The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie Review

The Mad Monk is an entertaining Hong Kong action-comedy feature. Produced by Mona Fong, The Mad Monk is full of “heavenly” surprises – the story rooted in Chinese mythology. Starring Stephen Chow, Maggie Cheung, Man-Tat Ng, and Anita Mui.

Dragon Fighter Lo Han (Stephen Chow) is put to the test with a new mission that transcends everything he has done before. Lo Han has caused unexpected commotion by pushing other deities beyond their grasps. As a result, Lo Han must now help three different individuals – the Nine Lives Whore (Maggie Cheung), Tiger Fighter Han Lo (Man-Tat Ng), and Goddess of Mercy (Anita Mui). Helping a prostitute, poor beggar, and deadly killer, Dragon Fighter Lo Han is supposed to change the terrible fates of each being. Can Dragon Fighter Lo Han be a hero and reverse course for this trio?

Chow delivers a superb performance. As the charismatic lead of the feature-film, Chow is one of the most entertaining of all Hong Kong actors. Chow manages to imbue so much energy within his own roles. There is a magnetic energy from Chow and all of the supporting actors have to try and keep up with him and play off of him. The supporting cast does a good job, too. Yet Chow is undeniably the MVP of the production.

The Mad Monk features impressive art direction by Bruce Yu (The Mermaid, The Heroic Trio). Yu is a gifted art director. The production features impressive design elements and there is a lot to appreciate – including an absorbing style by Yu. The setting of the film allows for a more creative and otherworldly art style.

The costume designs by Gam-Jan Yeung (Love on Delivery, A Better Tomorrow) are impressive and add to the fun. The designs by Yeung are excellent and there are a lot of creative aesthetic qualities to the costumes. The end result is a more immersive aesthetic for the costuming.

The action in The Mad Monk is the biggest draw of the spectacle. The action direction by Dion Lam (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions) is excellent and reason enough to see the feature. The stunts were both choreographed by and coordinated by Lam. Lam coordinated the stunts alongside Yuk-Sing Ma (A Chinese Ghost Story, Love for All Seasons).

Edited by Wing-Ming Wong (Black Cat, Lifeline), The Mad Monk is well-paced. The action and spectacle are well worthwhile – with the pacing of the production unfolding superbly. Wong is a gifted editor – adding a nice sensibility to the production.

Composed by Wai Lap Wu (Drunken Master II, The Heroic Trio), The Mad Monk features a solid score and it adds to the charms of the feature. Wu made a fun score and it highlights the comedy and the action well. The action beats are well emphasized by the music.

The cinematography by Wing-Hang Wong (A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled) is engaging and visually creative. Wong creates a visually unique looking production. The cinematography shines through.

Written by Sandy Shaw (The Adventurers, Shanghai Grand), The Mad Monk is well-written. Shaw is a talent. The script has good dialogue and character moments. There is a lot to appreciate about the screenplay.

Directed by Siu-Tung Ching (Hero, A Chinese Ghost Story) and Johnnie To (Election, Exiled), The Mad Monk is a nice showcase for classic Hong Kong action filmmaking. The Mad Monk has a unique film aesthetic – being a heaven and deity comedy. Ching does a good job highlighting these aspects. The Mad Monk is a fun action-comedy worth seeing.

The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Mad Monk is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.86:1 widescreen. The transfer looks great on the release. Colors pop with considerable depth. The transfer has a nice filmic quality. The presentation looks pleasing overall. The film scan is not as crisp as a newer 2K/4K restoration but is enjoyable throughout.

The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio quality is clear sounding on the release. Dialogue is well reproduced and easy to understand throughout. Regarding the subtitles, the English subtitles are well-done – free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Frankie Balboa AKA Shogun Supreme & Peter Glagowski, Writer At Flixist

Audio Commentary With Film Critic James Mudge

Original Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:23)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:10)

Image Gallery (HD, 1:46)

The Mad Monk Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Mad Monk is an entertaining action-comedy classic. Fans of offbeat Hong Kong cinema will appreciate the lofty deity comedy and the over-the-top cast. Stephen Chow is a great lead.

The Blu-ray release provides a solid high-definition presentation. The release includes lossless audio quality. The release also comes with a selection of bonus features. Recommended.