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Release: April 5, 2022

$7.99

Description

After one of its lead actors (cherub-faced action icon Alexander Fu Sheng) unexpectedly died midway through production, master director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) retooled his latest martial arts epic, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, as the ultimate action spectacular in tribute to the fallen star. Loosely based upon the legendary Yang dynasty chronicled in Chinese folklore, the film starts as the family patriarch and all but two of his sons are brutally wiped out in a bloody battle. One surviving son (Fu Sheng) returns to his mother and two sisters, deeply traumatized; the other (Gordon Liu) escapes and joins a nearby monastery while in hiding. Once he learns his sister (Kara Hui) has been captured by their enemies, however, the warrior-turned-monk realizes he must renounce his peaceful ideals in order to mount a rescue mission and avenge his family. Made during the legendary Shaw Brothers studio's twilight years as a filmmaking powerhouse, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is often regarded as director Lau’s masterpiece, as elegiac and suffused with anguish as it is thrillingly violent (not least in its bone-crunching, teeth-smashing climax). SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation Original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin and English mono audio Optional English subtitles, plus hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub Brand new commentary by Jonathan Clements, author of A Brief History of China Newly filmed appreciation by film critic and historian Tony Rayns Interviews with stars Gordon Liu, Lily Li and Yeung Ching-ching, filmed by Frédéric Ambroisine in 2004 A Tribute to Fu Sheng, a short film commemorating the late actor that played before early screenings of The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, presented via a German-dubbed telecine (the best available copy) with English subtitles Alternate opening credits, as The Invincible Pole Fighters Theatrical trailer Image gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Aspinall FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing on the film by Terrence J. Brady

Release: April 23, 2024

$7.99

Description

THE SUPERHERO MARTIAL ARTS CLASSIC FROM WRITER / PRODUCER TSUI HARK (ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, KNOCK OFF) NOW AVAILABLE IN A 2-DISC LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY! Tsui Chik (Li) is a librarian who leads a quiet, unassuming life - or, at least, that's what he wants people to believe. In truth, he was once a member of the 701 Squad, a group of elite combatants produced by a failed super-soldier project. In kind with his former comrades, his central nervous system has been altered to render him impervious to pain. When several of his fellow test subjects resurface and embark on a crimewave under the leadership of their former commander Hung Kuk (Patrick Lung), Tsui is forced to use his extraordinary abilities once more. Donning a costume, he sets out to face his past - as the vigilante known as the Black Mask. Adapted from the manhua by Pang Chi-ming and Li Chi-tak and heavily influenced by Bruce Lee's turn as Kato in The Green Hornet, Black Mask is one of the most entertaining movies in Jet Li's filmography and boasts action orchestrated by Yuen Woo-ping, who would later win an Academy Award for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film in its rarely seen uncut version on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration! LIMITED EDITION TWO-DISC BLU-RAY SET FEATURES: Limited Edition of 2000 copies only | O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) | Limited Edition bonus disc featuring an extended version of the film | PLUS: A Limited- edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver DISC ONE Fully uncut Hong Kong version presented in 1080p from a 2K restoration Original US version presented in 1080p from a 2K restoration Original Cantonese Stereo and optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Hong Kong Version) Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) Brand new audio commentary on the US export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema Brand new interview with stuntman Mike Lambert Brand new interview with film critic Andrew Heskins (easternKicks.com) Brand new interview with Leon Hunt, author of Kung Fu Cult Masters: From Bruce Lee to Crouching Tiger Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork Archival Making of featurette Trailers DISC TWO (LIMITED EDITION BONUS DISC) Extended version of Black Mask featuring all the unique footage from the various releases of the film re-inserted

Release: April 23, 2024

$7.99

Description

THE SUPERHERO MARTIAL ARTS CLASSIC FROM WRITER / PRODUCER TSUI HARK (ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA, KNOCK OFF) NOW AVAILABLE IN A 2-DISC LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY! Tsui Chik (Li) is a librarian who leads a quiet, unassuming life - or, at least, that's what he wants people to believe.