In which the 18 legendary weapons of China are dispatched to put an end to the bullet!
Lei Kung (Liu Chia-Liang) is acting strangely. The Boxer rebellion is in full swing and several clans have sworn to train students ways in which to defeat the gun. This includes use of the supernatural. Anything is in play here, even voodoo kung-fu!
Kung, a master of one of the clans, has had enough. Bad-mouthing the other clans on his way to Quitsville, he’s decided that he’s done training students only to see them die by the bullet. So he shuts down his clan, putting everyone at risk, as he wanders silently from town to town in disguise for fear of repercussions.
And the other clans - armed each with one third of the 18 legendary weapons - are having none of it. They want action . . . and they want his head.
Directed by the one and only Liu Chia-Liang (who also stars as the rogue master, writes, and does the choreography), Legendary Weapons of China is indispensable Shaw Brothers chop socky. The film might have been released after the Golden Age of Chop Socky entertainment but, oh man, does this film ever kick ass! It is operating as part fantasy, part supernatural comedy, and all sorts of kung-fu kicking righteousness as an impressive collection of three students - Lei Ying (Chia Yung Liu), Tieh Hau (Hsiao Hou) and Ti Tan (Gordon Liu) - are dispatched to find and assassinate Kung . . .
. . . but can they?
Entertaining from beginning to end, Legendary Weapons of China is an absolute masterpiece of martial arts fighting and technical choreography. It is also quite funny as some of the genre’s standard tropes are turned on their heads when Alexander Fu Sheng shows up as a beefy con artist who stuffs his own guts back into his body (well, sort of) and, with the help of some poop water-smelling accomplices, pulls off a pretty funny showdown in the center of the town and later next to a public bathroom.
But the highlight are the constant action scenes. From the studio-bound opening showcase to the 30-minute finale, Legendary Weapons of China doesn’t stop to rest much when it comes to the action. The story is pretty straight-forward but, when none of the assassins know who the real Lei Kung is, they seem to be fighting with each other more often than doing the detective work.
Which is pretty entertaining. From a roof fight where Ti Hau pretends to be a cat while silently fighting with Ying to the ending which is all sorts of kung-fu crazy, Legendary Weapons of China never disappoints, proving that the man responsible for The Spiritual Boxer is a genius.
Legendary Weapons of China is now on blu-ray thanks to 88 Films.
Home Video Distributor: 88 Films
Available on Blu-ray - February 8, 2022
Screen Formats: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English
Video: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: Cantonese: LPCM 2.0 Mono; English: LPCM 2.0 Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A
Though perhaps the golden age of martial cinema had been and gone, this late entry wuxia-style film from The Shaw Brothers house of dreams was still able to pack a powerful punch. Written, directed, and starring Chia-Liang Liu (The Spiritual Boxer, Spiritual Boxer II), this gloriously fast-paced drama which entertainingly mixes swordplay with hand to hand combat in a fabulously furious rollicking adventure weaves its own special kind of magic.
Video
88 Films brings Legendary Weapons of China to Blu-ray with a restored AVC encoded 1080p with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Interiors are strong. Colors pop throughout, but it is the blood effects - burning bright in the transfer - which seal the deal. 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.
Audio
The film is supplied with the origins Cantonese Mono DTS-HD Master Audio with new subtitle translation and an English Dubbed DTS-HD Master Audio with SDH subtitles.
Supplements:
Commentary:
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There are three audio commentaries included and they are masterfully done. See below for the breakdowns.
Special Features:
Fans get three new commentaries, a breakdown of the 18 weapons used in the movie, an interview with Gordon Lui, Titus Ho, and the original trailer. Also included is a reversible sleeve with new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien.
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Audio Commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
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Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and Actor / Martial Artist Michael Worth
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Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng
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Eighteen Weapons - David West on Legendary Weapons of China
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Gordon At Shaw - Interview with Actor Gordon Lui by Frédéric Ambroisine
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Titus At Shaw - Interview with Producer Titus Ho by Frédéric Ambroisine
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Original Trailer
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Reversible sleeve with brand-new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien & Original Hong Kong poster artwork
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Composite Blu-ray Grade
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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 109 mins
Director: Chia-Liang Liu
Writer: Tai-Heng Li; Chia-Liang Liu
Cast: Chia-Liang Liu; Chia-Yung Liu; Kara Wai
Genre: Action | Drama
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor: Shaw Brothers
Official Site: https://88-films.myshopify.com/products/legendary-weapons-of-china-88-asia-30
Release Date: January 21, 1982
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 8, 2022
Synopsis: A band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.
