‘The Angry River’ Blu-ray Review (88 Films)
Stars: Angela Mao, Feng Huang, Kao Yuen, Ying Bai | Directed by Huang Feng
Known worldwide as the “Queen of Kung Fu,” Angela Mao became a trailblazer for women in martial arts cinema, and in 1971 teamed with director Huang Feng for The Angry River – notably the first film ever produced by Golden Harvest. A landmark slice of wuxia action and a bona fide cult classic, the film now receives the deluxe treatment from 88 Films, a label renowned for giving Asian cinema the lavish Blu-ray releases it deserves. As collectors have come to expect from 88 Films, The Angry River arrives in the best possible quality, making this latest release another essential addition for martial arts movie fans.
A courageous young woman (Angela Mao) on a desperate mission to find a cure for her gravely injured father. But danger lurks at every turn, as the very villains responsible for her father’s fate pursue her relentlessly. What follows is a whirlwind of acrobatic combat, breathtaking choreography, and fierce determination, as Lan Feng’s journey becomes a battle for justice and survival.
Even in her debut leading role, Angela Mao carries herself like a star, delivering all the screen presence that would soon make her a legend. The story remains compelling, the action sequences are wonderfully staged, and even the stylised wirework adds to the film’s charm rather than undermining its believability. Remarkably, more than 55 years on, The Angry River still holds up as a hugely entertaining slice of classic Hong Kong cinema, packed with energy, heart and the kind of old-school martial arts magic that never really goes out of style.
88 Films has transferred The Angry River to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. There are options for two audio tracks: a Mandarin LPCM 2.0 Mono and an English LPCM 2.0 Mono. There are also English subtitles. Frankly, this is a wonderful Blu-ray transfer. It is taken from a new 2K restoration from the original negative, and what results is a crisp and clean picture with great colours and flesh tones. Plus, personally, I love that they added the English track for that old-school “dubbed martial arts” VHS-era action! In addition to a great-looking film, 88 Films added some nice bonus features, including:
Bonus Materials:
- O-ring slip case with new artwork by Aurelio Lorenzo
- Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Expert Frank Djeng
- Image Gallery
- Reversible sleeve with original Hong Kong poster artwork
- Original Trailer
Okay, so maybe there are not as many bonus features as seen in some 88 Films releases, but this is still a decent release. The best bonus feature (in my opinion) is all the cool artwork – from the reversible Blu-ray insert and the slip case, it’s such great artwork. So much to display.
**** 4/5
So if you love Hong Kong cinema, the films of Angela Mao, or an 88 Films completist, well, this Blu-ray of The Angry River is a must-own. Head over to Amazon and pre-order your copy today.
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