Eastern Condors (1987) Blu-ray (The Criterion Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Criterion will be releasing Sammo Hung's Eastern Condors (1987) on Blu-ray in December!

https://www.criterion.com/films/30736-eastern-condors

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• New audio commentary featuring film critic Tony Rayns
• 2K digital restoration of the English-dubbed “export cut” of the film
• Meet the Filmmakers, a new interview with director Sammo Hung
• Interviews from 2001 with Hung and actor Yuen Wah
• Eastern Condors Live!, an onstage performance from the 1987 Miss Hong Kong Pageant
• Teaser and trailers
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by film critic Sean Gilman

New illustration by Sam Hadley

Legendary actor-director Sammo Hung delivers a bazooka blast of pure adrenaline in this exemplar of Hong Kong action cinema at its most entertaining. Drawing inspiration from Hollywood war films like The Dirty Dozen, Eastern Condors follows a ragtag band of Asian American prisoners dropped into Vietnam on a secret suicide mission to prevent a cache of weapons from falling into the hands of the Viet Cong, who are more than ready for a fight. Propelled by a dynamic ensemble cast that includes the ever-charismatic Yuen Biao as a black-market trader and a superhuman Yuen Wah as a giggling martial-arts monster, this rip-roaring spectacle offers a nonstop barrage of turbocharged set pieces that defy death, logic, and gravity itself.

[traths]

Never heard of this one but it sounds cool!

[DukeTogo84]

Eastern Condors is EASILY one of my favorite HK films ever. It's my favorite Sammo Hung film for sure and a better film than pretty much anything Jackie Chan ever made, (sorry Jackie) at least for myself. It's a martial arts film, but with a ton of over the top gunplay violence and a huge bodycount. This one is so much fun, and glad it's finally gettin a US release.

[stardragon9]

Yes!! Can't wait to pick this one up! Worth it for the final fight scene alone.

[BigDmo531]

Cool to see what I believe is the first Sammo movie in the collection. I'll probably still just grab the Sammo box set from Eureka that has this in it though

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by BigDmo531

Cool to see what I believe is the first Sammo movie in the collection. I'll probably still just grab the Sammo box set from Eureka that has this in it though

Second. There was one in the Jackie Chan set.

[lazerface]

That artwork goes hard

[cooey]

Superb movie, but more than happy with my Eureka disc.

Great news for folks in the US though

[BigDmo531]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Second. There was one in the Jackie Chan set.

Oh right I forgot about that one

[Sommerswerd]

Pretty awesome that they were able to get Sammo Hung for a new interview. Also, a new Tony Rayns commentary is always welcome. I am seriously tempted to double dip on this.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Second. There was one in the Jackie Chan set.

Third, Once Upon a Time in China and America. They also have the rights to Encounters of the Spooky Kind but haven't released it on disc.

[Drunksnake]

One of my favourite Sammo Hung movies. Exceptional fight scenes in this.
I'm happy with my Eureka release but this movie deserves its own release so will definitely get this.
Brandon Bentley has reconstructed the Cantonese audio from the raw dialogue, effects and music tracks so should sound awesome!

[fred25_Ca]

Oh wow! I was expecting a Sammo Hung box set, a la their Jackie Chan one. I'm surprised they'd release their Sammo separately but not movies like Young Master. Hopefully we get Encounters of the spooky kind next and the mr. Vampire movies. I wonder who has the right to The magnificent butcher, probably my favorite solo Sammo movie.

[MobFu72]

Another Sammo Grail to take off my list! The Eureka 3 film collection has been available for years for UK Region B. I wonder if Criterion has any other Sammo Titles (Encounters of the Spooky Kind). This is in my Top 3 Sammo films for Sure. Beautiful new cover art as well !!!!!!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

Oh wow! I was expecting a Sammo Hung box set, a la their Jackie Chan one. I'm surprised they'd release their Sammo separately but not movies like Young Master. Hopefully we get Encounters of the spooky kind next and the mr. Vampire movies. I wonder who has the right to The magnificent butcher, probably my favorite solo Sammo movie.

I think the only other Sammo title they have is Encounters, but I don't think it would work well with EC as a set, so it makes sense that this (and likely Encounters) will get solo releases.

[Watershipdownisgood]

I haven’t seen a single Sammo Hung film before, but I want to check this title out as I want to pick this up. Can you guys in this thread sell me on this title? I would greatly appreciate it thanks so much

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Watershipdownisgood

I haven’t seen a single Sammo Hung film before, but I want to check this title out as I want to pick this up. Can you guys in this thread sell me on this title? I would greatly appreciate it thanks so much

I consider it one of the best HK films EVER. Like top 10 easily. You won't regret checking this film out. Think of it as the Dirty Dozen, but a HK film.

[Drunksnake]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

Oh wow! I was expecting a Sammo Hung box set, a la their Jackie Chan one. I'm surprised they'd release their Sammo separately but not movies like Young Master. Hopefully we get Encounters of the spooky kind next and the mr. Vampire movies. I wonder who has the right to The magnificent butcher, probably my favorite solo Sammo movie.

The Magnificent Butcher is a masterpiece of Kung Fu choreography by Yuen Woo Ping and Sammo Hung. Love that movie, the Eureka release is great.

[CreasyBear]

Already have the excellent Eureka release in the Sammo Hung collection. This one is a lot of fun. If you like this, check out Millionaire's Express.

[AnimalCMan]

LOL was literally just in the Eureka thread yesterday for the Three Sammo films release wondering when Criterion would get around to this.