6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
During the Sung Dynasty in Northern China, a prince is taken prisoner in order to prevent a Southern uprising. A group of martial-arts heroes come to his aid. However, the prince is heavily guarded and early rescue attempts fail. Now it's up to two kung-fu experts Ti Lung (DRUNKEN MASTER 2) and David Chiang (THE HEROIC ONES) to use their extraordinary skills to rescue the prince and restore hope for the future of China.
Starring: David Chiang, Lung Ti, Feng Ku, Bolo Yeung, Cheng Kang-YehForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 56% |
Action | 20% |
Period | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Mandarin: LPCM 2.0
Mandarin track is 48kHz, 16-bit
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Directed by Cheh Chang, The Deadly Duo is a 1971 kung-fu film set in the Sung Dynasty. Starring two of the most renowned actors working in the Shaw Brother’s studio system during the early 1970’s (David Chiang and Ti Lung), the film offers a simplistic plot that merely serves as a set-up for the abundant violence on display. In fact, one could easily conclude that The Deadly Duo is kung-fu cinema in its purest form, combining the noble ideals of historical Chinese civilization with expansive sequences that are filled to the brim with action carnage. If you’re searching for a perfect opportunity to test the waters in the vintage martial arts genre, this is a good place to start.
Someone's about to get some ketchup on his shirt...
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 18Mbps), The Deadly Duo looks surprisingly good for a film of this vintage. Fine object detail won't compare with a flashy modern production, but judging from the textures on facial close-ups or the intricacies within the ornate costumes, it's not difficult to notice the enhancements on this high-definition release. Unfortunately, not everything is roses and sunshine with this newly minted transfer, which allows edge halos to plague a large number of distance shots, lending an artificially sharp characteristic to the presentation of some scenes (this is likely the unfortunate byproduct of trying to glean detail where there is none). From a coloring standpoint, we're given a natural palette filled with rich reds, yellows, and blues that collectively create a visually arresting experience. That's not to say there aren't occasional scenes that appear less spectacular (or even dull), but those sequences are few and far between. Moving right along, black levels offer sufficient depth, allowing contrast to deliver a striking level of shade differentiation across the image, while separating elements in the foreground and background with ease. With the exception of the aforementioned edge enhancement, there's no appreciable artifacting, aliasing, or other digital anomaly to otherwise detract from the overall experience.
On the audio side of the coin, Tokyo Shock has provided three serviceable options that won't blow your socks off, but accurately reproduce the outdated audio techniques commonly used in the genre. When I refer to outdated effects, I'm simply pointing to the use of cheesy clapping noises to simulate landed blows, or the common practice of infusing generic metal-on-metal sounds during blade battles (which sound oddly similar to the swinging of a rusty gate). These effects coupled with the spaghetti western soundtrack create a collective experience that may seem cheesy to those with little familiarity in the kung-fu genre, but provide a certain level of comfort to long-time fans. Most subtitle haters are probably interested in the difference between the lossless 2.0 track versus the lossy 5.1 option (only available as the English dub), so I'll put those inquiries to rest by simply saying there's not much surround separation on either option. The Dolby Digital track rarely creates any manner of immersion, registers with a noticeable drop in volume, and lacks the crisp nature of the lossless option. In the end, the preferable tracks contained in this release are the lossless versions, which display equal proficiency regardless of your preference.
Elegant Trails with David Chiang (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 8:02 min): Presented in Chinese with English subtitles, this interesting featurette provides a modern-day recap of Chiang's career in kung fu cinema.
Elegant Trails with Ti Lung (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 9:27 min): Similar to the prior supplement, this segment includes a lengthy (and candid) interview with Lung, who describes his eventual rise to stardom within the Shaw Brothers studio system.
Stills Gallery (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 3:16 min)
Rounding out the supplements, we have two trailers for The Deadly Duo (standard definition), and a collection of trailers for other releases from Tokyo Shock (Heroes Two, The Master, Tokyo Gore Police, Challenge of the Masters).
The Deadly Duo is a wonderful example of the fun-factor waiting to be discovered in the kung-fu genre. Between the daring rescue plot, competent fight choreography, and the charisma of the two male leads, the film ranks toward the top of Cheh Chang's work for the Shaw Brothers Studio, and remains a recognized classic in a genre often overlooked by western audiences. If you're a longtime kung-fu fan, this certainly deserves a spot in your Blu-ray collection.
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