One of the harder to find Bruce Li features surfaces at your local bargain bin for the mere price of $5. Run, do not walk, to your nearest Wal-Mart!
Picture quality
A slight buzz developed around this title when word popped up on message boards that the film was letterboxed. Well, it is. Unfortunately, it is at the 1:66:1 aspect ratio. Seeing as most Bruce Li films were shot 2.35:1, there is still a lot of information missing. The print quality isn't too bad. The colors are nice but there is some wear on the print.
Sound quality
The film is dubbed in English and presented in Mono 2.0. Not a bad dub job though.
The Film
Believe it or not, I had never seen this film until I got the DVD. I had been told it was a darker and edgier Bruce Li film and they (well, Keith that is) wasn't wrong. The plot is pretty simple (guys inadvertently steal gold and the mob comes after them) but it kept me entertained. There are two great fights in the film; one at the beginning and one at the end. The opening one has Bruce fighting one of his friends posing as a robber. If anyone doubts Li's martial arts skill, check this scene out. The final fight is between Bruce and Philip Ko inside a tiny apartment. Let's just say Bruce ain't getting his security deposit back.
Extras
Nothing in the way of extras on this disc.
Packaging
The cover of this one steals a photo of Li from THE CHINESE CONNECTION 2. In fact, it is the same pic used on the front of the Platinum disc for that film. There is a hilarious tagline next to the picture that says, "The knowledge of the ancient art will help discover the hidden secret." Oh, really? Could they be any more vague? I think that tagline came about after some sort of office pool at EVG Digital. To their credit though, they did bill Bruce Li in big letters over the title..
RATINGS
Film 8/10
Picture Quality 6/10
Sound Quality 6/10
Packaging 6/10
Overall Disc Score 7/10
Reviewed by William.