Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain - Eureka, 20th April

[Shingster]

Eureka are bringing Tsui Hark's amped up Wu Xia classic Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain to UK shores on 20th April:

https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/zu-w...-shan-jian-ke/

Originally Posted by Eureka Entertainment

One of the most important cinematic achievements in Hong Kong cinema, Tsui Hark’s Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain birthed the modern-day special effects industry in Hong Kong, and influenced filmmakers around the world, including John Carpenter (who credited the film as the inspiration for Big Trouble in Little China).

Featuring an all-star cast led by Yuen Biao (Wheels on Meals, Project A) as young soldier Dik Ming-kei, currently caught in a war between two rival armies during Tang Dynasty. Taking sanctuary in a cave within the ominous Zu Mountain, he becomes entangled in a battle with supernatural forces beyond his comprehension.

Featuring breath-taking art design, stunning cinematography, and groundbreaking special effects, Eureka Classics is extremely proud to present Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain from a brand new 2K restoration making its worldwide debut on Blu-ray.

Special Features:

- Limited Edition O-CARD with new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 units]
- Limited Edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film [2000 units]
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration
- Cantonese, Mandarin, and English soundtrack options, original monaural presentations
- Newly translated English subtitles
- Brand new and exclusive feature length audio commentary by critic and Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns
- Brand new and exclusive interview with Tsui Hark – a lengthy and in-depth interview with director Tsui Hark filmed in 2020 exclusively for this release
- Zu: Time Warrior [93 mins] – the export cut of the film produced for European theatres, featuring a wraparound segment with Yuen Biao as a modern-day college student who is transported, Wizard of Oz style, to 10th Century China
- Tsui Hark – episode of Son of the Incredibly Strange Film Show originally aired on British television in 1989
- Alternate opening credits, restored to their original Western presentation
- Archival Interview with Yien Biao [12 mins]
- Archival Interview with Mang Hoi [20 mins]
- Archival interview with Moon Lee [20 mins]
- Deleted Scenes
- Trailers

[Shingster]

You know, I copied and pasted all that lot without actually reading it and I'm surprised they've name dropped Yuen Biao in the blurb (as they should, he's the lead) but not thought to point out that Sammo Hung is also in the film! You'd think that would be something they'd want to advertise given their last HK release (well, on the Eureka! label anyway) was a boxset centred around him! Maybe it didn't sell well or something!

[Geoff D]

Dear Eureka

I only have so much money...but you're welcome to take it all as long as you keep dishing up goodies like this

Cheers

Geoff

[WaverBoy]

Yessssssssssss!!!

[mogwai_macabre]

Been meaning to watch this one for a few years now, just never got around to it. Hard to get a sense of what this movie is, exactly.

[Shingster]

I think for all the love the film receives from HK film fans, it's known fondly mostly because it's batshit crazy and it was a whole generation's introduction to the more out there FX-heavy Wu Xia fantasies that would become more prevalent in the 90s rather than it necessarily being a great film. It's a fun film, one that's hard to forget, and that's probably the best way to approach it.

[El_Fez]

Dear god. Please stop - between you guys and 88 Films, I am drowning in Kung Fu. But if I had to go, what a way to go, baby!

Oh sure, it might be hella goofy and not for everyone but come on. Doesnt this trailer just look goddamned fun?

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

[StarDestroyer52]

Ordered. Looking forward to this. Between Eureka and 88 Films you are doing the Lord's work with Hong Kong films. Sure this will be another top notch BluRay package and many thanks to all those who made it possible.

[toddly6666]

Damn good news!

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Dear god. Please stop - between you guys and 88 Films, I am drowning in Kung Fu. But if I had to go, what a way to go, baby!

Oh sure, it might be hella goofy and not for everyone but come on. Doesnt this trailer just look goddamned fun?

Aside from the poor PQ from last time I watched I think I tried to observe the story too closely (which was a mess) when really its all about the special effects

edit:

rented it on Google Play now just to remind myself if its worth ordering

edit2:

holy crap the audio on google play is horrible! its meant to be 5.1 but its super muffled. makes me wonder what the final version will sound like

[Yautja_Warrior]

Pre-ordered my copy. Amazon have it priced at £15.65

[gZa]

Originally Posted by Shingster

I think for all the love the film receives from HK film fans, it's known fondly mostly because it's batshit crazy and it was a whole generation's introduction to the more out there FX-heavy Wu Xia fantasies that would become more prevalent in the 90s rather than it necessarily being a great film. It's a fun film, one that's hard to forget, and that's probably the best way to approach it.

I agree.

Out of the original batch that Channel 4 aired back in the day (Esprit d'amour, Encounters of The Spooky Kind, Mr Vampire, Rouge and Spiritual Love). Zu was probably my least favourite and least re-watched.

Still I'm looking forward to giving it another go, I'm buying it anyhow mainly for the Jonathan Ross documentary* and the hope Eureka/88 can get their hands on the others!

*Shame it doesn't also include the intro he did for the film when it aired.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Yautja_Warrior

Pre-ordered my copy. Amazon have it priced at £15.65

Nicely below Eureka's £17.99

[revoloution]

It's such a wonderful time being a Hong Kong Action fan right now, with Eureka and 88 Films blessing us monthly with some incredible tiles, All given fantastic transfers and long lost extras and excellent packaging too. It feels like the period between 1998-2005 where Hong Kong Legends, Hong Kong Classics and Eastern Heroes were blessing us with rare HK Action flicks on DVD that had previously been unavailable in the UK.

I really hope we start getting the really BIG Heroic Bloodshed films from like John Woo, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark, Johnny To and some 80's and 90's Martial Arts films from Michelle Yeoh, Moon Lee, Donnie Yen, Yuen Biao, Jet Li and Sammo Hung.

[mogwai_macabre]

Originally Posted by Shingster

I think for all the love the film receives from HK film fans, it's known fondly mostly because it's batshit crazy and it was a whole generation's introduction to the more out there FX-heavy Wu Xia fantasies that would become more prevalent in the 90s rather than it necessarily being a great film. It's a fun film, one that's hard to forget, and that's probably the best way to approach it.

I've seen a few of the wacky Shaw Brothers wu xia like Bastard Swordsman and Holy Flame of the Martial World. Is it along those lines?

[backslashio]

Its a shame that most of the bigger titles are held by stubborn companies. Especially those that force Eureka to make it Region B only when really everybody in the world should be able to appreciate them instead of being restricted by the country they just happen to live in

[Irongod2112]

Quick question guys...

Does anyone know if a classic English
dub exists for the HK theatrical cut of the film?

I've searched everywhere for one with no luck.

[backslashio]

What's the runtime of the HK version? IMDB says 112min international but that seems wrong as the one on Google Play is ~96 and that's with Chinese audio

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by malcy30

Nicely below Eureka's £17.99

Not if you don't have Amazon Prime. P&P is £2.99

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by gZa

Out of the original batch that Channel 4 aired back in the day (Esprit d'amour, Encounters of The Spooky Kind, Mr Vampire, Rouge and Spiritual Love). Zu was probably my least favourite and least re-watched.

Yeah definitely, although to be fair most films would compare unfavourably to the likes of EoaSK, Mr. V, and Rouge

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

I've seen a few of the wacky Shaw Brothers wu xia like Bastard Swordsman and Holy Flame of the Martial World. Is it along those lines?

Definitely in a similar vein to Holy Flame of the Martial World, maybe a little less kung fu-ish though and even more hyper