"Actor: Pai Ying"

• Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind | Blu Ray | (03/10/2022) from £18.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Angela Mao and director Huang Feng (The Shaolin Plot) were a superstar pairing that produced an incredible series of top tier kung-fu classics including Deadly China Doll, When Taekwondo Strikes and the two films presented here Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind. In Hapkido (aka. Lady Kung Fu in the West), a group of martial artists (Mao, Sammo Hung, and Carter Wong) start their own school to teach the Korean martial art, Hapkido, but a rival Japanese academy attempts to crush them deeming Hapkido inferior to their Japanese fighting style. Similar to the plot of Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury (a canny decision by the filmmakers, capitalising on Mao often being referred to as a female Bruce Lee ), Hapkido was a huge hit in the West, even briefly beating Lee's Enter the Dragon at the North American box office. Perhaps her most iconic film, Lady Whirlwind (bizarrely re-titled as Deep Thrust in the US, to capitalise on the success of Deep Throat, which probably made its tag linesThe Deadly Stroke of Bare Hand Combat and Mistress of the Death Blowa tad misleading) stars Mao as a deadly fighter out for revenge on the man who wronged her sister (played by Shaw Brothers veteran Chang Yi). After tracking the man down, she finds he is on his own vengeful path against a gang of Japanese thugs and agrees to help keep him alive as long as she gets to take her revenge when it's all over! Product Features Two excellent martial arts films make their debuts on Blu-rayand the first time Lady Whirlwind has ever been available in the UKfrom brand new 2K restorations! Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling (First run of 2000 copies only) 1080p presentations of both films across two Blu-ray discs, from new 2K restorations Limited Edition Reversible Poster featuring original theatrical poster artwork (First run of 2000 copies only) Hapkido Original mono Mandarin and English audio options, including two variations of the classic English dub Hapkido DTS-HD MA 5.1 English dub (newer dub originally created for the film's original DVD release) Lady Whirlwind Original mono Mandarin and English audio options Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release Hapkido New feature length audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & Michael Worth Hapkido New feature length audio commentary with Frank Djeng & martial artist / actor Robert Bobby Samuels Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & Michael Worth Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary with Frank Djeng & martial artist / actor Robert Bobby Samuels Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary by film journalist and author Samm Deighan Brand new interview with Angela Mao, filmed in 2022 Archival interview with Angela Mao Archival interview with Carter Wong Archival interview with Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao Hapkido Alternate opening credits Selection of trailers and TV spots Stills Galleries Reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong poster artwork PLUS: A Limited-Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver (First run of 2000 copies only) *All extras subject to change

• The Magnificent Butcher | DVD | (23/07/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Based on the real-life exploits of Butcher Wing, Magnificent Butcher is an action-packed kung fu comedy filled with lowbrow physical slapstick and breathtaking, if repetitive fight scenes. Sammo Hung is the well-intentioned 19th-century butcher whose unerring ability to misread a situation leads to trouble. When Wing's long-absent brother comes to town, Ko Tai-Hoi (Hark-On Fung) imprisons his wife, and our hero joins forces with an old drunken kung fu master played by Siu Tien Yuen (reprising his title role from Drunken Master which brought Jackie Chan to fame). This is Siu Tien Yuen's last film and it's obvious he's been replaced by a stunt double at times, although it remains a fine tribute to his remarkable martial arts talent. Taking an unexpected turn with a brutal attempted rape and murder, farce gives way to bloody retribution. The gradual return of comical elements may seem at odds with the later more realistic violence. While the uneven tone jars, the film is an impressive showcase for some of the greatest talents in Hong Kong cinema. Director Woo-ping Yuen has since found fame as the kung fu/action choreographer on The Matrix (1999) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).On the DVD: Considering how poor most 1970s Hong Kong films looked on video, the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image here is superb; pin sharp with accurate colours and barely a hint of grain. Unfortunately there is still a little of the image missing at the sides, though it is a vast improvement over any panned and scanned cassette. The mono audio is generally good, though the music distorts occasionally. There are two soundtracks: the original Cantonese with optional subtitles, and a bad English dub. Additionally there is an outstanding audio commentary by Bey Logan packed with fascinating information about martial arts, Hong Kong cinema and the historical characters the film is based on. A 12-minute interview with Sammo Hung and 20-minute interview with Woo-ping Yuen are both interesting, though are not specific to Magnificent Butcher. Beyond these there are detailed biographies of star and director, an extensive stills gallery, stills from deleted scenes, two trailers and text information and photos of the real Butcher Wing. Finally, making stylised ultra-violence look extremely cool, there are ten anamorphically enhanced widescreen trailers for further releases. When "Hong Kong Legends" say they want to produce the best quality DVDs in the world they clearly mean it. This is a fine package assembled with the loving care of true fans. --Gary S Dalkin

