Shaolin Wooden Men - 88 Films - 26th October 2020 - Blu-ray Forum

Thunderleg · 08-14-2020, 10:34 PM

No thread yet for some reason so:

Quote:

Synopsis: This time Jackie is on a mission of revenge. As a young boy he witnesses the slaying of his father at the hands of a deadly masked kung fu assassin. Once Jackie is old enough, he trains at a shaolin temple to learn the techniques that will enable him to one day avenge the death of his father.

Jackie has to graduate and defeat a gauntlet of mysterious robotic wooden men who throw every kung fu style at him before he can even face up to his nemesis. Packed with startling action courtesy of Half a Loaf of kung fu director Chen Chi-Hwa, this is another early Jackie Chan classic that's not to be missed by those seeking fine martial arts entertainment!

Special Features and Technical Specs:

BRAND NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Rick Baker ON Shaolin Wooden Men Featurette
Audio:
Original Mandarin Mono Soundtrack
Classic English Dub Soundtrack
Optional Cantonese Soundtrack
Newly Translated Subtitles by Chen Lung
Limited edition slipcase

STREET DATE: OCTOBER 26.

Quote:

Killer Meteor · 08-14-2020, 10:43 PM

A real gem this, my favourite of Jackie's films for Lo Wei.

Drunksnake · 08-14-2020, 11:25 PM

Really looking forward to this one. I only ever saw it once, the vhs quality was almost colourless, covered in scratches and the Pan & Scan was stretched even further so it was really hard to see so didn’t bother with it anymore. After seeing clips on YouTube over the years I’ve been waiting for a half decent version. The wait is now over thankfully so I can’t wait to see the restoration.

OldPangYau · 08-14-2020, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drunksnake

Really looking forward to this one. I only ever saw it once, the vhs quality was almost colourless, covered in scratches and the Pan & Scan was stretched even further so it was really hard to see so didn’t bother with it anymore. After seeing clips on YouTube over the years I’ve been waiting for a half decent version. The wait is now over thankfully so I can’t wait to see the restoration.

Having seen it first hand, definitely the best the film has ever looked... And that's saying a lot for this film!

Killer Meteor · 08-14-2020, 11:39 PM

The old VHS I had was missing the first reel altogether. A friend of mine had a different VHS under the title "Shaolin Chamber of Death", which did have the first reel, but obvious cuts to remove the Chinese dialogue (the full English dub has since turned up).

OldPangYau · 08-15-2020, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

The old VHS I had was missing the first reel altogether. A friend of mine had a different VHS under the title "Shaolin Chamber of Death", which did have the first reel, but obvious cuts to remove the Chinese dialogue (the full English dub has since turned up).

Strangely enough, many releases (including both the Simitar and Columbia/Tri-Star DVDs) were missing that opening sequence. And if they *had* the opening dream sequence, then it would cut away before Luk Yat Lung would wake everyone up (as you mentioned, to dodge the Chinese dialogue.) Thankfully this release will rectify that

WaverBoy · 08-15-2020, 03:27 AM

I am so looking forward to this release! I’d never even heard of the film until just this year, and it sounds really good. Thanks to 88 Films’ sterling run, Jackie’s oft-maligned early films are no longer doomed to languish unjustly in horrible cropped fuzzy video copies and obscurity, and can finally be fairly reappraised as the entertaining gems that they are.

Ben_C · 08-15-2020, 07:39 AM

>insert annoyingly overused Futurama “shut up and take my money” meme here<

Killer Meteor · 08-19-2020, 10:36 PM

Does anyone know the origin of the title theme for this movie? Unlike most old school kung fu movies, the music for the film sounds authetically Chinese.

OldPangYau · 08-20-2020, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Does anyone know the origin of the title theme for this movie? Unlike most old school kung fu movies, the music for the film sounds authetically Chinese.

Might want to ask this YouTuber, as they have a high quality source, but didn't mention the title/artist:

The Mole · 08-20-2020, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Might want to ask this YouTuber, as they have a high quality source, but didn't mention the title/artist:

å°‘æž—æœ¨äººå·· 1976 ä¸»é¢˜æ›² Shaolin Wooden Men 1976 Theme Song - YouTube

Is this the theme for the Cantonese version only or is it also used in the original Mandarin version?

Killer Meteor · 08-20-2020, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mole

Is this the theme for the Cantonese version only or is it also used in the original Mandarin version?

Both.

OldPangYau · 08-20-2020, 05:33 PM

So, amidst some deep diving, apparently this music seems to have derived from a Chinese opera called "Song of the Dragon River" ("龙江颂"), with this piece being called "The Harvest Song" ("丰收凯歌"). Couldn't find the high quality source of the version in the film, but actually stumbled upon a recent live performance (albeit at a slower tempo than the version used in SWM):

Mr. Chaverria · 08-27-2020, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

Might want to ask this YouTuber, as they have a high quality source, but didn't mention the title/artist:

å°‘æž—æœ¨äººå·· 1976 ä¸»é¢˜æ›² Shaolin Wooden Men 1976 Theme Song - YouTube

....wait. This sounds like the music that was played when the three masters in Kung Fu Hustle revealed themselves. Relation?

