

I was lucky enough to have regularly visited Malaysia and Singapore in the late 1990'south, and bought the 'Speedy Video' releases of "Eastern Condors" and "Fist of Legend", among others. The night-time scenes in "Eastern Condors" were and then dark you could barely see the activity, and and so many characters wore white dress in "Fist of Fable" that the poorly-translated subtitles were frequently invisible. When I got the Made in Hong Kong versions, information technology was virtually similar watching completely different movies, as I could finally come across and read what was going on!

With wider releases and re-releases in Western markets of films similar "Hard Boiled", "Chungking Limited", "City on Fire" and "Rumble in the Bronx", directors and stars such as John Woo, Ringo Lam, Chow Yun-fat, Jackie Chan and Jet Li were being courted by Hollywood. Hong Kong cinema, having "borrowed" from Hollywood for then many years, was now openly and actively influencing Western filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, The Wachowskis and even Martin Scorsese.

With the advent of DVD, ane label in particular really took fans' honey matter with these titles much more seriously. In 1999, operating out of the pocket-sized market boondocks of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, Hong Kong Legends began acquiring the rights to what would become a library of over 100 classic titles.

Each release featured cleaned up or "digitally re-mastered" visuals, often several sound options, newly-translated subtitles, audio commentaries, and extra features such as brand new interviews with the actors and directors. Over the side by side eight years, they released some of the best works of stars such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat, Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh, not just edifice a loyal ring of collectors, simply introducing a whole new generation of fans to Hong Kong activity picture palace.

Other labels such as 'Dragon Dynasty' and 'Cinematics Asia' congenital on the foundations laid by Hong Kong Legends, releasing a mix of classic and current titles. It could be argued that this involvement in the Due west helped to make Hong Kong studios and distributors finally realise that their dorsum catalogue of films were of value.

At the turn of the millennium, Asian movie theater finally bankrupt into the mainstream worldwide box role with huge hits such as "Crouching Tiger, Subconscious Dragon", "Hero", "Fearless" and "Kung Fu Hustle". Asian companies, such every bit Celestial Pictures, began to preserve and restore dozens of classic titles into the latest high-definition 2K and 4K formats.

In recent years, British labels such as Eureka Amusement and 88 Films have led the manner, releasing many of these restorations with new audio options, original and international cuts, commentaries, extra features and interviews. They are frequently beautifully packaged with the original and new artwork, informative accompanying booklets, and reproduction vestibule cards. Many of the restored versions are available on streaming services such as Amazon Prime number or Netflix, and labels exterior of the United kingdom such as the 'Criterion Drove', take likewise built an impressive catalogue of titles. OK, so on with the list…!

Fearless

An event that is perhaps highlighted by the popularity of Blu-ray re-releases and re-masters is that very often, western distributors would edit the original foreign films, removing mayhap cultural references or humor that they think not-Asian audiences wouldn't capeesh or understand.

The original theatrical and DVD release of director Ronny Yu's "Fearless", based on the story of existent-life martial arts master Huo Yuanjia, was cut from 140 minutes to 105 minutes, "to meet market place demands".

In December 2008, Universal released the Blu-ray version of the moving-picture show, which contains iii versions; Theatrical, Unrated and the Director'southward Cut. Although the longer cuts don't contain a great bargain of additional action, the picture show's emotional cadre and fundamental message of using martial arts to better oneself, are much more effective. The Blu-ray release, equally you would expect, also has far superior visual and audio quality compared to the lower-definition releases.

Come Drink With Me

Taken from a flawless restoration past Celestial Pictures, 88 Films premiered "Come Drink With Me" on United kingdom Blu-ray, a highly significant moving picture in the history of Chinese films from acclaimed director King Hu.

The cinematography, framing, lighting and colours actually are a work of art that fully benefit from a high- definition presentation. Information technology's difficult to believe this film is over half a century former! Actress and star Cheng Pei-pei is a revelation in the leading role as 'Gold Swallow', with this film proving to be hugely influential on the Chinese martial arts films that followed it.

Mr Vampire

"Mr Vampire" is a hilarious kung fu-horror, one-act classic starring Lam Ching-ying, Ricky Hui, Mentum Siu-ho and Moon Lee, that was produced by Sammo Hung, having kickstarted the "Jiangshi" genre himself with "Encounters of the Spooky Kind".

Taken from a gorgeous, make new, uncut, 2K restoration, information technology finally made its worldwide debut onto Blu-ray in 2020 courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. Aside from never looking meliorate, this is a shamelessly silly, funny and entertaining movie featuring some barnstorming martial arts activeness scenes!

Mr Vampire: False Teeth!

The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter

Since 2002, Celestial Pictures have been at the forefront of restoring dozens of archetype kung fu films from the legendary Shaw Brothers library. Along with "The 36th Sleeping accommodation of Shaolin", "The Viii Diagram Pole Fighter" must rank as one of the definitive menses kung fu films of the 20^th Century, and makes regular appearances in the Top 10 Favourites lists of fans!

Beautifully packaged and released for the start time on Blu-ray in the Great britain past 88 Films, this is an unmissable classic. Directed by the legendary Lau Kar-leung, the motion picture stars Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Alexander Fu Sheng, Phillip Ko-Fei, and Kara Hui Ying-hung.

