The Miracle Fighters (Eureka Classics) Blu-ray

[cooey]

Release date: 24th June, 2024
Pre-order: Eureka - Amazon.co.uk - HMV (don't forget the 20% off!)

SYNOPSIS
The Miracle Fighters is a comedic tale of taoist magic directed by the martial arts maestro behind Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher and Iron Monkey – the legendary Yuen Woo-ping!

During the Quing dynasty, marriage between Manchu and Han people is outlawed. When it is discovered that high-ranking official Kao Hsiung (Eddy Ko) has taken a Han wife, the Emperor informs him that he will be forgiven – but only if he kills his beloved before the court. When he refuses, Kao Hsiung is marked for death by the powerful Sorcerer Bat (Yuen Shun-yee) and forced to watch as his wife is slain before his eyes. Kao Hsiung flees, kidnapping the Crown Prince during his escape – but soon the prince is dead, and Kao Hsiung is forced to silently replace him with another young boy. In adulthood, that innocent child – Shu Gut ( Yuen Yat-chor) – finds himself relentlessly pursued by Sorcerer Bat, and turns to two quarrelling taoist priests in the hope of protecting himself with their magic.

Made in the same mould as its contemporaries Encounter of the Spooky Kind and The Dead and the Deadly, this riotous kung fu fantasy was followed by two equally entertaining thematic sequels in Shaolin Drunkard and Taoism Drunkard. Eureka Classics is proud to present The Miracle Fighters on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.

SPECIAL FEATURES
* Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
* 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration
* Original Cantonese mono audio and optional classic English dub
* Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
* Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong theatrical version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
* Brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
* Action Master: An Interview with Yuen Woo-ping – archival interview by Frédéric Ambroisine
* John Kreng on Yuen Woo-ping – brand new documentary featurette by Michael Worth
* Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
* Trailer
* A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver [2000 copies]

[cooey]

Looks to include two cuts of the movie (theatrical and export cuts), although not specifically stated in the specs

[grim_tales]

I've never seen this one before, sounds like it could be fun though.

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by grim_tales

I've never seen this one before, sounds like it could be fun though.

I hope you all show this one some love!

This is a big favorite of mine and I have been pushing the labels to get this and the loosely related sequels restored for a few years now.

If you enjoyed Encounters of the Spooky Kind and the Mr Vampire films you will definitely enjoy this one. The fight sequences are absolutely bonkers, I highly recommend this film!

[Irongod2112]

Originally Posted by cooey

Looks to include two cuts of the movie (theatrical and export cuts), although not specifically stated in the specs

The English dub did fit the HK Cut so I'm pretty sure there will only be one.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I hope you all show this one some love!

This is a big favorite of mine and I have been pushing the labels to get this and the loosely related sequels restored for a few years now.

If you enjoyed Encounters of the Spooky Kind and the Mr Vampire films you will definitely enjoy this one. The fight sequences are absolutely bonkers, I highly recommend this film!

I did my part and pre-ordered a copy. My only viewing of this was in 1993 on laserdisc. I remember nothing about it.

[ShawDonkey]

Is this more action packed than Spooky Encounters? While action was outstanding it there was about none of it before near end of movie.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I hope you all show this one some love!

This is a big favorite of mine and I have been pushing the labels to get this and the loosely related sequels restored for a few years now.

If you enjoyed Encounters of the Spooky Kind and the Mr Vampire films you will definitely enjoy this one. The fight sequences are absolutely bonkers, I highly recommend this film!

What is the situations with the sequels? Will we be getting a release for those as well?

[cooey]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

What is the situations with the sequels? Will we be getting a release for those as well?

Wouldn't surprise me if Eureka did something similar to what they did with the Mr Vampire sequels

[cooey]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

The English dub did fit the HK Cut so I'm pretty sure there will only be one.

Ah OK. In that case then it's odd that Eureka list an audio commentary from Mike and Arne for the export cut?

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by cooey

Wouldn't surprise me if Eureka did something similar to what they did with the Mr Vampire sequels

What sequels? You mean , Shaolin Drunkard (1983) and Taoism Drunkard (1984)? they have unrelated storylines.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

What is the situations with the sequels? Will we be getting a release for those as well?

AFAIK, Shaolin Drunkard (2nd film) is an indie release, which could make a remaster difficult depending on who owns the rights, if the elements are in acceptable shape, etc. Taoism Drunkard and The Young Taoism Fighter (3rd and 4th films) were re-released in HK during the DVD days, so theoretically, they're in better hands.

[Nguss]

Instant buy for me. Looking forward to it.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by apollo828

AFAIK, *Shaolin Drunkard* (2nd film) is an indie release, which could make a remaster difficult depending on who owns the rights, if the elements are in acceptable shape, etc. *Taoism Drunkard* and *The Young Taoism Fighter* (3rd and 4th films) were re-released in HK during the DVD days, so theoretically, they're in better hands.

Isn't Drunken Tai Chi also related to that series of films or maybe I am just misremembering?

[filmlover22]

I never saw these films as being part of a franchise created by Miracle Fighters. Consider me intrigued.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

What sequels? You mean , Shaolin Drunkard (1983) and Taoism Drunkard (1984)? they have unrelated storylines.

You could call them unofficial sequels.

Shaolin Drunkard was produced by First Films, Taoism Drunkard and Young Taoism Fighter by Lo Wei company.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

Isn't Drunken Tai Chi also related to that series of films or maybe I am just misremembering?

I don't think so? Some of those films were released under many different titles. I think only the four I mentioned were considered to be part of the "Yuen Clan" series. There was a New Miracle Fighters film but the Yuen gang had nothing to do with it. (I hear it also had a budget of about five bucks.)

[The Mole]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

What sequels? You mean , Shaolin Drunkard (1983) and Taoism Drunkard (1984)? they have unrelated storylines.

So do all the MR. VAMPIRE sequels, the TIGER CAGE sequels and many other film series from HK.

I love this kind of supernatural ballyhoo, silly comedy and martial arts action. So this is an instant blind buy for me.

And I would really like to see many more second row HK gems coming from Eureka, 88, Arrow and VS. So I will try my best to support each and every one of them.

[filmlover22]

fair point. I could make the same argument for the Wisely series

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by Irongod2112

I hope you all show this one some love!

This is a big favorite of mine and I have been pushing the labels to get this and the loosely related sequels restored for a few years now.

If you enjoyed Encounters of the Spooky Kind and the Mr Vampire films you will definitely enjoy this one. The fight sequences are absolutely bonkers, I highly recommend this film!

Sold! It's a long time until the end of June though