Directed by John Woo and featuring solid performances from Sammo Hung (who was also the fight choreographer), a young Jackie Chan and, in a minor role, Yuen Biao, Hand of Death is your typical Kung-Fu film . . . except one look at the talent involved and you know this one is going to kick lots of ass.
Which it does. Produced by Raymond Chow for Golden Harvest, Hand of Death feels a lot like a Shaw Brothers film (and it should as Chang Cheh was advising Woo) but the differences are telling. It’s pretty rough-and-ready with a steady stream of action from beginning to end, pausing only ever so slightly for a sense of story as Yun Fei (Doran Tan), the best student of a slain Shaolin master, must take on Shih Shao-Feng (James Tian), an evil Manchurian warlord hellbent on removing the Shaolin influence from China.
Shot outdoors, there’s an openness to the fight sequences which sometimes - although not always - stifles Shaw Brothers Productions due to the heavy use of the studio but here, in broad daylight, it feels freeing as Sammo, playing Tu Qing, one of Shao-Feng’s henchmen, and Jackie as a local blacksmith, Tan Feng, do their thing. The moves are quick and loaded with force, proving that some well-choreographed blows can be FELT as well as heard.
Woo, who was bound for greater things, directs the action like a rock star. He’s still working on his trademarks but there’s a firm command of the material which comes through in explicit scenes of violence - whether they be brutal hand-to-hand moments or heavy use of weapons.
With early signs of John Woo's affinity for brotherly bonding amidst heroic bloodshed, and featuring one of Jackie Chan's earliest speaking roles after proving his mettle as a stuntman, Hand of Death is an old school hard-hitting kung fu gem (with a dash of wuxia) that any fan of classic Hong Kong cinema needs in their collection.
It is now on blu-ray, thanks to a 2K remastering job from Fortune Star, from Arrow Video who continue to give Golden Harvest much respect.
Limited Edition
Home Video Distributor: Arrow Films
Available on Blu-ray - May 9, 2023
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono; Mandarin: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Cantonese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
After a traitor of the Shaolin temple, Shih Shao-Feng (James Tien, The Big Boss), has eliminated thousands of his former colleagues in exchange for power from the Manchus under the Qing dynasty, a surviving master of Shaolin, Yun Fei (Tan Tao-Liang), is tasked with the mission of bringing Shih to justice. In order to defeat Shih's overwhelmingly large army - led by the ruthless Tu Qing (Sammo Hung) - Yun Fei will need to team up with a skilled blacksmith (Jackie Chan) and a reluctant swordsman to beat the odds and avenge his fallen brothers.
Video
Hand of Death arrives on Blu-ray from Arrow Video sporting an HD 2K remaster sourced from the original 35mm camera negatives and looks wonderful. 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 quick-footed 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. Blacks are solid and shadows maintain their lines. Even the costumes are noted stitch by stitch.
Audio
The original lossless Mandarin and English mono is included, plus Cantonese stereo and 5.1 remixes in Mandarin and English.
Supplements:
Commentary:
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There’s a brand-new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth which is all sorts of awesome.
Special Features:
There are interviews with Sammo Hung and John Woo and a brand-new commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth. Fans also get a double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch, a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch, an illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by film programmer William Blaik, and a limited Edition slipcover featuring newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch.
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Brand new feature commentary by martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
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From Hong Kong to Hollywood, an archive featurette on John Woo's early career, including interviews with Woo, Chow Yun-fat and Peter Lau
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Never-before-seen archive interview with star Tan Tao-Liang, filmed by his former student Michael Worth
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Archive interview with co-star Sammo Hung
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Alternate credits sequence, as Countdown to Kung Fu
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Trailer gallery
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Image gallery
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 95 mins
Director: John Woo
Writer: John Woo
Cast: Tao-Liang Tan; James Tien; Jackie Chan
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "Men who beg are not heroes. They're cowards."
Distributor: Golden Harvest
Official Site: https://www.arrowvideo.com/hand-of-death-limited-edition-blu-ray/14299340.html
Release Date: July 15, 1976
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 9, 2023
Synopsis: A survivor of an attack on a rebel group opposing the Manchu invasion of China creates the Goose Fist fighting technique and tries for revenge on a traitor.