Iron Monkey

Originally a motion picture that wasn't considered a success at the box office, information technology eventually became a fan favourite, particularly in the west, following subsequent VHS and DVD releases. Information technology made its UK debut on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.

A lot of this film takes place at dark, but in that location are no worries most missing any of the action thanks to a peachy 1080p presentation from a bright and assuming 2K restoration! There are some fun audio options to play with likewise. This is a movie with groovy re-lookout man value and it has never looked meliorate!

Iron Monkey – Donnie Yen as Wong Kei Ying vs Yen Shi-kwan as Hin-hung

Drunken Master

What startled me with Eureka Entertainment'due south definitive release of Jackie Chan's classic, was that I thought I had already witnessed this moving-picture show at its best. "Drunken Master" is one of many films that I have ended up buying several times over, from poor quality VHS, to VCD, and eventually DVD.

When I bought the splendid Hong Kong Legends release, the motion picture looked better than ever. The Blu- ray version though absolutely blows it away, and highlights the gulf in quality between digitally remastered 720p DVD resolution and a 1080p HD presentation of a 4K restoration!

The DVD looks thoroughly grainy and done-out in comparison! If you lot are feeling especially nostalgic watching this Blu-ray, in addition to the dissimilar dubs, you tin select the Hong Kong theatrical subtitles, intentionally reproduced with the original grammatical errors, calculation to the fun and humour of the film! "Drunken Chief" is a long-time fan favourite and deservedly established Jackie Chan as Hong Kong'southward biggest film star.

Wheels on Meals

The holy trinity of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, accept worked together delivering some astonishing activeness over the years in films such every bit "Project A", "Dragons Forever" and the "Lucky Stars" comedies. For me, this was their best collaboration, with a great blend of activeness and comedy. It features a superlative supporting cast, and i of the most exhilarating fight scenes ever committed to film between Jackie Chan and Benny Urquidez.

Another benefit of Blu-ray releases is the ability to include "branching" or interactive features. The Eureka Entertainment Blu- ray features a unique "hybrid audio option". It combines the original Cantonese dialogue track mixed with the alternating, and much funkier, music soundtrack from the original international release!

Wheels on Meals: Morning Workout

Law Story ane & two

Along with their release of "Project A ane & two", Eureka Entertainment produced an unbeatable edition of the kickoff two "Police Story" films. Taken from immaculate 4K restorations, it is packed with extra features, with the picture itself showcasing some of Jackie Chan's most footing-breaking work.

Bated from the incredible action in these films, which has rarely been bettered, Eureka included an actress bonus feature of item involvement to UK fans. Information technology is an episode of the serial "The Son of the Incredibly Strange Flick Prove", presented by television personality Jonathan Ross, that first aired on Aqueduct 4 in 1989.

Focusing on the weird and wonderful world of Hong Kong picture making, for many viewers it sparked what would become an obsession with Jackie Chan and Hong Kong activity films. Even if you have never seen this episode, it remains a fascinating look behind-the-scenes at the incredible stunts and activity that fans love, and why later all these years, nosotros are yet ownership these films on Blu-ray!

Police force Story 2: Playground Fight

Once Upon a Fourth dimension in China Trilogy

As with "Drunken Main", I thought the Hong Kong Legends DVD of the first three "Once Upon a Time in China" movies couldn't be bettered. Happily Eureka Entertainment in one case again proved me wrong! Aside from the thoroughly entertaining action, director, author and producer Tsui Hark'south masterpieces are visually breathtaking.

Presented from a 4K restoration, some 30 years later on they look as dazzling as ever! The grapheme of Wong Fei-hung was Jet Li's defining onscreen role, and these films are arguably Tsui Hark's finest hour equally a manager. The Blu-ray release also features a bonus movie in "In one case Upon a Time in China & America" from a 2K restoration, which marked Jet Li'south render to the function.

Once Upon a Time in China 3: Jet Fighter!

Three Films with Sammo Hung

All the films in this listing (and many of the other titles available from 88 Films and Eureka) are worthy of a identify in every fan's collection. Nevertheless, i box fix that arrived late in October 2019 from Eureka piqued my involvement. Featuring 3 excellent examples of work from the prolific career of Sammo Hung, they were presented from brand new 2K restorations and marked the worldwide debut of these refurbished versions on home video.

Even improve, "The Iron-Fisted Monk" and "Eastern Condors" were existence released fully uncut for the outset fourth dimension always in the UK. Aside from the excellent moving picture quality, there is just almost every audio option you could want, from The Iron-Fisted Monk's fully restored Cantonese mono track, with original sound furnishings reinserted subsequently existence absent-minded from previous releases, to the archetype, ofttimes hilarious, English dubs from the old releases.

Eastern Condors: Sammo Hung vs Yuen Wah

A fascinating and entertaining additional bonus feature is "Eastern Condors Live". A alive performance recorded at the 1987 "Miss Hong Kong Pageant", it features many of the main bandage acrobatically recreating scenes from the film in the style of a Chinese opera.

Just most any 3 films from Sammo Hung's career could have been chosen and they wouldn't disappoint, only these three demonstrate particularly well his mastery of martial arts choreography, whether it be traditional sometime school, spectacularly acrobatic, or hard-striking mod-mean solar day gimmicky.

"The Fe Fisted Monk" was a stunning directorial debut for Sammo, and "Magnificent Butcher" and "Eastern Condors" are ii of my favourites from his filmography, making this set my number 1 Blu-ray!