You just sold me on the set, thanks a lot. I’ve seen less than a handful of his HK films and two of those are Police Story 1 & 2 which I didn’t really like for the reasons you mentioned. Looking very much forward to this.Mr Sausage wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 9:38 pm The first Project A is probably my favourite Chan. It's right at his peak in terms of stunt work and fight choreography, and it's a more consistently exciting movie than either Police Story or Armour of God, both of which are pretty dull outside of their openings and climaxes.
I think that Police Story is better than both Project A films but all 3 are definitely better than Armour of God. I actually find Armour of God to be one of the weaker Chan films, as it has honestly nothing much going for it. The story, humor, and acting are worse than what's usually offered from a Chan film (not like that's ever the reason anyone actually watches these films), but even the action sequences are lackluster and isn't anywhere up to the standard that Chan had set up for himself in this period.Mr Sausage wrote: The first Project A is probably my favourite Chan. It's right at his peak in terms of stunt work and fight choreography, and it's a more consistently exciting movie than either Police Story or Armour of God, both of which are pretty dull outside of their openings and climaxes.
Funnily, I do think the action is excellent in Armour of God, especially the banquet hall fight and the fight with the trio of ladies. But the rest is tedious.yoloswegmaster wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:46 pmI think that Police Story is better than both Project A films but all 3 are definitely better than Armour of God. I actually find Armour of God to be one of the weaker Chan films, as it has honestly nothing much going for it. The story, humor, and acting are worse than what's usually offered from a Chan film (not like that's ever the reason anyone actually watches these films), but even the action sequences are lackluster and isn't anywhere up to the standard that Chan had set up for himself in this period.Mr Sausage wrote: The first Project A is probably my favourite Chan. It's right at his peak in terms of stunt work and fight choreography, and it's a more consistently exciting movie than either Police Story or Armour of God, both of which are pretty dull outside of their openings and climaxes.
Similarly Operation Condor: Armour of God II is all about that wind tunnel fight set piece.Mr Sausage wrote: Fri Aug 02, 2024 2:54 pm Funnily, I do think the action is excellent in Armour of God, especially the banquet hall fight and the fight with the trio of ladies. But the rest is tedious.
Um...what was the thinking here? Let's get the guy who directed a few mediocre Jackie Chan films to talk about a pair of stars he's never worked with?Twin Warriors: Director Brett Ratner and Critic Elvis Mitchell on stars Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh
The difference presumbly is that they were going to do new extras with Logan until their other collaborators walked.yoloswegmaster wrote: Tue Aug 06, 2024 3:36 pm To be fair, they are porting the extra over from the previous release, though I don't know why since it sounds like a forgettable extra and they were getting a lot of shit (rightfully) for working with Bey Logan.
This limited edition Jet Li double feature includes two breathtaking martial arts action films directed by Corey Yuen (The Transporter). In The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk Jet Li stars as a carefree young martial arts expert who gets involved with a government official's daughter just as he discovers his family is part of a rebel resistance movement. While his fighting ability and charm made him a local champion, his epic battle for freedom would make him a legendary hero. Acclaimed choreographer Corey Yuen directs Li at his jaw-dropping best, including an unbelievable sequence fought entirely atop the heads of stunned onlookers. In The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 2 Martial arts sensation Jet Li kicks back into action as the heroic Fong Sai Yuk in this explosive follow-up to the powerfully entertaining original. Having fought to save his father from the wrath of the Chinese government, Fong Sai Yuk joins his father's underground revolutionary organization, the Red Flower Society! But in the camp of rebels, a traitor lurks! Now, at a time when few can be trusted, Fong Sai Yuk must utilise his every skill in the fight to overthrow his nation's brutally powerful empire!
