Michelle Yeoh (credited as Michelle Khan) in one of her best early roles in the hard-bitten, play for Keeps Royal Warriors. Director David Chung has created a movie that hits harder than any audience nowadays expects. This is the type of movie where the bad guys have no problem with killing a mother and her child. There is an edge to the film that many will be shocked by that do not remember the days of yore and the work of directors Tsui Hark, John Woo, and Ringo Lam.
The standout of the film is the second-act shootout in a nightclub. The go-for-broke action scene feels like the blueprint for Walter Hill’s delirious bar finale in Another 48 HRS with civilian causalities as high as the good guy and bad guy body count. Though not to be outdone the finale set at a Rock Quarry has an epic quality to it as they’re using real Earth Movers!
This isn’t just some middling programmer. Chung brings the style, bombast, and conviction to the entire film. Both Michael Wong and Hiroyuki Sanada are perfectly cast. However, it’s Sanada that’s the standout. Ultimately, the film rests on the shoulders of Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh is fantastic here bringing all the charm and charisma you expect – along with being saddled with some of the more frustrating plot points. However, the film does manage to make adroit choices with those clichés.
The Transfer
The transfers for all four films are spectacular. The work done here is simply jaw-dropping. Researching the prior DVD editions of the titles leaves no comparison. The work here is literally night and day. The films look sharp without the expense of the grain structure, allowing it to retain the look of a 35mm print. The color reproduction is as close as one can get to the high dynamic range of a 4K without being 4K. 88 Films has gone above and beyond the line of duty to bring us these gorgeous transfers.
Note: yes, the pun was definitely 1000% intended.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng
Missing Aeroplane Inserts
Cantonese Trailer
English Trailer
English In the Line of Duty Titles
The Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng begins with his bonafides and the various titles Royal Warriors went under around the world. Some of the details from the commentaries include how the In the Line of Dutyseries are not interconnected; the box office success of the film; Johnnie To was the second unit director on the film; after the success of Michelle Yeoh’s first film and how Magnificent Warriors was put into production – and how D&B Films signed her to an extended contract that included this and Yes Madam!; the work of actor Michael Wong; the work of actor Hiroyuki Sanada; a larger conversation about how actors were dubbed and what they spoke during the production; the work of screenwriter Sammy Tsang; a larger discussion of the career and life of Blackie Ko – who’s specialized in car stunts; the work of director David Chung; discussions throughout about the various action set pieces which there are many – including the various stunt crew and choreographers that were involved like Blackie Ko, Kar Lok Chin, Hoi mang, Siu Tak-foo; a larger discussion about the action scenes and how the differ from the other films in the series; discussion throughout the commentary track about the various actors and their work here and throughout their career – keep your notes app open you’ll want to write some of the films down; and much more. Djeng’s commentary is another entertaining and thoroughly researched track.
Missing Aeroplane Inserts (0:29) – the various inserts of a very fake-looking miniature model.
Cantonese Trailer (4:38) – in Cantonese with English Subtitles
English Trailer (3:49)
English In the Line of Duty Titles (2:57) – the same credit sequence from the Cantonese version with English Language Credits for both Beginning and Ending Credits.
The Final Thought
Royal Warriors ’80s HK at its finest. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
Royal Warriors is now available from 88 Films outside of their In The Line of Duty I – IV Blu-ray box set.
The Film
Michelle Yeoh (credited as Michelle Khan) in one of her best early roles in the hard-bitten, play for Keeps Royal Warriors. Director David Chung has created a movie that hits harder than any audience nowadays expects. This is the type of movie where the bad guys have no problem with killing a mother and her child. There is an edge to the film that many will be shocked by that do not remember the days of yore and the work of directors Tsui Hark, John Woo, and Ringo Lam.
The standout of the film is the second-act shootout in a nightclub. The go-for-broke action scene feels like the blueprint for Walter Hill’s delirious bar finale in Another 48 HRS with civilian causalities as high as the good guy and bad guy body count. Though not to be outdone the finale set at a Rock Quarry has an epic quality to it as they’re using real Earth Movers!
This isn’t just some middling programmer. Chung brings the style, bombast, and conviction to the entire film. Both Michael Wong and Hiroyuki Sanada are perfectly cast. However, it’s Sanada that’s the standout. Ultimately, the film rests on the shoulders of Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh is fantastic here bringing all the charm and charisma you expect – along with being saddled with some of the more frustrating plot points. However, the film does manage to make adroit choices with those clichés.
The Transfer
The transfers for all four films are spectacular. The work done here is simply jaw-dropping. Researching the prior DVD editions of the titles leaves no comparison. The work here is literally night and day. The films look sharp without the expense of the grain structure, allowing it to retain the look of a 35mm print. The color reproduction is as close as one can get to the high dynamic range of a 4K without being 4K. 88 Films has gone above and beyond the line of duty to bring us these gorgeous transfers.
Note: yes, the pun was definitely 1000% intended.
The Extras
They include the following;
The Audio Commentary by Hong Kong Film Expert Frank Djeng begins with his bonafides and the various titles Royal Warriors went under around the world. Some of the details from the commentaries include how the In the Line of Dutyseries are not interconnected; the box office success of the film; Johnnie To was the second unit director on the film; after the success of Michelle Yeoh’s first film and how Magnificent Warriors was put into production – and how D&B Films signed her to an extended contract that included this and Yes Madam!; the work of actor Michael Wong; the work of actor Hiroyuki Sanada; a larger conversation about how actors were dubbed and what they spoke during the production; the work of screenwriter Sammy Tsang; a larger discussion of the career and life of Blackie Ko – who’s specialized in car stunts; the work of director David Chung; discussions throughout about the various action set pieces which there are many – including the various stunt crew and choreographers that were involved like Blackie Ko, Kar Lok Chin, Hoi mang, Siu Tak-foo; a larger discussion about the action scenes and how the differ from the other films in the series; discussion throughout the commentary track about the various actors and their work here and throughout their career – keep your notes app open you’ll want to write some of the films down; and much more. Djeng’s commentary is another entertaining and thoroughly researched track.
Missing Aeroplane Inserts (0:29) – the various inserts of a very fake-looking miniature model.
Cantonese Trailer (4:38) – in Cantonese with English Subtitles
English Trailer (3:49)
English In the Line of Duty Titles (2:57) – the same credit sequence from the Cantonese version with English Language Credits for both Beginning and Ending Credits.
The Final Thought
Royal Warriors ’80s HK at its finest. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!
88 Films’ Blu-Ray Royal Warriors is out June 11th
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