The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
08-30-24 | 08:07 PM
#401
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I’m pretty sure I’ve posted trailer for at least a couple of these somewhere on the forum in the past, but Eureka has a nice combo trailer up for the three Shaw spy movies.
One disappointment right out of the gate is that ANGEL WITH THE IRON FISTS actually has a sequel, THE ANGEL STRIKES BACK. Along with other notable absentees like INTERPOL, ASIA-POL, THE BRAIN STEALERS, and BLACK FALCON, this would’ve made a great box set in the vein of that Joseph Kuo 8-pack from a couple years ago, which would’ve covered most if not all of the ‘Bond Craze’ films in one go. Alas, we wait.
One disappointment right out of the gate is that ANGEL WITH THE IRON FISTS actually has a sequel, THE ANGEL STRIKES BACK. Along with other notable absentees like INTERPOL, ASIA-POL, THE BRAIN STEALERS, and BLACK FALCON, this would’ve made a great box set in the vein of that Joseph Kuo 8-pack from a couple years ago, which would’ve covered most if not all of the ‘Bond Craze’ films in one go. Alas, we wait.
Last edited by Brian T; 08-30-24 at 08:31 PM.
09-26-24 | 01:16 PM
#402
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
For December 2024. Nice to see another thematical grouping of Shaw films in a single set (two discs, though), plus NIMH finally getting what seems like a proper revisit:
Extras for HORRIBLE HISTORY:
Extras for NIMH:
Extras for HORRIBLE HISTORY:
- 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray from masters supplied by Celestial Pictures
- Original mono audio tracks
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- Two new commentaries by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and martial artist and filmmaker Michael Worth
- Two new commentaries by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- National Defence – A new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on Boxer Rebellion
- Rewriting History – A new video essay on Chang Cheh’s historical films by Jonathan Clements, author of A Brief History of China
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
- PLUS: A Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all four films in this set by writer and critic James Oliver
- Limited edition of 2000 copies only
Extras for NIMH:
- Limited edition [2000 copies]
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring original poster artwork [2000 copies]
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a studio supplied master
- Brand new audio commentary with animation scholar Sam Summers, author of DreamWorks Animation: Intertextuality and Aesthetics in Shrek and Beyond
- Archival audio commentary with director Don Bluth and producer Gary Goldman
- The Rats of NIMH – A new on-camera interview with director and animator Don Bluth
- Beyond Your Wildest Dreams - A new on-camera appreciation of The Secret of NIMH with animation expert and fan Stacey Abbott
- Courage of the Heart – A new video essay by children’s media expert Catherine Lester on motherhood in The Secret of NIMH
- Secrets Behind the Secret – archival featurette
- Theatrical trailer
- Stills Gallery
- A collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Don Bluth and The Secret of NIMH by Peter C. Kunze, author of Staging a Comeback: Broadway, Hollywood, and the Disney Renaissance
Last edited by Brian T; 09-26-24 at 01:33 PM.
10-24-24 | 09:20 AM
#403
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
11-02-24 | 06:49 PM
#404
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I'm sort of frustrated with the recent focus on Kung Fu films. Not my thing at all.
11-03-24 | 01:50 AM
#405
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
12-05-24 | 09:42 AM
#406
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
12-05-24 | 12:06 PM
#407
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I have no idea if any of them are actually good, but that Mabuse set looks incredible. I'm a little annoyed that it includes what seems to be the previously released 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse disc that I own but have never watched.
12-05-24 | 03:43 PM
#408
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Nice to see a complete set of films (more or less) released together for a change, instead of stringing us along for years. Wish I could say the same for that Venom Mob set, but then some films in that ‘series’ are already scattered around a bit. I never got my hands on the ODE TO GALLANTRY dvd from HK, and I only found DAREDEVILS on a VCD, so the set’s an upgrade regardless. SHAOLIN BOXERS, which I also have only on VCD, is also part of the upcoming ‘Golden Harvest Shining Stars’ boxed set from Shout Factory, so technically speaking it’s cheaper there (in terms of price-per-disc) and likewise has two commentaries – including Frank Djeng double-dipping, apparently – but not the extra interview. It’s not exactly a classic, so comparison shopping might be worthwhile. (Of course, the Shout set is now entirely comprised of stuff released by Eureka and, to a lesser extent, 88 Films in the UK, most of which I already have, but knowing me I’ll probably get it anyways when a decent sale price happens.)Eureka trailers for the new releases:
Last edited by Brian T; 12-05-24 at 04:17 PM.
