From the legendary Shaw Brothers Studio, here’s something a bit funnier than their usual fare: after an evil martial arts master (played by the very great Hwang Jang-li (Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow) kills their own teacher, Wong Yu (The Shadow Boxing) and Chiang Kam (The Young Master) realise that they’re next. But can the squabbling duo put their differences aside long enough to defeat him? With spirited slapstick, supernatural silliness and some jaw-dropping fights that really have to be seen to be believed, Kid From Kwangtung is gravity-defying treat from the glory days of Hong Kong cinema. 88 Films are proud to unleash this classic kung fu comedy on Blu-ray.
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Video Quality
Kid From Kwangtung receives its first domestic release on Blu-Ray via 88 Films with a new 1080p master in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio derived from an HD transfer of the Original Camera Negative. The transfer does not exhibit signs of heavy filtering or DNR which allows it to retain its properly organic appearance. The grain field holds together without major swings in quality outside of a few stray moments of spiking or the odd clumpy spot. This leads to impeccable fine detail including subtle facets of the craft elements that display such clarity.
This release plants itself assuredly in the mid to upper ranks of releases from 88 Films in terms of visual clarity and consistency. This transfer has done away with most wear and tear, and the film does not stumble with any digital nuisances such as compression artifacts. There is the occasional detour with a softer shot that could presumably be attributed to the quality of the source elements. The transfer delivers exceptional color saturation with beautiful hues in the clothing and production design. Shaw Brothers fans have another winner to scoop up.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray presents the film with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Cantonese with optional English subtitles. There is also an English dub provided in LPCM 2.0 mono. This film handles combat well with any scrapes receiving the appropriate presence in the mix. This track experiences some of the same deficiencies as other Shaw Brothers films from this era, but the overall quality remains pleasant. The soundscape has a somewhat thin quality to it, but it does not impede your enjoyment. The score maintains a respectable fidelity with no noteworthy instances of age-related wear and tear outside of some frail high notes. Dialogue comes through clearly with no nasty distortion or sibilance. 88 Films has made a good attempt to present this film in the best quality possible.
Special Features
- Trailer (1:13)
- Stills Gallery: A nearly three-minute collection of stills from the film.
- Four Postcards
Final Thoughts
Kid From Kwangtung is a fairly zany yet very action-packed outing from Shaw Brothers. There is so much blending of genres occurring that it can be hard to predict which direction it might be going next, and that is part of the appeal. The humor may not always land, but sequences that do hit are a rousing success. It does not stand out as an essential piece of the Shaw Brothers pantheon, but devotees of the company will have a great time. 88 Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a favorable A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended
Kid From Kwangtung is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: 88 Films 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
