The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie Review

The Brave Archer is a must-see martial arts classic from the Shaw Brothers canon. Executive produced by Runme Shaw (Vengeance!, The Sword Stained with Royal Blood), The Brave Archer features a story by Louis Cha. The Brave Archer is also associate produced by Lieh Chen (Shaolin Hellgate, Clans of Intrigue). Starring Sheng Fu, Niu Tien, Danny Lee, Yi-Min Li, Ku Feng, Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok, Kara Ying Hung Wai, Yung Henry Yu, Hung Tsai, Fan Mei-Sheng, and Lung-Wei Wang.

Kuo Ching (Sheng Fu) is The Brave Archer. Kuo must learn a number of expert kung fu techniques including “Nine Secrets” and “18 Palms” to build his skills as a kung fu master. As Kuo learns more kung fu skills, he must pass a number of kung fu tests in order to learn the ways of a true master – including being educated by the Seven Evils. The preparation and skills learned help Kuo on his journey to find vengeance against his father’s killer and other assassins along the way.

The supporting cast includes Huang Yung (Niu Tien), Ouyang Ko (Danny Lee), Yang Kang (Yi-Min Li), Hung Chi-kung - 9-Fingered Beggar (Ku Feng), Chou Po-tang (Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok), Mu Nien-his (Kara Ying Hung Wai), Wan-yan Hung Lieh (Yung Henry Yu), Ko Chen-ke (Hung Tsai), Liang Chi-weng (Fan Mei-Sheng), and Southern Venom Ouyang Feng (Lung-Wei Wang). The supporting cast adds a lot to the production. The actors have a lot of fun with their roles – especially in regards to the action scenes.

The production is well-done. There are numerous design elements that impress with The Brave Archer. The feature has nice sets and design work. The set decoration by Johnson Tsao (Ten Tigers of Kwangtung, The Heroic Ones) add to the style of the filmmaking. A great effort overall.

The costume designs by Chi-Yu Liu (An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty, Tiger Killer) are impressive. The designs are excellent at adding the production quality. As with most Shaw Brothers films, design elements are first-rate and the costumes work well for each character.  

The stunts coordinated by Ka-Ting Lee (Bloodsport, Chinatown Kid) and Robert Tai (Calamity of Snakes, Ten Tigers of Kwangtung) are well-done. The stunt work is impressive and is one of the main draws of The Brave Archer. The Brave Archer has terrific action scenes and the choreography helps these fight sequences excel and be their absolute best.

Composed by Yung-Yu Chen (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Avenging Warriors of Shaolin), the music is fun and exciting. Chen is a talented composer and the music provided creates a great Shaw Brothers score. The action scenes are all the better because of the music.

The cinematography by Mu-To Kung (Shaolin Temple, The Shaolin Avengers) is engaging and beautiful looking. Kung is a gifted cinematographer. The visuals are a huge part of the filmmaking style. This is certainly a top-tier cinematographic effort for a Shaw Brothers classic.

Edited by Hsing-Lung Chiang (The Avenging Eagle, Sons of the Good Earth), The Brave Archer is well- paced. The editing worked well. The pace of the film made the storytelling all the more fun.

Written by Kuang Ni (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter), The Brave Archer is a superb script. The writing added a lot of fun to the characterizations. The storytelling was well developed and the action scenes are also a nice highlight.

Directed by Cheh Chang (Vengeance!, Five Elements Ninjas), The Brave Archer is an entertaining classic. A superb Shaw Brothers film. Chang is one of the best action filmmakers in cinema history. The Brave Archer is a great showcase for why Chang became a legendary Shaw Brothers filmmaker.

The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Brave Archer is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The presentation is quite impressive. The scan looks excellent and the color reproduction adds to the presentation quality.

The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a selection of lossless audio options: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The lossless audio on the release has nice depth and detail. The clarity is outstanding on the release. The English subtitles are well-done, too.

The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Interview with David West, Hong Kong Cinema Expert (HD, 15:21)

Trailer (HD, 1:07)

Still Gallery (HD, 2:02)

The Brave Archer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Brave Archer is a fantastic Shaw Brothers classic. The film is top-tier for a classic action-adventure. Director Cheh Chang (Vengeance!) made something special. The performances are excellent throughout. The Blu-ray release features a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio. The release also includes a selection of supplements. Highly recommended.