Now shipping is 88 Films’ Blu-ray for John Woo’s Sunset Warriors (aka Heroes Shed No Tears), a 1983 Hong Kong action film that stars Eddie Ko Hung (The Miracle Fighters) and Lam Ching Ying (Mr. Vampire).
An overlooked classic from an action master! Made by John Woo just before the game-changing A Better Tomorrow, Sunset Warriors was hacked about by the studio and eventually released as Heroes Shed No Tears. For years, Woo’s original cut has been a holy grail for action fans. Now – finally – you can see it for yourself.
An explosive story of mercenaries battling drug lords, Sunset Warriors is a war movie such as only John Woo could make. Now restored to the director’s original vision, it can stand alongside The Killer and Bullet in the Head as one of his essential films. 88 Films are thrilled to present the UK blu-ray premier of a resurrected masterpiece!
Limited Edition Features:
- Limited Edition Booklet by Matthew Edwards featuring rare stills, lobby cards, etc
- Limited Edition rigid “slim” slipcase with art by Sean Longmore
- Limited Edition double-sided foldout poster
- Limited Edition reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong Art
Features – Disc 1:
- John Woo’s “Sunset Warriors” Version of the film, originally released only in Korea
- 2K Remaster from a newly discovered print element in 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
- Korean Mono Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
- Cantonese Mono Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles and Korean Inserts for undubbed —sections
- English Mono Soundtrack with subtitled Korean Inserts for undubbed sections
- Audio Commentary by Asian Cinema expert Frank Djeng
- An Interview with renowned Asian Cinema expert, Tony Rayns
- Image Gallery
Features – Disc 2:
- “Heroes Shed No Tears” Version of the film released Worldwide
- 2K Remaster of the Original 35mm Negatives in 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
- Includes both the International Cut with [85 Mins approx] and Hong Kong Cut [88 Mins] of the film
- Original Cantonese Mono with improved English Subtitles
- Remixed Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks with improved English Subtitles
- Remixed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 dub
- Classic English Dub on the International Cut
- Audio Commentary by Asian Cinema expert Brandon Bentley
- A Tale of Two Cuts: A comparison between the film we know today and John Woo’s original workprint
- Interview with Actor Eddy Ko
- English Trailer
- Chinese Trailer
This title is 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 the film’s Trailer below:
Woah. I wonder if Woo approves of this. One would think the original cut and extra footage was long gone since film preservation wasn’t a thing back then.
The original cut got a release in Germany last year, so it turned up somewhere!
Germans are obviously still using their Nazi engineers to get shit done. They always get the good shit. didnt they release all the nrns films????
Thanks, 88 Films.
Will I have to buy this movie for a second time? Like Miracles and Dragon fist?
No 4KUHD? Excellent, excellent, you’ll put one out in two years, and they’ll buy it again!
Wait… WHAT?!
it is really that different?
30 minutes not directed by Woo cut out and 30 minutes filmed by Woo put back in.
I was so wrong. But it appears this original cut is vastly superior than the other one.
Let’s test you first: Was Windtalkers a good movie? =)
I thought so! The extended cut also added some welcome character development. Admittedly, some other scenes could have been trimmed to make it a whole 2 hours since that would have made it more accessible for general audiences. There were more characters than what was needed.
The movie should have kept the focus on Nic Cage’s friendships with Adam Beach and Frances O’Connor as well as Christian Slater and Roger Willie’s friendship.
I love Windtalkers. I saw the European premiere and I was almost in tears at the end…when almost everybody else had a very different opinion about it.
The direcor’s cut is even better.
I want a 2K or 4K restoration!
I have the (mediocre) Blu-Ray (only the theatrical cut) and the German 3 DVD box including the director’s cut.
Saw it yesterday. In Korean to not have the Korean subs inserts.
It is a much better movie. But it’s not of course on par with Woo’s best movies. I would say it went from 5/10 to 7/10.
That’s a big jump. Now I’m interested.
The Korean Effect.
Basically, you’re saying ‘Sunset Warriors’ is ‘Korean cut of Tower of Death-sploitation’!