Shaw Brothers Presents: Four Films by Lau Kar-Leung Blu-ray Movie

Overview

Shaw Brothers Presents: Four Films by Lau Kar-Leung (1976-1979)

After masterminding the spellbinding martial arts choreography on dozens of Shaw Brothers' biggest hits, Lau Kar-Leung became an extraordinary director in his own right, using his inimitable talents and deeply-felt understanding of kung fu history to create his own idiosyncratic and often humorous take on the genre. Lau's second film, the thrilling and deeply personal Challenge of the Masters, draws upon the legend of the real-life Cantonese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, played here by Lau's soon-to-be-legendary adoptive brother Gordon Liu in his first starring role. Having choreographed the action for many of Chang Cheh's 'Shaolin Temple' films, Lau took on the same historical legends in Executioners from Shaolin, jam-packed with extraordinary fight scenes and unforgettable characters, not least the evil Bai Mei, the White-Browed Hermit! Lau's trademark mix of high-kicking kung fu choreography and knee-slapping physical comedy is on full display in one of the director's most acclaimed films, Heroes of the East, which pits Japanese and Chinese martial arts against one another and ultimately celebrates both. Last but not least is Dirty Ho, Lau's take on the odd couple buddy comedy, which shows off some of the most inventive action set-pieces in the Shaw Brothers canon and is not to be missed!

Specifications

• Video

  Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  Video resolution: 1080p
  

• Audio

  See individual releases
  

• Subtitles

  None
  

• Discs

  Blu-ray Disc
  Two-disc set (2 BDs)
  

• Packaging

  Slipcover in original pressing
  

• Playback

  Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Shaw Brothers Presents: Four Films by Lau Kar-Leung Blu-ray Movie Review

No review exists for this particular release, however, it exists for the other following regions/countries:

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  Dirty Ho Blu-ray Movie  

  Lan tou He

  Arrow | 1979 | 103 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

  
  

  The eleventh son of the Qing emperor, who's a kung fu master, is visiting Canton incognito. While there, he meets a loudmouth thief who he takes under his wing, while assassins sent by his fourth brother threaten his life.

  
  

  Action / Comedy / Martial arts / Foreign

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  Heroes of the East Blu-ray Movie  

  Arrow | 1978 | 100 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

  
  

  A Chinese man marries a Japanese woman through an arranged marriage and manages to insult all of her martial arts family by issuing a challenge to her that is misinterpreted by the others. He must then prove his worth through a series of duels with the seven Japanese martial artists who come to meet the challenge.

  
  

  Action / Comedy / Martial arts / Foreign

• 

  Executioners from Shaolin Blu-ray Movie  

  The Executioners of Death / Hong Xi Guan

  Arrow | 1977 | 108 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

  
  

  After the destruction of the Temple, a Shaolin disciple devotes years to mastering Tiger style in order to defeat the martial arts master who killed his teacher. His wife, a Crane style specialist, has a feeling one style won't be enough.

  
  

  Action / Martial arts / Foreign

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  Challenge of the Masters Blu-ray Movie  

  Liu A-Cai yu Huang Fei-Hong

  Arrow | 1976 | 95 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

  
  

  Teenager Wong Fei-hung is sent to train in the art of hung gar kung fu from his father's teacher, Luk Ah-choy. With training complete, Wong must fight an assassin and regain the honor of his school.

  
  

  Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign