Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie Review

Two Champions of Shaolin is an entertaining and action-packed Shaw Brothers martial arts classic with a lot of adrenaline throughout the film. Produced by Mona Fong (Lifeline, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) alongside associate producer Lieh Chen (Five Deadly Venoms, Crippled Avengers), Two Champions of Shaolin is well worthwhile. Executive produced by Run Run Shaw (Disciples of the 36th Chamber, Legendary Weapons of China), Two Champions of Shaolin features a cast including Meng Lo, Sheng Chiang, Li Wang, and Feng Lu.

In the style of the Five Deadly Venoms, kung-fu action explodes on the screen with a group of kung-fu fighters tossed into one epic battle after another. The stakes are high as the Shaolin Warriors go up against the Wu Tang fighters. The warriors are given their own unique symbol as epic battles are underway. Which side can win in a clash between dueling warriors: the Shaolin or Wu Tang?

The ensemble cast of characters includes Tung Chien-Chen (Meng Lo), Hu Wei-Chen (Sheng Chiang), Li Pa-shan (Li Wang), and Kao Ching-chung (Feng Lu). The ensemble cast has a lot of fun with the Shaw Brothers classic and the actors enjoy their respective roles. There are some goofy and over-the-top elements in Two Champions of Shaolin and the cast enjoys bringing these aspects to life.

The production features noteworthy art direction by Johnson Tsao (The Lady Is the Boss, Portrait in Crystal). Tsao is a gifted art director and someone with a good knack for bringing something fun and unique to the production. Two Champions of Shaolin is well-produced with the sets and layouts quite involved and engaging. These design attributes help to showcase the action.

The hair styling by Yen-Lien Peng (Love with the Perfect Stranger, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter) and makeup by Hsu-Ching Wu (Human Lanterns, Legend of the Fox) is worth commending and these are more elements of note for the production. The hair and makeup play a good role in the aesthetic qualities of the filmmaking. These aspects are also highlighted well alongside the quality costume designs by Chi-Yu Liu (The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, The Hidden Power of the Dragon Sabre). The designs are perfectly suited for the cast of characters.

The stunts of Two Champions of Shaolin are essential to the genre filmmaking. The stunt coordination by Sheng Chiang (Ten Tigers of Kwangtung, Thrilling Bloody Sword), Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok (The Rebel Intruders, Holy Flame of the Martial World), and Feng Lu (Ode to Gallantry, Masked Avengers) are incredible and a joy to experience. The stunts are expertly executed and there is plenty of epic adventure for action fans to enjoy. The expert stunts are worth the admission alone.

Edited by Hsing-Lung Chiang (The Avenging Eagle, Sons of the Good Earth) and Yen-Hai Li (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, The Kiss of Death), Two Champions of Shaolin is a well-paced and edited film. Editing is smooth and refined. Two Champions of Shaolin has a good backbone with regards to its editing.

The score composed by Eddie Wang (To Kill a Mastermind, Ambitious Kung Fu Girl) is impressive and a lot of fun. The music by Wang adds a lot to the production. There is plenty to appreciate with the film and its accompanying score.

The cinematography by Hui-Chi Tsao (Lightning Fists of Shaolin, Invincible Shaolin) is a highlight and adds so much to the filmmaking. The visual language of Tsao is first-rate and an essential element of the film. Tsao has a keen visual sensibility and it helps to highlight the well-choreographed action scenes.

Written by Cheh Chang (Five Elements Ninjas, The Boxer from Shantung) and Kuang Ni (The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, The Sword Stained with Royal Blood), Two Champions of Shaolin is a fun, entertaining, and engaging script. There are some good comedic elements in the script, too. An impressive effort by Chang and Ni.

Directed by Cheh Chang (Ninja in Ancient China, Shaolin Hellgate), Two Champions of Shaolin is another fun and exhilarating martial arts gem by master director Chang. Chang is one of the best filmmakers in the entire history of old-school kung fu films. As one of the essential Shaw Brothers filmmakers, Two Champions of Shaolin succeeds in spades. Fans of classic martial arts films won’t want to miss it.

Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, Two Champions of Shaolin is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The release has impressive picture-quality with a good transfer overall. The presentation showcases good detail in spades. The release does have some artificial noise reduction and isn't a flawless presentation but considering some print limitations the transfer does not have significant print wear or damage. Color reproduction is well done.

Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The lossless audio sounds crisp, engaging, and well reproduced. The score is a nice highlight on the release. The English subtitles are well-done and are free from any egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary with Film Historian Brian Bankston

Original Theatrical Trailer (HD, 4:02)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:06)

Two Champions of Shaolin Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Two Champions of Shaolin is an entertaining and action-packed Shaw Brothers classic. The filmmaking is exciting, engaging, and creative. The production values are terrific. The Blu-ray release features a solid high-definition presentation, lossless audio, and a selection of bonus features. Highly recommended.