12-09-24 | 06:58 PM
#409
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
All 3 Dr. Mabuse films are worth watching. The 3rd is the worst. The first film is silent and like 4 hours long. It's worth seeing and great, but that's stil a commitment. The 2nd one has the same character return and is just overall an improvement.
12-09-24 | 07:33 PM
#410
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
You're talking about the Fritz Lang Mabuse films. This set only includes the 3rd Lang (1000 Eyes) along with a bunch of non-Lang sequels. I'm familiar with the Lang films. I'm wondering if these sequels are any good.
12-12-24 | 09:54 AM
#411
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
OK, not as good as the Lang's. I have the Eureka dvd box.
01-30-25 | 10:33 AM
#412
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
01-30-25 | 12:02 PM
#413
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Now we're grouping Shaw Bros. films by the adjectives in their titles? Sure. Why not. At least it will make sense when shelving the set alphabetically, unlike the Horrible History set.
01-30-25 | 01:38 PM
#414
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
No clue where the Adventurers places in Andy Lau’s extensive filmography but it is fun. And plus Chen Pui (aka Paul Chen) plays a great smarmy , weaselish bad guy.
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Brian T (01-30-25)
01-30-25 | 04:21 PM
#415
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
ADVENTURERS is one of my all-time favorite Hong Kong movies, and personally I’d rate it very high up in both Andy Lau’s and Ringo Lam’s filmographies. Both are at the top of their game in this one, and the film is the very definition of ‘muscular’, and yet outside of HK cinema fan circles I feel it was inexplicably overlooked by western home video companies when Ringo Lam was making his inroads over here a year later with MAXIMUM RISK. Prior to this, he did BURNING PARADISE (94) and FULL CONTACT (92). Talk about firing on all cylinders. I totally agree about Paul Chun’s performance, too. No Hong Kong actor portrayed smarm and weasel-y behaviour as well as he did during that era, to the degree that it was actually weird to watch his 60’s ‘romantic leading man’ roles and think it was the same actor (Kenneth Tsang equalled him in the same way). ADVENTURERS is also notable in my opinion for its two uncommonly strong female leads for Rosamund Kwan and Wu Chien-lien. And the jets n’ choppers ‘n ‘splosions finale is off the charts. I’m relieved to see one of the boutiques has finally picked it up. I’ve been so tempted by the barebones HK Blu-ray over the years but couldn’t abide the faux 6.1 and 7.1 soundtracks, and I preferred to hold out faint hope that a western company would recognize it. So glad I waited. 
Now I hope Eureka or one of the others would get their hands on ISLAND OF GREED, another kick-ass Andy Lau epic.
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Adam Tyner (02-20-25)
01-31-25 | 04:16 AM
#416
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Eureka trailers for the March editions. Their ADVENTURERS trailer smartly leaves out footage of the spectacular climax. Probably too late to say this, but if you don’t want that spoiled, don’t watch the original HK trailer I posted earlier
Also, I’m assuming the films in the Laurel & Hardy sets are the same as the Flicker Alley versions, but the extras appear to be different. The UK sets are cheaper, too.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/laur...nt-years-1928/
https://flickeralley.com/products/laurel-hardy-year-two
Also, I’m assuming the films in the Laurel & Hardy sets are the same as the Flicker Alley versions, but the extras appear to be different. The UK sets are cheaper, too.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/laur...nt-years-1928/
https://flickeralley.com/products/laurel-hardy-year-two
02-08-25 | 07:05 PM
#417
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
I wish they'd drop the Asian "stuff" & go back to their former mainstays: German Expressionism & classic Hollywood.
