Eureka Entertainment presents EIGHT fully restored kung fu classics directed by Joseph Kuo, that have made their worldwide debut on Blu-ray! Add some heated, spicy “Cinematic Vengeance” to your Xmas gift stockings and order your collection in time for Christmas NOW from Eureka Video or Amazon!
Trailer
Cast
7 Grand Masters
Mark Long, Jack Long, Corey Yuen and Lee Yi Min.
36 Deadly Styles
Jack Long, Mark Long, Hwang Jang Lee, Ching Li, Bolo Yeung, and Jeannie Chang.
The World of Drunken Master
Pai Ah, Jeannie Chang, Hui Lou Chen, Long Ten Hsiang, Yi-min Li (as Lee I. Min), Jack Long, Mark Long, Fei Lung, Ting Wo Wang, Yu Wang, Siu Tien Yuen, and Sung Hsi Yu.
The Old Master
Jim-Yuen Yu, Bill Louie, Siu-nam Ng.
Shaolin Kung Fu
Chiang-Lung Wen, Hung Yi, Ping Lu.
The Shaolin Kids
Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan, Peng Tien, Carter Wong.
The 18 Bronzemen
Han Chiang, Jack Long, Men Peng, Tin Peng, Lingfeng Shangguan, Carter Wong.
Return of the 18 Bronzemen
Lingfeng Shangguan, Tin Peng, Carter Wong, Pao-San Chang, Ting Chao, Chiu Chen, Chien Chin, Kang Chin, You Min Ho, Fei Lung Huang, Kuan Hsiung Huang, Hua Lang Hung, Luo Hui Shaw, Chien Tsao, Ho Wu, Kuei Yu Yang, Chung Yen, Fung Yue, and Shen Yuen.
Plot
7 Grand Masters (1977)
An aged Kung Fu practitioner seeks to challenge the seven Grandmasters to prove his martial mastery.
36 Deadly Styles (1980)
A man comes into possession of The Secret Book of 36 Deadly Styles. A series of legendary masters, Silver Fox, the Ghost Face Killer, and Bolo among them, team up to steal the book for their own nefarious plans.
The World of Drunken Master (1979)
Vintner Chang Chi catches Fan Ta-pei and Su Hua-tzu red-handed as they steal grapes from his supplies.
To make good for what they’ve stolen, Chang Chi puts them to work in his winery, and soon discovers they both have a natural talent for the martial arts.
Chang begins coaching them in the finer points of Kung Fu, and one day when Fan Ta-pei and Su Hua-tzu see a thug named Yeh Hu harassing the townspeople, they stand up to the bully, only to discover he outpaces them as a fighter.
Chang Chi arrives in time to save the day, but this rekindles an old rivalry between him and Yeh Hu, and now Fan Ta-pei and Su Hua-tzu must get serious about their martial arts studies to protect Chang Chi and the villagers from Yeh Hu and his minions.
The Old Master (1979)
Master Yu is invited to Los Angeles to take on numerous fighters in a Kung Fu contest. He beats all comers and this angers a local mob boss who lost a great deal of money on illegal betting.
Shaolin Kung Fu (1974)
Tongyang brings his rickshaws into town and starts using his hired muscle to dominate the clientele.
The Shaolin Kids (1975)
When a ruthless Premier Hu Wei Yung, writes a self-incriminating letter that ends up in the wrong hands (the delicate but deadly hands of the lovely Su Lin), he will stop at nothing to get it back. The Premier then kidnaps Miss Lin’s father and she risks everything to free him.
The 18 Bronzemen (1976)
A great warrior leader’s parents were brutally murdered by a vicious clan. After being raised by a master of martial arts, he sets out for revenge. But before retribution can be made, there is a final test. He must vanquish the 18 Bronzemen and discover the secret of the jade talisman his grandmother gave him when he was just a child.
Return of the 18 Bronzemen (1976)
Despite the national resistance, the Manchurians have taken over China. The Qing Emperor fears that the Shaolin Temple disciples would overthrow the dynasty, so he disguises himself as a disciple, in order to become a kung fu master and control the Shaolin monks. According to custom, he must pass the test of the legendary 18 Bronzemen before he can leave the Temple.
Action
The quality of the action does vary from film to film, but there is no denying that there is plenty of it!
Fans of the old school Seventies-style of kung fu fighting are well served here, even by the weaker entries, such as The Old Master.
The highlights are the action-packed 7 Grand Masters, the astonishing acrobatic slapstick stunts in The World of Drunken Master, and the influential, cult-classic Bronzemen movies.
In this release, there is the additional option to watch the Japanese and Hong Kong cuts of 18 Bronzemen.
Summary
Director Joseph Kuo’s films generally sit in the “B-movie” category of the genre. I don’t mean that in a negative sense, because he certainly knows what the discerning kung fu flick fan wants, and he more-often-than-not delivers it.
The plots aren’t exactly Shakespearean, and the acting is unlikely to win any awards, but each film features plenty of traditional martial arts fighting!
Kuo’s work has been described as “crowd-pleasers”, and many of his films have gone on to become cult classics. They have even influenced the likes of hip-hop stars The Wu Tang Clan!
Eureka’s release includes a fantastic 60-page booklet full of information about the films featured.
The discs themselves feature numerous audio options, including some very entertaining and informative commentaries from Hong Kong film experts Frank Djeng, Mike Leeder, Arnie Venema, John Charles and Michael Worth.
The restoration job on the visuals is fabulous, and easily the best that these classics have ever looked.
This box set, “Cinematic Vengeance”, is absolutely packed with goodies for fans of old-school kung fu movies! With eight films to watch, there is ample entertainment and fun to be had!
Trivia
- “The Old Master” stars Master Yu Jim Yuen, teacher of the Seven Little Fortunes, the Chinese Opera troupe that included Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao.
- “18 Bronzemen” and “Return of the 18 Bronzemen” were filmed back-to-back and both released in 1976.
- Although “Drunken Master” star Yuen Siu Tien was heavily featured in the promotion of “The World of Drunken Master”, he only makes a very short cameo appearance in the movie’s prologue.
Cinematic Vengeance – 8 Kung Fu Classics OUT NOW on Blu-ray! – KUNG FU KINGDOM
