Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Assassin Blu-ray Movie Review

The Assassin is an exciting and action-packed martial arts epic from Shaw Brothers. Produced by Run Run Shaw, The Assassin stars Jimmy Wang Yu and Chiao Chiao in the leading roles. The feature-film co-stars Hsiang Chun Li as Nieh Yung, Feng Tien as Yen Chung-tzu, Chung-Hsin Huang as Premier Han Kuei, and Hsin-Yen Chao as Lady Chao.

Nieh Cheng (Jimmy Wang Yu) is a gifted two-armed swordsman with involvement in the Wei Empire as a patriot. Nieh wants to live a life of peace and solitude but finds this quiet peace interrupted when a new opponent enters the equation. Though a life away from drawing the sword seemed to be a momentary possibility, Han Kuei takes over the mantle of the royal family and begins a new dawn of power while seeking to stop Yen Sui. Hsia Tsui (Chiao Chiao) is the beautiful love-interest of Nieh Cheng and she accompanies him while aiming to raise their young child. Can Nieh bypass a road of vengeance?

Jimmy Wang Yu and Chiao Chiao deliver excellent performances in the feature-film. The performances are certainly star material and the actors do a great job highlighting their range as actors – while also showcasing plenty of great stunts. The martial arts epic wouldn’t have been anywhere near as fun or exciting without these talented performers.

The action stunts were coordinated by Chia-Liang Liu (Drunken Master II, Seven Swords) and Chia Tang (Shaolin Intruders, The Web of Death). The action is reason enough to see The Assassin. The feature showcases exceptional swordplay and action-packed fun. The stunts are enormously thrilling. The production showcases an abundance of thrills.

The score composed by Eddie Wang (To Kill a Mastermind, The Story of a Discharged Prisoner) is one of the highlights of the feature-film. The music is epic in scope and ambitious. The music adds a sense of wonder throughout the film. An incredible score by Wang.

The cinematography by Han Lu Kuang (The Spiritual Boxer, The Protectors) and Tseng-San Yuan (The One- Armed Swordsman, The Grand Substitution) is astonishing. The visuals add so much sumptuous wonder to the production. The cinematography highlights the martial arts and gives the film a sense of grand adventure and an epic vista. The Assassin is remarkably beautiful visually and the cinematography highlights the swordplay in a great way.

The art direction by Johnson Tsao (The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin, The Singing Killer) is another impressive part of the equation. The art direction showcases superb production values. The film looks wondrous in spades. There is a lot to appreciate about these qualities in the film.

Written by Cheh Chang and Kuang Ni (The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter), The Assassin is a fun endeavor. The script is well-done and has a lot of fun moments throughout. An enjoyable and engaging script. The writing provides great moments for the characters.

Directed by Cheh Chang (Shaolin Hellgate, Ninja in Ancient China), The Assassin is an essential view for Shaw Brothers fans. The epic filmmaking is outstanding and the film has a terrific sense of scale. The adventure is enormous and one can’t help but be swept up in the film and the spell it casts. A great martial arts gem.

The Assassin Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Assassin is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The release has a high video bit-rate presentation of 33 mbps. The release features impressive high- definition video quality. Color reproduction is an especially impressive part of the equation. The transfer looks crisp and there is a good amount of fine detail in the image. The transfer is remarkably clear and free from print damage such as scratches and debris.

The Assassin Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The audio quality sounds impressive on the release. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The subtitles are well done. The audio capably reproduces the score and sound effects.

The Assassin Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Critic and Author David West

Celestial Trailer

The Assassin Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Assassin is an exceptional entry in the Shaw Brothers filmography. The filmmaking is top-notch and there is a lot to appreciate with the film. The performances by stars Jimmy Wang Yu and Chiao Chiao impress in spades. The Blu-ray release features a strong video and audio presentation. Highly recommended.