Angela Mao and director Huang Feng (The Shaolin Plot) were a superstar pairing that produced an incredible series of top tier kung-fu classics includingDeadly China Doll,When Taekwondo Strikesand the two films presented here HapkidoandLady Whirlwind.
InHapkido(aka.Lady Kung Fuin the West), a group of martial artists (Mao, Sammo Hung, and Carter Wong) start their own school to teach the Korean martial art, Hapkido, but a rival Japanese academy attempts to crush them deeming Hapkido inferior to their Japanese fighting style. Similar to the plot of Bruce LeesFist of Fury(a canny decision by the filmmakers, capitalising on Mao often being referred to as a female Bruce Lee ),Hapkidowas a huge hit in the West, even briefly beating LeesEnter the Dragonat the North American box office.
Perhaps her most iconic film,Lady Whirlwind(bizarrely re-titled asDeep Thrustin the US, to capitalise on the success ofDeep Throat,which probably made its tag linesThe Deadly Stroke of Bare Hand Combatand Mistress of the Death Blowa tad misleading) stars Mao as a deadly fighter out for revenge on the man who wronged her sister (played by Shaw Brothers veteran Chang Yi). After tracking the man down, she finds he is on his own vengeful path against a gang of Japanese thugs and agrees to help keep him alive as long as she gets to take her revenge when its all over!
Two excellent martial arts films make their debuts on Blu-rayand the first timeLady Whirlwindhas ever been available in the UKfrom brand new 2K restorations!
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
- Limited Edition Reversible Poster featuring original theatrical poster artwork [2000 copies]
- 1080p presentations of both films across two Blu-ray discs, from new 2K restorations
- Hapkido Original mono Mandarin and English audio options, including two variations of the classic English dub
- Hapkido DTS-HD MA 5.1 English dub (newer dub originally created for the films original DVD release)
- Lady Whirlwind Original mono Mandarin and English audio options
- Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
- Hapkido New feature length audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & Michael Worth
- Hapkido New feature length audio commentary with Frank Djeng & martial artist / actor Robert Bobby Samuels
- Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary with Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & Michael Worth
- Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary with Frank Djeng & martial artist / actor Robert Bobby Samuels
- Lady Whirlwind New feature length audio commentary by film journalist and author Samm Deighan
- Brand new interview with Angela Mao, filmed in 2022
- Archival interview with Angela Mao
- Archival interview with Carter Wong
- Archival interview with Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao
- Hapkido Alternate opening credits
- Selection of trailers and TV spots
- Stills Galleries
- Reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong poster artwork
- A Limited Edition collectors booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver [2000 copies]
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