Rating: 4/5.
Bottom line: Another cracking release from Eureka, lovingly restored and packed with a wealth of must-watch extras.
Format: Eureka Classics’ Special Edition blu-ray.
Cast: Cynthia Rothrock, Elizabeth Lee, Ronny Yu, Billy Chow, Jeff Falcon, Vincent Lyn.
Certificate: 18.
Director: Mong Hoi.
Language: Cantonese with optional English dub and English subtitles.
Run time: 90 minutes.
RRP: £24.99.
Released under a baffling array of alternate titles, Lady Reporter, AKA Blond Fury, AKA Righting Wrongs II, AKA Above The Law II, sees Cynthia Rothrock as a butt-kicking FBI agent.
This was the film that marked the action queen’s progression from side-kick to leading role—the first (and to this day, only) the only time a Western actress has had lead billing in a Hong Kong film.
Rothrock plays Cindy, the titular female reporter sent to investigate an unscrupulous newspaper editor (Ronny Yu). Teaming up with Elizabeth Lee (Long Arm Of The Law Part 3), the two go up against a series of opponents played by some of the greatest ‘bad guy’ actors in ‘80s cinema, including Billy Chow (Fist Of Legend), Jeff Falcon (Outlaw Brothers, Six String Samurai), and Vincent Lyn (Tiger Cage).
Mang Hoi handles the directing duties here, but much like Yes, Madam!, this was a collaborative effort between Mang Hoi and Corey Yuen and, just like that film, the results are magnificent.
Mang Hoi’s graceful and acrobatic choreography fuses perfectly with Corey Yuen’s hard-hitting style. But the applause here should go to Cynthia Rothrock, in a role that deservedly secured her position as one of the top action stars of her era.
Presented as part of the ever-expanding Eureka Classics range, Lady Reporter is released this month in its UK debut on blu-ray, from a brand new 2K restoration. As ever, the first print-run of 2,000 copies will feature a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase (with art by Darren Wheeling) and a Collector’s Booklet.
This is another cracking release from Eureka, lovingly restored and packed with a wealth of must-watch extras.
Featured extras:
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray of the original theatrical cut from a brand new 2K restoration.
- 1080p HD presentation on blu-ray of the international export cut from a brand new 2K restoration.
- Original Cantonese mono audio and optional ‘classic’ English dubbed audio.
- Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release.
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & actor and martial artist Vincent Lyn.
- Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema.
- Brand new select-scene commentary with actress and martial-arts movie icon Cynthia Rothrock.
- Brand new interview with Cynthia Rothrock.
- Brand new interview with Mang Hoi.
- Trailers.
- Reversible sleeve design.
- Limited edition set of facsimile Lobby Cards (first print run only).