The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		2.5

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie Review

Warm sake!? Very good! This 1994 fan-favorite's Blu-ray debut? Not so much.

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 10, 2009

Much has been written about international martial arts film star Jackie Chan's mastery of physical comedy. His work has been rightfully compared to that of the late, great Buster Keaton (himself a legendary performer and comedian) and has proven itself capable of standing the test of time. Even his earliest films showcase the seeds of Chan's enduring appeal; films that clearly inspired directors like Stephen Chow and paved the way for the embrace of modern comedy hits like Chow's critically acclaimed stunner, Kung Fu Hustle, and cult mainstay, Shaolin Soccer. The Legend of Drunken Master (an unrelated semi-sequel to Chan and director Yuen Woo-ping's 1978 Drunken Master) is just such a film. Boasting jaw-dropping stuntwork and wince-inducing fight scenes, Chan's patented physical comedy, and a scene-stealing performance by actress Anita Mui (a Hong Kong talent who sadly lost an embittered battle to cancer in 2003), The Legend of Drunken Master is both charming and funny, hard-hitting and fierce. Despite a conventional story and an even more conventional parade of villainous thugs, it encapsulates everything that's made Chan the influential superstar he's become.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jackie Chan... circa 1994.

The Legend of Drunken Master tells the amusing tale of Wong Fei-Hong (Chan), a polite and unassuming student of Zui Quan (the style of the Drunken Fist) who has to choose between honoring his father (A Better Tomorrow's Ti Lung) -- a stern yet immensely sympathetic master who subsequently forbids him from fighting -- and protecting his country's most priceless treasures; important artifacts being exported by a sinister Brit (Louis Roth) determined to line his own pockets with Chinese riches. Along the way, he acquires help from his feisty, wisecracking step-mother (Mui), learns a few tricks from an elderly General (Lau Kar-Leung), attempts to woo a young girl named Lily (Chan Kui-Ying), and finds a friend in a fishmonger named Tsang (Felix Wong). Before you can say get 'em Jackie, Wong is forced to contend with a long line of opponents (including a well-intentioned counter intelligence officer played by House of Flying Daggers' Andy Lau and a high-kicking menace played by New Police Story's Ken Lo) and discovers alcohol transforms him into a nigh unstoppable warrior... so long as he doesn't drink too much.

There's little point in discussing the intricacies of The Legend of Drunken Master's plot. Suffice to say, there are none. Wong's story is a familiar one (particularly for anyone who's imported a stack of Hong Kong classics) and his quest for honor is as basic as they come. The lure of Drunken Master lies in its overstated comic stylings, Chan's ability to take untold amounts of on-screen punishment, and director Chia-Liang Liu and uncredited co-director Jackie Chan's rewind-that fight sequences. To its great credit, the climax of the film blends all three into one of the most insane endgames martial arts enthusiasts will ever have the pleasure of watching. Featuring down-and-dirty practical filmmaking at its finest, the actors don't rely on wire work or CG enhancements; there aren't any stunt doubles on hand to ease Chan's pain (witness the end credits' blooper reel); there isn't a moment's rest for anyone's tired arms. Few performers will sweat, bleed, and commit their entire bodies to a performance as passionately as Chan, and even fewer accomplish it all with such style and soul.

Oscar hounds and Olive-Branch junkies need not apply. The Legend of Drunken Master is purely for the Chanatics of the world; viewers primed to bounce in their seats like little kids every time Jackie turns his environment into an impromptu playground. As a Chan classic, the film succeeds on almost every level. As an early progenitor to whirlwind successes like Kung Fu Hustle (one of my personal favorites of the last decade), it leaves a lasting impression. As a furious display of intense martial arts, it's sure to please the most hardened fan. As an exhilarating comedy, it offers laughs by the bushel. If you haven't had the opportunity to check out one of Chan's better Hong Kong stand-outs, this is a great place to start.

