DETONATION: VIOLENT RIDERS 88 Films Blu-Ray Review: Japanese Biker Gangs Ride Fast And Live Faster In Teruo Ishii’s 1975 Classic
Coming to Blu-Ray from 88 Films on July 21.
88 films
THE PROJECT A COLLECTION – 88 Films Review: A Treasure Trove Of Action Comedy Delight, Memorabilia, Stories And More!
Tap the following for anchors: • INTRODUCTION • STORY • REVIEW • PROJECT A Features (Taiwanese Cut – Extras) • PROJECT A2 Features (Extras) • Conclusion INTRODUCTION: I remember first setting eyes on Project A a long time ago before Blu-Rays would exist. It was on TV, it was dubbed in English, and I didn’t even know who Yuen Biao was at the time. It was post Jackie Chan 2.0 in the mid 2000s though, and I had already become enamored by Hong Kong cinema’s revival via home media, and having turned away Miramax’s dubbed version, I always hoped I would be able to see the original in its Cantonese audio. I was obsessed with seeing these titles as intended in their regional output, and lo and behold, 88 Films has packaged one hell of a gem for U.S. fans. The bundle comes in a Blu-Ray box-set, as well as […]
THE PROJECT A COLLECTION: 88 Films Announces October Release For The Back-To-Back Classics On 4k And Blu-Ray In October!
I’m old enough to remember when I first saw the above promo included on VHS tapes back when action star Jackie Chan was conquering the West in his second crossover attempt post-Rumble In The Bronx. Chan’s had a hell of a career over the years and including since then as he nowadays focuses his attempts on the mainland, while his heyday as one of Hong Kong’s biggest stars alongside his Peking Opera ilk now comes back into focus with The Project A Collection, 88 Films’s own re-releases of the 1983 and 1987 action adventure classic, Project A and Project A 2. The films mark only the latest in the film’s celebratory re-releases with 88 Films turning its attention to the U.S. for its rollout. Included are 4-disc Deluxe Edition as well as a 2-disc Special Edition, incumbent with either 4K or Blu-Ray renditions and loads of special features to serve up […]
88 Films Reveals Upcoming 4K/Blu-ray Release Of Two Jet Li Classics
I think it’s safe to say that 2024 has been the year of Jet Li for physical media enthusiasts. Boutique Blu-ray label, 88 Films, has, so far, released Fist of Legend and The Bodyguard from Beijing on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray, with Tai-Chi Master (aka Twin Warriors) set for an October release. We can now expect another Jet Li film to drop on November 25th. Artwork has appeared online revealing that 88 Films are planning to release a double-pack of FONG SAI YUK and FONG SAI YUK II. Once again, on 4K and Blu-ray disc. Ronin Flix released a double-pack of the same films last year, though their release is widely regarded as being rather poor. This will be a huge upgrade of two films that definitely deserve 88 Films’ dedicated time and attention. Sadly, due to Ronin Flix seemingly still having US rights, it looks like this release will be UK only. US fans will have […]
The Shaws Keep Comin’! 88 Films Drops Two Classics On Blu-Ray, This October
If I can quote one of Mad Max: Fury Road’s War Boys for a second, “Oh, what a day! What a lovely day!” The Shaw Brothers Blu-rays continue to roll in as the wonderful folks at 88 Films recently announced their October slate. What are we getting this time around? Well, for kung fu cinema fans, they’re releasing the bonafide classic, The Kung Fu Instructor, as well as the quirky martial arts comedy, Kid from Kwangtung. You can find synopses for the films below: Kung Fu Instructor: In this bitterly divided town, there’s no middle ground; you’re either with one side or the other – cross the line and face dire consequences. One clan hires a kung fu master – played by the great Ti Lung (A Better Tomorrow) – to break the stalemate, but he’s nobody’s servant and his loyalties can’t be bought so easily… Inspired by Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and Sergio Leone’s […]
