Unbeknownst to the Shaw Brothers and acclaimed director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter would be Alexander Fu Sheng’s final performance. Fu Sheng was one of Hong Kong's finest performers in the martial arts genre and his kung-fu films for the Shaw Brothers launched him into international fame, but it would be a car crash which silenced the 28-year-old star forever.
Fu Sheng (whose part in the film was changed in the finale due to his death) is the one and only reason why the film was somewhat ignored in its home country at the time of its release. Fu Sheng’s fans did not want to be reminded of his passing. It is understandable, but - in the months and years passing the film’s release - this relatively somber martial arts entry has only grown in popularity. It is intense and masterfully tells a very story of violent revenge.
The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, featuring a scene of teeth extraction thanks to a pole to the mouth of two fighters, is now considered a staple of the genre thanks to its intricate plot lines, its empowered female characters, and its bold use of the camera as fight sequences get real.
And now, thanks to Arrow Video, the film returns with a brand-new sheen to its original 35mm print. The newly remastered 2k transfer is a definite thing of beauty. Thanks to their efforts, the film hits harder than ever before as the surviving members of the Yeung family wait patiently (well some do), train hard, and prepare themselves for a most elegant revenge upon the Khitan mongrels The transfer is also much brighter, giving the production design a chance to shine masterfully.
It is a dull-gray day as members of the Khitan-ruled Liao dynasty army, led by General Pan Mei (Lam Hak-ming), spring a trap in their efforts to capture Song general Yeung Yip and his seven sons at Golden Beach. It is the opening sequence here and its sound stage onslaught of violence is quite beautifully done and lit. The sons eventually go down in defeat - well, all but two - but the dynamic choreography on display here is both fierce and fatal, showcasing the stinging direction of master director Lau Kar-leung.
Featuring a commanding performance from Gordon Liu as The Fifth Brother, Fu Sheng as Sixth Brother (who absolutely loses his mind) and Kara Hui as 8th Daughter, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, after a solid training montage in a temple with some badass monks, is filled with absolutely stunning fight sequences, which are very, very deadly. This is one of the bloodiest Kar-leung film’s out there and, with little humor sprinkled in this tale of revenge, it makes watching this entry in the genre a relatively stressful experience. There are lots of complications involved for the people involved. To be clear, the path is not straight forward at any of the members of the wronged family.
The fight sequences are truly works of art. From gravity defying wire-work to some pretty bloody beatdowns on coffins, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is a masterclass in why Hong Kong cinema shouldn’t be ignored. Lau Kar-leung, from all his years as a stunt coordinator, knows exactly where to place the camera for maximum impact and he absolutely works miracles with his crew, bringing a sharpness to the choreography that later films would try to emulate.
This is legendary material here. It is pure and true. And it belongs in your collection.
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - March 2, 2020
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region B
After one of its lead actors (cherub-faced action icon Alexander Fu Sheng) unexpectedly died midway through production, master director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin) retooled his latest martial arts epic, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, as the ultimate action spectacular in tribute to the fallen star. Loosely based upon the legendary Yang dynasty chronicled in Chinese folklore, the film starts as the family patriarch and all but two of his sons are brutally wiped out in a bloody battle. One surviving son (Fu Sheng) returns to his mother and two sisters, deeply traumatized; the other (Gordon Liu) escapes and joins a nearby monastery while in hiding. Once he learns his sister (Kara Hui) has been captured by their enemies, however, the warrior-turned-monk realizes he must renounce his peaceful ideals in order to mount a rescue mission and avenge his family. Made during the legendary Shaw Brothers studio's twilight years as a filmmaking powerhouse, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter is often regarded as director Lau's masterpiece, as elegiac and suffused with anguish as it is thrillingly violent (not least in its bone-crunching, teeth-smashing climax).
Video
Presented in a bright and bold transfer, the 2.35:1 aspect ratio serves the film accurately, as The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, is, like a lot of Shaw Brothers productions: very bloody and all about atmosphere. Interiors are strong. Colors pop throughout, but it is the blood effects - burning bright in the transfer - which seal the deal on this one. It’s full of great atmosphere thanks to the classy script and looks visually eye-popping due to the 1080- upgrade. Black levels are strong throughout, bringing out nice details in both the loud and quiet moments of this epic adventure. The tracking shots are glorious to behold in 1080p.
Audio
The audio is presented with your choice of a clean lossless Mandarin Mono DTS-HD Master Audio With New English Subtitle Translations and an English dub.
Supplements:
Once again, Arrow Video delivers solid supplemental items designed to further your interest in Martial Arts films.
Commentary:
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There is one new commentary on the disc. See below for the breakdown.
Special Features:
- Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative by Arrow Films
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation
- Original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin and English mono audio
- Optional English subtitles, plus hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub
- Brand new commentary by Jonathan Clements, author of A Brief History of China
- Newly filmed appreciation by film critic and historian Tony Rayns
- Interviews with stars Gordon Liu, Lily Li and Yeung Ching-ching, filmed by Frédéric Ambroisine in 2004
- A Tribute to Fu Sheng, a short film commemorating the late actor that played before early screenings of The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter,
- presented via a German-dubbed telecine (the best available copy) with English subtitles
- Alternate opening credits, as The Invincible Pole Fighters
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Marc Aspinall
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: Not rated.
Runtime: 98 mins
Director: Chia-Liang Liu
Writer: Chia-Liang Liu; Kuang Ni
Cast: Chia-Hui Liu; Sheng Fu; Lily Li
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Look up and Buddha, and down at home."
Distributor: Shaw Brothers
Official Site:
Release Date: February 17,1984
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: March 2, 2020
Synopsis: Mongols with the help of an insider, ambush the influential Yang Family, defenders of the dynasty. The Mongols must hunt down all Yang survivors so their insidious plot to overthrow the dynasty will not be uncovered.
