The kick of death ST. CLAIR DVD multi-packs are reasonably priced, and offer decent quality video/audio transfers of unrestored public domain material. Discs are single-side recorded, plastic storage cases fairly sturdy, movie liner notes appear on box's back cover and most DVDs include bonus items.
Source material for the MARTIAL ARTS COLLECTION 9 Movie Pack is less than ideal. Washed-out colors, grainy transfers and dubs from well-used tape are too apparent.
HIGHLIGHTS:
THE CHINESE CONNECTION-- Two words: Bruce Lee. Young man seeks revenge on a Japanese gang for the death of his teacher.
DRAGON PRINCESS-- Daughter returns to Japan from America to avenge the crippling of her Karate Master father (played by Sonny Chiba in a supporting role).
MILITANT EAGLE-- Ancient warlord illegally taxes the people and uses violent enforcers on those who refuse to pay. Four of his victims join forces to battle their corrupt oppressor.
SAMURAI REINCARNATION-- The beheaded leader of a failed 17th Century Christian revolt resurrects as a demon and leads a group of reincarnated ninjas in a fight for vengeance.
SNAKE AND CRANE SECRET-- A family's honor is at stake and their sacred Kung Fu book is in danger of being taken from them by the man who killed their patriarch two decades earlier.
NINJA ASSASSINS 10 Movie Pack (from MCE) is an ideal companion to this collection. Featuring Jackie Chan, Lee Van Cleef and Sho Kosugi, it contains ten completely different Kung Fu films.
. Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.
DISC ONE-- (6.9) The Chinese Connection (Hong Kong-1972) - Bruce Lee/Nora Miao/James Tien/Robert Baker (5.6) Kung Fu: The Punch of Death (Hong Kong-1973) - Fei Meng/Yasuaki Kurata/Lam Lam Lee (5.0) Dragon Princess (Japan-1981) - Sonny Chiba/Etsuko Shihomi/Yasuaki Kurata
BONUS: Martial Arts Cinema
DISC TWO-- (6.3) Samurai Reincarnation (Japan-1981) - Sonny Chiba/Kenji Sawada/Akiko Kana (5.6) Snake and Crane Secret (Hong Kong-1976) - Fei Meng/Tao-liang Tan/Dean Shek/Fang Fang (6.4) Duel of the Iron Fist (Hong Kong-1971) - David Chiang/Ti Lung/Ku Feng/Ping Wang
BONUS: Trivia Quiz
DISC THREE-- (6.2) Legend of the Eight Samurai (Japan-1983) - Sonny Chiba/Hiroko Yakushimaru/Hiroyuki Sanada (6.7) Militant Eagle (Hong Kong/Taiwan-1978) - Ying Bai/Fei Meng/Nancy Yen/Ping Lu (4.7) Dragon Lee vs. Five Brothers (Hong Kong-1978) - Dragon Lee/Chui Man Fooi/Qiu Yuen
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
