Black Mask | Blu-ray (Eureka)
On April 22, 2024, Eureka will be releasing a Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Black Mask, 1996 sci fi actioner directed by Daniel Lee (Code of the Assassins, Dragon Blade) that stars Jet Li (League of Gods, Last Hero in China).
Jet Li stars in an action-packed superhero spectacle produced by the legendary Tsui Hark!
Tsui Chik (Li) is a librarian who leads a quiet, unassuming life – or, at least, that’s what he wants people to believe. In truth, he was once a member of the 701 Squad, a group of elite combatants produced by a failed super-soldier project. In kind with his former comrades, his central nervous system has been altered to render him impervious to pain. When several of his fellow test subjects resurface and embark on a crimewave under the leadership of their former commander Hung Kuk (Patrick Lung), Tsui is forced to use his extraordinary abilities once more. Donning a costume, he sets out to face his past – as the vigilante known as the Black Mask.
Adapted from the manhua by Pang Chi-ming and Li Chi-tak and heavily influenced by Bruce Lee’s turn as Kato in The Green Hornet, Black Mask is one of the most entertaining movies in Jet Li’s filmography and boasts action orchestrated by Yuen Woo-ping, who would later win an Academy Award for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film in its rarely seen uncut version on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration!
Black Mask also stars Lau Ching Wan (The White Storm 3), Karen Mok (So Close), Françoise Yip (Rumbe in the Bronx), Anthony Wong (Visible Secret), Moses Chan Ho (Purple Storm) and Henry Fong Ping (A Hero Never Dies), Lawrence Ah Mon (My Name Is Fame).
Features:
- Limited Edition Two Disc Set [2000 copies]
- Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
- A limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver
- Limited Edition bonus disc featuring two alternate versions of the film
Disc 1 Features:
- Fully uncut Hong Kong version presented in 1080p from a 2K restoration
- Original US version presented in 1080p from a 2K restoration
- Original Cantonese Stereo and optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 (Hong Kong Version)
- Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
- Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong version by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film festival)
- Brand new audio commentary on the US export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
- Brand new interview with stuntman Mike Lambert
- Brand new interview with film critic Andrew Heskins (eastern Kicks)
- Brand new interview with Leon Hunt, author of Kung Fu Cult Masters: From Bruce Lee to Crouching Tiger
- Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
- Archival Making of featurette
- Trailers
Disc 2 Features:
- Alternate Taiwanese cut of the film
- Extended version of Black Mask featuring all the unique footage from the various releases of the film re-inserted
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 Eureka’s New Trailer below:
I remember when I was foolish enough to think that Patrick Lung was doing all of his own fight scenes. It’s kind of hard now to watch Jet Li fight a double who’s back is always to the camera or whose wig is covering his face conveniently.
Was the white guy Jet Li fought at the end Mike Lambert? It’s great how they would have a reunion years later with Danny The Dog/Unleashed. They must have had that good a rapport.
I remember I wasn’t a fan when I first watched ‘Black Mask’ back in my early HK cinema viewing days, but I’ve warmed up to it over the years and have come to enjoy its pulpy nature (although Jet Li and Karen Mok have precisely zero chemistry).
I’m not sure on the scene with Mike Lambert, the fight that always sticks in my mind is the one with Winston Ellis, although considering Lambert’s martial arts credentials it wouldn’t be a surprise if he also gets a few licks in.
I should have done this before, but I typed “Mike Lambert Black Mask”on YouTube, and surely enough his stunt reel showed up which includes his fight with Jet.
It was actually my favorite in the film because of how precise it was, and the way the two fought on a narrow platform made it look like a fighting game.
Yeah, there wasn’t much chemistry with Jet and Karen, but the movie was kind of inconsistent with character chemistry. The film makers could have done more with Jet’s quiet loner with Karen’s “hot nerd” as the potential was there.
Is there any info on the original manhua out there? (I was hoping to see it as part of the special features.) I’d be interested to get my hands on it, even if there’s no English translation.
I must have missed the region A/B label before. I don’t recall Eureka making their releases available for A. They should do it more often!
Andrew – it was announced that some of their titles will be U.S. releases (some exclusive to Region A or B, some not – a la 88 Films, Arrow and Radiance). Technically some of the previous Arrow Region B films (particularly the Shaw ones) were also Eureka, depending on what Region switch you had your player on =). ‘Black Mask’ is one of their first ventures into the U.S. market. The other is a Bob Hope movie I can’t put my finger on lol
I actually never reviewed this because the American Artisan release was so terrible. I stand by the fact that hip hop soundtracks and electric techno during fight sequences are among the worst mistakes to come out of the late 90s releases of various hong Kong films. Seriously, these adaptations are so unwatchable because of the terrible dubbing, injected broad humor and that awful soundtrack that play over the fights. I’d rather listen to 70s AM Gold like Afternoon Delight on the soundtrack over such fight sequences then the crap they plastered.
Black Mask though is in particular an abortion in terms of the American version, so much so I don’t think it’s fair to review such because of it, I later watched a really low quality subtitled version and such was passable but the picture was well Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge EP quality.
So, I’m curious to see the new release of such because even though I’ve seen it twice, I feel like I haven’t. It’s like how they dubbed over Police Story and Operation Condor with Jackie Chan’s character named Jackie Chan.
Trust me, you movie buffs are spoiled in terms of picture quality and subtitles
A riveting clip from the film. https://youtu.be/F5yV0CRDUz8?si=93SLjfvwN4uK5Gk2
4 different cuts for Black Mask? Can Eureka work their magic on Ashes of Time. I need the original cut in 4k or at least the Redux unreduxed
This was a great release. It’s amazing how much they polished and made the picture quality for the HK cut look so new. It felt like watching a new movie with the bits and pieces that were originally cut out put back in along with better subtitles.
Mike Lambert’s interview was good stuff and showed just how enthusiastic he is about his work. I wish he talked more about how he got his rematch with Jet Li in Unleashed. I like to believe it was because he made a good impression with Black Mask.
I hope he follows in the footsteps of Lietch, Stahelski, and Hargrave and becomes a big time director.
I just picked this set up. The PQ on thre HK cut is the best copy so far BUT…..some scenes suffer from too much film grain removal and a waxy look – but overall not bad. I’m a bit confused about the Export Cut…this isn’t the Lionsgate version and I’ve never seen the Artisan version but google says that version is 102 minutes. The Lionsgate version is 90 minutes and this “export cut” is 87 minutes.
And to those who worry its Frank Djeng doing the commentary on the HK cut. Mike “I work in HK film industry and live in Saikung but never give any insight into the movie” Leeder and his sidekick has been relegated to the export cut
I know some people don’t like the film grain removal of newer home releases because there’s a novelty to it. Maybe I should study it some more, but I haven’t had a problem with it since it makes the movies look smooth and polished.
I think about Dick Tracy which didn’t have any film grain and still looks like a new movie and newer than other films that came later in the 90s.
I believe people who bothered to look at the features on the advertisement shouldn’t worry about who’s doing commentary. Those same people should also realize that just like we don’t have to watch or listen to comedians we don’t think are funny, we don’t have to listen to commentaries from people we don’t like either.
If they still feel strongly, they can get a petition.