After many delays, mostly due to perfecting its overall presentation, the hardworking team at 88 Films – with the help of America’s acclaimed 3-D Film Archive – will finally be releasing the long-awaited Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Magnificent Bodyguards next year. This 1978 kung fu oddity is directed by Lo Wei (The Big Boss) and stars the one and only, Jackie Chan (Hidden Strike, Ride On).
Magnificent Bodyguards has never been legitimately released to Western audiences on VHS, DVD or Blu-ray, until now. And unless you caught it in Hong Kong or grindhouse theaters in late 70s/early 80s, it’ll be the first time most of us will be seeing in 3D.
In a recent social media post, 88 Films had the following to say:
“Restoration is complete and the film is currently being aligned in 3D, reel by reel, and the results so far are extremely promising. Despite the challenges of the Super Touch 3-D format, the depth and clarity are looking good. The original film materials were in very rough condition, with heavy mould, tears, scratches and general wear throughout. Considering that, the progress so far has been nothing short of impressive. The new scan is a massive improvement over previous masters, with far better detail, contrast and stability. Bob and the team 3-D Film Archive, LLC are now past reel two of the alignment. Quality control is underway on the completed sections. We’ll keep you posted as this exciting restoration moves forward! Hopefully this is our last Christmas update for this project”
Official details:
Jackie leaps out of the screen in Magnificent Bodyguards, the first Hong Kong movie shot in 3D! The icon joins a team of guards who are escorting an ill man across a land filled danger and possible death, a land known as Stormy Hills, but does the man hold a deadly secret?
Directed by Wei Lo, the person who gave the world the Bruce Lee classics The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, this is prime mandarin madness with a score which will be familiar to lovers of a certain successful sci-fi saga.
Magnificent Bodyguards also stars James Tien (Seaman No. 7), Bruce Leung (Bruce and the Iron Finger) and Wong Ping (The Big Boss Part II).
Features:
- A set of Anaglyph 3D Glasses (Red and Blue) will be included!
- Lenticular cover art featuring new artwork by Kung Fu Bob
- Brand New 2K Restoration From the Original Camera Negatives
- High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
- 2 Disc Set including Real-D 3D, Anaglyph 3D and 2D viewing Options.
- 2.0 Cantonese Dual Mono with English Subtitles
- Classic English Dub
- More Extras TBA
This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Watch 88 Films’ Trailer below, followed by screen shots from 88 Films’ upcoming release!
It looks interesting.
Hopefully Fortune Star gives 88 films a decent remaster to work with because all versions on bluray to date have looked like an upscaled vcd
So glad that I preordered this in June 2024, lol.
Thought we were never gonna get this, hopefully it’s a sure thing this time round.
Why do I think I should take an I’ll believe it when I see it approach with this announcement? That’s not to say I’m not very much looking forward to this release, it’s just that it’s already been delayed so many times that at this point I don’t trust any date given.
I appreciate efforts made to “perfect” the 3D viewing aspects, but I don’t expect perfection, I’m just hoping for, well, not painfully terrible! And some good bonus features, please!