The Miracle Fighters is a comedic tale of taoist magic directed by the martial arts maestro behind Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher and Iron Monkey – the legendary Yuen Woo-ping!

During the Quing dynasty, marriage between Manchu and Han people is outlawed. When it is discovered that high-ranking official Kao Hsiung (Eddy Ko) has taken a Han wife, the Emperor informs him that he will be forgiven – but only if he kills his beloved before the court. When he refuses, Kao Hsiung is marked for death by the powerful Sorcerer Bat (Shun-yee Yuen) and forced to watch as his wife is slain before his eyes. Kao Hsiung flees, kidnapping the Crown Prince during his escape – but soon the prince is dead, and Kao Hsiung is forced to silently replace him with another young boy. In adulthood, that innocent child – Shu Gut (Yat-Chor Yuen) – finds himself relentlessly pursued by Sorcerer Bat, and turns to two quarrelling taoist priests in the hope of protecting himself with their magic.

Made in the same mould as its contemporaries Encounter of the Spooky Kind and The Dead and the Deadly, this riotous kung fu fantasy was followed by two equally entertaining thematic sequels in Shaolin Drunkard and Taoism Drunkard. Eureka Classics is proud to present The Miracle Fighters on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.

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Video Quality

The Miracle Fighters comes to Blu-Ray via Eureka Entertainment with a 1080p master in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio derived from a 2K restoration of the original Hong Kong theatrical cut. This new release offers a rich presentation that represents the genre well on physical media. The transfer features vibrant color saturation throughout with complex colors radiating off the screen, especially in the clothing and elements of the production design. The level of discrete detail rarely disappoints as you take in intricate facets never before possible.

There are brief shots that are a bit soft which presumably dates back to the source elements. There is virtually nothing in the way of wear and tear, and the film does not stumble with any egregious instances of compression artifacts. Thankfully, the transfer does not appear to have any unflattering DNR applied which allows it to retain its organic appearance. Black levels hold up well and highlights do not get too hot. Eureka Entertainment has presented the title with a respectable transfer.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Cantonese along with an English dub that holds up decently. We always advocate for artistic purity and suggest you listen to the Cantonese, especially since it is a touch stronger than the English dub track. Dialogue is primarily clear and easily distinguishable throughout the film. As was typical of the time, some of the performers were post-looped since they were not performing in their native language.

The score maintains admirable fidelity, but there are instances of age-related wear and tear and general brashness at the highest amplitudes. The film employs some disconcerting sound effects in the mix that are given the appropriate weight. The track can sound a bit boxy overall which can make some moments feel less than natural. Overall, Eureka Entertainment has done the best it can to provide a quality audio experience. This release does have optional English subtitles provided.

Special Features

The first pressing of the Eureka Entertainment Blu-Ray of The Miracle Fighters includes a booklet featuring an essay by author James Oliver. This provides a great context for and analysis of the film, how it plays with genre, its themes, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: Two commentary tracks from film historians deliver lively and deeply informative explorations that delve into the career of the talent involved, where this film fits within the genre at large, the mixture of genre elements and martial arts, the sets that were used for filming, the audience reception of the film and more.

- Audio Commentary #1 (Hong Kong Version): Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)

- Audio Commentary #2 (Export Version): Action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema

Action Master – Interview with Yuen Woo-Ping: A 22-minute archival interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses his early career, the different eras of his output, his work with choreographers, his dynamics with performers, and more.

At the Service of the Great Magician – Interview with Assistant Director Fish Fong: A 17-minute archival piece in which the assistant director discusses getting into the film industry, what it was like working with Yuen Woo-Ping, the Golden Harvest infrastructure, and more.

The Shakespeare of Yuen Woo-Ping – An Interview with John Kreng: A 17-minute interview with the creative in which he discusses developing a relationship with Yuen Woo-Ping, how the filmmaker mentored new talent, and more.

Stills Gallery

Original Trailer: The four-and-a-half-minute-long trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Miracle Fighters is a bit unhinged in a good way as the plot weaves through the fantastical and unexpected. From the exaggerated opening moments, you can tell this does not fall neatly into line with other martial arts outings. The bizarre humor really works to break up the monotony that can sometimes be felt in this genre. It is not a masterpiece, but those in the right mindset will have fun. Eureka Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a strong A/V presentation and some interesting special features. If you are a fan of martial arts films but want some variety, this should serve you well. Recommended

The Miracle Fighters 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: Eureka Entertainment 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.