Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 18, 2022

The hits (and/or kicks, smacks and whacks) keep on comin', with this set from Eureka! Entertainment following releases like Shawscope Volume One from Arrow and a number of offerings from 88 Films like The Chinese Boxer and Disciples of Shaolin in my review queue. The big difference between those films and the ones featured in this huge collection is that these were the handiwork of one Joseph Kuo, a name which may frankly not be all that familiar even to lovers of the "kung fu" genre. Kuo was, as they say, a "multi-hyphenate" who frequently wrote, produced and directed his films, which tended to be independently financed far, far away from the riches and "studio system" of facilities like the Shaw Brothers. As commentator Frank Djenge mentions on more than one disc, that meant Kuo often tried to film outside, where he didn't have to pay for things like sets, which can give these films a kind of distinctive ambience at times. According to the press sheet Eureka! sent with the (check) discs, seven of the eight films in this set are making their worldwide debuts on Blu-ray.

For reviews of the eight films in this collection, please click on the following links:

The 7 Grandmasters Blu-ray review

The 36 Deadly Styles Blu-ray review

The World of Drunken Master Blu-ray review

The Old Master Blu-ray review

Shaolin Kung Fu Blu-ray review

The Shaolin Kids Blu-ray review

18 Bronzemen Blu-ray review

Return of the 18 Bronzemen Blu-ray review

Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Each film comes with a commentary, listed in each review. Additionally, the press sheet accompanying the check discs Eureka! sent mentions trailers, but I sure couldn't find any, and as can be seen by the main menu screenshots of the four discs accompanying this review, there are no trailers listed. Since only check discs were sent, I can't comment on any non-disc swag or packaging, but the aforementioned press sheet mentions limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Darren Wheeling, a limited edition 60 page booklet, and a limited edition set of eight facsimile lobby cards.

Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

None of these films can probably compete with better funded efforts that came from the likes of the Shaw Brothers, but the very scrappiness of these Joseph Kuo outings is one of their chief allures. Technical merits are generally secure in the video department, but occasionally problematic in the audio department. All of the commentaries are very enjoyable. Recommended.