The Man From Hong Kong [Blu-ray]

Umbrella bluray.The Far East picks a fight Down Under in The Man From Hong Kong, a cult martial arts action extravaganza from Ozploitation legend Brian Trenchard-Smith (Dead End Drive-In, Turkey Shoot and BMX Bandits).When Hong Kong Inspector Fang Sing Leng (Jimmy Wang Yu,Master of the Flying Guillotine) travels to Sydney to interview drug kingpin Win Chan (martial arts star and director Sammo Hung) he is promptly thrust into an international investigation destined to test his mettle and might.Teaming up with Aussie Detectives Gross (Hugh Keays-Byrne, Mad Max, Fury Road) and Taylor (Roger Ward, Turkey Shoot), Fang soon discovers a cunning connection between Win Chan's drug imports and larger-than-life local gangster Jack Wilton (George Lazenby, of the underrated 007 film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service).Determined to get his man, Fang will stop at nothing – bringing all manner of mayhem to the streets in a full-on fist fighting spectacle of explosive proportions. The film, a blast from start to finish, was full of surprises: Hong Kong icon Sammo Hung co-starred in this. He's excellent, and while the film's ostensible lead, Jimmy Wang Yu, does a decent job in the lead, it's really the one and only George Lazenby (James Bond in On Her Majestry's Secret Service, Never Too Young To Die) who steals the show, here playing the villain, local gangster Jack Wilton. It's chock-full of very un-PC stereotypes, racial slurs and racial jokes. Plus a dusting of sexism. (the 70's were certainly a different time). I think one of the most hilarious WTF? elements has to be where Wilton (Lazenby) is actually the kung fu instructor at an Australian martial arts school, in which all of his students are actually Asian!The rest of the cast is filled with Ozploitation regulars, but it's Jimmy Wang Yu who really stands out. Not because he's great, but because he just doesn't come across as the leading action hero type and largely out of his element. I know that's the storyline, but one can't help but feel that real life mirrors art in this instance. He's small, and though he's clearly speaking English, he's been hilariously dubbed. He's also incredibly smug, uncharismatic (though he doesn't realize it) and highly arrogant. It's as if there's a Monty Python spoofs woven in the plot - great unintended laffs.One of the film's finest elements is it's amazing use of death-defying stuntwork. Even in some of the fight sequences I found myself flinching from time to time. The insanely long and brutal fight sequences are outstanding. But it's in the many chase sequences, some on foot and some with cars, that really blow your mind and make it as memorable as it is. The many uncomfortable racial slurs aside, the plethora of stuntwork, the killer 70's fashions and George Lazenby being so over the top as the main villain makes this one helluva fun ride and well worth seeking out. This is a classic by every definition. Audio commentary featuring Director Brian Trenchard-Smith, Hugh Keay-Byrne and Grant Page –  Trenchard-Smith, Keay-Byrne and legendary stuntman Page all divulge fascinating behind the scenes comments about the film. Honestly, Brian Trenchard-Smith is somebody who you could listen to for hours on end, he’s a man full of stories and gifted with the gab.The Making Of The Man From Hong Kong – if the commentary wasn’t enough, this archival "making of" helps fill in some of the gaps. Given the films release date, some of the footage here is a little bit aged, but it’s still informative and entertaining.Newsreel Footage – a fun, not entirely essential extra, but still nice to see it included here.Uncut Not Quite Hollywood interviews with cast members George Lazenby, Rebecca Gilling and Roger Ward, writer/director Brian Trenchard-Smith, executive producer David Hannay and second-unit cameraman John Seale – the short The Man From Hong Kong clip in Not Quite Hollywood is great as it is, but here we’re delivered a full one hour discussion with the relevant members of the film. It’s amazing that with the slew of special features here, there’s little repetition of details.Trailers From Hell – Brian Trenchard-Smith discusses The Man From Hong Kong/HD Theatrical Trailer/Alternative Trailer/Brian Trenchard-Smith’s ‘The Headsman’s Daughter’ book trailerExtras galore:Deathcheaters (feature) plus Audio Commentary featuring Brian Trenchard-Smith, Richard Brennan & Margaret Gerard; Stunt Rock (feature) plus Audio Commentary featuring Brian Trenchard-Smith, Grant Page & Margaret Gerard, Promo Reel & Theatrical Trailer; Kung Fu Killers (feature); Dangerfreaks (feature) plus Theatrical Trailer; The Stuntmen (feature)Yep, that’s right. On top of getting a polished version of a kick ass film, plus a commentary, plus a making of, plus interviews, also included in this release are five(!) other Brian Trenchard-Smith films – Deathcheaters, Stunt Rock, Kung Fu Killers, Dangerfreaks and The Stuntmen. To review every single film would require a massive long piece. (except to say Stunt Rock is amazing and jawdroppingly bizarre. Needless to say, if genre/Oz films are your thing, then you simply won’t be disappointed. Audio commentaries on Deathcheaters and Stunt Rock. These films haven’t had the lavish 4K restoration that The Man From Kong, there presented in HD.

