The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1 Blu-Ray Review – An Action-Packed Assemblage Of Martial Arts Favorites

Unbeatable. Unstoppable. Undeniable. Jackie Chan stands alone among action heroes thanks to his death-defying stunts, unparalleled fight scenes, and his signature sense of humor. An international superstar, Chan has thrilled fans around the globe for decades. As the standard bearer for martial arts action, Chan has forged a legacy that never has nor will be surpassed.

Presented here are seven classic films which showcase the unique mixture of martial arts, action, and comedy that has made Jackie Chan a cultural icon.

DISC ONE: THE KILLER METEORS (2.35:1 / Mandarin, English Dub, Cantonese, DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / Mandarin, English Dub Dolby Digital 5.1 / 104 min.)

A powerful nobleman believes his own wife has poisoned him. To find the elusive antidote in time and kill his evil wife, he hires his adversary, a rogue warrior known for his mastery of deadly explosive projectiles.

DISC TWO: SHAOLIN WOODEN MEN (2.35:1 / Mandarin, English Dub, Cantonese, Alternate Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / 108 min.)

An orphan traumatized into silence by the death of his father finds himself living at the Shaolin monastery … and befriending a prisoner who teaches him a secret and deadly form of kung fu.

DISC THREE: TO KILL WITH INTRIGUE (2.35:1 / Mandarin, English Dub*, Cantonese, Japanese Theatrical Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / Mandarin, English Dolby Digital 5.1 / 107 min.) *Despite what is advertised, the English Dub is in lossy Dolby Digital 2.0

A young master sends his pregnant girlfriend away from the family’s castle, fearing for her safety from a vicious gang led by a vengeful woman who had her face scarred as a child by his father.

DISC FOUR: SNAKE & CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN (2.35:1 / Mandarin, English, Japanese Theatrical Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo / 101 min.)

Entrusted with the book Art Of The Snake And Crane after the mysterious disappearance of the Shaolin Masters who wrote it, a young man must fight off numerous clans to learn the true reason for the disappearance.

DISC FIVE: DRAGON FIST (2.35:1 / Cantonese, Mandarin, Mandarin Japanese Theatrical, English Dub DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / Cantonese, Mandarin, English Dolby Digital 5.1 / 97 min.)

After his master is murdered, a martial arts student departs on a sacred journey to avenge him and honor his memory. But when he tracks the killer to a remote village, the evil warlord tries to blackmail him.

DISC SIX: BATTLE CREEK BRAWL (2.39:1 / English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono / Cantonese, Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo / English Dolby Digital 5.1 / 96 min.)

A man seeking fame and fortune in Chicago in the 1930s has his life turned upside-down when a merciless mobster takes his brother’s fiancée hostage and forces him to enter a no-holds-barred combat tournament in Texas.

DISC SEVEN: DRAGON LORD (2.39:1 / Hong Kong Theatrical Cut (96 min.) with Cantonese, Alternate Cantonese, English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono and English Dolby Digital 5.1 / Extended Cut (103 min.) with Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono)

A martial arts student named Dragon is in constant pursuit of romance when he runs afoul of some nefarious bandits trying to steal antiques and decides to put a stop to their plans!

For thoughts on The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/sx8C4bA7Tws?t=54]

Video Quality

The Jackie Chan Collection comes to Blu-Ray with seven films spread over seven discs. These films share a lot of the same qualities, so I will mostly be judging them in groups while pointing out noticeable differences when necessary. All seven films have been presented in their original aspect ratios in their original and complete forms, and some like Dragon Lord have multiple cuts from which to choose. Every film except Battle Creek Brawl is listed as coming from a 2K restoration of the Original Film Elements, and the results are mostly impressive. Even Battle Creek Brawl, which was previously released by Shout! Factory in a double feature almost a decade ago, looks quite nice overall. With each film afforded their own disc along with some supplemental features, compression artifacts rarely pop up as an issue with this set. Overall, these transfers represent a very strong effort in terms of quality. The quality hovers in the “very good” range throughout with each film looking the best they ever have. 

One of the first things fans will notice is that there is very little in the way of wear and tear throughout this set. When you take a look at some of the trailers provided, you see how shoddy these films could look without the proper preservation. You also avoid instances of chunky compression artifacts and other major digital anomalies. The natural film grain appears to have been managed in places, most obviously in the earlier films such as The Killer Meteors, but by and large it remains pretty consistent without it appearing frozen or swarming in large amounts. Black levels could likely be improved to offer deeper shadow detail, but what we get is decent. Detail could be stronger, but there you are not plagued by crush. White levels do not appear to showcase any blooming, which is especially welcome with some many of these movies taking place in bright exteriors.

