Paula Hammond - Features EditorIf you’ve been following Eureka’s kung fu releases, then their latest blu-ray will have you whooping for joy. Directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Dreadnaught is an absolute classic of the martial arts genre, expertly blending majestic action sequences with superb physical comedy, courtesy of stars Yuen Biao, Bryan Leung Kar-yan, and Yuen Shun-yee. In fact Dreadnaught is very much a mashup movie, with elements of police procedural, exploitation, slapstick, gritty violence, and even Chinese opera–all perfectly pitched to suit the talents of the ensemble cast.
A violent criminal known only as the ‘White Tiger’ (Yuen Shun-yee; Iron Monkey) is hiding amongst a theatre troupe, murdering anyone who is unfortunate enough to discover his identity. Mousy, a timid laundry man (Yuen Biao; Project A), crosses paths with White Tiger several times but always manages to escape. When the killer instead targets his friend (Bryan ‘Beardy’ Leung; Warriors Two), Mousy must overcome his cowardly nature and acquire the skills necessary to defeat the notorious villain.
Dreadnaught has long been a cult favourite amongst martial arts fans—and its famous laundry scene is so iconic that it was directly referenced in Batman Forever. So, it’s hard to believe that Eureka’s release will be the first time the film has been issued on blu-ray. But it’s been well worth the wait.
Notable for being the final film in which Kwan Tak-hing portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung, this brand new 2K restoration is a genuine joy to watch. The first print run is just 2000 copies, which includes a Limited Edition O-Card slipcase with new art by Darren Wheeling and a collector’s booklet.
Catch it while you can!
