Eureka Video 4K UHD Blu-ray Synopsis: The Valiant Ones is perhaps the last true wuxia film directed by celebrated Taiwanese filmmaker King Hu, an undisputed master of the genre. Shot back-to-back with The Fate Of Lee Khan (but not released until two years later), it stands as a worthy follow-up to his earlier works Come Drink With Me, Dragon Inn and A Touch of Zen. During the reign of the Jaijing Emperor (Chao Lei), China's coastal regions have come under attack by wokou – Japanese pirates under the leadership of the infamous Hakatatsu (Sammo Hung). To combat this threat, the Emperor tasks a trusted general, Zhu Wan (Tu Kuang-chi),with assembling a group of skilled warriors to find and eliminate the pirates. Under the command of General Yu Dayou (Roy Chiao), the band of soldiers – including husband-and-wife sword-fighters Wu Ji-yuan (Wing Bai) and Wu Ruo-shi (Feng Hsu) – set out to draw Hakatatsu, his ally Xu Dong (Han Ying-chieh) and their pirate clan into a series of spectacular showdowns. Inspired by historical events and featuring several storied figures drawn from Chinese history, The Valiant Ones is a standout wuxia film produced during the dying days of the genre, as audience tastes were shifting towards more grounded kung fu cinema. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from a 4K restoration. (107 Mins)

 

Cargo Movies German Blu-ray Synopsis: The great masterpiece of the unforgettable KING HU (Rain in the Mountains, The Last Fight of Lee Khan) with “SAMMO HUNG (The Little Fat One with the Super Punch), SIMON “Drunken Master” YUEN (They Called Him Bone Crusher), MARS (Tokyo Powerman), YUEN BIAO (Powerman 2), COREY YUEN (Tiger Cage), BILLY CHAN (Greetings from Shanghai) and as a stuntman: superstar JACKIE CHAN (Rumble In The Bronx). Empire of China during the Ming Dynasty. So-called wokou, Japanese pirate and sea robber gangs, are making China's coastal region unsafe. Wherever the gangs appear, they bring death and destruction into the country. Cruel raids leave the residents paralyzed with fear. The robbers are accompanied by a renegade Shaolin monk. The Emperor sends his most devoted general, with a band of death-defying and outstanding fighters, to go into battle against the gang of murders. There is a bitter duel between the hero leader Wu Jiyuan and the Japanese pirate commander. (107 Mins)

 

Views: Seen as the swan song to the wuxia genre of revered Taiwanese film-maker King Hu and obscure for over twenty years, The Valiant Ones is an exciting martial adventures based on real historical events that plays as a great companion piece to Jimmy Wang Yu's fantastic Beach Of The War Gods, which also focuses on Japanese pirates in China. The intro of The Valiant Ones explains how the number of pirates sailing the South China Sea by the 16th Century had multiplied so much, that governments had lost any real control of the regions they had seized. These gangs had been formed many decades before when teams of Japanese ronin and bandits joined forces to wreak havoc across land and sea, with many of them arriving on Chinese shores over the years and finding protection with traitorous Chinese officials. As the chief of a Southern clan attempts to reach the capital, plans are put in action for him to be escorted by a team of highly skilled fighters who must safely guide him through the pirate-infested region. It really doesn't get any more complicated than that, with The Valiant Ones focusing on plot points that help bring the main characters closer to their goals!

 

While most of King Hu's other works have been released and re-released over the years, The Valiant Ones has always proven a little bit harder to find. Shot back to back with The Fate Of Lee Khan, using most of the same cast and crew on both, the film eventually got its release in 1975 – two years after the aforementioned production for Golden Harvest. While it didn't exactly break any records at the box-office, The Valiant Ones was praised by fans of the genre and, almost 50 years later, has finally received the love it deserves with a new 4K restoration from Eureka Video that really delivers what Hu wanted his viewers to see...

