Golden Princess wuxia classics Swordsman (1990), Swordsman II (1992), and Swordsman III: The East Is Red (1993) join the Imprint Asia collection!
All meticulously restored from the original 35mm negatives, the 1990 original comes to 4K UHD and Blu-ray, with the two sequels on Blu-ray, with every shining blade and flying punch looking better than ever before.
This special release features an exclusive SteelBook and a 60-page Hardcover Booklet with production stills and brand NEW essays from Sean Gilman and Camille Zaurin, all housed in a Lid Hardbox.
1500 copies only.
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Swordsman (1990) - Imprint Asia #71
Right at the start of the 90s, wuxia surged back into the spotlight with Swordsman. Direction was credited to the great King Hu, who left the project partway through, with the film completed by producer Tsui Hark, Ching Siu-tung, and Raymond Lee.
A kung-fu manual known as the Sunflower Sacred Scroll is stolen from the Emperor’s library. An army detachment is sent to recover it. Meanwhile, a young swordsman and his fellow disciple are accidentally drawn into the chaos.
Loosely adapted from the novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer by Jin Yong, the film stars Samuel Hui, Cecilia Yip, Jacky Cheung, and Sharla Cheung.
Special Features & Technical Specs:
Disc One - 4K UHD
2160p Ultra high-definition NEW Dolby Vision / HDR10 presentation on 4K UHD, restored from the original camera negative
Theatrical Trailer
Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + English Dub LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation
Disc Two - Blu-ray
1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 4K restoration
NEW A Time of Legends – interview with co-director Raymond Lee
NEW Cult of Personality – interview with actress Fennie Yuen
NEW David Wu: Proud Wanderer – career retrospective with editor David Wu
NEW Hark’s Dynasty: The Early Years of Film Workshop – interview with general manager / executive producer Terence Chang
NEW Hong Kong Confidential: Inside Wuxia with author Grady Hendrix
Theatrical Trailer
Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + English Dub LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation
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Swordsman II (1992) - Imprint Asia #72
Also known as The Legend of the Swordsman, this action-packed sequel stars Jet Li, Brigitte Lin, Rosamund Kwan, and Michelle Reis, along with Fennie Yuen, who returns from the original.
Ling-Wu Chung decides to hide from the chaotic world. Before leaving, he visits his friends, a tribe of snake-wielding women warriors. However, he finds that the tribe has been attacked, and their leader Yam Ying Ying, has been abducted.
Produced by Tsui Hark and directed by Ching Siu-tung (A Chinese Ghost Story), the film is loosely based on The Smiling, Proud Wanderer by Jin Yong.
Special Features & Technical Specs:
Disc Three - Blu-ray
1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
NEW Phoenix – interview with actress Fennie Yue
Theatrical Trailer
More Special Features TBC
Audio: Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono + English Dub LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation
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Swordsman III: The East Is Red (1993) - Imprint Asia #73
Producer Tsui Hark returned for a third slice of Swordsman, with directors Ching Siu-tung and Raymond Lee at the helm once again.
A royal official accompanies a Portuguese warship to the Black Cliffs to see the site of the defeat of the evil Invincible Asia, who attained supernatural abilities by following the sacred scroll and castrating himself.
Starring Brigitte Lin, Joey Wong, and Yu Rongguang, the film is inspired by a minor character in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer by Jin Yong.
Special Features & Technical Specs:
Disc Four - Blu-ray
1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
NEW A Return to Wuxia – interview with co-director Raymond Lee
Theatrical Trailer
Audio: Mandarin LPCM 2.0 Mono
Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Optional English Subtitles from a NEW translation