The Lady Assassin is the kind of Shaw Brothers’ Palace Intrigue film that manages that balance of political machinations and action to create a lean and mean 90-minute action film.
As the Emperor of China is dying, the 4th Prince (Tony Liu) is set to inherit the throne. The 14th Prince (Max Mok Siu-Chung) jealous and power-hungry stages a coup that guarantees he is named the new Emperor. Now in power, the former Prince abuses his power to punish those that he feels stand against him. However, his reign may come quickly to an end as those few who still stand for justice and righteousness fight against his violence and treachery, underestimating everyone including the most dangerous of his foes Liu Si Niang (Leanne Liu).
This isn’t a film that wastes any time. Writer/Director Chin-ku Lu infuses The Lady Assassin with a speed and forcefulness that you blink your eye and it’s over with. The film’s balance of political infighting and fighting is a winning one. When one is tiring of the prince’s nee Emperor’s – literal – mustache twirling we get an expertly choreographed fight scene and vice versa. The fights manage to each be uniquely their own – be it ninjas raiding the palace, or an execution that’s actually a trap.
If one worries about the opening thirty minutes being confusing by the introduction of no less than ten characters – do not worry. Lu manages to get his point across and/or kill the characters that are not needed for the amazing finale. Speaking of the finale… color me shocked and amazed by it. The Lady Assassin goes for the jugular at its end and leaves you breathless by its final frame. That final moment cutting to a freeze frame sums up the confidence of the film and its writer/director. Few filmmakers know the exact moment to end the film as Lu does.
The Transfer
The transfer provided is one of the Celestial Pictures is a handsome sharp image clean and flawless as the day it was produced. The film was a stage-bound production – with a few shots on location scenes – and the perfection of the stage lighting and widescreen photography is gorgeously reproduced here in high definition. 88 Films continues its vital work of curating Asian Genre films both popular and obscure.
The Extras
They include the following;
From Child Actor to Fight Coordinator – An Interview with Poon Kin-Kwan
Trailer
Stills Gallery
From Child Actor to Fight Coordinator – An Interview with Poon Kin-Kwan (23:50) – this archival interview with actor turn Fight Coordinator begins with his work as a child actor and how he transitioned to Fight Coordinator and stunt work. Poon discusses various topics including the changes in Stunt Work and Fight Choreography since he started, how technology has hampered the work, the lack of schools and mentorship as it was back in the 1970 and 1980s, the move/transition to mainland China, and much more. There are a few tidbits about his work on The Lady Assassin (but seems to be smart editing than actual questions), but the interview is more of an overview than about this production. Still fascinating nonetheless and worthy of any action fans time. Chinese with English Subtitles.
Trailer (1:17)
Stills Gallery (2L58) – the gallery consisting of 21 production stills. The gallery plays automatically with the movie’s score. It can also be paused and navigated using your remote’s chapter stop buttons.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to curate great martial arts films from the Shaw Brothers catalog The Lady Assassin is one the best of the best. Recommended!
A false Emperor rises to power – The Lady Assassin may China’s only hope. New to Blu-ray from 88 Films.
The Film
That ending!!! I’ll get to that in a minute.
The Lady Assassin is the kind of Shaw Brothers’ Palace Intrigue film that manages that balance of political machinations and action to create a lean and mean 90-minute action film.
As the Emperor of China is dying, the 4th Prince (Tony Liu) is set to inherit the throne. The 14th Prince (Max Mok Siu-Chung) jealous and power-hungry stages a coup that guarantees he is named the new Emperor. Now in power, the former Prince abuses his power to punish those that he feels stand against him. However, his reign may come quickly to an end as those few who still stand for justice and righteousness fight against his violence and treachery, underestimating everyone including the most dangerous of his foes Liu Si Niang (Leanne Liu).
This isn’t a film that wastes any time. Writer/Director Chin-ku Lu infuses The Lady Assassin with a speed and forcefulness that you blink your eye and it’s over with. The film’s balance of political infighting and fighting is a winning one. When one is tiring of the prince’s nee Emperor’s – literal – mustache twirling we get an expertly choreographed fight scene and vice versa. The fights manage to each be uniquely their own – be it ninjas raiding the palace, or an execution that’s actually a trap.
If one worries about the opening thirty minutes being confusing by the introduction of no less than ten characters – do not worry. Lu manages to get his point across and/or kill the characters that are not needed for the amazing finale. Speaking of the finale… color me shocked and amazed by it. The Lady Assassin goes for the jugular at its end and leaves you breathless by its final frame. That final moment cutting to a freeze frame sums up the confidence of the film and its writer/director. Few filmmakers know the exact moment to end the film as Lu does.
The Transfer
The transfer provided is one of the Celestial Pictures is a handsome sharp image clean and flawless as the day it was produced. The film was a stage-bound production – with a few shots on location scenes – and the perfection of the stage lighting and widescreen photography is gorgeously reproduced here in high definition. 88 Films continues its vital work of curating Asian Genre films both popular and obscure.
The Extras
They include the following;
From Child Actor to Fight Coordinator – An Interview with Poon Kin-Kwan (23:50) – this archival interview with actor turn Fight Coordinator begins with his work as a child actor and how he transitioned to Fight Coordinator and stunt work. Poon discusses various topics including the changes in Stunt Work and Fight Choreography since he started, how technology has hampered the work, the lack of schools and mentorship as it was back in the 1970 and 1980s, the move/transition to mainland China, and much more. There are a few tidbits about his work on The Lady Assassin (but seems to be smart editing than actual questions), but the interview is more of an overview than about this production. Still fascinating nonetheless and worthy of any action fans time. Chinese with English Subtitles.
Trailer (1:17)
Stills Gallery (2L58) – the gallery consisting of 21 production stills. The gallery plays automatically with the movie’s score. It can also be paused and navigated using your remote’s chapter stop buttons.
The Final Thought
88 Films continues to curate great martial arts films from the Shaw Brothers catalog The Lady Assassin is one the best of the best. Recommended!
88 Films’ Blu-Ray edition of The Lady Assassin is out February 25th
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