Eureka Entertainment has announced its May natch of Blu-ray releases. They are: Hopping Mad: The Mr. Vampire Sequels (1986-1989), Andrzej Żuławski: Three Films (1971-1988), and and Burning Paradise (1994).
Label description: After the huge success of Mr Vampire, Hong Kong audiences were desperate for more vampire-hopping action and the films' producers were more than happy to oblige. A steady stream of jiangshi content was produced over the following years, and presented here are 4 of these classic titles from stunning new restorations.
In Mr Vampire II (aka Vampire Family) an archaeologist and his students unwittingly set free a family of hopping vampires who wreak havoc in 1980s Hong Kong. Mr Vampire III returns to a period setting and sees Lam Ching-ying's Taoist priest battle an evil witch (a brilliant performance by veteran actress Pauline Yuk-Wan Wong). Mr Vampire IV (aka Uncle Vampire) two feuding neighbours (a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk) must join forces when their village is overrun by vampires. And finally in Vampire vs Vampire, Lam Ching-ying's Taoist priest finds his jiangshi-fighting knowledge is of little help when he goes up against a European vampire.
Featuring a bevy of Hong Kong legends including Lam Ching-ying, Yuen Biao, Wu Ma, Richard Ng, Yuen Wah, and many more – this collection brings together four beloved films in definitive presentations in a very special edition. Filled with screams and laughs, Eureka Classics is proud to present Hopping Mad: The Mr Vampire Sequels.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Mr Vampire II and Mr Vampire III presented in 1080p HD from brand new 2K restorations
Mr Vampire IV and Vampire vs Vampire presented in 1080p HD from brand new HD restorations
Cantonese and English audio options on all films
Optional English Subtitles for all films, newly translated for this release
Brand new feature length audio commentaries on Mr Vampire II and Vampire vs Vampire by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Brand new feature length audio commentaries on Mr Vampire III and Mr Vampire IV by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
Brand new video piece on the history and resurgent popularity of the jiangshi genre
Reversible sleeve featuring original poster art
Trailers
A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films and the Jiangshi genre by James Oliver [2000 copies]
Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
Label description:
An uncompromising visionary and a true maverick of European cinema, the Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present three films by Andrzej Żuławski, all making their UK debuts on Blu-ray from new 4K restorations.
Rich with multilayered symbolism and apocalyptic imagery, The Third Part of the Night is Żuławski's highly influential debut feature film. After his whole family is slaughtered during the Nazi-occupation of Poland, Michal (Leszek Teleszyński) decides to join the resistance but descends into madness after encountering a doppelgänger of his murdered wife.
The Devil is a violent tale of Satanic seduction during the Prussian invasion of Poland in the 17th century, which proved so controversial upon release that it was banned for 16 years.
And finally, On the Silver Globe, Żuławski's masterpiece about a team of astronauts who land on a desolate planet and start a new society. When filming was 80% complete, the Polish government ordered the production to be shut down and all the negatives be destroyed. Miraculously, the original film reels were preserved and ten years later the film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATIONS OF THE THREE FILMS
Optional English Subtitles for all films, from translations by Daniel Bird and approved by director Andrzej Żuławski before his death in 2016
Escape to the Silver Globe (dir. Kuba Mikurda, 2021) – acclaimed documentary on the production history of On the Silver Globe
Brand new feature length audio commentary on On the Silver Globe by Daniel Bird
Michael Brooke on "The Third Part of the Night" – Brand new interview
Michael Brooke on "The Devil" – Brand new interview
Brand new video piece by Daniel Bird on the cinematography of On the Silver Globe
Brand new video piece by Daniel Bird on the costumes and props of On the Silver Globe
Brand new documentary short by Daniel Bird using previously unseen archival footage from the filming of On the Silver Globe
Brand new interview with Lukasz Żuławski
Brand new interview with Adam Żuławski
A Limited Edition 60-page collector's book featuring new essays and archival material
Description: Director Ringo Lam's (Wild Search, City on Fire) only film in the wuxia genre is also one his best and bloodiest.
Hunted by the Manchu government, a young Fok Sai-yuk is captured and sent to the Red Lotus Temple, where Shaolin monks are enslaved and viciously tortured by the sadistic warden Kung (Wong Kam Kong). Thrown into a pit of corpses and left to die, Fong survives and attempts to save his Shaolin brothers.
Produced by Tsui Hark, Burning Paradise is a dark fantasy epic, filled with shocking violence and incredible choreography. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time in the UK since the VHS era in a blood-soaked special edition.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
Cantonese and English audio options (both in their original mono presentations)
Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
Brand new interview with actor Wong Kam Kong
Archival Interview with Tsui Hark
Original theatrical trailer
A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver [2000 copies]
Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]