Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Jade Raksha Blu-ray Movie Review

The Jade Raksha is a thrilling adventure. Produced by Runme Shaw, The Jade Raksha is another must-see classic in the Shaw Brothers cinematic universe. The film has plenty of martial arts adventure for genre fans. Starring Pei-Pei Cheng in the central role. Co- starring Ching Tang, Ching-Yun Huang, Feng Ku, Lung Chiang, Chih-Ching Yang, Lin-Yeh Hsiao, and Mei Sheng Fan.

Leng Chiu-han (Pei-Pei Cheng) finds herself in a new role as she picks up the mighty sword and slashes her way through danger and enemies left and right. The journey is far from over for Leng Chiu-han. With a mantle of the The Jade Raksha, the epic swordfights are only part of the epic as Leng Chiu-han pushes forward with a mission to seek vengeance for the death of dearly departed family. Can Leng Chiu-han find happiness once more through revenge? As the action-packed journey unfolds, Leng Chiu-han is brilliant with the sword and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

Pei-Pei Cheng impresses in the lead. Cheng does her own stunts and she is one of the most iconic and memorable of classic martial-arts film stars. There is something remarkably hypnotic and compelling about Cheng. The performance is outstanding and there is plenty to appreciate about her acting. A strong role for the actress and a good showcase for her acting chops. Cheng carries her scenes exceptionally well and during the battle scenes it is easy to be mesmerized by her.

The art direction by Ching-Shen Chen (The Tiger and the Widow, Lightning Fists of Shaolin) is one of the best things about the production. The art direction adds to the ambitious sense of scale the film has in spades. The style is invigorating and it showcases the top-notch production aesthetic given to Shaw Brothers films.

The costumes by Kamber Huang (The Sword of Swords, Valley of the Fangs) add to the style of the film, too. The costuming is wondrous. There are some incredible designs throughout the film and these fun efforts make the production all the more rewarding.

The score composed by Fu-Ling Wang (One-Armed Boxer, Hands of Death) is an essential highlight. The music is fun and energetic. The score provides plenty of wonderment to the action scenes and helps to elevate the drama at the core of the story. Wang is a great composer and there are many incredibly poetic moments with regards to the score.

The cinematography by Kuo-Hsiang Lin (The Blade Spares None, The Monkey Goes West) is a stunning showcase for the majestic poetry of Shaw Brothers films. The cinematography highlights the visceral quality of the film and the poetic artistry of the storytelling. The visuals are so integral to the film. Sometimes it feels akin to looking at a painting.

Edited by Hsing-Lung Chiang (Sons of the Good Earth, The Avenging Eagle), The Jade Raksha is a well- paced action epic. The sense of scale and scope is top-notch. The editing helps to keep things at an impressive flow. A great editorial effort.

Written by Meng-Hua Ho and I. Fang Yeh (Thunderkick, The Black Tavern), The Jade Raksha is a fun script. There are great moments for the characters. Pei-Pei Cheng is given some great moments as Leng Chiu-han. Even though the focus is on the martial arts, the story is well told and the writing impresses.

Directed by Meng-Hua Ho (A Slice of Death, The Vengeful Beauty), The Jade Raksha is a compelling feature-film in the world of the Shaw Brothers productions. The Jade Raksha offers a lot of action, adventure, and excitement. The directing is exceptional and will have audiences on edge and mesmerized.

The Jade Raksha Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Jade Raksha is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The transfer looks great – providing a crisp and engaging presentation of the feature-film. The colors are well reproduced. An enjoyable presentation with good cinematography and the encoding does a good job highlighting everything. Action scenes are well encoded and there aren't any egregious compression woes.

The Jade Raksha Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio sounds clear and enjoyable on the release. Dialogue is well reproduced. The track capably handles the original score and the sound effects. An enjoyable sounding lossless audio presentation.

The Jade Raksha Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Slicing at the Stars – Interview with Critic and Hong Kong Film Expert Tony Rayns (HD, 1:32:46)

A Very Vocal Violence – Interview with Hong Kong Based Dubber Peter Boczar (HD, 20:01)

The Jade Raksha Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Jade Raksha is a fun and thrilling adventure. The lead performance by Pei-Pei Cheng is first-rate and she carries the entire feature. The production has plenty of impressive production merits. Martial arts fans will find a lot to appreciate. The Blu-ray release provides a solid video and audio presentation. Recommended.