Black Cat 1 & 2 (1991-1992) coming from Vinegar Syndrome

[whiteberry]

Explosive action, bloody gunfights and bone-breaking martial arts all collide in this "girls with guns" double feature of BLACK CAT and BLACK CAT 2. Vinegar Syndrome Archive is proud to present this deadly duo for the first time on Blu-ray in the US, newly restored from archival film elements.

BLACK CAT (96 min): After brutally killing an abusive trucker at a rest stop, tough as nails drifter Catherine soon finds herself facing life in prison due to her violent outbursts. But, when a daring escape from the courthouse leaves her all but dead, Catherine awakens to find she's been given another lease on life, the only catch: she must train to become an assassin for the CIA under the codename Black Cat. With the tutelage of fellow agent, Brian (Simon Yam, Ip Man), Catherine must learn to give up any chance of a normal life if she wishes to remain alive. Known to many as "the Hong Kong version of La Femme Nikita," BLACK CAT manages to separate itself from its predecessor thanks in part to the intense martial arts sequences captured by director Stephen Shin (Easy Money), as well as a stellar performance from the lovely but deadly Jade Leung (Satin Steel, Enemy Shadow).

BLACK CAT 2 (91 min): After undergoing a series of medical experiments in order to become a more efficient assassin, Catherine struggles to maintain what little of her human side is left. Deemed compromised by her higher-ups, Catherine is given one more chance when she is partnered with a young hot-headed agent, Robin (Robin Shou, Mortal Kombat). Catherine must use her newly enhanced skills in order to stop a violent assassin before he claims his next victim. BLACK CAT 2 sees the reunion of director Stephen Shin with Jade Leung returning as the title character. However, this sequel manages to up the ante on the original by combining sci-fi elements with over-the-top action sequences, including an end fight scene that is sure to make your head spin.

directed by: Stephen Shin
starring: Jade Leung, Simon Yam, Thomas Lam, Robin Shou, Zoltan Buday
Black Cat: 1991 / 96 min / Cantonese Mono + English Mono
Black Cat 2: 1992 / 91 min / Cantonese Stereo + English Mono

Additional info:

• 2-disc Region A Blu-ray Set
• Newly restored by Vinegar Syndrome from existing studio masters
• Includes both Cantonese and English language tracks for both films
• Commentary track for Black Cat by author and historian Samm Deighan
• Brand new interview with actress Jade Leung (14 min)
• Brand new interview with martial arts director Benz Kong To-Hoi (13 min)
• "Copycat? Black Cat and Its Influences" (17 min) - a video essay by author and historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Black Cat trailer in Cantonese & English
• Black Cat 2 trailer in Cantonese & English
• Still galleries for Black Cat & Black Cat 2
• Reversible sleeve artwork
• Newly translated English subtitles

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti.../black-cat-1-2

Original Trailers:

[Trailer] 黑貓 ( Black Cat ) - Restored Version - YouTube

[Trailer] 黑貓II (Black Cat II) - YouTube

New Trailer:

Black Cat 1 & 2 (1991-1992) [Vinegar Syndrome Archive Blu-ray Promo Trailer] - YouTube

[DukeTogo84]

Very nice. Pre-ordered these fast.

[crazybee]

Extremely no-brainer purchase here!

[By_His_Strypes]

I've never seen these... so probably will pass, although they do sound intriguing.

[CreasyBear]

Sounds up my alley. Done.

[MifuneFan]

That cover art

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

That cover art

[Show spoiler]

Definitely gonna help move units.

[russweiss1]

Sold about 700 copies the first hour.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

Sold about 700 copies the first hour.

Wow. Glad HK cinema is doing well for them.

[GenPion]

I'll for sure be picking this release up.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by bergman864

Definitely gonna help move units.

lol units

[StarDestroyer52]

Picked up my copy, yesterday. Glad to see the HK goodness keep coming.

[russweiss1]

Review:

https://10kbullets.blogspot.com/sear...+%28Blu-ray%29

[Mr. Chaverria]

Got this on the 15th but finally had a chance to get to it. Went after the video features first, the commentary by Samm Deighan will be heard later. 2 and the features were what I wanted to see.

The set is nice. I'm not a fan of the case and booklet coming from the bottom though. 2 painted covers. The BD disc case has the reversible slip for both of these images. Kind of wish it didn't but it's still neat. I'll have the black cover art as the sleeve art.

The poster it came with is of both VS art, the white one and black one. I am going to love framing this one cuz that white art cover is just so cool.

The Jade Leung inteview is pretty cool. She looks great in her 50s still. Her insight was very well what I liked.

The martial arts director interview was a great insight into seeing how a HK crew differentiated from working w/ a crew not from Hong Kong. Safety measures (and the lack of them within the HK way) was interesting to hear about. And how in hindsight it was better. Hong Kong was a wild place for sure. It was a amusing chat w/ that guy.

The video essay on Black Cat, on what it and others took (and what it didn't) from La Femme Nikita was fun. It's the least interesting one but its not bad. It's just cuz hearing someone from that set and that industry is just so captivating to me. There's always surprises about how they did stuff.

For Black Cat 1, I'll have to compare 88 Films' and VS' later. Now... to start on Black Cat 2. I've not seen it. So this should be fun. I'll for sure get 88's BC2 though cuz... Frank Djeng. Love his work.

[Alexcap]

the cover art for Vs version is bad and its very misleading 88Films cover art for the first one is better and the cover art for the second film is better than the first one.

[Mr. Chaverria]

Originally Posted by Alexcap

the cover art for Vs version is bad and its very misleading 88Films cover art for the first one is better and the cover art for the second film is better than the first one.

How is VS' art misleading in comparison to 88 Films or even the HK artwork?

They're all selling the same thing in a variation. If anything, 88 and VS are just following suit with what we've known. Granted I think either art for VS is solely for Black Cat 1. But still...

[P.A.C.O.]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chaverria

How is VS' art misleading in comparison to 88 Films or even the HK artwork?

They're all selling the same thing in a variation. If anything, 88 and VS are just following suit with what we've known. Granted I think either art for VS is solely for Black Cat 1. But still...

I think he means for there to be a comma after bad.

[AnimalCMan]

Anyone know why Black Cat 2 defaults to Cantonese when it’s clear the English track was sync sound?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by AnimalCMan

Anyone know why Black Cat 2 defaults to Cantonese when it’s clear the English track was sync sound?

I think it's due to how bad the quality of the English audio is. It's the correct way of watching the movie, but it is very muffled compared to the Cantonese track which is as clear as day.

[AnimalCMan]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think it's due to how bad the quality of the English audio is. It's the correct way of watching the movie, but it is very muffled compared to the Cantonese track which is as clear as day.

Yeah, I did notice it seems like despite most of the audio being sync sound, all the sound during action and some other scenes are dubbed and not very well compared to the Cantonese track when I flipped back and forth. Quite odd.