Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Chinese Boxer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 9, 2022

Fans of martial arts films in general and perhaps at least some Shaw Brothers outings in particular may know that focal heroes in these films often have to confront literal hordes of nemeses, taking out one after the other, only to be accosted by someone new. I frankly have few if any martial arts skills, to say the least, but I'm feeling kind of similarly encumbered, in that every time I turn around lately, there's a new Shaw Brothers film on Blu- ray at the top of my review queue. Just as 2021 ended, I had the pleasure of wending may through Arrow Video's immense Shawscope Volume One set, which just snuck in under the wire to make my Top 10 list. Then in rapid succession I received a package from MVD, which is evidently now distributing 88 Films' output for the North American market, which contained Disciples of Shaolin , a film which would have been very much at home in the Shawscope release. The onslaught continues with 88 Films' release of yet another Shaw Brothers production, The Chinese Boxer from 1970. Like many films in the Shaw Brothers canon, The Chinese Boxer is known under an alternate title, in this case The Hammer of God, but unlike a number of Shaw Brothers' films from this same general era, this was not helmed by Chang Cheh, and in fact was directed by its star, Jimmy Wang Yu.

As with both the Arrow Video release and the previously reviewed 88 Films outing, this disc has some really interesting supplements, and one of them gets into the rather fascinating history of the difference between Mandarin and Cantonese films featuring combatants. According to this information, Mandarin films tended to be more traditional wuxia outings featuring swordplay or other weapons, while Cantonese films tended to emphasize "empty hand" combat. The Chinese Boxer was an exception to that general rule, and in fact may have begun the transition toward what we uneducated Westerners may generically label "kung fu films" to (mostly) dispense with anything other than hand to hand (and foot to foot, of course) fighting styles.

Despite that perceived innovation, it's probably inarguable that a lot of what takes place in The Chinese Boxer is not especially surprising, though the film's breakneck pace and wonderfully staged fight sequences may make that "familiar" feeling not all that problematic. Two of the hoarier plot elements include hero Lei Ming (Jimmy Wang Yu) on a quest for revenge, and an implied superiority of Chinese fighting styles to Japanese. Lei Ming engages in a near masochistic training regimen to wreak havoc on some Japanese villains who have killed Lei Ming's master, with predictable mayhem ensuing. It's interesting to contrast the outright violence and almost Hammer levels of red, red blood flowing through this enterprise with Chang Cheh's decision to film some of the more graphic moments in Disciples of Shaolin in black and white to hopefully circumvent censors' objections, but perhaps in 1970 sensitivities weren't as delicate as they were in 1975.

The back cover of this release states the influence this film had on everything from Fist of Fury to Kill Bill , but even without those intriguing connective elements, The Chinese Boxer is an unusually visceral experience, despite a reliance on tried and true plot machinations.

The Chinese Boxer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Chinese Boxer is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1. The back cover of this release offers only a fairly generic statement that this transfer is an "HD remaster from the original 35mm negatives" (it also incorrectly advertises the aspect ratio as being in 2.35:1). Shaw Brothers fans have really had some prayers answered with both the Shawscope Volume One release and Disciples of Shaolin, with generally very commendable and at times downright impressive technical merits, and this release happily continues that trend. Once again, the palette is beautifully suffused, offering a gamut of bold primaries and really appealing interstitial tones, and with detail levels generally very precisely rendered. This is yet another Shaw Brothers production where some of the lenses seem to not always offer the securest depictions, and if you parse through the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review, you'll see typical bugaboos like pretty several anamorphic squeezing on the edges of frames, and occasional haziness bordering on out of focus territory even further "into" the frame. The presentation has a suitably organic look and has no signs of any overtly aggressive digital tweaking.

The Chinese Boxer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Chinese Boxer features LPCM 2.0 Mono tracks in either English or Mandarin. There are quite a few similarities between the tracks, but also some noticeable differences, the most obvious of which may be a much hotter accounting of dialogue in the English track. The English track also sounds to me like it has less clouded highs, which can add a bit of sibilance to things but which also opens up effects and score. That said, the Mandarin track, while perhaps just a bit more muted sounding, reverberates with sufficient energy. Both tracks deliver dialogue cleanly and clearly. Both tracks have a somewhat boxy overall ambience. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Chinese Boxer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Samm Deighan


• One Hand Combat (HD; 17:29) is an interesting overview of the film by David West.


• Wong Ching at Shaw (HD; 13:46) is an interview with the actor. In English.


• US Hammer of God Trailer (HD; 2:01)


• Hong Kong Trailer (HD; 4:04)


• English Trailer (HD; 3:08)


• US TV Spot (HD; 00:31)

Additionally, the nicely appointed insert booklet contains an interesting essay by Andrew Graves called Hong Kong's Famous Fight Life, which gets into this film's rather outsized influence and legacy, and quite a few color stills. The keepcase includes a reversible sleeve with brand new art from R.P. "Kung Fu Bob" O'Brien, and it also houses a folded reproduction of the original Hong Kong poster. Finally, packaging features a slipcover.

The Chinese Boxer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As some of the supplements on this disc get into, Jimmy Wang Yu might not seem to be a suitable candidate for "kung fu film" superstardom. He's on the slight side, and he doesn't have the overt athleticism of, say, Bruce Lee or even the goofily ingratiating persona of, say, Alexander Fu Sheng. But he's a charismatic force of nature in this film, and even better, he knows how to properly frame some exciting fight sequences. This is another Shaw Brothers film that treads a much travelled path, but which still delivers a lot of entertainment value. Technical merits are solid, and the supplements very appealing. Recommended.