• Yoga And The Kung Fu Girl | DVD | (04/06/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Phoenix (Phoenix Chen) and Ah-Fei (Chi Kuan Chun) come to a town where Ma the head of a Kung Fu School frames Ah-Fei for murder. See how a man and a woman who both possess the extraordinary skill of Shien Kwon (Soft Bone) kung fu which originates with Indian Yoga counter their foes with this most unique style of kung fu fighting. 'Yoga And Kung Fu Girl' is an eye-opening delight that will have kung fu fans breaking their backs with joy!

• A Touch Of Zen | DVD | (28/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  An artist Ku lives with his mother near an abandoned fort. One night investigating strange noises he meets the beautiful Yang who is living there. She is being pursued by agents of an Imperial noble who have murdered her family and Ku finds himself caught up in her struggle to survive... A lyrically spiritual Kung Fu film 'A Touch Of Zen' provided the inspiration for Ang Lee's seminal 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon'.

• Bloody Fight | DVD | (04/06/2007) from £5.01   |  Saving you £9.98 (66.60%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The Master of a local kung fu school is challenged to fight to the death by Chan Cheng a Japanese boxing master wandering the countryside testing his superior skills. Chang Cheng's martial art skills prove too strong for the master who is overcome and killed in the combat. Now it is up to the student Chi Sui Hau (Alan Tang) to avenge his master's death. But can Chi be convinced to fight to the death and can he win The Bloody Fight.

• Drifting Flowers | DVD | (08/06/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A grand sweeping film exploring the many manifestations of lesbian love through the eyes of different generations of Taiwanese women Drifting Flowers weaves together three perfectly formed love stories in a truly masterful fashion. From the insightful account of the sometimes precarious nature of puppy love to a heartbreaking story of the tragedy of lost love in old age to finally a charming coming of age tale Drifting Flowers is a perfectly rendered journey through the most personal of lives tinged with the all the sweetness and melancholy of growing up.

• Mission Kung Fu | DVD | (04/06/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Incredible Kung Fu Mission: Top kicker (John Liu) is hired to train and lead five misfits on a suicidal mission to rescue a revolutionary held in a well guarded fortress run by a deadly white-haired official. Cantonen Iron Kung Fu: Leung Kar Yan plays Ah Tung a coolie who ends up in a brawl with Ah Yu over a misunderstanding. The two become friends but their relationship is cut short when Ah Yu accepts a challenge to fight with several men under the leadership of a ruthless criminal named Black Eagle who are attempting to bully the townsfolk. Moonlight Sword & Jade Lion: Chiu Shioa Yen (Angela Mao) stars in this odd pseudo-mystery as a student sent to find her teacher's brother so she can find out who killed her parents. She must make her way through a web of lies misdirection's and assassination attempts to uncover the truth. Angela Mao the original Deadly China Doll stars in an action packed adventure of rebellions and overthrows during the Sung Dynasty. Yoga And The Kung Fu Girl: The amazing Shien Kwon (soft bone) kung fu which originates with Yoga from India is the main attraction in this terrific actioneer. Phoenix (Phoenix Chen) and Ah-Fei (Chi Kuan Chun) come to a town where Ma the head of a kung fu school frames Ah-Fe for murder. See how a man and a woman who both possess this extraordinary skill counter their foes with this most unique style of kung fu fighting.