Among the boldest accomplishments of Hong Kong cinema’s golden age, this uniquely visceral martial-arts movie puts a gritty new spin on the story of the one-armed swordsman, an iconic figure from the moment he was introduced by the Shaw Brothers studio in 1967. Composed in a whirlwind of immersive close-ups and fractured editing, The Blade follows the young sword-maker Ding On (Vincent Zhao), who, after losing an arm in an ambush, transforms himself into a furious avenger. With its intentionally disorienting stylization and starkly brutal tone, The Blade was a rare commercial disappointment for Tsui Hark, but it has since been reclaimed as one of the director’s most radical visions—a tour de force of action expressionism, and a scathing reappraisal of the wuxia genre’s code of masculinity, that achieves a feverish intensity.

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Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents The Blade with an exquisite 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer in its original 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film is also debuting on Blu-Ray in North America using the same new master, which can be acquired in this package or individually. We always love it when a title leaps straight to 4K UHD from DVD, as you will certainly be blown away by the jump in quality. This presentation is a faithful rendering of the footage that preserves the ideal amount of natural film grain. Everything resolves impeccably, spotlighting invaluable detail from the background. The textures of the costumes and production design are out of this world. There is no trace of grain reduction or digital manipulation, and any expected print damage has been eradicated.

The new Dolby Vision transfer displays the distinct look of the film as captured by director Tsui Hark and his cinematographers. One of the vital benefits of this 4K UHD experience is how the film fine-tunes its contrast. The many instances of darkness and shadow retain their depth and do not succumb to crush or noise. Highlights are translated with equal care to avoid blooming as brilliant whites shine off the screen. The setting is teeming with life, even when the space is on the more dingy side, and this format is finally capable of juggling the nuances. Every locale seems to be competently brought to life with this sterling new HDR grade. The film embraces dynamic colors in elements such as the fabrics, the settings, and the light sources. This transfer is a top-tier effort for fans of the film. The Criterion Collection has knocked it out of the park for fans of the filmmaker.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a remastered LPCM 1.0 mono track in its original Cantonese (with optional English subtitles), which does not falter in the slightest. There is also an optional English dub presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 lossy audio. Dialogue flows through the room without getting clipped by competing elements. Each exchange primarily stays anchored with clear fidelity. There is no threat of anything obscuring vital information, as the balance is maintained. The restoration also ensures there are no signs of age-related wear and tear or distortion. The score is amazing in establishing the mood early on while never showing any deficiencies. Environmental sounds are an underrated aspect of the track that grounds the viewer in each new space. The low-end response brings some welcome activity to the proceedings, especially in the brutal clashes, although it can only be so aggressive with its mono origins. The Criterion Collection has served up an audio experience that goes head-to-head with the visual side of things.

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Blade includes a booklet featuring the essay “Cutting Deep” by author Lisa Morton, which provides valuable context and background to the movie, the depiction of martial arts, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Hong Kong cinema expert and producer Frank Djeng provides a new commentary track, in which he discusses the history and legacy of the film, how it compares to The One-Armed Swordsman, the background of the performers, the filmmaking techniques, the themes of the film, and more.

Action et Vérité: A 59-minute documentary from 2006 in which director Tsui Hark, coscreenwriter Koan Hui, and actor Xiong Xin-xin reflect on the making of the film with some incredible insights into the production.

The Edges of Wuxia: A new 11-minute visual essay by filmmakers Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou in which they discuss how The Blade takes traditional elements of wuxia and flips them on their head and breaks from tradition.

Tsui Hark: An 11-minute Q&A from the 2011 New York Asian Film Festival in which the filmmaker discusses how he approached the action in the film, the advantages of making films in Hong Kong, how American choreography compares to Hong Kong, and more.

International Version Titles (2:14)

English-Dubbed Trailer (2:07)

Final Thoughts

The Blade is a wonderfully brutal martial arts movie from the legendary Tsui Hark. The film has a respect for the wuxia films of the past, but it embraces its own path in a way that is all the more rewarding if you are familiar with the genre. You can understand why some audiences were hesitant to embrace it upon its initial release, as it is more provocative than many might have been expecting. Nevertheless, time has been very kind to the film, and it stands as an essential film in the pantheon of the genre and Tsui Hark. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a stellar A/V presentation and a commendable array of special features. Recommended

The Criterion Collection edition of The Blade will be available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on March 31, 2026.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection 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.

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