Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 22, 2024

It's maybe not even that much of a joke to state that lately it has felt like there's a new Blu-ray release of a venerable Shaw Brothers film coming out every week, and in fact there have been some weeks where my own review queue has had more than one Blu-ray release of a Shaw Brothers film in any given seven day period. That said, and even granting a two title per week release schedule, it would take literally years, and arguably maybe even a decade or more, for labels to get around to releasing the entire Shaw Brothers output. In that regard, then, this massive newest volume in Arrow's evidently ongoing Shawscope series may be thought of as something of a "shortcut", at least in terms of offering a veritable gaggle of films, even if wending your way through this gargantuan enterprise will hardly seem short in any way, shape or form, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Once again, as with the first two volumes in this series, Arrow has aggregated both better known and lesser known films, delivered with typically solid technical merits and some very appealing supplements. This set has been packaged to be a shelf mate with its two "siblings" (for more information on the packaging, see the supplements section, below).

For "rabid completists" interested in what's already been released by Arrow in the Shawscope department, the following review links may be of some assistance:

Shawscope Volume One Blu-ray review

Shawscope Volume Two Blu-ray review

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

The One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray review

Return of the One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray review

The New One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray review

The Lady Hermit Blu-ray review

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan Blu-ray review

The 14 Amazons Blu-ray review

The Magic Blade Blu-ray review

Clans of Intrigue Blu-ray review

Jade Tiger Blu-ray review

The Sentimental Swordsman Blu-ray review

The Avenging Eagle Blu-ray review

Killer Constable Blu-ray review

Buddha's Palm Blu-ray review

Bastard Swordsman Blu-ray review

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements on each disc are detailed in the above linked reviews. Note that Arrow has packaged this set with two films per disc, with the exception of The One-Armed Swordsman and The 14 Amazons, which are each offered on their own disc. The set also includes two other bonus discs.

Bonus Blu-ray Disc: Special Features

• Killer Constable (Korean Version) (HD; 1:44:53) is probably best approached as a historical curiosity since, as some informational pop up text mentions, while this is a very different and longer version of the film, no 35mm elements were accessible, and so this is cobbled together from a standard def VHS source (in 1.33:1).


• Tony Rayns on Chor Yuen (HD; 39:11) is another very informative history lesson from Rayns.


• Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan

  Confessions of Stunt Woman (HD; 4:51) is a 2004 interview with Sharon Yeung by Frederic Ambroisine. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Theories on Intimate Confessions (HD; 18:01) is an archival piece from 2003 with several experts talking about the film's influence and legacy. Subtitled in English.

• The Magic Blade

  Interview with Ti Lung (HD; 21:02) is another Frederic Ambroisine piece from 2004. This is more or less an audio interview accompanied by lots of stills and snippets from films.

  
  

  The Scriptwriter (HD; 15:59) is an 2004 interview with Sze-to On by Frederic Ambroisine. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Sam Ho on Chor Yuen (HD; 14:11) is a 2003 interview by Frederic Ambroisine.

  
  

  Interview with Chor Yuen (HD; 13:22) is from 2002. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Interview with Yuen Wah (HD; 17:34) is from 2002. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  Interview with Li Ching (HD; 14:56) is from 2002. Subtitled in English.

• The Avenging Eagle

  The Eagle Chief (HD; 9:12) is a 2004 interview with Kur Feng by Frederic Ambroisine. Subtitled in English.

  
  

  The Blue Eagle (HD; 6:31) is a 2004 interview with Eddy Ko by Frederic Ambroisine.

A CD is also included featuring more music from various Shaw Brothers films.

This is another very beautifully packaged set that will fit in with Arrow's two previous offerings (if there's still enough room for it, anyway). While this set features a bright green cover, otherwise its dimensions and overall shape mimic Volume One and Volume Two. The outer slipbox is approximately 11" wide by 7" tall by 2" deep. Once again as with the two previous volumes there's a kind of oversized DigiBook with cardstock sleeves holding the discs. Another extremely well done oversized booklet is included, also per the previous volumes. The booklet has an almost overwhelming amount of information on each film, including some really interesting film notes by Ian Jane.

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I can't imagine anyone who picked up either or both of the previous sets not jumping to include this one, too, especially since it offers such an interesting variety of better known productions along with some that are probably still lesser remembered. As with the previous volumes, technical merits may vary here and there but are generally solid, and both the on disc supplements and "extracurricular" material included in this impressively packaged release are excellent. Highly recommended.