Sammo Hung’s double love letter to Wing Chun Kung Fu, features in the latest release from Eureka. The films and accompanying extras are a must-have for fans of the genre, however, if you already own the Hong Kong Legends versions, there is little extra to enjoy here.
Both films are 2K restorations and feature the real-life character of Leung Jan – Warriors Two (1978), features an older version of the character, who agrees to teach the fantastically named Casanova Wong (a Korean super-kicker) the art of Wing Chun, which he must utilise, with the help of his fellow student Fei Chun (the loveable Sammo), to defeat an evil crime boss who has taken over the town. The choreography and stunt work emanating from this troupe of actors is some of the finest of the genre. The Prodigal Son (1981) is a starring vehicle for Sammo’s regular stunt man and opera alumni Yuen Biao. Yuen plays a younger version of the character, pampered by his family, who pay opponents to lose to him. When an opera performer and Wing Chun master, played by the great Lam Ching-ying, won’t take the bait, Leung Jan tries to become his student, as they clash with a Kung Fu master with royal connections (Frankie Chan). Sammo directs but only features in an extended cameo, but the brutal choreography, splashes of humour and opera setting are permeated with his DNA.
Warriors Two features two commentaries – the Cantonese original version has Frank Djeng and actor Bobby Samuels, while the English dub has Mike Leeder and Arne Venema. The latter talks less about the scenes in the film but displays a fantastic knowledge of Hong Kong cinema and its weird and wacky components. It also has a making-of feature, which is the same as the Hong Kong Legends version. The Prodigal Son has the same characters on commentary and features archival interviews from Sammo, Yuen and Wing Chun advisor – Guy Lai. Yuen Biao’s interview is especially interesting as he details how they went to study martial arts in Korea. Again, many of these interviews have previously been used on other releases. Finally, the disc contains a fun feature with Wing Chun teacher Alex Richter, in which he discusses the art and gives some demonstrations. A solid release, but if you already own these films there’s no major reason to upgrade, but if you don’t, buy this package immediately!
Warriors Two and The Prodigal Son: Two Films By Sammo Hung is available on Blu-ray from Eureka now.
