‘The Invincible Eight’ Blu-ray Review (88 Films)
Stars: Nora Miao, Ching Tang, Angela Mao, Sammo Hung, Lydia Shum, Ching-Ying Lam, James Tien, Ying Bai | Directed by Lo Wei
When you think of Asian cinema, few names are as well-known as The Shaw Brothers, who produced some of the best Asian films in history. Former Shaw Brothers employees Raymond Chow and Leonard Ho set up Golden Harvest – which was popular because they focused on styles other than martial arts and action films. Eventually, Golden Harvest became more popular than the Shaw Brothers in the market by the mid-80s. Now, 88 Films has released one of the Golden Harvest releases on deluxe Blu-ray… Lo Wei’s The Invincible Eight.
The story follows eight warriors, each driven by the same burning purpose: to avenge the brutal murders of their fathers at the hands of a ruthless general. Among them are two of the era’s most iconic stars–Nora Miao (The Way of the Dragon) and Angela Mao (Enter the Dragon)–whose fierce determination and commanding presence anchor the film’s emotional and physical battles alike. Backed by an ensemble that includes Sammo Hung, James Tien, and Lydia Shum, The Invincible Eight balances breathtaking action choreography with heartfelt human drama.
1971 was quite the year for director Lo Wei. Not only did he bring moviegoers The Invincible Eight, which brings 8 great actors together for an action-packed adventure you will never forget, but he also directed Bruce Lee in The Big Boss!
88 Films has transferred The Invincible Eight to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is a remastered Mandarin LCPM 2.0 audio track. There are also newly translated English subtitles for those who don’t understand Mandarin. The transfer comes from a new 2K Restoration from the original negative, and what results is a wonderful-looking upgrade. Plus, we get the usual 88 Films extras, including:
Bonus Materials:
- O-Ring Slip Case with New Artwork by Aurelio Lorenzo
- Original Trailer
- Audio Commentary with Asian Cinema Experts Frank Djeng & Michael Worth
- Image Gallery
- Reversible sleeve with original Hong Kong poster artwork
My favourite part of the 88 Films bonuses has to be all the great artwork – I love the reversible Blu-ray insert and the spectacular slip case. But the insightful audio commentary is always a great addition to these releases, and this one is no different.
***** 5/5
If you love Asian Cinema and you have been enjoying the 88 Films release as well, you need to add this new Blu-ray of The Invincible Eight to your collection. Head over to Amazon and order your copy today.
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