02-08-25 | 09:07 PM
#418
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
“Stuff” presumably being a polite euphemism for films you don’t like but others here do? 
I think it’s reasonable to have an additional “mainstay”, and clearly the Hong Kong films have a sizeable audience or they wouldn’t keep diving into that catalog. In looking through their past ‘classic’ editions just now (many of which are long discontinued) is see a lot of titles that have been released in North America by Shout, Kino, VS and other boutiques, some of which are still available. Perhaps there’s just fewer true ‘classics’ left to re-re-rerelease at this point, in terms of profits versus investment? Even some of the ‘old Hollywood’ stuff that Kino dredges up now is pretty fringe-y sometimes. I’m certainly glad they do it, but I wonder if they’ll run out of worthy titles at some point.
Also, the Masters Of Cinema line – which I think is where a fair amount of the oldies often end up – is still a going concern, and not particularly stocked with Asian movies.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/masters-of-cinema/#page-1
I think it’s reasonable to have an additional “mainstay”, and clearly the Hong Kong films have a sizeable audience or they wouldn’t keep diving into that catalog. In looking through their past ‘classic’ editions just now (many of which are long discontinued) is see a lot of titles that have been released in North America by Shout, Kino, VS and other boutiques, some of which are still available. Perhaps there’s just fewer true ‘classics’ left to re-re-rerelease at this point, in terms of profits versus investment? Even some of the ‘old Hollywood’ stuff that Kino dredges up now is pretty fringe-y sometimes. I’m certainly glad they do it, but I wonder if they’ll run out of worthy titles at some point.
Also, the Masters Of Cinema line – which I think is where a fair amount of the oldies often end up – is still a going concern, and not particularly stocked with Asian movies.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/masters-of-cinema/#page-1
Last edited by Brian T; 02-08-25 at 09:14 PM.
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Adam Tyner (02-08-25)
02-20-25 | 03:18 PM
#419
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Got an email with the May releases today.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/
The KRIMI set is region A+B, the others are B only.
Really stoked to see more of the DEFA sci-fi movies getting released. I figured that catalog was being raided after Deaf Crocodile recently announced their deluxe set of two of them (both in this Eureka box). These are rarely the most exciting sci-fi pictures as they tend to be more cerebral with strong production design, so it’s nice to see them bundled like this, rather than trickled out to us over who knows how long. Same goes for the KRIMI films - just get ‘em out there at this point.
Also of note: the DEFA set doesn’t include SILENT STAR’s Americanized version, FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS, which would’ve been cool for comparison, even in PD condition. I suppose the German rights-holders might not go for that as it is an inferior cut-down.
I’ve had the Deaf Crocodile set in my cart there since it was announced, but this set seems to beat it hands down in terms of archival supplements and simply including all four films. Don’t know much about the commentary guy on the Eureka set, so I suspect the tracks on the Crocodile box might be preferable (comic artist Stephen R. Bissette and DEFA’s Mariana Ivanova) but who knows.
Not sure why BELLS OF DEATH had to be region coded when so many recent HK movies from Eureka have been A/B. Presumably it must be coming from Shout or Arrow or whomever.
https://eurekavideo.co.uk/
The KRIMI set is region A+B, the others are B only.
Really stoked to see more of the DEFA sci-fi movies getting released. I figured that catalog was being raided after Deaf Crocodile recently announced their deluxe set of two of them (both in this Eureka box). These are rarely the most exciting sci-fi pictures as they tend to be more cerebral with strong production design, so it’s nice to see them bundled like this, rather than trickled out to us over who knows how long. Same goes for the KRIMI films - just get ‘em out there at this point.
Also of note: the DEFA set doesn’t include SILENT STAR’s Americanized version, FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS, which would’ve been cool for comparison, even in PD condition. I suppose the German rights-holders might not go for that as it is an inferior cut-down.
I’ve had the Deaf Crocodile set in my cart there since it was announced, but this set seems to beat it hands down in terms of archival supplements and simply including all four films. Don’t know much about the commentary guy on the Eureka set, so I suspect the tracks on the Crocodile box might be preferable (comic artist Stephen R. Bissette and DEFA’s Mariana Ivanova) but who knows.
