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Issue #158a HOME E-mail: mail@dighkmovies.com BACK ISSUES May 5th, 2003

Warriors Two
(1978; Golden Harvest)

RATING 10
A Masterpiece
9
Excellent
8
Highly Recommended
7
Very Good
6
Recommended
5
Marginal Recommendation
4
Not Recommended
3
Poor
2
Definitely Not Recommended
1
Dreadful

Cantonese: Tsan sin sang yue jaau chin Wah
Mandarin: Zan xian sheng yu zhao qian Hua
English: Mr. Tsan and Banker Wah


One evening after work, bank cashier Chen Hua (Casanova Wong, aka Ka Sa-fa) overhears Boss Mo (Fung Hark-on) discussing how he plans to murder the chief of their town. When Chen confides this knowledge to the devious Mentor Chiu (Dean Shek Tien), he is betrayed and almost killed by Mo's lackeys. Hiding at the home of his friend, Fei (or "Fat") Chun (Sammo Hung Kam-po, who also directed and choreographed the action), Chen is unaware that his boss' henchmen have murdered his mother, as a way of luring him out into the open. In the meantime, Mo carries out his original plan and is soon elected head of the town. Chun then finally tells his friend about the killing, prompting Chen to request instruction in Wing Chun from the esteemed martial arts master, Liang Tsan (Leung Kar-yan). After much practice, Chen has come close to mastering the various techniques and will receive ample opportunities to put them into practice, when the time comes for him to try and avenge his mother's death. However, before he can face Mo, Chun, Chen, and Liang's niece must first take care of his ruthless fighters, who have each mastered a different, formidable skill.


The plot of this period yarn is no different than a hundred other films but WARRIORS TWO leads the pack when it comes to its martial arts sequences. Sammo Hung's accurate depiction of Wing Chun techniques has received much praise (see also THE PRODIGAL SON in issue #150) and the training sequences, in particular, are first rate. Hung gives one of his customarily likeable performances and Leung Kar-yan is utterly convincing as the strict, humorless master. His fight against a dozen attackers (after having stepped into a bear trap!) is one of the highlights here but top honors must go to the extended final duel, which is a real showstopper. Lau Kar-wing, Lee Hoi-sang (as a master of the Invincible Armor style), Lam Ching-ying, Chung Fat, and Peter Chan Lung, and Eric Tsang Chi-wai are among the large supporting cast.


ZOOM
Cover art courtesy Deltamac.

ZOOM
Casanova Wong (left) and Sammo Hung (right). Image courtesy Deltamac.

ZOOM
Leung Kar-yan. Image courtesy Deltamac.
DVD SPECS
Deltamac #DVD78050 (Hong Kong label)

Dolby Digital 2.0

Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks (both post-synced)

Optional Subtitles in English and Chinese (Traditional or Simplified)

9 Chapters Illustrated in the Menu With (Tiny) Clips

Letterboxed (2.44:1)

Coded for Regions 3 & 6 Only

NTSC Format

91 Minutes (at 25 frames-per-second)

Contains brutal violence


DVD menu courtesy Deltamac.


FILM BOARD RATINGS AND CONSUMER ADVICE
Great Britain: 18
Hong Kong: II
Ontario: PG
Singapore: PG [Passed With Cuts]


PRESENTATION
Here is another Deltamac release that was mistakenly coded for Regions 3 & 6 only, a shame as this is the first DVD release of the picture to include the Cantonese track (the previous Mainland disc from WA was Mandarin only). The presentation looks good. Colors and blacks are strong, and the element is free of severe damage. Contrasts are usually sufficient and the sound has no flaws besides its original limitations. The subtitles (which use the Mandarin form for names) are rendered in a larger font than usual but this is not a major distraction. There are no extras and Deltamac has mistakenly listed the title as simply WARRIOR TWO.


WARRIORS TWO
is available at Poker Industries.


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