Eureka Entertainment is releasing Last Hurrah for Chivalry and Hand of Death, two of the earliest films from John Woo, one of the greatest action directors of all time.
Released as part of the Eureka Classics range from 24 June 2019, this is the first time either film has ever been presented on Blu-ray in the UK.
The 2-disc set is taken from brand new 2K restorations and the first 2000 copies will feature a Limited Edition Collector’s booklet.
A decade before he would change action filmmaking forever with A Better Tomorrow and The Killer, Woo was directing martial-arts films for the two biggest studios in Hong Kong, Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest.
Under the mentorship of the great Chang Cheh (Five Deadly Venoms), Woo began to develop his signature style, films that featured slick, stylish and often violent choreography, with dramatic plots that revolved around brotherhood, honour and redemption.
In Last Hurrah for Chivalry, two killers (Pai Wei and Damian Lau) agree to help a man exact vengeance upon a kung fu master. Woo’s first cinematic masterpiece, Last Hurrah for Chivalry is a dark and violent revenge film, featuring lightning fast swordplay and stylish cinematography.
In Hand of Death, a young Shaolin monk must train to defeat a dangerous Manchu warlord (James Tien) who is intent on wiping out the Shaolin once and for all.
Featuring early performances from Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung (both also handled the film’s stunts, along with third “brother” Yuen Biao), Hand of Death is an exquisitely stylish example of old school kung fu filmmaking.
Eureka Classics says it’s “proud to present these two early films from one of action cinema’s all-time greats for the first time ever on Blu-ray, from brand new 2K restorations.”
Special Features:
- Stunning 1080p presentation of both films on Blu-ray, from brand new 2K restorations
- Cantonese, Mandarin and English audio options
- Optional English subtitles
- Brand new audio commentaries on both Last Hurrah for Chivalry and Hand of Death, by martial-arts cinema authority Mike Leeder | Archival interviews with director John Woo
- Trailers for both films
- Reversible inlay featuring original poster artwork
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