Not sure why BELLS OF DEATH had to be region coded when so many recent HK movies from Eureka have been A/B. Presumably it must be coming from Shout or Arrow or whomever.
Last edited by Brian T; 02-20-25 at 03:58 PM.
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Adam Tyner (02-20-25)
02-21-25 | 12:02 AM
#421
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
So it is! The very first one, no less. Starting to lose track at this point. Eureka’s has two commentaries versus Shout’s one, plus an interview that film prof they sometimes use, so I can probably stick with the Shout version. I do wish Eureka would use original poster art more often but they’re so inconsistent in that regard. The slipcover art for BELLS looks like and original poster, but it’s a modern re-do that’s close enough they might as well have used the original, which is a pretty decent painting.
Eureka’s has two commentaries versus Shout’s one, plus an interview that film prof they sometimes use, so I can probably stick with the Shout version. I do wish Eureka would use original poster art more often but they’re so inconsistent in that regard. The slipcover art for BELLS looks like and original poster, but it’s a modern re-do that’s close enough they might as well have used the original, which is a pretty decent painting.Spoiler:
Last edited by Brian T; 02-21-25 at 12:12 AM.
03-27-25 | 12:26 PM
#422
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
June releases are up. Two that MooMoo won’t buy, one that he might?
Either way, it’s nice to see Eureka delving deeper into the East German DEFA library. The fact that it’s UK means we’ll likely see a (pricier?) version over here from Deaf Crocodile, but based on the duelling treatments of the sci-fi movies, this one probably has the better supplements.
Older trailer for the German Blu-ray, without Eureka’s odd background music:
Either way, it’s nice to see Eureka delving deeper into the East German DEFA library. The fact that it’s UK means we’ll likely see a (pricier?) version over here from Deaf Crocodile, but based on the duelling treatments of the sci-fi movies, this one probably has the better supplements.
HEART OF STONE (Blu-ray)
Germany, 1950
Director: Paul Verhoeven
In 1950, DEFA – the state-owned film studio of East Germany or the GDR – embarked on what would prove to be a long tradition of producing films based on folktales by the likes of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. German author Wilhelm Hauff provided the source for the studio’s first folktale: The Cold Heart, which became Das kalte Herz or HEART OF STONE. The first East German production to be shot in colour, it remained one of the most successful films the GDR ever produced until DEFA’s dissolution in 1992.
Peter Munk (Lutz Moik) lives in the Black Forest with his mother (Lotte Loebinger) and makes a modest living selling charcoal in the nearest town. He is deeply in love with the beautiful Lisbeth (Hanna Rucker) and equally as jealous of the arrogant Ezechiel (Paul Esser), a wealthy merchant who frequents the local tavern. Desperate to improve his social standing, Peter appeals to a mischievous forest spirit – the Glass Imp (Paul Bildt) – for help. The Imp grants Peter two wishes, but only with strict conditions attached that leave him wanting more. He then turns to the infamous Dutch Michael (Erwin Geschonneck), a reclusive warlock who can give Peter anything his heart desires – but only if he’s willing to exchange his heart for one made of stone.
By turns whimsical, weird and darkly macabre, Heart of Stone is an arrestingly beautiful work of fantasy that established a template for DEFA’s future folktales – including a penchant for scenes likely to induce nightmares in children – and was swiftly followed by the likes of The Devil from Mill Mountain, The Singing Ringing Tree and Rumpelstiltskin. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present Heart of Stone on Blu-rayfor the first time in the UK from an astonishing 2K restoration by the DEFA Foundation.
Germany, 1950
Director: Paul Verhoeven
In 1950, DEFA – the state-owned film studio of East Germany or the GDR – embarked on what would prove to be a long tradition of producing films based on folktales by the likes of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. German author Wilhelm Hauff provided the source for the studio’s first folktale: The Cold Heart, which became Das kalte Herz or HEART OF STONE. The first East German production to be shot in colour, it remained one of the most successful films the GDR ever produced until DEFA’s dissolution in 1992.
