Heroes & Villains Three Films starring Jet Li (Eureka Classics) - 20th November 2023

[The Mole]

SYNOPSIS

After the massive success of the Once Upon a Time in China series, Jet Li moved away from period settings and started to focus on action films set in the modern-era, a decision that would make him an international icon and of the biggest stars in the history of Hong Kong cinema.

In The Enforcer (aka My Father is a Hero) Li is an undercover police officer tracking down a notorious Hong Kong crime lord. Teaming up with his martial-arts prodigy son and a female officer (Anita Mui), together they lay down the law! In Dr Wai in “The Scripture with No Words” a down on his luck pulp fiction author (Li) lives vicariously through one of his characters, an Indiana Jones-esque adventurer searching for a mythical scripture. Then, in Hitman (aka Contract Killer), Li plays Tai Feng, a young assassin with a “sense of justice” who crosses paths with the “King of Killers” — a legendary vigilante with a huge bounty on his head.

Eureka Classics is proud to present three of Jet Li’s most beloved action films on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the UK.


SPECIAL FEATURES

Limited Edition O Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Sam Gilbey [2000 copies]
All three films presented in 1080p HD from new restorations across three Blu-ray discs
Limited edition collectors booklet featuring new essays by Simon Abrams and David Desser [2000 copies]
Disc 1 - THE ENFORCER
1080p presentation of the fully uncut Hong Kong theatrical cut from a new 4K restoration | Original Cantonese mono audio | “Classic” English dubbed audio | Newly translated subtitles | Brand new audio commentaries | Archival interview with producer Wong Jing | Archival interview with actor Tse Miu | Archival interview with actor Ken Lo | Trailers
Disc 2 - DR WAI IN THE SCRIPTURE WITH NO WORDS
1080p presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a new 2K restoration | Original Cantonese mono audio | “Classic” English dubbed audio | Original Mandarin mono audio | Newly translated subtitles | Brand new audio commentaries | Two archival featurettes on Jet Li and the making of the film | Trailers
Disc 3 - HITMAN
1080p presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a new HD restoration of the original film elements | 1080p presentation of the US “Contract Killer” release version | Original Cantonese mono audio | “Classic” English dubbed audio | Newly translated subtitles | Brand new audio commentaries | Archival interview with Jet Li | Archival interview with Simon Yam | Archival interview with Keiji Sato | Archival “Making of…” featurette | Archival footage from the film’s première | Trailers
***All extras subject to change & more to be announced***


Pre-order is up: https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/hero...arring-jet-li/

I wish they would include the international cut of DR. WAI. IMO a much better film than the HK version because it drops the modern time wraparound story in favour of more Dr. Wai adventures.

[DooK]

Eureka should include DD 5.1 tracks for both Dr Wai and Hitman. They were shot during the time when Hong Kong cinema had just started with the sound format. Eureka have previously only included 2.0 tracks for some post-1995 HK titles that should've had DD 5.1 tracks.

[cooey]

Worth noting that Eureka are running a promo, if you pre-order both this and the Royal Tramp set it's £55.00 (rather than £58.98)

[Markgway]

Not only was Hitman (Cantonese) 5.1, it was sync sound, too.

First time anyone heard Jet Li's real voice (apart from the Mandarin dub of OUATIC&A).

[chen lung]

It's great that there are new restorations, though they should really make this a three-disc set because they all have multiple versions.

[chen lung]

Please don't use the name 'The Enforcer' for 'My Father is a Hero'.

[The Mole]

Originally Posted by chen lung

Please don't use the name 'The Enforcer' for 'My Father is a Hero'.

I second that! They should definitely not use this title for this release.

Btw: If Eureka were consitent with the use of US titles in this set, then HITMAN should be called THE CONTRACT KILLER.

Concering the different versions: I wouldn't mind the attrocious US versions of FATHER and HITMAN missing from this release (although, as Brandon Bentley correctly stated: Those "unloved" versions are a bonus, and who likes them will appreciate them being on there, and who does not can ignore them).

But the international cut of DR. WAI is a definitive must because it is a completely different movie. And it was not created by some obscure US distributor but as an official alternate version from the HK production studio.

[cooey]

Originally Posted by chen lung

It's great that there are new restorations, though they should really make this a three-disc set because they all have multiple versions.

It is a three disc set. It’s just a typo from Eureka in the description.

[chen lung]

Anything is an upgrade over the Diskovery VCD.

[chen lung]

Originally Posted by cooey

It is a three disc set. It’s just a typo from Eureka in the description.

Can you please update the description, The Mole?

Also correct a typo in the title? Should be 'starring' (not 'starrin').

[Dragun]

From DiabolikDVD:

DUE TO US RIGHTS, WE ARE UNABLE TO STOCK THE UK VERSION

It must be getting a US release from Arrow or 88 Films then.

[Pochacco]

Nice to see this coming out. Dr. Wai is the only one I never got round to watching. A shame that 'The Bodyguard from Beijing' isn't included but hopefully that will get a release someday.

Xia Miao is great in 'My Father is a Hero'. I enjoyed his performance in Return of GoG too. But yea, that coin trick in a phone booth won't wash in this day in age

[chen lung]

Originally Posted by Pochacco

But yea, that coin trick in a phone booth won't wash in this day in age

I’m surprised the BBFC didn’t demand its removal on account of imitable techniques.

Anyway, you’d be hard pushed to find a phone booth now with a functioning handset that hasn’t been turned into a defibrillator station.

[Drunksnake]

I'll definitely buy this, happy to see some more Jet Li in pristine condition. I'd hope they'll change the titles appropriately though.

[Pochacco]

Originally Posted by chen lung

I’m surprised the BBFC didn’t demand its removal on account of imitable techniques.

Anyway, you’d be hard pushed to find a phone booth now with a functioning handset that hasn’t been turned into a defibrillator station.

Or a swanky coffee booth!

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by chen lung

Please don't use the name 'The Enforcer' for 'My Father is a Hero'.

Agreed 1000%. That’s right down there with “Lady Reporter” instead of The Blonde Fury. Eureka, if you’re listening, please use the proper name on the packaging for this one, thanks!

I haven’t seen any of these, so I’ll definitely be picking this up. Sounds like the international cut of Dr. Wai is a must-see, so I really hope it gets included. And, agreed with the poster above who mentioned The Bodyguard from Beijing; where the hell is that one? I’ve never seen a good version of that available, so I hope that’s on someone’s release slate.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by Dragun

From DiabolikDVD:

DUE TO US RIGHTS, WE ARE UNABLE TO STOCK THE UK VERSION

It must be getting a US release from Arrow or 88 Films then.

Probably Severin or VS. Neither of the other labels are anti-consumer and block stores from carrying their equivalent product but these two do.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Probably Severin or VS. Neither of the other labels are anti-consumer and block stores from carrying their equivalent product but these two do.

Anti-consumer is an odd way to phrase it. Companies want to make money. If they pay for licensing rights, should they just let other companies infringe so that they lose sales?

[SpaceBlackKnight]

IIRC there are two international export versions of DR WAI. One was created by the HK production studio featuring new/alternate footage, the other was a Miramax/Dimension massacre job of the HK cut featuring a new score and (I believe) Jet Li redubbing himself in English. The latter was only seen on HD TV channels (Miramax only had US TV/streaming rights as home video were with another entity) while the former has made the rounds on Paramount+ and is available to rent/purchase on Amazon Video.

[cooey]

Shame these alternate Dr Wai versions won't be included