 

Popping up at the height of his popularity after the success of films like Come Drink With Me, Dragon Inn, A Touch Of Zen, and the aforementioned Fate Of Lee Khan, The Valiant Ones can be recognised for having such a great cast on board with many future Hong Kong stars playing bit-parts as pirates such as Yuen Wah, Corey Yuen Kwai, Mars, Yuen Bun, Stephen Tung Wai, Yuen Biao, Billy Chan, Peter Chan, and even Jackie Chan. As legend has it, Chan was in need of the work and was given the chance to play many roles throughout – but only if he kept his face hidden from the camera. Interestingly enough, Jackie's old master of drunken boxing himself and father of the infamous Yuen Clan, Simon Yuen Siu Tin, appears later in the film as a pirate archer who has defected from Shaolin which was great to see. The legendary Sammo Hung proves to be a scene stealer as the white-faced Japanese pirate Hakatatsu, and doubles-up his duties as the action-choreographer of the piece. The wonderful Roy Chiao stars as General Yu, returning to work with King Hu one more time along with his team of warriors who include the beautiful Hsu Feng and great Pai Ying, as the husband and wife duo sent out to protect the travelling chief. Hsu clearly enjoyed her time with King Hu and no doubt appreciated his gamble on her when she debuted in the director's classic, Dragon Inn. From there, she returned for the stunningly filmed A Touch Of Zen and again for both this and The Fate Of Lee Khan. Of course, Hsu Feng starred in a host of kung fu films over the years due to her success courtesy of King Hu projects, in films such as The Invincible Sword, Duel At Forest, 18 Shaolin Disciples, Dragon Gate (which was penned by King Hu), The Face Behind The Mask, To Kill With Intrigue, and many more including other King Hu titles. The great Pai Ying, who debuted alongside Feng in Dragon Inn, pretty much followed the same path returning to join her in further King Hu adventures as well as starring in a host of other kung fu classics. From Angela Mao Ying's classic The Angry River to Hapkido, and A Fistful Of Talons to Royal Warriors, Pai Ying fast became a recognisable face of kung fu cinema and went on to star in over 100 titles through to 2001. Popular bad guy Han Ying Chieh who starred in The Eagles Claw, The Big Boss, Fist Of Fury, A Man Called Tiger, New Fist Of Fury, and many more – also co-stars, along with other veteran names of the kung fu world such as the brilliant Lee Man Tai, Lau Kong, Yuen Ting, Yeung Wai (Bruce Kong), and Hao Li Jen – many of whom had worked with King Hu prior to this.

 

Delivering stunning shots of local scenery and becoming a part of the furious fight scenes, the film is beautifully captured by Chris Chen Ching Chu – a cinematographer who has lensed many classics including Bruce Lee's The Big Boss and Fist Of Fury, Jimmy Wang Yu's A Man Called Tiger, A Queen's Ransom, and The Killer Meteors, as well as Back Alley Princess, Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu, and once again with Jackie Chan for Dragon Lord. Respectively, Sammo Hung returns to choreograph for King Hu continuing with their partnership from The Fate Of Lee Khan. Of course, the legend already had 5 years experience working as a martial arts director for over 20 titles including early Golden Harvest productions such as The Invincible Eight, The Angry River, Bandits From Shantung, Lady Whirlwind, When Taekwondo Strikes, and The Skyhawk for example. In The Valiant Ones, Sammo provides a wide range of exciting fight scenes that utilise the skills of his Peking Opera School brothers, most of who play accompanying pirates, with fast and furious swordplay that keeps the viewers glued to the screen and doesn't disappoint. The closing battle alone featuring Hung himself, is still considered to be one of the finest and most impactful sword fights of its time. While The Valiant Ones may come across as somewhat of a different King Hu film to those more often associated with his name, it still proves to be a genuine classic and one that's well worth seeing!

 

Overall: Beautifully made with exhilarating wuxia action, The Valiant Ones is a fantastic King Hu classic that deserves to be seen!

 

Eureka Video 4K UHD Blu-ray Extras: 4K Restoration, Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng, Tony Rayns on The Valiant Ones, Video Essay by David Cairns, Interviews with Billy Chan, Ng Ming-choi, Hsu Feng and Roger Garcia

 

Cargo Movies German Blu-ray Extras: TV Intro, Japanese Teaser, Gallery

​

Get your copy HERE

​

Watch my unboxing video of the Eureka Video 4K release HERE

​

Watch my unboxing video of the Cargo Movies Blu-ray release HERE

​

Watch my video retrospective HERE