Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Lady of Steel Blu-ray Movie Review

Lady of Steel is an exciting and action-packed martial arts adventure. Produced by the legendary Runme Shaw (The Sword Stained with Royal Blood, The Rebel Intruders), Lady of Steel is another must-see for Shaw Brothers fans. The martial arts epic is exciting and offers plenty of adrenaline for action fans. Featuring the beloved star Pei-Pei Cheng in the lead role. Co-starring Hua Yueh as Chin Shang-Yi.

Fang Ying-Chi (Pei-Pei Cheng) is thrust into a new adventure and mission. Fang Ying-Chi seeks revenge and vengeance for the murders of her parents. The journey is one that will test the strength of Fang Ying-Chi as she journeys as a lone drifter. The mission becomes more complex as she ultimately fights for the future of the country when foreign invaders attack. Can Fang Ying-Chi be the hero everyone needs?  

Pei-Pei Cheng is an incredible actress and she makes a wonderful star for Lady of Steel. The star performer became a Hong Kong action legend as the most popular action heroine. Cheng has remarkable talent as an action hero and she carries with her immense charm and gravitas. The performance adds so much to the role and there is something compelling about Cheng – one will certainly be enthralled by her star power.

The film also features a strong performance by co-star Hua Yueh. Last but not least, Lady of Steel features a surprise cameo in the form of “Beggar kid” – an uncredited performance by Jackie Chan. It also brings some joy to see Jackie Chan – even in a tiny role.

The action is incredible in Lady of Steel. The stunts are first-rate throughout and bring so much to the table. The action-packed energy of the film highlights the stunts coordinated by Hsiao-Sung Liang (Drunken Master II, The Long Chase). There is something breathtaking about the film and its fun dynamics – the energy on display. The action builds and as the film reaches it climax, the action is spectacular. It is so easy to become entertained by the fight sequencing and the manner in which it is choreographed. Modern action films rarely compare to the legendary status of the classic Shaw Brothers films. The grittiness and intensity of the action is hypnotic.

The cinematography by Kuo-Hsiang Lin (The Blade Spares None, The Invincible Eight) is beautiful. The production looks ambitious with a strong cinematographic lensing by Lin. The visuals of the film are important to the narrative energy and the aesthetic of the entire production. A great effort by Lin.

The production excels in spades. Lady of Steel features art direction by Johnson Tsao (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Five Elements Ninjas). The art direction is top-notch and there is plenty to appreciate within the ambitious aesthetic of the production. The sets and designs are perfect for the action set pieces.

The score composed by Fu-Ling Wang (The Big Boss, The Singing Killer) is one of the most enthralling parts of the film. The score by Wang is top-notch and the music adds so much to the beauty of the filmmaking. The music is enthralling and hypnotic. What a joy it is to experience such epic music.

Written by Jen Liang (That Fiery Girl), Lady of Steel is an entertaining Shaw film. Liang has a lot of fun with the script and there are plenty of good moments for Pei-Pei Cheng to shine. The script has fun dialogue and the pace is great.

Directed by Meng-Hua Ho (The Jade Raksha, The Long Chase), Lady of Steel is a wonderful film in the Shaw Brothers universe. Ho has a great sense of style as director. Lady of Steel is ambitious fun and provides lots of action for martial arts enthusiasts. It will have audiences on the edge of their seat.

Lady of Steel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Bu-ray by Shout Factory, Lady of Steel is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The Blu-ray release provides an often pleasing and engaging presentation of the feature-film. The presentation provides good color reproduction. The transfer isn't as naturally filmic as ideal and can look a bit processed at times. Nonetheless, a decent amount of detail is present in the transfer despite the transfers issues.

Lady of Steel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio on the release is generally quite satisfactory. Dialogue is clear and is well reproduced. The score is a highlight of the audio presentation. The audio track has few issues regarding audio deficiencies like hiss or crackle. A solid lossless encoding by Shout Factory.

Lady of Steel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Cult Film Critic Ian Jane

Original Theatrical Trailer (SD, 4:20)

Lady of Steel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lady of Steel is an entertaining and ambitious action epic sure to please Shaw Brothers fans. The film features an excellent lead performance by star Pei-Pei Cheng. Pei-Pei Cheng impresses with her clear star power and endearing charm. The action scenes are spectacular. The Blu- ray release features a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio. Recommended.