Peter Munk (Lutz Moik) lives in the Black Forest with his mother (Lotte Loebinger) and makes a modest living selling charcoal in the nearest town. He is deeply in love with the beautiful Lisbeth (Hanna Rucker) and equally as jealous of the arrogant Ezechiel (Paul Esser), a wealthy merchant who frequents the local tavern. Desperate to improve his social standing, Peter appeals to a mischievous forest spirit – the Glass Imp (Paul Bildt) – for help. The Imp grants Peter two wishes, but only with strict conditions attached that leave him wanting more. He then turns to the infamous Dutch Michael (Erwin Geschonneck), a reclusive warlock who can give Peter anything his heart desires – but only if he’s willing to exchange his heart for one made of stone.
By turns whimsical, weird and darkly macabre, Heart of Stone is an arrestingly beautiful work of fantasy that established a template for DEFA’s future folktales – including a penchant for scenes likely to induce nightmares in children – and was swiftly followed by the likes of The Devil from Mill Mountain, The Singing Ringing Tree and Rumpelstiltskin. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present Heart of Stone on Blu-rayfor the first time in the UK from an astonishing 2K restoration by the DEFA Foundation.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited Edition [2000 copies]
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Carly-AF [2000 copies]
- Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on Heart of Stone by Qinna Shen, author of The Politics of Magic: DEFA Fairy-Tale Films [2000 copies]
- Heart of Stone presented in 1080p HD from a 2K restoration of the original 35mm camera negative by the DEFA Foundation
- Optional English subtitles on the main feature and accompanying shorts, newly revised for this release
- New audio commentary by DEFA historian Seán Allan, author of Screening Art: Modernist Aesthetics and the Socialist Imaginary in East German Cinema
- Once Upon a Time in the East – new interview with Soviet cinema expert Claire Knight on Heart of Stone and children’s media in the Eastern Bloc
- Tales from the Black Forest – new video essay on Heart of Stone, folktales and gothic horror by film and literature scholar Mary Going
- The Bremen Town Musicians (Bruno J. Böttge, 1954) – silhouette folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
- The Magic Ring ( Bruno J. Böttge, 1957) – silhouette folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
- Thumbelina's Adventures (Christl Wiemer, 1958) – animated folktale short produced by the DEFA Studio for Animation Film
- Original theatrical trailer
Older trailer for the German Blu-ray, without Eureka’s odd background music:
Last edited by Brian T; 03-27-25 at 01:17 PM.
04-24-25 | 01:54 PM
#423
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
July releases. Looks like they’re digging a little deeper into the East German DEFA library. Curious to see an “American” western told from a communist propaganda point of view.
Last edited by Brian T; 04-24-25 at 01:59 PM.
04-30-25 | 12:36 PM
#425
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Greenville, South Cackalack
Re: The Official Eureka / Masters of Cinema Thread
Eureka Entertainment is proud to announce the release of EXACT REVENGE (THE EUNUCH and THE DEADLY KNIVES), two of Shaw Brothers Studio’s most compelling and underrated revenge tales, presented on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world. Available as part of the Eureka Classics range on June 17, 2025 in North America. Presented in a Limited edition of 2000 copies exclusively featuring an O-card slipcase and collector’s booklet.
Revenge is and has always been one of the most popular and prolific themes in Hong Kong cinema, from classic wuxia epics to kung fu movies and heroic bloodshed films. During the 1970s, Shaw Brothers Studio was the largest production company operating in Hong Kong and the king of the vengeance tale. Presented here are two of the studio’s most interesting and underrated takes on the revenge story: THE EUNUCH (鬼太監, Guǐ Tài Jiān, 1971) and THE DEADLY KNIVES (落葉飛刀 , Luòyè Fēi Dāo, aka FISTS OF VENGEANCE, 1972).
A wuxia pian written by the legendary Lo Wei (FIST OF FURY) and directed by Teddy Yip (THE BLACK TAVERN), THE EUNUCH begins as the eponymous eunuch Gui De-hai (Pai Ying, THE VALIANT ONES) survives an attempt on his life ordered by the Emperor (Lo Wei himself). After killing the Emperor and his family in cold blood, Gui notices that the Prince is missing – and sets out to complete his revenge mission.