OldPangYau · 08-27-2020, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Chaverria

....wait. This sounds like the music that was played when the three masters in Kung Fu Hustle revealed themselves. Relation?

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought the same, lol. One point I was whistling the SWM tune, and accidentally drifted off into the "Decree of the Sichuan General" tune, lol.

Markgway · 08-20-2020, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Unlike most old school kung fu movies, the music for the film sounds authetically Chinese.

And this doesn't...?

elmudo · 08-19-2020, 11:40 PM

I think that sypnosis is a little too much spoiler-y. For the people who haven't seen the movie, it reveals too much. Its been a long time since I saw the movie, but I remember that in the movie for a long period of time we don't know why JC is mute (is he really mute or is he faking it?). The sypnosis reveals the reason why. Also reveals the killer. In my opinion, it should be tweaked a little.

Thunderleg · 08-24-2020, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmudo

I think that sypnosis is a little too much spoiler-y.

I didn't even read the synopsis when the press release came out lol, went straight to the features. I've amended the OP, does it look ok now?

Killer Meteor · 08-20-2020, 07:54 PM

Much obliged!

Nurmilainen · 08-22-2020, 10:01 PM

Great find, thanks Oldpangyau! Havn't seen this film in ages actually, used to own the Easter Heroes dvd which was a pan&scan print cropped on top and bottom to achieve a 1.85:1 ratio..
That theme song is one of two things about the movie that really left a lasting impression with me, I even made a mp3 file of it from the dvd. Great to know the title and origin!

The other thing I seem remember quite vividly is the old man in the cave exclaiming something like "You should crush the kidneys! Smash the groin!"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-14-2020, 10:43 PM	#2
Killer Meteor Banned Member since:Jan 2013 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	A real gem this, my favourite of Jackie's films for Lo Wei.

08-14-2020, 11:25 PM	#3
Drunksnake Expert Member Member since:Mar 2019	Really looking forward to this one. I only ever saw it once, the vhs quality was almost colourless, covered in scratches and the Pan & Scan was stretched even further so it was really hard to see so didn’t bother with it anymore. After seeing clips on YouTube over the years I’ve been waiting for a half decent version. The wait is now over thankfully so I can’t wait to see the restoration.

08-14-2020, 11:39 PM	#5
Killer Meteor Banned Member since:Jan 2013 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	The old VHS I had was missing the first reel altogether. A friend of mine had a different VHS under the title "Shaolin Chamber of Death", which did have the first reel, but obvious cuts to remove the Chinese dialogue (the full English dub has since turned up).

08-15-2020, 03:27 AM	#7
WaverBoy Blu-ray Knight Member since:May 2013 Location:Seattle, WA Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:5	I am so looking forward to this release! I’d never even heard of the film until just this year, and it sounds really good. Thanks to 88 Films’ sterling run, Jackie’s oft-maligned early films are no longer doomed to languish unjustly in horrible cropped fuzzy video copies and obscurity, and can finally be fairly reappraised as the entertaining gems that they are.

08-15-2020, 07:39 AM	#8
Ben_C Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2015 Location:UK 4K collection:670 Blu-ray collection:3318	>insert annoyingly overused Futurama “shut up and take my money” meme here<

08-19-2020, 10:36 PM	#9
Killer Meteor Banned Member since:Jan 2013 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	Does anyone know the origin of the title theme for this movie? Unlike most old school kung fu movies, the music for the film sounds authetically Chinese.

08-19-2020, 11:40 PM	#17
elmudo Member Member since:Mar 2012	I think that sypnosis is a little too much spoiler-y. For the people who haven't seen the movie, it reveals too much. Its been a long time since I saw the movie, but I remember that in the movie for a long period of time we don't know why JC is mute (is he really mute or is he faking it?). The sypnosis reveals the reason why. Also reveals the killer. In my opinion, it should be tweaked a little.

08-20-2020, 07:54 PM	#19
Killer Meteor Banned Member since:Jan 2013 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	Much obliged!

08-22-2020, 10:01 PM	#20
Nurmilainen Active Member Member since:Dec 2014 Location:Sweden Blu-ray collection:2	Great find, thanks Oldpangyau! Havn't seen this film in ages actually, used to own the Easter Heroes dvd which was a pan&scan print cropped on top and bottom to achieve a 1.85:1 ratio.. That theme song is one of two things about the movie that really left a lasting impression with me, I even made a mp3 file of it from the dvd. Great to know the title and origin! The other thing I seem remember quite vividly is the old man in the cave exclaiming something like "You should crush the kidneys! Smash the groin!"

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals