Although most famous for their kung fu movies, Hong Kong’s legendary Shaw Brothers studio made more than just chop socky; taken from a (famously saucy) classic novel, Golden Lotus is an epic tale of a passionate – and sometimes destructive – love affair between a rich man and a poor women, a potent story of lust and power. Co-starring no less than Jackie Chan in one of his earliest roles and directed by the award-winning Li Han Hsiang, Golden Lotus reveals the true strength and diversity of Hong Kong filmmaking. 88 Films are proud to present this under-seen masterpiece on Blu-ray.

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Video Quality

The Golden Lotus receives its first domestic release ever 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. This transfer has eliminated nearly all of the wear and tear, and the film does not suffer from any digital nuisances such as compression artifacts. There is the occasional softer shot that could likely be attributed to the quality of the source elements. Compared to other recent Shaw Brothers releases, this release ranks near the top in terms of visual clarity and consistency.

The transfer does not sport any signs of heavy filtering or DNR which allows it to maintain its organic appearance. The grain field holds together without much fluctuation besides the odd spike or clumpy spot. The transfer provides lovely color saturation with pleasant hues in the clothing and production design. Fine detail is in ideal shape as you take in the subtle facets of these craft elements in such clarity. 88 Films has put forth good work here.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with an LPCM 2.0 Master Audio mono track in the original Mandarin with optional English subtitles. While this track experiences many of the same deficiencies as other Shaw Brothers films from this era, the overall quality remains quite good. Dialogue comes through clearly throughout the film with no distortion or sibilance. This film is not fight-heavy in any particular way, but any scuffles are given the appropriate weight in the mix. The overall soundscape has a somewhat thin quality to it, but it does not impede your enjoyment. The score maintains a consistent fidelity with no serious instances of age-related wear and tear outside of some weak high notes. 88 Films has done a respectable job of presenting this film in the best quality possible.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided.

Stills Gallery: A nearly three-minute collection of stills from the film.

Four Postcards

Final Thoughts

The Golden Lotus shakes up the formula some might expect from the Shaw Brothers as martial arts takes a backseat to palace intrigue. The melodrama that is conjured here is decently intriguing even as you struggle to find any characters to care about. What really stands out with this one is the care put into the craft elements with the period costumes and production design shining off the screen. We appreciate the variety from the studio, so we urge anyone who is interested in something a bit different to seek it out. 88 Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended

The Golden Lotus 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.