Dreadnaught (1981) - Eureka Classics (April 2022)

[yoloswegmaster420]

Directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Dreadnaught expertly blends majestic action sequences with superb physical comedy, courtesy of stars Yuen Biao, Bryan Leung Kar-yan, and Yuen Shun-yee.

A violent criminal known only as ‘White Tiger’ (Yuen Shun-yee; Iron Monkey) is hiding amongst a theatre troupe, murdering anyone who discovers his identity (as well as anyone who happens to annoy him). Mousy, a timid laundry man (Yuen Biao; Project A), crosses paths with White Tiger several times but always manages to escape. When the killer instead targets his friend (Bryan “Beardy” Leung; Warriors Two), Mousy must overcome his cowardly nature and acquire the skills necessary to defeat the White Tiger.

Notable for being the final film in which Kwan Tak-hing portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung (and, oddly enough, for its famous laundry scene being directly referenced in Batman Forever), Dreadnaught is a cult favourite amongst martial arts fans, and Eureka Classics is proud to present the film in its UK debut on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration!

Special Features

Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]

Reversible sleeve design featuring original poster artwork

Original Cantonese mono audio

Optional English dubbed audio

Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release

Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)

Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema

Archival interview with actress Lily Li (21 mins)

Trailers

A Limited Edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver [2000 copies]

*All extras subject to change

[The Mole]

Will it still be cut for animal cruelty?

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by The Mole

Will it still be cut for animal cruelty?

I mean... hopefully.

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by The Mole

Will it still be cut for animal cruelty?

I'm not sure yet to be honest. The screener they gave me to work with was uncut though.

Cut or uncut it's still an amazing film easily in my top 10 of all time favorites.

[BiggusDickus]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I'm not sure yet to be honest. The screener they gave me to work with was uncut though.

Cut or uncut it's still an amazing film easily in my top 10 of all time favorites.

I don't know the film in any detail but have ordered it; i'm curious to know what the cruelty involves because I always thought Mr Vampire they released last year shows a chicken/hen being decapitated? Of was that just a clever prop? regardless, sure it wasn't cut out ...

[StarDestroyer52]

Bought both this and Knockabout.

[Geoff D]

Oh thank god it's only got two audio tracks, now I won't be fookin bamboozled with which one to pick!

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by BiggusDickus

I don't know the film in any detail but have ordered it; i'm curious to know what the cruelty involves because I always thought Mr Vampire they released last year shows a chicken/hen being decapitated? Of was that just a clever prop? regardless, sure it wasn't cut out ...

The shot in Dreadnaught also involves a chicken's head being torn off.

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Oh thank god it's only got two audio tracks, now I won't be fookin bamboozled with which one to pick!

Should be two versions of the Classic English dub. One is a Home Video Mix. I think you will survive though.

[Irongod2112]

Here's Eureka's promo trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M5k...ature=youtu.be

[Marlew]

I need more flipping shelves...

[Mr. Chaverria]

**** Me.

I've never seen this one. *sobbing uncontrollably* Ya'll mother****ers are killing me with all this goddamn Kung Fu tomfoolery. I love all this stuff but my bank account hates the shit out of me.

I'm glad I make good money but goddamn is this a golden era for the genre on this format.

[darkness2918]

I’m definitely in for this. Great time to be a king fu film fan & I’m especially glad to be region free

[reason108]

Pre-ordered! Another classic! Hoping it's uncut! But, if not, will keep the old dvd.





As a reminder, we need a list of the Eureka and/or 88 Fortune Star titles that feature some censorship.

[Mr. Chaverria]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I’m definitely in for this. Great time to be a king fu film fan & I’m especially glad to be region free

Indeed. It can't be said enough. Go REGION FREE. It's so cheap nowadays compared to 20 years ago.

Originally Posted by reason108

Pre-ordered! Another classic! Hoping it's uncut! But, if not, will keep the old dvd.


As a reminder, we need a list of the Eureka and/or 88 Fortune Star titles that feature some censorship.

It would be good to have. Some of this censorship stuff I am "okay" with. And it's mostly just focused on animal cruelty.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by BiggusDickus

I don't know the film in any detail but have ordered it; i'm curious to know what the cruelty involves because I always thought Mr Vampire they released last year shows a chicken/hen being decapitated? Of was that just a clever prop? regardless, sure it wasn't cut out ...

Mr. Vampire got away with that because it was considered a clean kill. A single throat cut with a sharp blade. Horrible, still. But the BBFC allow for it. Ripping off a chicken's head with your bare hands? I still don't see how that can be acceptable to the censor. Watching it flap around headless is distressing. I fully expect the subs to come back to me with needs for adjustment. If not, I'll just close my eyes for 4 secs.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Markgway

Mr. Vampire got away with that because it was considered a clean kill. A single throat cut with a sharp blade. Horrible, still. But the BBFC allow for it. Ripping off a chicken's head with your bare hands? I still don't see how that can be acceptable to the censor. Watching it flap around headless is distressing. I fully expect the subs to come back to me with needs for adjustment. If not, I'll just close my eyes for 4 secs.

ONLY 2 secs are missing from the DVD release so I reckon it'll be the same cuts consindering 88's release of Snake in the Eagle's Shadow had the same amount of cuts as the HKL DVD did.

[Drunksnake]

Glad this is coming as I've just sold my HKL DVD to someone as he couldn't find one cheap. It's going for a lot of money on ebay! I'm happy to let go of it knowing this is coming. After The Prodigal Son, Knockabout and Dreadnaught are my favourite Yuen Biao movies, followed closely by Righting Wrongs. Eureka really are cranking out the classics and the quality of their releases remains high and ascending. Good Times.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Oh thank god it's only got two audio tracks, now I won't be fookin bamboozled with which one to pick!

Is there ever a ‘right’ audio track to choose, or is it down to personal taste? Does Cantonese ever make more sense than Mandarin, or vice versa? I never listen to English dubs (unless they’re the only choice on the disc), but I’m sure they can vary from being really professionally done to shoddily and quickly put together.

[elite]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Is there ever a ‘right’ audio track to choose, or is it down to personal taste? Does Cantonese ever make more sense than Mandarin, or vice versa? I never listen to English dubs (unless they’re the only choice on the disc), but I’m sure they can vary from being really professionally done to shoddily and quickly put together.

I think Cantonese is always the way to go. Even though they didn't record sound on set for these movies, to my own ears at least, most times it sounds like the actors are dubbing themselves (Jackie Chan being the obvious exception to this of course). They are the ones who have the greatest understanding of the role so it's the closest approximation to the original performance which is what I look for in any subtitled movie.