The Tattooed Dragon is the kind of sly social commentary on the dangers of addiction wrapped in a truly bad ass martial arts crime thriller. Writer/Director Lo Wei creates a tightly constructed hard hard-hitting actioner with the help of stars Jimmy Wang Wu and Sam Hui.
Dragon (Wu) finds that the local gang has stolen the money from the Church. Not having it, Dragon lays a beatdown on them, not because they manage to hurt him. Dragon finds protection from the gang with the local villagers, but not before the gang kills many of the,m leaving Dragon for dead. Koon-kit (Hui) and his trusty dog find Dragon almost dead. With the help of his girlfriend and best friend Ang (Simon Hsu), Koon-kit is able to bring Dragon back to health. In gratitude, Dragon teaches Koon-kit some moves that allow him to win a local Muay Thai tournament. This sets in motion a series of events that have Ang (and many other townsfolk) gambling addiction preyed upon by Jun Lee Kwan (James Tien). After tragedy strikes Ang’s family, Dragon helps Jun and the town folk,s but… at what cost?
For a film that has multiple characters and multiple story arcs, there’s an efficiency that Wei’s direction takes. There’s a no-frills streamlined approach that benefits the movie. Even in its most melodramatic moment,s it remains thankfully not overwrought. The entire enterprise benefits greatly from the blink and you’ll miss it style of storytelling. From the superhuman abilities of Dragon, to Koon-kit’s amazing dog, and the interpersonal lives of the town folks. It all goes at such a breezy pace, you don’t have time to question its validity.
Of course, the star and main attraction here is Jimmy Wang Wu as Dragon. From the moment he steps on screen to the ending as he walks off into the sunse,t Wu is Dragon. All swagger and confidence that makes even the most implausible plausible. It’s hilarious to watch the attitude with which Wu takes on the role and any scene he’s in. Doubly so, if you know of the man’s entertaining (albeit troubled) life.
The Tattooed Dragon is a badass piece of cinema that any martial arts fan will find a place in their heart for.
The Transfer
The Tattooed Dragon, presented in 1080p HD from a new 2K restoration, is a beautiful representation of this 35mm widescreen shot film. The handsome image has been beautifully restored, the result being a sharp, handsome Blu-ray. There isn’t a fault or issue with the image, not a scratch or defect, not any digital issues like artifacting or ghosting. Eureka continues to bring these titles to high definition life.
The Extras
They include the following;
New audio commentary by East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
New audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
Here Be Dragons – new discussion of Tattooed Dragon with martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong
Alternate Opening Credits
Original Trailer
US Release Trailer
The first of two all-new commentaries is one East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth. Djeng and Worth begin with their credentials before diving into the film proper. Some of the details include the literal Mandarin title translation; the box office receipts of the film; the film was shot entirely in Thailand; the work of the fight choreographer Simon Chui Yee-Ngau; the dubbing work in the film – and how it hurt the success of the film and why it hurt it; a discussion of star Sam Hui – his rise as a TV and Canto-Pop superstar; a great discussion of the tans that the actors got because of the time spent in the harsh Thailand sun; a larger discussion of the fighting choreography both criticism and compliments to Lo Wei’s style – including some great side conversations about Wei’s work with Bruce Lee; a larger discussion of the various locations they filmed in Thailand; a larger 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 and Worth provide another enlightening commentary track on one of Lo Wei’s cult martial arts classic.
The second of the all-new audio commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema begins hilariously with them imitating the Golden Harvest opening logo theme. Some of the details include a discussion of the various famous (and infamous) films that were produced in Thailand; the opening title sequence; the reasons why Venema knows so much about Thailand; an interesting fact about how Muy Tai is so ingrained in Thai culture it can bring down prison sentences in some cases; a discussion of the career and personal history of Sam Hui – including the success of his sons; the work here and career of actor Syliva Chang; a great side discussion of soda including Fanta being huge in not just Thailand but in Asia in general and the mystery that Thai Coke is the best Coke; a discussion of the importance of Sam Hui to Golden Harvest and a larger discussion of his career; the darker side of the film that deals with gambling and the problem with gambling as a society in Asian countries; a larger discussion of the stunt work and fight choreography throughout; a larger discussion of the wild and “colorful” life and times of Jimmy Wang Yu – including his part of the rise of Golden Harvest, the trouble making The Man from Hong Kong, his part in helping Jackie Chan breaking a terrible contract, his association with a crime family, being stabbed in a restaurant and much more; a larger discussion of director Lo Wei – including some fascinating personal history and anecdotes; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in this film; and much more.
Wei and the Dragon – Wayne Wong on Lo Wei (16:21) – is an all-new interview with martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong on director’s Lo Wei’s The Tattooed Dragon. Starting with Wei’s origins as an actor during WW2 then eventually transitioning to directing with the Shaw Brothers studio. Wong goes onto discuss Wei’s films – their style, their storytelling, the linear clean action style and his transition from swordplay films of the 50s and 60s to the martial arts films of the late 60s to early 70s – which culminated with Wei directing Bruce Lee’s films The Big Boss, and Fists of Fury and why they eventually split. This all leads to a full discussion of The Tattooed Dragon.
Alternate Opening Credits (2:54)– from the English Language Release
Original Trailer (3:30) – Mandarin with English Subtitles
US Release Trailer (1:12)
The Final Thought
Subtitles Eureka continues to deliver only the best in Martial Arts Cinema. Recommended!
