Starring Jimmy Wang Yu (The One-Armed Swordsman) and directed by Lo Wei, the man behind the smash-hit Bruce Lee vehicles The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, A Man Called Tiger is a martial arts extravaganza released at the height of an international kung fu craze.

Chin Fu (Wang Yu) is a formidable martial artist who suspects his father’s apparent suicide was actually a cold-blooded murder. His desire for answers – and revenge – leads him to Japan, where he becomes entangled with the yakuza. With the aid of his fellow countryman Liu Han-ming (James Tien, Hand of Death) and a nightclub hostess (Maria Yi, Fist of Fury), Chin Fu sets out to infiltrate Tokyo’s underworld, expose a criminal conspiracy and uncover his father’s true fate by any means necessary.

Long rumored to have been planned as the third collaboration between Lo Wei and Bruce Lee before Lee made his directorial debut with The Way of the Dragon, A Man Called Tiger instead became a vehicle for another martial arts superstar in Jimmy Wang Yu. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time ever on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.

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Video Quality

A Man Called Tiger comes to Blu-Ray via Eureka Entertainment with a 1080p master in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio derived from a brand new 2K restoration of both the Theatrical Cut and the Re-Release Version. The transfer retains its organic roots without filtering or DNR disgracing the image. The natural grain resolves triumphantly with only a handful of odd moments when the grain field gets a bit loose. Some brief flashes of age linger, but the source has been restored with the necessary care.

This transfer is in great shape when it comes to wear and tear with the briefest intrusion of speckles. The presentation avoids most instances of compression artifacts, banding, and other digital anomalies. A few moments present as slightly soft which likely links back to the condition of the source elements. The transfer delights when it comes to color saturation in some of the production design, costumes, and lighting flourishes. Fine detail is exceptional as you notice distinct facets of the outfits and the environment without issue. Eureka keeps putting out fantastic releases.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with an LPCM mono track in the original Mandarin along with an English dub that holds up well in comparison, but we suggest sticking with the original language for artistic purity. There are signs of some source limitations, but there are no egregious instances of damage or audio dropouts. Dialogue can sound slightly boxy in some scenes, but it is typically clear and easy to understand. The music does a fine job of settling you into the mood of the narrative, and it comes through with first-rate fidelity. There is a necessary balance between the action-driven blowouts and the reserved, character-driven moments. The film packs a sonic punch when it needs to. Eureka has provided a favorable sonic experience for fans. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Uncut Theatrical Version (1:52:55) and Re-Release Version (1:19:59)

Audio Commentaries (Uncut Theatrical Version): Two commentary tracks from film historians are provided in which they discuss the place of this film in Hong Kong action cinema, the careers of the talent involved, this rarely seen version of the film, the cinematography of the film, the shooting locations, and more.

- Audio Commentary #1: Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth

- Audio Commentary #2: Action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema

Cutting Tiger, Hidden Subtitles: A unique seven-minute piece from Brandon Bentley that discusses how the film was trimmed down in various forms and recreates certain scenes using subtitle logs that were created by never used in a commercially released version.
Do You Know What Sadness Means? Music Video (2:39)
Because I Have Your Love Music Video (2:09)
Textless Opening: A two-minute version of the opening without text is provided.
Trailer: The three-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.
Booklet: This release provides a 19-page bound booklet featuring the essay “Big In Japan: Lo Wei and the Shadow of Bruce Lee in A Man Called Tiger” by film historian James Oliver.
Double-Sided Poster

Final Thoughts

A Man Called Tiger is an entertaining effort from Jimmy Wang Yu that makes the most of its modern setting with despicable antagonists and exciting set pieces. The introduction of the long-absent uncut theatrical version makes all the difference with over 30 minutes of vital material added back to the film to make it a more cohesive and transfixing worth of violent art. Eureka Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation, enjoyable supplements, and two cuts of the film. Fans of martial arts cinema should not miss this one. Recommended

A Man Called Tiger will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on August 27, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Eureka Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.