The video is poor, the bluray maker should make a new film to video transfer. The bluray looks like viewing in analog tv broadcast. But the accompany sountrack cdworth the money I paid. So 4 stars

A classic Bond ripoff action movie starring Jimmy Wang Yu (a personal favorite) as the lead. Love the movie and the Blu-ray transfer is nice with a few bonus feature

Jimmy Wang Yu is no Bruce Lee but he does his best to keep the audience interested. George Lazemby, James Bond in OHMSS, plays a good bad guy and makes you realize how good he would have been in other James Bond outings; probably as good as Connery and certainly better than Moore, at least tougher and more convincing.

This "Man From Hong Kong" Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray is so packed with extras, it should be considered a "Box Set".You not only get the Australian/Chinese Kung Fu classic, "The Man From Hong Kong", but there are FIVE extra feature films & documentaries on here, as well as hours of interviews!The 1080p transfer of "The Man From Hong Kong" is very watchable, but don't expect perfection. The picture is soft, the sound isn't great and the age of the film shows throughout, but it's quite watchable.The added movies are in SD and the quality varies, but all are about standard DVD quality.I really enjoyed the "Kung Fu Killers" doc about the popularity of Chinese cinema in the 1970's. You even get footage of the classic Chuck Norris vs Bruce Lee battle from "The Way Of The Dragon"."Stunt Rock" is cheesy fun but I haven't watched "Deathcheaters" or "Dangerfreaks" yet.For under 30 bucks you get hours of entertainment (and some pretty amazing stunt work as well!)

Very enjoyable even it was shot in 1975. Good fighting stunts and good location in Australia. The picture quality is good and worth the price.

I see this movie mention in a NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY on martial arts movie got to see it & enjoyed it. I didn't know it came from AUSTRALIA I familiar with GOLDEN HARVEST studios they did the BRUCE LEE & JACKIE CHAN movies also I have ONE ARM SWORDMAN so I am familiar of JIMMY WANG YU

So much film history has occurred since I saw this film when first released. While it is nostalgia for me, it really does stand out as an action film. Brian Trenchard Smith is noted as being a favorite of Quentin Tarantino and I was surprised to learn that this film was his first major motion picture. His Vietnam war epic, The Siege of Firebase Gloria is the most underrated film made of the that conflict and this film might be one of the most underrated martial arts action films. Ahead of it's time in combining stunts and action. For me, the theme song Skyhigh by Jigsaw is synonymous with this film. Still, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is iffy.

A superb release from Umbrella Entertainment. the B-R plays in regions 1,2 and 3. Nice remastering from Roar Digital. The bonus features are well worth buying the disc for. Besides the remastered title feature, you get:* A commentary on Man From Hong Kong with Director Brian Trenchard-Smith and actors Hugh Keays-Bryne and Rebecca Gilling* A making of documentary,* Newsreel footage from the time,* Uncut interviews with several members of cast and crew, taken for Mark Hartley's Ozploition doc 'Not Quite Hollywood',* BTS discussing the film in 'Trailers From Hell' and the original trailer (in Hi-Def).Besides these extras for Man From Hong Kong, you also get two extra B.T.S.-directed features, 'Deathcheaters' and 'Stunt Rock', also both with commentaries including actress and Mrs BTS Margeret Gerard. Producer/2nd Unit Director Richard Brennan appears on 'Deathcheaters' commentary and stuntman legend Grant Page on 'Stunt Rock' Both of these features are in Standard Definition.You also get Kung Fu Killers, Dangerfreaks and The Stuntmen, all documentaries made by BTS around the same time as the main feature.

Unbelievably good blu ray package (region free so don't delay) featuring the film itself, lots of extras and 5 other Brian Trenchard Smith films from the 1970s, the most interesting being 'Kung Fu Killers', a documentary on Hong Kong film production in the early 1970s. Jimmy Wang Yu plays the titular character who comes to Australia to extradite an informant but ends up locking horns with local crime boss Wilton (George Lazenby in a knowing performance). The script was originally written with Bruce Lee in mind and it's quite easy to imagine him playing the role with tongue firmly in cheek. Jimmy Wang Yu takes things too seriously with his performance, but he has rarely been better as a screen fighter thanks to Sammo Hung's choreography playing to Wang Yu's strengths (jumping, agility, street fighting). Even if you have just a passign interest here, this is one not to be missed!

Hugely entertaining 70's Australian Kung Fu actioner. I saw this in 76, at my local flea pit. I thought it was better than Enter the Dragon, at the time. However time has been less kind to it than Bruce Lee's outing. Jimmy Wang yu, delivers the kicks & blows to various Aussie heavies, including George (007) Lazenby. All in all worth seeing again. Watch out for Hugh Keays Byrne, before his anarchic villains, Toe Cutter & Immortan Joe, of Fury road.

great, Nice service ,Blu-ray as well

It was a Hong Kong action movie in 1975.This blu-ray provides plenty of special features. It makes us understand more stories behind scenes.