Extras:
- Deluxe Edition Includes Rigid Slip Case with new artwork by “Kung Fu” Bob O’Brien
- Individual Digipaks to hold each film with new artwork by “Kung Fu” Bob O’Brien
- O-Ring Slipcase to leave the rigid case clean of logos
The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk
- 4K restoration of the original Hong Kong Version of The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk presented in 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Uncompressed Original Cantonese Mono
- Newly translated English Subtitles
- Audio Commentary by Chris Poggliali and Frankie Balboa
- Hit Hard and Fly High - An Interview with Director Corey Yuen Kwai
- The Pen is Mightier that the Sword - An Interview with writer Jeff Lau
- Theatrical Trailer
The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 2
- 4K restoration of the original Hong Kong Version of The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 2 presented in 4K Ultra HD (2160p) Blu-ray in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Uncompressed Original Cantonese Mono
- Newly translated English Subtitles
- Audio Commentary by Peter Glagowski and Frankie Balboa
- Theatrical Trailer
Me wrote:Fong Sai-Yuk (Corey Yuen, 1993)
I first saw this in high school under the title The Legend, in what was probably a recut and rescored version for American viewers. This is my first time seeing the Hong Kong cut. A nationalist story about semi-historical folk hero Fong Sai-Yuk’s fight against the Manchu-led Qing dynasty on behalf of his fellow Han Chinese. Despite the inclusion of sometimes brutal violence, this is a lighthearted, goofy, frequently stylish kung fu film. The goofiness is offset by the charm of the cast, especially a regal but eccentric Josephine Siao. There’s also a strain of meta humour that’s unexpected, with people dropping the real names of the cast and director, and even other popular directors. Jet Li, needing a fake name, strikes the Wong Fei-Hung pose, Once Upon a Time in China music swelling, to declare himself Wong...Jing, the B-movie filmmaker. At another point, curling his mother’s hair, he explains he learned the English word “wonderful” from Josephine Siao, ie. the very actress playing opposite him. Given that director Yuen and fellow Little Fortune, Yuen Tak, are fight choreographers, you can expect the fighting to be terrific. The early fights have a comic energy, like the ‘floor is lava’ fight across the heads of a crowd of people. There’s also a fun, queer romance between Josephine Siao and Sibelle Hu after the former fights her dressed as a man. The plot has a fun folk tale aspect to it, with the two lovers, Jet Li and Michelle Reis, engaged to each other without realizing the other person is their secret love, each thinking their real love is somewhere else (something that darkened rooms and face veils help accomplish). While the movie takes a turn towards the serious and even brutal in the second half, overall it's a lot of light entertainment. Looking back on Yuen’s directorial career, serious, brutal action films like Righting Wrongs, She Shoots Straight, and Women on the Run were rare. He preferred the comedic, directing numerous outright comedies in addition to his action comedies. While I wouldn’t rank this as high as Twin Warriors or Once Upon a Time in China I and II, or even Corey Yuen’s My Father is a Hero, it’s still one of Jet Li’s better films and a solid entry in Yuen’s filmography. Also, Ann Hui(!) is credited as production designer.
Fong Sai-Yuk II (Corey Yuen, 1993)
Same deal, saw this in high school as The Legend II. The only thing I remembered about it was a bit of intolerable goofiness where Fong Sai Yuk’s mom thinks she’s pregnant after gas causes her belly to balloon, and a moment of unexpected brutality where someone’s fingers are broken and shoved backwards, causing an ugly open fracture. Corey Yuen has a small role here, too, as a member of the Red Lotus Society seeking the overthrow of the Manchus. As you might expect from a sequel, this is much heavier on action and lighter on story, character, and coherence. This is less a proper movie than a collection and amplification of everything that worked in the first one. The fights are more frequent and elaborate, and the comedy more exaggerated and juvenile. It’s a movie of extremes for sure. Michelle Reis is sidelined so Jet Li can have another romance, here with Amy Kwok. That leads to yet another competition to win a bride. It’s also one of Yuen’s most stylish and beautiful movies, full of unnecessarily pictorial shots, including an amazing fight down a corridor full of falling red leaves, blowing dust, and magic hour sunlight peeking over the walls. There is no reason for a furious action spectacle to look so lovely, only that it expresses the emotional extremes of the moment in a way that's so satisfying and artistic. A briskly moving, brightly coloured extravaganza that shows Yuen has learned how to take the silly comedy of his Chow films and marry it with the martial arts action he's known for.
2 more Pink Films and a Mulot?! Incredible work 88.Finch wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 7:50 pm Tai Chi Master got delayed to October 7th. I learned my lesson from the Project A scheduling fiasco and ordered Tai Chi Master on its own so now at least it's not holding up anything else.
88 also announced a 4K of Eyeball and BDs of Barfly, Knife Under The Throat, Woods Are Wet, Apartment Wife: Affair in the Afternoon and Virgin Witch.
Finch wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2024 7:50 pm Tai Chi Master got delayed to October 7th. I learned my lesson from the Project A scheduling fiasco and ordered Tai Chi Master on its own so now at least it's not holding up anything else.
88 also announced a 4K of Eyeball and BDs of Barfly, Knife Under The Throat, Woods Are Wet, Apartment Wife: Affair in the Afternoon and Virgin Witch.
I remember on the HKL DVD, they only had Jackie's vocals for the first half of the credits song....which was awkward as he is visible singing all the way through them!yoloswegmaster wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 5:48 pm People who have received their Project A sets early are reporting that the Canto Dolby Atmos tracks abruptly cuts off in the middle of the end credits on Project A Part 2