The Sword (1980) Blu-ray (Eureka Entertainment)

[MifuneFan]

Eureka Entertainment will be releasing the HK Wuxia film The Sword (1980), directed by Patrick Tam, on Blu-ray in November!

The Sword (1980) Limited Edition

https://diabolikdvd.com/product/the-...-ray-preorder/

https://www.orbitdvd.com/products/pr...imited-edition

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Limited edition (2000 copies)
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
• 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration
• Original Cantonese audio and optional English dub tracks (original mono presentations)
• Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
• New audio commentary by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• New audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• Andrew Heskins on The Sword – A new interview with film critic Andrew Heskins (easternKicks)
• Forging Ahead – A new interview with martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong on The Sword and the wuxia genre
• Original theatrical trailer
• A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring an archival interview with director Patrick Tam and a new essay by East Asian cinema expert Leung Wing-Fai

Best known as a key contributor to the Hong Kong New Wave as the director of My Heart is That Eternal Rose and the editor of Wong Kar-wai's Days of Being Wild and Ashes of Time, Patrick Tam began his filmmaking career with The Sword: a love letter to the wuxia genre starring Adam Cheng (Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain). Believing that he is in possession of a cursed blade, the legendary swordsman Hua Qian Shu (Tien Feng, King Boxer) has retreated from the martial arts world to live in peaceful seclusion. However, his retirement has done nothing to dampen his reputation; a young warrior, Li Mak-jan (Cheng), wishes to challenge the master in order to test his own sword-fighting skill. But as Li searches for the reclusive Hua Qian Shu so that he might face him in combat, he finds himself entangled with old lovers and new rivals. Soon, it becomes apparent that the old master's sword really might be cursed - and will, perhaps, bring nothing but tragedy to those who seek to wield it. After a period of dormancy, wuxia films resurged in the 1980s as the likes of Duel to the Death, Bastard Swordsman and Tsui Hark's Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain rejected the realist approach adopted by kung fu cinema in the previous decade. Eureka Classics is proud to present Patrick Tam's The Sword - one of the earliest and best pictures to emerge from this wuxia revival - from a brand new 2K restoration.

THE SWORD (Eureka Classics) New & Exclusive Trailer - YouTube

[Markgway]

optional english subtitles, newly translated for this release

[DukeTogo84]

Heard only good things about this one, so easy purchase for me.

[MifuneFan]

First post updated with new picture, links, and a trailer.

[MovieBuff647]

Eureka is dispatching preorders now - got an email notification earlier!

[Vizsla]

I just got an email from Amazon saying this release is delayed until December 3rd.
I guess two more weeks isn't too bad.

[Rizor]

I received my copy yesterday and took a look. I have the old HK disc. This is a big improvement, but the new transfer did get a healthy dose of filtering though they'd added some grain back on top. It has a bit of a soft watercolor look at times.

[AnimalCMan]

This was a blind buy for me, but I watched my copy tonight and wow this film blew me away! I only recently became aware of Patrick Tam through the blu-ray release of My Heart Is That Eternal Rose (also a really good movie) and yeah, after The Sword, I am officially a huge fan of the guy.

If you're a fan of wuxia films, this is a no-brainer to pick up. One of my absolute favorites now. The visual style of this film is on a level I don't think I've seen out of Hong Kong apart from John Woo and Wong Kar-Wai.

It's amazing Tam wasn't a bigger deal, but it seems he only directed a handful of movies. It is cool to see he worked a few times with Wong Kar-Wai and Johnnie To as an editor. The guy is clearly very skilled and I hope these recent releases bring him to the attention of more western viewers.

[Drunksnake]

First time watch for me and I really enjoyed it. Definitely worth repeated viewing. Needs a back to back viewing with Duel To The Death.

[Danespina]

@35:14 in Cantonese Mono: Is the line “When you see Lee Mak-yin, kill him for me!” supposed to be so quiet? Can barely hear it.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Danespina

@35:14 in Cantonese Mono: Is the line “When you see Lee Mak-yin, kill him for me!” supposed to be so quiet? Can barely hear it.

As I recall, he's whispering.

[Danespina]

Originally Posted by Markgway

As I recall, he's whispering.

Probably as simple as that. The English and Mandarin still isn't that unusually quiet, but I understand that doesn't mean the Cantonese is 'wrong'.

[Sommerswerd]

site review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-S...369442/#Review

[CrimsonLegionVMCXIX]

I really liked this movie, was a blind buy as I'd never seen it. Probably one of my favorite purchases of the last year. It just felt different from most of the other wuxia films I'd seen, especially from Shaw as this one is from Golden Harvest. It moves along fairly quickly, never letting up or overstaying its welcome. For a first time movie for Mr. Tam, hats off to him.

[Danespina]

^ Loved The Old Pigeon Man.