Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 31, 2022

I think even diehard fans of martial arts films would be hard pressed to think of a more exciting time in terms of how many fantastic offerings are suddenly on tap, typically in some very nice collector editions. I've already waxed enthusiastic about the relatively recently reviewed Shawscope Volume One from Arrow (which made my Top 10 and/or Top 11 - 15 list for 2021), and a newly emerging imprint called 88 Asia Collection from 88 Films' newish US distribution model, which thus far has released The Chinese Boxer and Disciples of Shaolin. While perhaps not quite at the level of some of the Shaw Brothers productions, and for those with either Region B or region free players, Cinematic Vengeance: 8 Kung Fu Classics from Director Joseph Kuo also has offered fans of this genre some generally very entertaining fare. 88 Films is back with another really fun release, one which may play especially well for those with a knowledge of "kung fu movie" tropes in particular, but also those with a sense of humor, albeit perhaps slightly different from some of the wacky shenanigans fostered by such folks as Jackie Chan or (frankly) knock offs by folks like Joseph Kuo in such films as The World of Drunken Master. As a number of really appealing supplements on this disc get into, Legendary Weapons of China is at least as much about "kung fu movies" as it is a "kung fu movie" itself. It has a number of rather unusual elements woven into a some "meta" self referential presentational aspects which actually don't need to be fully appreciated in order for the film to deliver both action and a liberal amount of (sometimes dark) humor.

I just reviewed A Walk in the Sun, a mid- forties film which initially had the involvement of one Samuel Bronston, though Bronston had to withdraw after various financial issues reared their ugly heads. Film fans may know that one of Bronston's sixties epics was 55 Days at Peking, which gave a decidedly Western approximation of what is perhaps ironically (given kung fu and all) called The Boxer Rebellion. As some of the supplements on this disc mention, it's somewhat unique for a kung fu movie to specifically place itself in a given historical milieu, but Legendary Weapons of China also takes place during this particular upheaval, though this film's depiction of events might be almost deliberately provocative, and perhaps especially to Chinese audiences (audiences which may well have found Bronston's epic provocative, though for a wholly different set of reasons).

Again as the really excellent supplemental package on this disc delineates, kung fu and/or martial arts in general can be depicted as giving proponents "super" powers (and in fact one of director Liu Chia-Liang's best remembered films is The Spiritual Boxer, whose very title hints at this aspect). What is so almost deliberately anarchic about Legendary Weapons of China is that it can show the almost mesmeric power of a master on his acolytes (to rather gory effect early in this story), but also show the almost comical inability of a martial artist to withstand newer technologies like, say, bullets. (This particular element may remind some of one of the biggest guffaws in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones rather handily dispatches a guy threatening him with a scimitar.)

There's a rather interesting interplay in the film between mysticism and what might be termed the hard nosed reality of the early 20th century, but the film also repeatedly references "kung fu movies" as a genre. Some perhaps internecine rivalry between Liu Chia-Liang and Chang Cheh may play into this, as David West at least alludes to when he dissects (no pun intended) one sequence featuring a fighter stuffing his disemboweled intestines back into his body to continue the battle. This winking attitude may provide a whole additional layer of entertainment to viewers, though the film is certainly energetic and even at times a bit spooky enough to generate sufficient interest even without the "meta" aspects.

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Legendary Weapons of China is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. The back cover of this release offers that this is an "HD remaster from the original 35mm negatives", and it's another generally stellar looking release from this label of a Shaw Brothers production. As with the other 88 Films' offerings I've reviewed thus far, the palette on this film really pops beautifully almost all of the time, with some especially vivid reds (one of the commentaries gets into an almost Hammer-esque aspect to the film, and this might be one subliminal example). Detail is typically excellent throughout the presentation. There are a few minor variances at play, including just a couple of intermittent moments where the palette turns a bit brown and dowdy and fine detail ebbs, which may suggest some underlying damage that couldn't be ameliorated. The most eagle eyed viewer may be able to catch some very minor passing blemishes. As with virtually every Shaw Brothers production I've personally reviewed, there are some almost comical anamorphic oddities at play at times, typically but not always at the edges of the frame (and some of which can be spotted in some of the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review). There's one pan across a crowded cafe that may require Dramamine on the part of more sensitive viewers due to the anamorphic squeezing and billowing that kind of waft across the frame (I'm joking, of course, but you get the drift).

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Legendary Weapons of China features LPCM 2.0 Mono tracks in Cantonese or English. The Cantonese track may arguably be just a tad brighter and hotter than the English, but not by much in my estimation. Both tracks deliver typically hyperbolic mixes that are almost always "turned up to 11", with occasional brittleness that may verge on distortion at the highest amplitudes. That said, score and effects in particular sound nicely full bodied and problem free. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Eighteen Weapons (HD; 13:18) is another nicely informative piece featuring David West, who discusses some of the "meta" aspects of Legendary Weapons of China. It's kind of sweetly amusing when he pulls out his old VHS clamshell copy, as if to offer his bona fides.


• Gordon at Shaw (HD; 15:09) is a nice 2004 interview with Gordon Liu. As some of the commentary tracks mention, Liu has had some health issues recently, so this may be a bit bittersweet. It looks like someone may have been taking stills with a flash during this. Subtitled in English.


• Titus at Shaw (HD; 24:33) features producer Titus Ho discussing his tenure at the studio. In English.


• Original Trailer (HD; 3:21)


• Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema


• Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng and Actor / Martial Artist Michael Worth


• Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng

Non disc swag includes a reversible sleeve with brande new art from R.P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien and a reproduction of the original Hong Kong poster. A nicely appointed insert booklet contains a great essay by Andrew Graves and some nice stills.

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a film that can be hugely enjoyed on its own surface merits but which can be returned to, perhaps with the aid of some of the supplements included on this disc, to be enjoyed again with additional "strata" of meaning and information. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplemental package is really outstanding. Highly recommended.