88 Films Delivers More Kung Fu Classics This September!
88 FILMS are on fire lately. Not only did they announce a new slate of Shaw Brothers releases mere days ago, they just announced the release of two kung fu classics (and a saucy CAT III collection which I won’t touch upon here). Both are set to land this September. The first of the two is Jackie Chan’s 1978 film, MAGNIFICENT BODYGUARDS. This early effort, directed by frquent Chan collaborator, Lo Wei, has something a bit unique to it as it was originally released in 3-D. Well, 88 Films’ upcoming Blu-Ray will also be in 3-D. No word on technical specs yet so exactly how it’ll be in 3-D is unknown. Looks like this will be quite the drop for physical media enthusiasts. Secondly, another martial arts legend gets a release in the form of Yuen Woo-Ping’s TAI CHI MASTER (originally released as Twin Warriors in the US). Jet Li (Fist of Legend) stars alongside Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, […]
88 Films Dips Back Into The SHAW BROTHERS Vault For Three New Blu-Ray Releases
It’s a great time to be alive if you’re a Hong Kong cinema fans. 88 Films have announced three new Blu-Ray releases for September 10th, including an unsung gem of kung fu cinema. The announcement includes TO KILL A MASTERMIND, THE SHADOW BOXING and THE GOLDEN LOTUS. As a genre fan, it’s incredible to see these Blu-Ray companies picking up some of the more obscure Shaw Brothers titles. To Kill a Mastermand, in particular, has only previously been available via shoddy bootleg DVD, so for that one to finally get a release really is something special. You can read the synopsis and view the cover art for these upcoming releases below: Although most famous for their kung fu movies, Hong Kong’s legendary Shaw Brothers studio made more than just chop socky; taken from a (famously saucy) classic novel, Golden Lotus is an epic tale of a passionate – and sometimes destructive – love […]
88 Films Bombards Us With Action With Their June/July/August Slate
British Blu-Ray distributor, 88 FILMS, have been delivering the goods with their martial arts action releases for years now and they’re showing no signs of stopping any time soon. Physical Media fans have a lot to look forwards to over the next few months as 88 Films are set to hit us with a veritable avalanche of classic Hong Kong action flicks. Check out their slate below: JUNE Fist of Legend (6/24) – Everyone and their dog knows this film. Considered Jet Li’s best by many, it tells the story of Chen Zhen (also portrayed by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury) fighting off the evil Japanese. Features fight choreography from Yuen Woo Ping and a fantastic villain in the form of Billy Chow. Availaiable on both Blu-Ray and 4K UHD. To Kill Wih Intrigue (TBD) – While a date hasn’t been set in stone for this one, most people are leaning […]
Home Media Roundup: FIST OF THE CONDOR, IN THE LINE OF DUTY, BRUCE LEE AT GOLDEN HARVEST And More!
As much as try to share news regarding physical media (some of which I get via e-mail), I rarely do so as often as I’d like due to lack of time and contributors mostly, so I’m trying something new here and thought I’d take off with another first for the site – a roundup of sorts which highlights a raft of upcoming releases between now and the next few months. The following are all disc releases in blu-ray or 4k blu-ray format from Well Go USA (Fist Of The Condor, Young Ip Man), Arrow Video (Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest, Hand Of Death), Film Movement Classics (Samurai Wolf, Samurai Wolf 2: Hell Cut, Violent Streets) and 88 Films (In The Line Of Duty Collection). I’ve lined everything up in the mosaic below, and all you need to do is tap the “i” icon on the bottom right and you can […]
DRIVE: DIRECTOR’S CUT 4K, TIGER CAGE TRILOGY, KILLER’S MOON And More Announced From 88 Films
February was a banner moment for fans of creature creator Steve Wang’s hit 1997 action thriller, Drive. Nearly two decades since Hong Kong Legends and Medusa Communications partnered for a director’s cut re-release, fans now get to look forward to a 4K re-release both in the U.S., as well as the U.K. with pre-order links now available for Tuesday’s raft of pending releases from 88 Films following MVD’s own release on Blu-Ray last year in the U.S.. The slate joins the 4K version of Drive: Director’s Cut with perpetual classic Hong Kong action and giallo horror for genre aficionados alike, including Yuen Biao crime thriller On The Line, master Yuen Woo-Ping’s Tiger Cage trilogy featuring the likes of action star Donnie Yen, and actors Simon Yam, Carol Cheung, Rosamund Kwan and Man Cheung in the non-linear trio of cop thrillers, and horror titles like Killers Moon and 88’s Italian Collection […]
