Martial Club (1981) (88 Films) - July 5th, 2022

[MifuneFan]

88 Films will be releasing the Shaw Brothers film Martial Club (1981) on Blu-ray on July 5th.

Bonus Materials

• HD Transfer from the Original Negative in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• 1.0 DTS-HD MA Mono Cantonese & Mandarin Audio with Newly Translated English Subtitles
• 1.0 DTS-HD MA Mono English Audio Sourced From "Instructors of Death" Print, Synched as best possible to this transfer
• Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and Actor / Martial Artist Michael Worth
• Supplementary Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng
• Instructors of Death - Grindhouse Presentation
• ‘Kung Fu and Dancing’ - An Interview with Actor Robert Mak
• Born to Be Bad - An Interview with Actor Johnny Wang
• Disciples of Shaolin - An Interview with Stuntmen Hung Sun-Nam and Tony Tam
• The Right Hand Man - An Interview with Producer Lawrence Wong
• ‘Instructors of Death’ Trailer
• Hong Kong Trailer See less
  
• Reversible Artwork
• Limited Edition Slipcase with new Artwork by Kung Fu Bob O'Brien
• Limited Edition Collectors Booklet with Behind the Scene Photos and writing by Critic and Author Barry Forshaw

A gloriously typical entry from Shaw Brothers, Martial Club starring Kara Wei (THE BRAVE ARCHER 2 and MAD MONKEY KUNG FU) and Gordon Liu (THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN) and directed by Lau Kar-Leung (LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA), affords us a fast-paced, cleverly choreographed piece of martial arts fun combining many elements that lovers of this kind of cinema will be more than appreciative of. Rival fight schools, an old master and beautifully designed set pieces tumble together in a colourfully kinaesthetic unceasing parade of flying fists and action set pieces.

[fred25_Ca]

Glad to see a booklet for both of them!

[Labor_Unit001]

Very curious about that grindhouse presentation. I'm guessing it's a scan of a US film print?

[BurningAstronaut]

More Kara Hui films, please!!

[DukeTogo84]

I never understand how anyone finds these listings so early on MVD. I'm trying to find all of the new 88 titles on MVD shop and can't find anything.

[MobFu72]

The last fight between Gordon Liu And Johnny Wang is EPIC!!!!
They start in a regular setting as they move down a corridor is gets smaller and smaller that they have to adapt their fighting styles because of the confined space!! Lau Kar-Leung is the master at his craft!!! I will be super stoked to add this to the collection !!!!!

[Sommerswerd]

Shouldn't the original language track be Cantonese and not Mandarin?

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

Shouldn't the original language track be Cantonese and not Mandarin?

Hopefully just a mistake.

[Doc Samson]

Awesome! I'll be picking this up for sure.

[darkness2918]

As long as these Shaw films keep coming I’ll keep buying them day 1.

[DooK]

Specs:

- HD Transfer from the Original Negative in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio

- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

- 1.0 DTS-HD MA Mono Cantonese & Mandarin Audio with Newly Translated English Subtitles

- 1.0 DTS-HD MA Mono English Audio Sourced From "Instructors of Death" Print, Synched as best possible to this transfer

- Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and Actor / Martial Artist Michael Worth

- Supplementary Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng

- Instructors of Death - Grindhouse Presentation

- ‘Kung Fu and Dancing’ - An Interview with Actor Robert Mak

- Born to Be Bad - An Interview with Actor Johnny Wang

- Disciples of Shaolin - An Interview with Stuntmen Hung Sun-Nam and Tony Tam

- The Right Hand Man - An Interview with Producer Lawrence Wong

- ‘Instructors of Death’ Trailer

- Hong Kong Trailer

https://www.facebook.com/88FilmsOffi...81605355189359

[Killer Meteor]

Besides an excellent final fight, this is a rather milquetoast and overlong affair. Weirdly the lion dance at the beginning appears to be set outdoors but with a bamboo ceiling applied to the top, possibly because of bad weather. And this is one of several latter-day Shaws where all the male voices appear to be dubbed into English by one high-pitched exchange student.

[DukeTogo84]

Watched this last night and thought it was OK. A more lighthearted affair for a Shaw film. Still, the final fight is pretty good, and still entertaining overall.

We only have one Shaw film left from 88, so hopefully they pick up more and even release some of the titles they released in the UK in the US. Can't believe we don't have The One Armed Swordsman in the US yet.

[Quake1028]

In the flesh the slip art is the same as in OP, which is different from what Amazon has.

[Owenjohnston]

Just watching this for the first time and the cover says 118 mins but the movie is 107 mins?
Also IMDb says 110 mins. Which is correct?

[FoulMouff]

Originally Posted by Owenjohnston

Just watching this for the first time and the cover says 118 mins but the movie is 107 mins?
Also IMDb says 110 mins. Which is correct?

Over the years I have found runtimes on these films are never 100% accurate online, due to all the different releases of bad vhs, dvd releases, as well as the Celestial Pictures remasters missing small frame cuts on scenes a lot. Whats on the Bluray is accurate, give or take a few minutes due to Celestial cutting frames in scenes due to damage on the prints. I'm assuming. Slight oversight on the packaging for the 88 Release I'm sure saying 118 mins.

[MifuneFan]

I would guess the 118 is a typo, as MVD also lists it as 110 mins, and that info was provided by 88 Films.

[gnik_drazil]

Very entertaining film. I was very impressed with the opening lion dance. Middle parts felt like a lot of filler fights, but the opera house was top notch. Only in a martial arts film would there be a useless, shrinking alleyway that keep martial artist to adapt to their surroundings. Glad I ordered it from Hamilton Book since it still came with all of the physical extras.

[Brown Jenkin]

I haven't seen this yet, but I really love lion dances, so you got me more hype for eventually getting it now.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Brown Jenkin

I haven't seen this yet, but I really love lion dances, so you got me more hype for eventually getting it now.

If you love lion dances, you'll love the intro because it's basically Lau Kar-leung explaining the "rules" for lion dances in a studio set for about 5 minutes.

It's also technically a Wong Fei Hung film, so that's a bonus