Color saturation proves to be one of the more stable elements throughout this set with the palette suffused with natural colors that make an impression in the landscapes and clothing. The temperature can vary just a bit at times, but never so much that it is a dealbreaker. The increase in fine detail within the background elements will have you smiling, as longtime fans of these films have likely never seen them looking so good. A general rule of thumb is that each subsequent film gets stronger and you make your way through the set. One need only to look at some of the outfits in Dragon Lord to see the jump in quality. There are minor moments throughout where the level of clarity dips a small bit, but this could likely be chalked up to how the film was originally captured or the state of the source elements. While martial arts films can never seem to hit that 5-star quality, likely due to the sheer number churned out back in the day and lack of preservation, these restorations allow them to look mighty impressive for a new generation of fans eager to explore what Jackie Chan has to offer. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray set presents all the films with DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio Mono tracks in their original languages. There is also an array of dubs included for each film that are typically presented in lossless DTS mono, but there are exceptions which you can fully explore in the breakdown above. For our purposes, the original language track was viewed in full with some spot checking of some of the other tracks. By and large, these films are listenable, but they are not always the most pleasant to hear thanks to the quality of the source. As with the video, the audio quality appears to improve as you make your way through the set, but every track has some minor deficiencies. 

Dialogue is far and away the standout for each experience with a clear and easily distinguishable presentation with only occasional crackling or muffled exchanges. These films are usually accompanied by some formidable sound effects in the mix that make an impact. The score is the most erratic element with it sometimes showcasing pleasing fidelity, and other instances exposing some  age-related wear and tear at the highest amplitudes. All the films included in this set have optional English subtitles provided. These films are not as flawless as we may want, but they are likely as strong as they can be. Shout! Factory has handled these with as much care as the source will allow. 

Special Features

DISC ONE: The Killer Meteors

• Audio Commentary: Critic and Author David West provides an informative commentary track which is a bit different from the rest of the films in this set, as it focuses largely on star Jimmy Wang Yu instead of Jackie Chan. You get a lot of great information on how this film fits into the career of its star, his relationship with Bruce Lee, the state of martial arts films at the time, analysis of the plot, the film’s release history and more that is worth a listen. 

• Dragon Lord Hybrid Cut with Original Cantonese Mono (1:50:40): Due to disc space consideration, a third cut of the film that can be found on Disc 7 of this set is included here in HD with DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio and optional English subtitles. This is a cool addition to the set that is presented in great quality. 

• Original Theatrical Trailer: The nearly four-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A minute-and-a-half gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC TWO: Shaolin Wooden Men

• Audio Commentary: Film Critic James Mudge provides a great commentary track in which he discusses how this film stands apart in the career of Jackie Chan, the more formal tone that the film takes, the background of the creative figures, the numerous different titles attributed to this one, how this film used the Shaolin temple and more. 

• Ricky Baker on Shaolin Wooden Men: A nine-minute conversation with author and critic Ricky Baker in which he discusses his appreciation for this film, the impressive stunts and weapon work, the restoration and more. 

• Trailers: The nearly four-and-a-half minute original theatrical trailer is provided here. There is also an English Trailer (4:17) and Japanese Trailer (2:08) provided. 

• TV Spot: A 16-second TV spot is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A minute-long gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC THREE: To Kill With Intrigue

• Audio Commentary: Critic and Author David West provides a solid commentary in which he discusses Chan’s work with Lo Wei, how this film fits into the early part of his career, Chan’s feeling about his work at this time, the fantastical elements of the narrative, the state of Hong Kong cinema at this time and more. 

• Intriguingly Jackie – Interview with Ricky Baker: A 20-minute conversation with author and critic Ricky Baker in which he discusses the boom of martial arts films internationally, the work of Jackie Chan and Lo Wei, the disagreements between the star and the director, the dynamic with Hsu Feng, the rocky execution and reputation of the feature, and more that is well worth a listen. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Original Theatrical Trailer (4:53), Japanese Trailer (2:07) and the Japanese Teaser Trailer (0:49). 

• TV Spot: A 14-second TV spot is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A minute-long gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC FOUR: Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin

• Audio Commentary: Critic and Author David West provides a welcome commentary in which he discusses Chan’s work with Chen Chi-Hwa, how this film came right before his explosive success, how the opening demonstration does night connect to the larger plot, the aesthetic of the film, the plan Lo Wei had for Chan, the place of women in most Jackie Chan films, the appearance of Chan in this film and more. 

• Pick Your Poison – Interview with Ricky Baker: A 20-minute conversation with author and critic Ricky Baker in which he discusses the lack of knowledge about martial arts films in the ‘70s, the exciting opening, how this fits into the career of Jackie Chan, the ways in which Chan pushes the boundaries of martial arts in this film in particular, the music in the feature and more. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Trailer (1:59) and the Japanese Trailer (2:13). 

• TV Spot: A 16-second TV spot is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A minute-and-a-half long gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC FIVE: Dragon Fist

• Audio Commentary: Film Critic James Mudge provides a fun commentary in which he discusses the distinct phases of Jackie Chan, the traditional nature of the narrative, how Chan compares to Bruce Lee, the reception of the film, the fighting styles in the film and more. 

• A Dragon’s Rules – Interview with David West: A 22-minute conversation with writer/journalist David West in which he discusses how this fits into the career of Jackie Chan, why this film feels like an oddity due to when it was released, Chan’s work with Lo Wei, the early struggle to define what persona Chan should inhabit, the way the film plays with the typical formula, the youthful energy of Hong Kong films at this time and more. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Original Theatrical Trailer (3:58) and the Japanese Theatrical Trailer (1:50). 

