Eureka! has announced its December 2023 line-up. Featured amongst this line-up is The Fall of Ako Castle, a retelling of the classic story of the 47 ronin from the director of Battle Royale; Casino Raiders, one of the most unique thrillers from the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema; plus a re-issue of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of The Police Story Trilogy.
THE FALL OF AKO CASTLE [AKŌ-JŌ DANZETSU] (1978) | Blu-ray | 4 December 2023 | £17.99
Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) brings together an ensemble cast, including two icons of Japanese cinema — Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai) and Sonny Chiba (The Street Fighter) — for this samurai epic, a retelling of the classic story of the 47 ronin.
When an injustice costs his master his life and estate, loyal retainer Ōishi (Kinnosuke Yorozuya, Bushido) vows revenge. Because the target of his vengeance is protected by the ruling shogunate, any retaliation would be seen as an act of treason. Ōishi assembles the remaining ranks of the now-masterless samurai and the 47 of them pledge a blood oath to avenge their slain lord. Tensions rise among the ranks of the ronin eager to launch the mission, as Ōishi bides his time awaiting the right time to strike. Enemy spies and assassins track Ōishi, who has seemingly fallen into vice: Has he lost his sense of honour, or is it just a part of his plan?
The Fall of Ako Castle offers a moving tale of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice where classical history explodes into brutal samurai carnage. The Masters of Cinema Series presents Fukasaku’s retelling of one of Japan’s most resonant events.
BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon [2000 copies]
- Presented in 1080p HD from a restoration of the original film elements by Toei
- Uncompressed original Japanese Mono audio
- Optional English subtitles
- New audio commentary by critic Tom Mes
- New interview with asian film expert Tony Rayns
- New video essay by author and critic Jasper Sharp
- Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
- A collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jonathan Clements
All Extras Subject to change
CASINO RAIDERS [ZHI ZUN WU SHANG] (1989) | Blu-ray | 4 December 2023 | £17.99
An early entry in the Hong Kong gambling film cycle of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Casino Raiders injects the genre with a dose of bloody mayhem courtesy of directors Jimmy Heung and Wong Jing.
Con-artist / gambler Crab (Andy Lau) gets out of prison and joins his childhood friend and partner Sam (Alan Tam) to work for a casino magnate to expose a group of Japanese card-players who have cheated their way to a fortune. The pair find themselves in the cross-hairs of the Yakuza, leading to a series of escalating acts of violence that test the bonds of loyalty to their limit. When their luck runs out, they make one final gamble: a game of poker with the highest of stakes.
Filled with surprises right to its final moments, Eureka Classics presents Casino Raiders, a shockingly violent tale of brotherhood and sacrifice and one of the most unique thrillers from the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema.
BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) [2000 copies]
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements
- Original Cantonese audio track
- Optional English subtitles
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- New documentary looking at gambling culture in Hong Kong, and the popularity of the film genre that Casino Raiders helped to popularise
- A Limited Edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver [2000 copies]
All Extras Subject to change
POLICE STORY TRILOGY (Standard Edition re-issue) | 4K UHD | 4 December 2023 | £31.99
Featuring some of the most dangerous stunts ever performed on camera, these three films represent the pinnacle of Jackie Chan’s unique style of Hong Kong action filmmaking. A dazzling blend of gritty action cop drama, impeccably choreographed martial-arts sequences, and bone-crunching stuntwork – this series of films revitalised the Hong Kong action genre and established Jackie Chan as a worldwide superstar.
Police Story (dir. Jackie Chan, 1985)
Considered by Jackie Chan himself to be his best film in terms of pure action, Police Story stars Chan as "super cop" Chan Ka-Kui, who goes up against a notorious crime lord in a series of escalating set-pieces that resulted in many of Jackie's stunt team being hospitalised.
Police Story 2 (dir. Jackie Chan, 1988)
Demoted to traffic cop after the events of the first film, Chan Ka-Kui is reinstated to the detective unit when a deadly gang of explosive experts blow up a building and threaten to blow up more if their demands are not met. Featuring yet more bravura stunt work, and even more injuries to its cast and crew, Police Story 2 is to this day considered one of the best action films ever made.
Police Story 3: Supercop (dir. Stanley Tong, 1992)
Action superstar Michelle Yeoh joins the series as Inspector Yang Chien-Hua, who teams up with Chan Ka-Kui to take down an international drug ring. With some of the most outrageous stunt sequences ever committed to film, Police Story 3: Supercop is an action masterpiece that must truly be seen to be believed.All three films consistently appear on lists of the best action films ever made.
4K UHD FEATURES:
- New sleeve artwork by Tony Stella
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations of all three films across 3 Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
DISC ONE: POLICE STORY (1985) 4K (2160p)
- UHD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut [100 mins]
- 1080p HD presentation of the alternate Police Force export cut of the film [88 mins]
- Hong Kong Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as optional restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Classic English dub (original mono)
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- Police Force Version – Option of either the classic English dub track or a rare alternate audio track featuring the original Cantonese audio mixed with the Kevin Bassinson score
- Newly revised English subtitles
- Archival interview with Jackie Chan [19 mins]
- Alternate and Deleted Scenes
- Archival Jackie Chan Stunts promo
- Trailers, including the films' original theatrical and export trailers
DISC TWO – POLICE STORY 2 (1988) 4K (2160p)
- UHD presentation of the Extended cut of the film [121 mins]
- 1080p HD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical version [105 mins]
- 1080p HD presentation of the alternate export version [95 mins]
- Extended Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as optional restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA
- Extended Version – English dub presented in restored 5.1 DTS-HD MA
- Extended Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto
- Extended Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Original Cantonese mono audio
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Archival audio commentary with Miles Wood and Jude Poyer
- Export Version – Classic English dub track
- Newly revised English subtitles
- Jackie Chan episode of Son of the Incredibly Strange Film Show [41 mins] – documentary on Jackie Chan's early career from cult film documentary series, presented by Jonathan Ross
- Archival interview with actor and stuntman Benny Lai [15 mins]
- Outtakes
- Trailers, including the films' original theatrical and export trailers
DISC THREE – POLICE STOR Y 3: SUPERCOP (1992) 4K (2160p)
- UHD presentation of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut [96 mins] from a brand new restoration of the original film elements
- 1080p HD presentation of the alternate US version [91 mins]
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Original Cantonese mono audio, as well as an optional alternate Cantonese audio track featuring original, unaltered, sound effects
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new Cantonese Dolby Atmos Surround Sound Audio
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Classic English dub track
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto
- Hong Kong Theatrical Version – Brand new audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
- US Version – "American English" dub track, including Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh voicing their own characters
- US Version – Original Cantonese audio | Newly translated English subtitles
- Brand new interview with Stunt Coordinator and Action Film Historian John Kreng
- New featurette on rarely seen Jackie Chan video games, Kung Fu Master & Fists of Fire by Arne Venema
- New featurette on the filming locations of the Police Story trilogy
- Archival interview with Jackie Chan (20 mins)
- Archival interview with Michelle Yeoh (23 mins)
- Archival interview with director Stanley Tong (20 mins)
- Archival interview with Jackie Chan's long-time bodyguard and co-star Ken Lo (21 mins)
- Outtakes (50 mins) – a huge selection of NG ("No Good") shots from the film
- Trailers
|