Then, Ching Li (FOUR RIDERS) and Ling Yun (KILLER CLANS) star in the kung fu film THE DEADLY KNIVES as young lovers Guan Yue-hua and Yan Zi-fei, whose relationship is tested when Yan’s family comes under threat by Japanese thugs led by Ogawa (Ching Miao, THE SHADOW BOXER). He becomes determined to avenge their honor – even if that means taking on Guan’s corrupt father.
THE EUNUCH and THE DEADLY KNIVES were made just as the wuxia film was giving way to the kung fu movie in the wake of Bruce Lee’s international success and provide a fascinating insight into how the theme of revenge was retooled as one genre superseded another. Eureka Classics presents both films on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.
Running Time: 184 Minutes
Number of Discs: 1
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
US
Region Code: 0
SKU: EKV70586
UPC: 760137182337
Sreet Date: 06/17/25
List Price: $39.95
UK
Region Code: B
SKU: EKA70586
UK Rating: TBC
Street Date: 06/16/25
RRP: £19.99
SPECIAL FEATURES
• Limited edition of 2000 copies
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
• Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on both films in this set by writer and film critic James Oliver and Jonathan Clements
• 1080p HD presentations of both films
• Original Mandarin audio tracks
• Optional English dub for THE DEADLY KNIVES
• Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
• New audio commentary on THE EUNUCH by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• New audio commentary on THE DEADLY KNIVES by Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
* All extras subject to change
Revenge is and has always been one of the most popular and prolific themes in Hong Kong cinema, from classic wuxia epics to kung fu movies and heroic bloodshed films. During the 1970s, Shaw Brothers Studio was the largest production company operating in Hong Kong and the king of the vengeance tale. Presented here are two of the studio’s most interesting and underrated takes on the revenge story: THE EUNUCH (鬼太監, Guǐ Tài Jiān, 1971) and THE DEADLY KNIVES (落葉飛刀 , Luòyè Fēi Dāo, aka FISTS OF VENGEANCE, 1972).
A wuxia pian written by the legendary Lo Wei (FIST OF FURY) and directed by Teddy Yip (THE BLACK TAVERN), THE EUNUCH begins as the eponymous eunuch Gui De-hai (Pai Ying, THE VALIANT ONES) survives an attempt on his life ordered by the Emperor (Lo Wei himself). After killing the Emperor and his family in cold blood, Gui notices that the Prince is missing – and sets out to complete his revenge mission.
Then, Ching Li (FOUR RIDERS) and Ling Yun (KILLER CLANS) star in the kung fu film THE DEADLY KNIVES as young lovers Guan Yue-hua and Yan Zi-fei, whose relationship is tested when Yan’s family comes under threat by Japanese thugs led by Ogawa (Ching Miao, THE SHADOW BOXER). He becomes determined to avenge their honor – even if that means taking on Guan’s corrupt father.
THE EUNUCH and THE DEADLY KNIVES were made just as the wuxia film was giving way to the kung fu movie in the wake of Bruce Lee’s international success and provide a fascinating insight into how the theme of revenge was retooled as one genre superseded another. Eureka Classics presents both films on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.
Running Time: 184 Minutes
Number of Discs: 1
Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
US
Region Code: 0
SKU: EKV70586
UPC: 760137182337
Sreet Date: 06/17/25
List Price: $39.95
UK
Region Code: B
SKU: EKA70586
UK Rating: TBC
Street Date: 06/16/25
RRP: £19.99
SPECIAL FEATURES
• Limited edition of 2000 copies
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
• Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on both films in this set by writer and film critic James Oliver and Jonathan Clements
• 1080p HD presentations of both films
• Original Mandarin audio tracks
• Optional English dub for THE DEADLY KNIVES
• Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
• New audio commentary on THE EUNUCH by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• New audio commentary on THE DEADLY KNIVES by Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
* All extras subject to change