Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Miracle Fighters Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 1, 2024

Somewhat hilariously Mike Leeder and Arne Venema make the case in their commentary that if there has ever been any doubt about the use of hallucinogenics in Hong Kong, The Miracle Fighters might suffice as pretty definitive proof that there at least could have been. The venerable Yuen Woo-ping may or may not have dropped acid as Leeder and Venema jokingly allude to, but one way or the other The Miracle Fighters is about as gonzo a "martial arts film" as you could imagine, in a freewheeling and often bizarre presentation that (call me crazy, in which case, get in line) kind of reminded of the phantasmagoria on display in films like The Happiness of the Katakuris and/or The Thief of Bagdad*.

*Note: The link points to a UK release.

What is The Miracle Fighters about? Good question, as the commentaries kind of get into. That may be yet another joke, because there is a navigable narrative here, albeit one often punctuated with absolutely bizarre characters like Sorcerer Bat (Yuen Shun-yi), seen atop a roof in screenshot 8, and/or a character called "Clown in the Jar" (Brandy Yuen), which is indeed exactly what it is (see screenshots 3 and 6). The film begins in medias res, and in fact some of the context may frankly be lost, but the upshot is that Ko Hung (Eddy Ko) has to battle an insane number of combatants to get a character called The Little Prince (so to speak) to safety, but actually fails miserably in that attempt. One of the early combatants is the aforementioned Sorcerer Bat, who continues to be a main nemesis throughout the story, which segues forward a decade or two to find Ko's acolyte Shu-kan (Yuen Yat-cho) that presumed "little Prince" due to the fact that Ko has placed a royal amulet around his neck.

Shu-kan may or may not be an officially designated heir, but after Ko is wounded, Shu-kan sets off to find help and encounters the film's main comedy relief, the dueling masters Kei-moon (Bryan Leung) and Tun-kap (Yuen Cheung-yan). Shu-kan's quest continues through a martial arts competition that ends with an expected showdown between Shu-kan and Sorcerer Bat. Despite the, um, whimsical names and presentational aspects of many of the characters, the actual story here is actually remarkably straightforward in a way, which makes the unabashedly psychedelic ambience of the proceedings all the more remarkable.

The Miracle Fighters Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Miracle Fighters is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. There are only a couple of references to a "brand new 2K restoration" in terms of technical information imparted on packaging, but the good news is this transfer offers a really healthy palette most of the time, and some appealing detail levels which can admittedly ebb and flow due to so many optical effects scattered throughout the proceedings. The outdoor material in particular pops beautifully and primaries like reds and blues look accurate and extremely well saturated. Some of the interior scenes may not have the benefit of such excellent lighting, but on the whole the palette remains secure and fine detail on weird elements like the white pancake makeup seen in screenshot 3 accompanying this review provide typically excellent renderings of textural detail. There are some probably expected anamorphic oddities which can affect both relative width and clarity, and there are actually a couple of passing moments that look positively out of focus. Grain resolves naturally, but can spike dramatically at times during those aforementioned opticals.

The Miracle Fighters Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Miracle Fighters features LPCM 2.0 Mono tracks in either the original Cantonese or what is billed as the original English dub. The English track is a bit louder and brighter than the Cantonese, but both tracks have what I'd call a kind of typically boxy sound that can be most apparent during some of the absolutely goofy sound effects. That said, both tracks here struck me as considerably more robust and engaging than I've encountered in older martial arts films in particular. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Note: There is one extremely funny subtitle when Shu-kan and Ko are discussing soup that I won't spoil but have to assume was either lost in translation or is some idiom that didn't make it into English particularly well.

The Miracle Fighters Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng


• Audio Commentary by Mike Leeder & Arne Venema


• Action Master: An Interview with Yuen Woo-ping (HD; 21:23) is culled from the Frederic Ambroisine archive and is subtitled in English.


• At the Service of the Great Magician (HD; 17:20) is an interview with assistant director Fish Fong and is in English.


• The Shakespeare of Yuen Woo-ping (HD; 16:56) is an interview with action designer John Kreng.


• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD; 4:31)


• Stills Gallery (HD)

Additionally, the keepcase features a reversible sleeve and encloses a nicely appointed insert booklet with a really interesting essay about the Yuen clan called We Are Family, by James Oliver. Cast and crew information and Eureka's standard "viewing notes" are included, along with some stills and other key art. Finally, packaging features a slipcover.

The Miracle Fighters Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One of the kind of cool "meta" aspects of this film is the inclusion of so many Yuen relatives, as the commentaries and insert booklet help to clarify. That "family affair" feeling may have given Yuen Woo-ping a sense of freedom to just go for the gusto in this absolutely lunatic enterprise. As Yuen Woo-ping addresses in the interview with him included as a supplement, film and genre both "evolve", though in that regard some may joke that The Miracle Fighters is some kind of unexpected mutation. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very enjoyable. Recommended.