SNAKE IN THE EAGLE’S SHADOW Blu-Ray Slithers With Its High-Flying Kung Fu Grip In March From 88 Films
It’s no overstatement to say or suggest the 1970s gave way to a bumpercrop of kung fu cinema legends, no less including Master Yuen Woo Ping whose 1978 kung fu comedy classic, Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow, has certainly stood the test of time. It was definitely a film that got me keen on invading my local video store’s Asian VHS isle on a near-regular basis following action star Jackie Chan’s phase-three breakout role in New Line Cinema’s Rumble In The Bronx, reigniting crossover kung fu fan fervor in the late 1990s. Since then, the film has endured a raft of physical media releases of various kinds and now, 88 Films is stepping up to the plate with its own committment to a Blu-Ray rollout of the film on March 29, bolstering its current collection of Jackie Chan classics. For all that and more, they’ve unleashed a brand new trailer […]
DRAGONS FOREVER: 88 Films Shares Key Art For Upcoming Uncut 4K Re-Release
If nothing else, 88 Films understands the need for posterity on physical media when it comes to classic Hong Kong cinema. For this, say what you will about previous incarnations of Corey Yuen and Sammo Hung’s hit action comedy, Dragons Forever, but the UK-based firm is finally rolling out a portion of the goods with the official key art for its re-release as announced earlier this year, as illustrated by Robert “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien. The film centers on a lawyer, an arms dealer and a career burglar (Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao) who find themselves embroiled in a mix of romantic upheaval, and a face-to-face duel with an underground narcotics operation fronting as a chemical factory. The film also stars Pauline Yeung, Deanne Ip and Yuen Wah with appearances by Billy Chow, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, Phillip Ko-Fei and many more for its re-relese which will be 4K, […]
MIRACLES: THE CANTON GODFATHER: Jackie Chan’s 1989 Classic Gets A Limited Edition U.K. Release From 88 Films
Jackie Chan’s 1989 hit, Miracles: The Canton Godfather, is now available for pre-order from 88 Films, the latest Jackie Chan release from the UK distro outlet following recent Chan releases, Crime Story and The Protector. The official street date for the new limited edition Blu-Ray is December 9, packed with featurettes, exclusive art and more. An optimistic Gwok Zan-Waa (Jackie Chan) arrives in Hong Kong, quickly finding himself impoverished. That is, until a serendipitous encounter with a rose seller (Gua Ah-Leh) leads to his inadvertent appointment as boss of a local gang. Amidst the reluctant leader’s efforts to reform their fraternity and businesses, is an endeavour to share his new-found fortune with the bestower, all whilst trying to stave off rivals and the authorities. A remake of Frank Capra’s ‘Pocketful of Miracles’, Miracles – also known by its Hong Kong English title ‘Mr Canton and Lady Rose’ – is an […]
88 Films Announces CANDYMAN 2, THE RAGE: CARRIE 2 Horror Double Header For March UK Release
88 Films is proudly rolling out two classic horror sequels with Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and The Rage: Carrie 2 for UK home viewing on Special Edition Blu-ray beginning March 25. Pre-orders are up-and-running over at Amazon both here and here, and packed with new special features to help layer things nicely for cinephiles. 88 Films are pleased to present two classic 90s horror titles on special edition UK Blu-ray for the very first time. These thrilling sequels provided fresh follow-ups that satisfied fans of the much-loved originals, and now these impressive releases are set to terrify all over again with stunning new HD presentations and stacks of special features. Hit up the gallery below to view the artwork and stills, with Special Features and technical info all listed.
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