Jimmy Wang Wu is The Tattooed Dragon. The Lo Wei martial arts classic comes to Blu-ray in a World Premiere 2K Restoration thanks to Eureka Entertainment.
The Film
The Tattooed Dragon is the kind of sly social commentary on the dangers of addiction wrapped in a truly bad ass martial arts crime thriller. Writer/Director Lo Wei creates a tightly constructed hard hard-hitting actioner with the help of stars Jimmy Wang Wu and Sam Hui.
Dragon (Wu) finds that the local gang has stolen the money from the Church. Not having it, Dragon lays a beatdown on them, not because they manage to hurt him. Dragon finds protection from the gang with the local villagers, but not before the gang kills many of the,m leaving Dragon for dead. Koon-kit (Hui) and his trusty dog find Dragon almost dead. With the help of his girlfriend and best friend Ang (Simon Hsu), Koon-kit is able to bring Dragon back to health. In gratitude, Dragon teaches Koon-kit some moves that allow him to win a local Muay Thai tournament. This sets in motion a series of events that have Ang (and many other townsfolk) gambling addiction preyed upon by Jun Lee Kwan (James Tien). After tragedy strikes Ang’s family, Dragon helps Jun and the town folk,s but… at what cost?
For a film that has multiple characters and multiple story arcs, there’s an efficiency that Wei’s direction takes. There’s a no-frills streamlined approach that benefits the movie. Even in its most melodramatic moment,s it remains thankfully not overwrought. The entire enterprise benefits greatly from the blink and you’ll miss it style of storytelling. From the superhuman abilities of Dragon, to Koon-kit’s amazing dog, and the interpersonal lives of the town folks. It all goes at such a breezy pace, you don’t have time to question its validity.
Of course, the star and main attraction here is Jimmy Wang Wu as Dragon. From the moment he steps on screen to the ending as he walks off into the sunse,t Wu is Dragon. All swagger and confidence that makes even the most implausible plausible. It’s hilarious to watch the attitude with which Wu takes on the role and any scene he’s in. Doubly so, if you know of the man’s entertaining (albeit troubled) life.
The Tattooed Dragon is a badass piece of cinema that any martial arts fan will find a place in their heart for.
The Transfer
The Tattooed Dragon, presented in 1080p HD from a new 2K restoration, is a beautiful representation of this 35mm widescreen shot film. The handsome image has been beautifully restored, the result being a sharp, handsome Blu-ray. There isn’t a fault or issue with the image, not a scratch or defect, not any digital issues like artifacting or ghosting. Eureka continues to bring these titles to high definition life.
The Extras
They include the following;
The first of two all-new commentaries is one East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth. Djeng and Worth begin with their credentials before diving into the film proper. Some of the details include the literal Mandarin title translation; the box office receipts of the film; the film was shot entirely in Thailand; the work of the fight choreographer Simon Chui Yee-Ngau; the dubbing work in the film – and how it hurt the success of the film and why it hurt it; a discussion of star Sam Hui – his rise as a TV and Canto-Pop superstar; a great discussion of the tans that the actors got because of the time spent in the harsh Thailand sun; a larger discussion of the fighting choreography both criticism and compliments to Lo Wei’s style – including some great side conversations about Wei’s work with Bruce Lee; a larger discussion of the various locations they filmed in Thailand; a larger 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 and Worth provide another enlightening commentary track on one of Lo Wei’s cult martial arts classic.
The second of the all-new audio commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema begins hilariously with them imitating the Golden Harvest opening logo theme. Some of the details include a discussion of the various famous (and infamous) films that were produced in Thailand; the opening title sequence; the reasons why Venema knows so much about Thailand; an interesting fact about how Muy Tai is so ingrained in Thai culture it can bring down prison sentences in some cases; a discussion of the career and personal history of Sam Hui – including the success of his sons; the work here and career of actor Syliva Chang; a great side discussion of soda including Fanta being huge in not just Thailand but in Asia in general and the mystery that Thai Coke is the best Coke; a discussion of the importance of Sam Hui to Golden Harvest and a larger discussion of his career; the darker side of the film that deals with gambling and the problem with gambling as a society in Asian countries; a larger discussion of the stunt work and fight choreography throughout; a larger discussion of the wild and “colorful” life and times of Jimmy Wang Yu – including his part of the rise of Golden Harvest, the trouble making The Man from Hong Kong, his part in helping Jackie Chan breaking a terrible contract, his association with a crime family, being stabbed in a restaurant and much more; a larger discussion of director Lo Wei – including some fascinating personal history and anecdotes; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in this film; and much more.
Wei and the Dragon – Wayne Wong on Lo Wei (16:21) – is an all-new interview with martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong on director’s Lo Wei’s The Tattooed Dragon. Starting with Wei’s origins as an actor during WW2 then eventually transitioning to directing with the Shaw Brothers studio. Wong goes onto discuss Wei’s films – their style, their storytelling, the linear clean action style and his transition from swordplay films of the 50s and 60s to the martial arts films of the late 60s to early 70s – which culminated with Wei directing Bruce Lee’s films The Big Boss, and Fists of Fury and why they eventually split. This all leads to a full discussion of The Tattooed Dragon.
Alternate Opening Credits (2:54)– from the English Language Release
Original Trailer (3:30) – Mandarin with English Subtitles
US Release Trailer (1:12)
The Final Thought
Subtitles Eureka continues to deliver only the best in Martial Arts Cinema. Recommended!
Eureka Entertainment’s Blu-ray Edition The Tattooed Dragon is out July 22nd
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