Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

The Shaolin Avengers Blu-ray Movie Review

The Shaolin Avengers packs a mighty punch as a non-stop thrill ride for fans of the classic Shaw Brothers films. Executive produced by Shih-Wei Peng (Five Shaolin Masters, Disciples of Shaolin) and Kang Tsu (Ma Ge Bo Luo, Tong tou tie bei), The Shaolin Avengers is a famous story as adapted for the Shaw Brothers martial arts world. There are enormous thrills to be had for genre fans looking for an outstanding spectacle.

The White-Browed Hermit stirs together controversy and danger with the Shaolin Temple betrayal. The betrayal is only the beginning. As a result, the firebrand known as Fang Shih Yu (Sheng Fu) carries out a revenge plot. As the tale unfolds, the martial arts avengers seek justice for the Shaolin betrayal. Can the revenge lead to justice or more befallen heroes?

The Shaolin Avengers brings together an impressive cast of performers including: Hu Hui Chien (Kuan-Chun Chi), Fang Hsiao-yu (Yen-Tsan Tang), Miao Tsui-hua (Chi-Chin Ma), Tiger Lei Hu (Fei Lung), Feng Tao-te (Hung Tsai), Peng Bu-yun (Ka-Yan Leung), Lu Ying-pu (Lung-Wei Wang), and Niu Hua-chiao (Mao Shan). The ensemble cast adds to the action. There are so many players in the spectacle of The Shaolin Avengers. The result of the strong cast is a more thrilling adventure – bringing audiences to the edge of their respective seats.

The stunts coordinated by Hsin-Yi Chen (Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin, Shaolin Kung Fu) and Hsing Hsieh (One-Armed Boxer, Master of the Flying Guillotine) are top-notch and help to elevate the epic scope of the filmmaking. The production is exuberant and the spectacle of The Shaolin Avengers is undeniable. Chen and Hsieh deliver the goods in spades. There is a clear understanding of the production and the scope of the filmmaking is much more engaging to behold as a result. Quite a superb accomplishment.

The costumes by Yung Huang (The Shanghai Thirteen, Two Great Cavaliers) bring nice flourishes to the production merits. The costumes by Huang are well-tuned to the lead characters and supporting cast. The costumes are elegant and add to the filmmaking voice – something essential in the world of the Shaw Brothers classics.

The production doesn’t disappoint and provides audiences with a wondrous spectacle. The art direction by Yi Ku (The Silver Spear, Fury of the Shaolin Master) is a sight to behold. The art direction adds classy elegance and sophistication to the production. Fans of the Shaw Brothers films will find more to be impressed by with the quality effort undertaken for The Shaolin Avengers.

The score composed by Yung-Yu Chen (Five Fingers of Death, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) is a vibrant beauty. The music is so lush and engaging. The score fits the action spectacle and doesn’t disappoint. Thrilling energy and vibes are integral to the music. A terrific effort for the Shaw Brothers gem.

The cinematography by Mu-To Kung (The Boxer from Shantung, The Heroic Ones) adds to the poetic beauty of the filmmaking. The Shaolin Avengers is a lush and engaging cinematographic landscape. Spectacle and poetry collide with the Shaw Brothers gem. The visuals add to the beauty of the production.

Edited by Ting-Hung Kuo (60 Second Assassin, Green Dragon Inn), The Shaolin Avengers is a well- edited film and the pace and rhythm of the filmmaking is impressive. The filmmaking is well-done and Kuo is talented in the editing realm. The results work well and help the filmmaking succeed.

Written by Cheh Chang and Kuang Ni (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, The Singing Killer), The Shaolin Avengers is a reasonably fun and engaging action film. The script might not be top-tier when one compares it alongside the best Shaw Brothers films, it still has some merit. The script isn’t quite perfection but it is entertaining.

Directed by Cheh Chang (Ninja in Ancient China, Shaolin Hellgate), The Shaolin Avengers is a fun and worthwhile Shaw Brothers film. The Shaolin Avengers is entertaining and finds a decent balance of adrenaline-packed action and charm. Though not one of the best Shaw Brothers classics, The Shaolin Avengers does ultimately provide plenty of fun for fans of the martial arts genre.

The Shaolin Avengers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Shaolin Avengers is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen.  There are some scenes with a stretched image quality – this source issue is apparent in several scenes – and these aspects do detract somewhat from an otherwise decent transfer. The transfer isn't quite as robust as some Shaw Brothers classics, the color reproduction also leaves a little to be desired. It is unfortunate as one can't help but feel as though the cinematography could be more impressive without the stretched image issues as apparent in several scenes. This is an unfortunate drawback to the old and outdated transfer used on The Shaolin Avengers. The stretched video and image discrepancies can be seen in screenshots 10, 11, 12, and 15 as reference.

The Shaolin Avengers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The audio quality is reasonably good and manages to add to the quality of the presentation. The audio fares somewhat better than the video presentation. The audio is clear and easy to understand. Dialogue is well reproduced on the release. Subtitles are well done.

The Shaolin Avengers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston

Sharp Soundbites – Interview with Film Critic Frank Djeng (HD, 17:30)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:08)

The Shaolin Avengers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Shaolin Avengers is a worthwhile martial arts film in the Shaw Brothers canon. Fans of the Shaw Brothers won't want to overlook seeing the classic film. Though not a top-tier Shaw Brothers film, audiences still can have some fun with the spectacle offered.

Unfortunately, The Shaolin Avengers features a somewhat underwhelming transfer with too many scenes featuring a stretched image – a rare occurrence in the Shaw Brothers collections but an issue worth noting here. On the upside, the release also includes some supplements fans can delve into. Recommended.