Another cult classic from the Shaw Brothers Studio, The Flag of Iron is a quintessential Hong Kong tale of rivals, betrayal and family feuds. When the master of the Iron Flag clan is killed by a mysterious assassin known only as Spearman, it sets off an explosive chain of events which pits two brothers against each other in an action-packed adventure of fist flying fury. Directed by Cheh Chang (The One-Armed Swordsman, Five Venoms), this kinetic and highly influential Kung Fu picture, mixes traditional storytelling with more modern presentation techniques, layering acrobatics, the use exotic weaponry and quick as lightning fight sequences to produce a sure fire entertaining hit, which no serious collector of martial arts movies can be without.

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Video Quality

The Flag Of Iron comes to Blu-Ray via 88 Films with a 1080p master in its original aspect ratio derived from the original 35mm camera negatives. This new release offers a decent presentation, but it does not rank anywhere near the best of the Shaw Brothers titles that have been released recently. The transfer features consistent color saturation throughout, but some of the vibrant colors appear a bit dulled by fading. The level of fine detail rarely disappoints, as you can see intricate facets of the production design and costumes without issue. Yet, there are some shots presenting as soft or even a bit unfocused, which is likely an issue with the source elements available. There is next to nothing in the way of wear and tear, and the film does not really exhibit any compression artifacts. Oddly enough, the transfer does appear to have some light DNR applied to rob it a bit of its organic appearance. The anamorphic framing also occasionally looks a bit squeezed. Even with some minor issues, 88 Films has provided fans with a pleasing high definition presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio Mono track in the original Mandarin along with an English dub that should only be utilized for nostalgia’s sake. The film employs some hard-hitting sound effects in the mix that thankfully are given the appropriate weight. The score mostly maintains a pleasing fidelity, although there are instances of age related wear and tear at the highest amplitudes. The track can sound a bit boxy overall which makes scenes feel less natural. Dialogue is mostly clear and easily distinguishable throughout the film. This release does have optional English subtitles provided. 88 Films has done a pleasing job of presenting this film in the best quality possible.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Japanese film experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema deliver a lively and deeply informative commentary track in which they discusses the career of Cheh Chang, the place this film occupies within the Shaw Brothers filmography and the genre at large, how The Venoms act almost like martial arts “superheroes”, the careers of some of the performers involved, the tonal balance of the film and more. This track is never less than entertaining and worth checking out.

Final Thoughts

The Flag Of Iron is a solid martial arts film, but it pales a bit in comparison to the numerous others that have been reintroduced to the market in recent years. The plot feels very rudimentary, which is often forgivable in these types of films, but at least the action delivers with different fighting styles and memorable moments. The film may not be breaking any barriers, but the performers continue to deliver their all to the studio. 88 Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a pretty good A/V presentation and a worthwhile commentary track. If you are a fan of the Shaw Brothers, you will likely find something to enjoy here. Recommended

The Flag Of Iron 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.