Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy (Eureka Classics)

[Saber Rider]

New Announcement! ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA TRILOGY, Tsui Hark’s dazzling kung-fu trilogy starring Jet Li, will be released as part of the Eureka Classics range on Blu-ray from 26 November 2018, sourced from brand new 4K restorations and presented in a Limited Edition 4-Disc Box Set featuring a Collector’s Booklet. Available to PRE-ORDER now http://po.st/4jtepf

Tsui Hark’s phenomenal ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA trilogy finally arrives on Blu-ray in the UK from brand new 4K restorations! Starring Jet Li as the real life Cantonese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung, a physical embodiment of traditional Chinese values and moral incorruptibility, this martial-arts epic charts China’s transition into the modern-world as it gradually abandons its old traditions and begins to accept the inevitable encroach of Western cultures.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA – In 19th century Canton, Wong Fei-hung battles ruthless imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country and enslave his people, leading to a climactic fight sequence still regarded as one of the best ever filmed.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II – Wong Fei-hung faces off against the White Lotus Cult, a dangerous xenophobic group seeking to drive all European influence out of China, as well as a corrupt military officer, played by Donnie Yen in his breakthrough role.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA III – Wong Fei-hung travels to Peking and is forced to enter a martial-arts contest in order to prevent an assassination attempt against a prominent Chinese diplomat who wants to showcase traditional Chinese martial-arts, and restore national pride.

With action sequences choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, the Once Upon a Time in China series is a glorious high-point in martial-arts filmmaking, and Eureka Classics is proud to present Tsui Hark’s original trilogy, as well as ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA AND AMERICA (which saw Jet Li return to the Wong Fei-hung role after a four-year gap) for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK in a special Limited Edition 4-Disc Box Set loaded with extra content.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA TRILOGY (Eureka Classics) Limited Edition 4-Disc Blu-ray Box Set available to PRE-ORDER now http://po.st/4jtepf

[Owenjohnston]

First item on my Christmas list 😁

[Saber Rider]

More details about the release. There's actually a fourth film in the set - Once Upon a Time in China and America!

Eureka Entertainment to release the ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA TRILOGY, Tsui Hark’s dazzling kung-fu trilogy starring Jet Li as part of the Eureka Classics range on Blu-ray from 26 November 2018, sourced from brand new 4K restorations and presented in a Limited Edition 4-Disc Box Set featuring a Collector’s Booklet.

Tsui Hark’s phenomenal Once Upon a Time in China trilogy finally arrives on Blu-ray in the UK from brand new 4K restorations! Starring Jet Li as the real life Cantonese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung, a physical embodiment of traditional Chinese values and moral incorruptibility, this martial-arts epic charts China’s transition into the modern-world as it gradually abandons its old traditions and begins to accept the inevitable encroach of Western cultures.

Once Upon a Time in China – In 19th century Canton, Wong Fei-hung battles ruthless imperialist forces determined to subjugate his country and enslave his people, leading to a climactic fight sequence still regarded as one of the best ever filmed.

Once Upon a Time in China II – Wong Fei-hung faces off against the White Lotus Cult, a dangerous xenophobic group seeking to drive all European influence out of China, as well as a corrupt military officer, played by Donnie Yen in his breakthrough role.

Once Upon a Time in China III – Wong Fei-hung travels to Peking and is forced to enter a martial-arts contest in order to prevent an assassination attempt against a prominent Chinese diplomat who wants to showcase traditional Chinese martial-arts, and restore national pride.

With action sequences choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, the Once Upon a Time in China series is a glorious high-point in martial-arts filmmaking, and Eureka Classics is proud to present Tsui Hark’s original trilogy, as well as Once Upon a Time in China and America (which saw Jet Li return to the Wong Fei-hung role after a four-year gap) for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK in a special Limited Edition 4-Disc Box Set loaded with extra content.

Features:

Special Limited Edition Box Set
1080p presentations of all three films, sourced from brand new 4K restorations and making their UK debuts on Blu-ray
Original Cantonese audio tracks (original source audio tracks and restored 5.1 options available)
Optional English audio tracks | Optional English subtitles
Once Upon a Time in China and America [100 mins, HD] – the final chapter in the Once Upon a Time in China series, with Jet Li making a triumphant return to his most iconic role
New audio commentaries on Once Upon a Time in China I-III by martial-arts cinema expert Mike Leeder
A new video essay by Travis Crawford
New Interviews with key Cast & Crew (more info TBC)
The Legend of Wong Fei-Hung [48 mins] – a three-part featurette on the legendary folk hero
Archival interview with actor and Shaw Brothers veteran, Yen Shi-kwan [10 mins]
Archival interview with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with Donnie Yen | Archival Q&A with Jet Li [10 mins]
Archival interview with director Tsui Hark [23 mins]
Archival interview with actor John Wakefield [11 mins]
Making of Once Upon a Time in China and America [25 mins]
Stills Galleries
Trailers
ALL EXTRAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Box set exclusive – Collectors booklets featuring new essays, and an abundance of archival material and ephemera

[backslashio]

Its expensive, I wouldn't order it from their official website this time! Guess because it's 4 movies, not 2 ala the other JC movies

Zavvi is tempting but these were never my fav movies, I didn't grow up with them which could explain it. Might still buy it, I dunno

[grim_tales]

I know what I want for Christmas
Is someone on this forum helping with the translations/transfers again this time? IIRC the HK DVD boxset used HKL's translations?
Its been a while since I heard a Mike Leeder commentary, its got to be better than the infamous Bey Logan v Mark King one on the HKL disc.