• TV Spot: A 15-second TV spot is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A nearly minute-and-a-half long gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC SIX: Battle Creek Brawl

• Audio Commentary: Film Critic James Mudge provides an insightful commentary in which he discusses where this falls in the career of Jackie Chan, his attempts to break into Hollywood, the elements you can see in this one that will be further developed in future films, the comedic fight scenes, the backgrounds of other members of the ensemble and more.  

• The Golden Boy – Harvesting A Major New Martial Arts Maverick: A terrific new 85-minute documentary featuring interviews with various performers, creative figures and film historians including Chen Chi-Hwa (Director Of Shaolin Wooden Men), Andre Morgan (Producer of Battle Creek Brawl), Actress Kristine DeBell (Battle Creek Brawl), Lin Kuang-Yung (Actor/Stuntman, Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu), Film Critic Ricky Baker, Chinese Cinema Academic Dr. Lin Feng, and more. In this piece the subjects track the rise of Jackie Chan out of the ‘70s, the blossoming of Golden Harvest out of the success of the Shaw Brothers, the attempts to break into America, and more that adds so much exciting context to Chan’s career. 

• Interview with Actress Kristine DeBell (2022): A new nine-minute interview with DeBell in which she discusses her early career, feeling afraid in certain audition situations, her feelings about being in Playboy, her more recent work and more 

• Interview with Actor Jackie Chan: A nearly four-minute archival interview with Chan in which he discusses his early career, the mixed financial results of this film internationally, how his type of action differs and more. 

• Interview with Producer Fred Weintraub: A 12-minute interview with Weintraub in which he discusses working with Jackie Chan, developing this project, the direction of Robert Clouse, working around the dangerous stunts, the unique personality of Chan and more. 

• Interview with Actress Kristine DeBell (2013): A five-minute archival interview with DeBell in which she discusses getting into a car accident right after her audition, working with Jackie Chan, the stunts in the film and more. 

• Interview with Critic and Author David West: A 14-minute conversation with West in which he discusses the film’s underperformance at the box office, the groundbreaking nature of having an Asian lead having a romance with a white woman, the unique qualities of this particular film, the elements that hold it back and more. 

• Rumble In The USA – Jackie Chan Takes On America Interview with Ricky Baker: A 19-minute conversation with author and critic Ricky Baker in which he discusses where this film fits into the career of Jackie Chan, the attempts to replicate the international success of Bruce Lee, its status as a cult favorite, the path of Jet Li in future years similarly trying to break into Hollywood and more. 

• Original US Theatrical Opening: A six-minute alternate version of the opening with the title The Big Brawl. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Original Theatrical Trailer (3:14) and the trailer with the title The Big Brawl (2:36).

• Still Gallery: A two-and-a-half minute long gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

DISC SEVEN: Dragon Lord

• Hong Kong Theatrical Cut (1:36:04) and Extended Cut with Original Cantonese Mono (1:43:08)

• Audio Commentary: Critic and Author David West provides a welcome commentary in which he discusses Chan’s work with Chen Chi-Hwa, how this film came right before his explosive success, how the opening demonstration does night connect to the larger plot, the aesthetic of the film, the plan Lo Wei had for Chan, the place of women in most Jackie Chan films, the appearance of Chan in this film and more. 

• Interview with Louis Sit: A ten-minute interview with former Head of Production for Golden Harvest Louis Sit in which he discusses his entry into the business, the career of Jackie Chan, the determination of Chan to get his scenes right, going over budget and over schedule, the film’s reputation and more. 

• Interview with Actor Mars: A great 30-minute archival interview in which Mars discusses his career, the realities of filming fight scenes, working with Jackie Chan, the shooting conditions during production, thoughts on his co-stars and more. 

• Interview with Actor Whang In-Sik: A 12-minute interview in which Whang In-Sik discusses the Hong Kong movie tradition, how Bruce Lee upended certain traditions, teaching martial arts and more. 

• Trailers: This disc provides the Original Theatrical Trailer (4:13), the Cantonese Trailer (4:04), the English Trailer (1:31) and a Behind-The-Scenes Teaser (5:21). 

• TV Spot: A 16-second TV spot is provided here. 

• Still Gallery: A two-minute gallery of stills from the film are provided here. 

Final Thoughts

The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1 is a hard-hitting introduction to one of the most notable Hong Kong legends in film history. These seven films largely stick to a style popularized by the Shaw Brothers, but there are entries that embrace the characteristics that made Chan a star internationally. Admittedly, not every film knocks it out of the park, but even the lesser efforts have moments that you will want to revisit and reevaluate. Casual fans of Jackie Chan are probably still coasting on the memories they have from his conquering of American cinema, but there is still so much left to explore if this is your only exposure to him. Shout! Factory has bundled these seven films together into a Blu-Ray collection featuring a decent A/V presentation and a terrific array of special features. The only major downside to this set is the wait until we can dig into Volume 2. Highly Recommended

The Jackie Chan Collection: Volume 1 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: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.