6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Former Royal Guardsman Kao was forced to be on the run when his superior couldn't tolerate him being a Manchu marrying a Han woman. A young prince was inadvertently killed when he kidnapped the boy to aid in his escape. 14 years later, Kao now a drunkard ridden with guilt, has been living with a young orphan by the name of Shu Geng. Also introduced are two wacky old bickering sorcerer couple, Old Man and Old Spinster, who are always competing with each other over the most trivial matters. Before long, the old nemesis of Kao, the powerful Socerer Bat, found his whereabouts and killed him. Harboring evil ambitions, Sorcerer Bat forces Shu Geng to impersonate the belated prince, with the intention that one day he can ruled alongside the would-be king. Shu Geng manages to escape, amid strange encounters with the clown in-the-jar, and meets the two even stranger bickering magician couple, who teach him their craft.
Starring: Yat-Chor Yuen, Ka-Yan Leung, Cheung-Yan Yuen, Shun-Yee Yuen, Eddy KoForeign | 100% |
Action | 2% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Cantonese: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
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.
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 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.
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.
功夫聯盟
2018
Tiān dì xuán mén / 天地玄門
1991
急凍奇俠 / Slipcover in Original Pressing
1989
3D English Language Version
2015
Feng lei mo jing / Fung lui moh geng / 風雷魔鏡
1972
Du long tan / 毒龍潭
1969
師姐大曬 / Shi jie da shai / Female Reporter / Above the Law II: The Blonde Fury / Righting Wrongs II]
1989
Slipcover in Original Pressing
2017
Wu ming ying xiong / 無名英雄
1971
2016
Avenging Warriors of Shaolin / Jie shi ying xiong / 街市英雄
1979
Shen yong fei hu ba wang hua / 神勇霸王花
1989
Huang jia du chuan / 皇家賭船
1990
92 Ba wang hua yu ba wang hua / 92霸王花與霸王花
1992
Ging tin 12 siu see / Jīng tiān 12 xiǎo shí / 驚天12小時
1990
一招半式闖江湖 / Dian zhi gong fu gan chian chan
1978
The Magnificent One / The Man from Acapulco
1973
Woochi: The Demon Slayer
2009
Die Puppe
1919
2016