Eureka Entertainment has announced its January batch of Blu-ray releases. They are: Samurai Wolf I & II (1966-1967), Kung Fu Cult Master (1993), and When Taekwondo Strikes (1973).
Description: A duo of chanbara masterpieces from one of the genre's greatest directors, Hideo Gosha! Out of a desire to make what he felt was a truly no-holds-barred sword-fighting film, Gosha took inspiration from the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa as well as the spaghetti Western sub-genre they had inspired. Working with a low-budget to free himself from the restrictive oversight of his producers, the result was Samurai Wolf and Samurai Wolf II, the story of a charismatic ronin named Kiba (played by Isao Natsuyagi).
In the first film, Kiba wanders into a small town and ends up ensnared in a local conflict that's more than meets the eye, and in Samurai Wolf II Kiba gets mixed up in a complex web of intrigue, involving a crooked goldmine owner, a cynical swordsman, and an arrogant dojo master.
With stunning black and white cinematography and ultra-stylish action sequences, the Samurai Wolf films are a lean, mean triumph of samurai cinema and the Masters of Cinema series is proud to present both films for the first time ever in the UK, on Blu-ray.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
2K RESTORATIONS OF BOTH FILMS BY TOEI
Audio commentary on Samurai Wolf by film historian and writer Chris Poggiali
Outlaw Director - Hideo Gosha featurette with Tomoe Gosha
Uncompressed original Japanese Mono audio
Optional English subtitles
Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
A collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Tony Stella [2000 copies]
Description: The Queen of Kung Fu Angela Mao and the King of Taekwondo Jhoon Rhee join forces in this action packed Hong Kong classic!
In Japanese occupied Korea, resistance leader Lee (Rhee) is captured by the Japanese occupying forces. To rescue him, his pupil Jin (Carter Wong, The Skyhawk) must get help from a Hapkido expert (Mao) and together they fight there way through an army of Japanese villains played by a number of genre favourites including Hwang In-shik (Way of the Dragon), Kenji Kazama (The Streetfighter) and Sammo Hung (The Millionaires' Express).
Eureka Classics is proud to present When Taekwondo Strikes on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a brand new 2K restoration.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE HONG KONG THEATRICAL CUT
Brand new feature length audio commentary by film historian and author Samm Deighan
The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990, dir. Sandra Weintraub. 91 mins) – feature-length documentary presented by John Saxon
Trailers
Original Mandarin mono audio
"Classic" English dubbed mono audio
Optional alternate English audio track with different music cues
Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
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]
Description: One of director Wong Jing's most underappreciated films is this wuxia extravaganza based on Jin Yong's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.
While various martial arts sects fight over a pair of mythical swords that grant great power, Zhang Wuji (Jet Li) goes on a quest to become a great martial artist and end the conflict.
Presented from a new restoration of the original film elements, Eureka Classics presents Kung Fu Cult Master for the first time ever on Blu-ray.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL HONG KONG CUT OF THE FILM
Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng
Archival Interview with Sammo Hung from 2004 by Frédéric Ambroisin
Trailer
Original Cantonese mono audio
Optional English Subtitles
A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Simon Abrams [2000 copies]
Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]