[backslashio]

I recently got the first movie as part of a HKL DVD boxset, been a decade since I last watched it. Might wait it out to watch on bluray instead

[Manvfilm]

I love the fact that it includes Once Upon a Time in China and America as an extra! So 4 movies really.

[Dragun]

Not another Ritrovata "restoration," I hope.

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Not another Ritrovata "restoration," I hope.

"I'd like 25 copies on goldenrod. 25 on canary. 25 on saffron, and 25 on paella."
"Okay, 100 yellow."

[Ill_Be_Back]

Nearly had a heart attack when I saw this announced. I hope some John Woo films are next!

[DK1979]

While i do have the Kam & Ronson Enterprises set i'm gettin this one too... i'll support anything that gives us more Jet Li/Donnie Yen Region B (uncut) Blurays... Bit weird 6 is listed under special features though.

Some of my all time favorite martial arts movies... specially 2.

[HoldenCarver]

I watched the first film earlier this year on my HKL box set.

If there's one request I would have for Eureka: please, PLEASE include a subtitle track option with subtitles for dialogue spoken in English as well at the usual subtitles!

[grim_tales]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

Nearly had a heart attack when I saw this announced. I hope some John Woo films are next!

The Killer, Hard Boiled

[FlixLov3r]

Eureka is on a roll with these HK classics, just awesome! Pre-ordered from zavvi 10 minutes ago!

[revoloution]

Going to buy and support this release so hopefully more HK action classics can get released, I know martial art movies are mostly favourable with fans here but i would love to see Eureka (or 88 Films) start to release some Heroic Bloodshed films. Classics films by John Woo, Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark are crying out for the HD/4K treatment!
Full Contact, City On Fire, Hard Boiled, The Killer, Just Heroes, A Killers Romance, The Big Heat, Curry and Pepper, Tiger On The Beat, God Of Gamblers series are just a few that deserve to be released.

BTW i pray someone releases Tsui Hark's The Blade and Time & Tide, two of the most experimental action films i have ever seen!

[psychik]

Let's hope Eureka will use for "Once upon a time in China and America" the true mandarin "on the set" audio track !
It's a very good track because all the actors speak with their real voice, both in chinese and english ! It is available on DVD. There is another new mandarin track but it's a dub and the cantonese track is also a dub.

[grim_tales]

Originally Posted by psychik

Let's hope Eureka will use for "Once upon a time in China and America" the true mandarin "on the set" audio track !
It's a very good track because all the actors speak with their real voice, both in chinese and english ! It is available on DVD. There is another new mandarin track but it's a dub and the cantonese track is also a dub.

Can someone contact Eureka about this? I havent seen the film so didnt know there was such a soundtrack.

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by grim_tales

Can someone contact Eureka about this? I havent seen the film so didnt know there was such a soundtrack.

No worries guys I'm helping with this release
I'm aware of that audio track.

[psychik]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

No worries guys I'm helping with this release
I'm aware of that audio track.

Fabulous !

[chen lung]

Looks nice!

Could parts 4 and 5 not be licensed from Warner?

They shouldn't say 'restored' to describe the 5.1 remixes.

Once Upon a Time in China:

• The international version is shorter (see comparison).
• HKL's DVD of the third film featured behind-the-scenes footage as an easter egg.
• The interviews on HKL's DVD were difficult to hear. Though both seem to have been recorded poorly, it would be nice if they could be obtained raw and subsequently remastered (Jet's had background music, whilst Yam Sai-Kwoon's was dubbed over).

Once Upon a Time in China 2:

• There is a Taiwanese version (see details).

Once Upon a Time in China 3:

• BBFC cuts may remain.
• The international version ('The Invincible Shaolin') is slightly shorter (see details).
• Columbia Tri-Star re-translated it (HKL's seemed to be dubtitles).
• Yuen Bun directed the action.

Once Upon a Time in China and America:

I know it's not 4K, but not being listed alongside the others means there's a risk some will miss this. It's good that's included though.

• At least one of the Mandarin soundtracks is indeed sync-sound for the majority (it even includes people speaking Cantonese).
• I have remastered subtitles for this and would be willing to provide them as a basis for further checking.
• Sammo Hung directed both the film and action.