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Legend of Drunken Master stumbles onto Blu-ray with a stunted, stilted 1080p/VC-1 transfer that has more problems than this weary reviewer can stomach. While it handily overpowers the film's previous home video releases -- particularly its fugly 2001 US DVD -- that isn't saying much. Skintones are often either lifeless or flushed, its palette is muddy and monochromatic (with only a few splashes of still-dull color to brighten the mood, courtesy of Anita Mui's wardrobe), and contrast, while artificially boosted (a technique responsible for a bevy of issues all its own), is somewhat underwhelming and indistinct. More distressingly, detail is at the mercy of the film's original print, fifteen years of dust and grime haven't left it in the best of shape, countless flecks and scratches appear, and an inconsistent grain field plagues the proceedings. "Soft" doesn't even begin to describe what fans will encounter in its more problematic scenes: edges border on spongy, image clarity is all over the place, and noise reduction undermines what few fine textures manage to claw their way onto the screen. Sharpness and high definition sparkle occasionally abound during daytime scenes, but falter anytime the lights go out. Moreover, while artifacting, aliasing, and edge enhancement are thankfully nowhere to be found, a fairly proficient technical transfer is merely the dingy lining to this rather bleak cloud.

Based solely on scene-for-scene comparisons to the 2001 DVD, the Blu-ray edition of The Legend of Drunken Master will surely please its fair share of fans. It even injects some much-needed value into this Blu-ray release. However, anyone who has the slightest expectation of watching a definitive transfer is sure to be disheartened by the results.

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Longtime Drunken Master fans hoping to unearth a lossless presentation of the film's original Cantonese audio will have to continue searching. The Legend of Drunken Master includes an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track but, unlike its Ultimate Force of Four Collection brethren, doesn't offer any Cantonese language track, lossy or otherwise. Frankly, it isn't a crushing blow. Not only is the film's original Cantonese audio itself a dubbed mix, it doesn't feature the vocal talents of its stars. Oddly enough, the only place you can hear Jackie Chan deliver his own performance is and has always been via the film's English dub.

To that end, the TrueHD track delivers in part, but ultimately fails to rejuvenate its ailing source. It's loud, sure, but it lacks subtlety and prowess. While dialogue is certainly clear and prioritized -- so much so that it actually enhances the film's comedy -- it ranges from overblown to overbearing, leaving some lines to flounder amidst the bass-heavy action and others sounding hollow, unnatural, or both. Likewise, LFE output is brisk and bold, but a bit one-note, fusing every punch, kick, and shattering table with the same chop-socky whumps and thooms. Again, whether that appeals to you will depend on how amusing you find the mix's limitations to be when paired with Chan's comedy. Alas, directionality is problematic and contrived, rear speaker activity is sparse and obvious, and pans are as subtle as Wong's drinking problem. Still, despite all of its issues, the Blu-ray edition's lossless track is technically sound and doesn't suffer from any debilitating mishaps that I'd attribute directly to Miramax or Disney's treatment of the film.

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Drunken Master doesn't include any significant supplemental content other than a dated promotional interview with Jackie Chan (SD, 7 minutes).

The Legend of Drunken Master Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jackie Chan remains one of cinema's most indelible physical comedians. Martial arts may be his claim to fame, but he'll be remembered for his inventive fight choreography, endearing expressiveness, and undeniable on-screen charm. By extension, The Legend of Drunken Master showcases everything that makes Chan such a star. His hyperkinetic display of martial arts mastery is as memorable as they come, his comedic timing is spot on (sometimes in spite of the film's dubbed audio), and the film itself is one of his more inspired works. Sadly, the Blu-ray edition is a mess. A mediocre video transfer, an underwhelming audio package, and a lone featurette are hardly the makings of a premiere Blu-ray disc, and fail to justify its price tag. Rent Drunken Master for Chan's performance, but avoid adding this to your collection until its price takes a dive.