Comedy and Kung Fu: a Golden Harvest Classic

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MOVIE REVIEW
The Prodigal Son
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Genre: Kung-Fu, Martial Arts
Year Released: 1981, 2023 Arrow Video Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 40m
Director(s): Sammo Kam-Bo-Hung
Writer(s): Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Barry Wong, Jing Wong
Cast: Biao Yuen, Ching-Ying Lam, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Where To Watch: Available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video on September 12, 2023; pre-order here www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Drop-kicking its way straight out of Hong Kong and onto your TV sets comes this beautiful release of a Golden Harvest classic from director Sammo Hung! Leung Chang, played by Biao Yuen (Once Upon a Time in China, Righting Wrongs), the hapless son of a wealthy family, gains a reputation as a feared fighter only to find out that his father has been paying his competition to lose to keep him safe. It’s not until he unwittingly challenges a real kung fu master, Brother Tai, who is played by Ching-Ying Lam (The Way of the Dragon, Fists of Fury), who has been parading as the leading lady in an opera that he is shamefully beaten. With Chang’s world crashing around him; he follows the flamboyant master and begs him to teach him the ways of his Wing Chun kung fu.

The first thing I will say about The Prodigal Son is that it started really slow for me. It seemed like it had some trouble kicking into gear. Going into this film blind, I was expecting another martial arts film that would just blend in with all the rest. However, I was mistaken. Yes, there is plenty of really awesome action and fight choreography to be found in the film, but what I did not expect was to be laughing my butt off and unironically at that! I mean, this flick is really funny! The characters are absolutely outlandish and cartoonish. Oftentimes times, the makeup effects on their faces will emphasize this, but their actions sometimes seem like something out of a 3 Stooges sketch. The film is also filled with some nasty and insulting toilet humor, which serves as a refreshing break from the action. I was taken aback by this because when it comes to old kung fu flicks, I’m so used to having to turn on the English dub to have a laugh! The action and stunt choreography in The Prodigal Son was top-notch, which is to be expected from Sammo Hung. I was particularly impressed with the scene in which Hung’s character, Wong Wah-bo, was showing off, practicing his calligraphy in front of his daughter, Twiggy. I think it may have been at that point in the film that I became mesmerized. It was insane watching what that man could do with a paintbrush and a table. I loved how this film mixed comedy and kung fu so well!

So, let’s discuss this brand-new Blu-ray release of the film from Arrow Video. Arrow has sourced a gorgeous 2K restoration from the original elements of the film by Fortune Star. Two versions of the film, the theatrical and the home video release, have been restored and are presented in 1080p hi-def. Of course, there are English subtitles and three different mono-language tracks to choose from. The original lossless Cantonese, Mandarin, and, for those of us who love to have a good cheesy viewing, English.

Bonus features included are as follows:
– Commentary by martial arts cinema expert Frank Djeng & actor Bobby Samuels
– Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
– Wing Chun 101, an interview with Wing Chun sifu Alex Richter
– Life Imitating Art, archival featurette featuring interviews with Wing Chun instructor and
Producer Guy Lai talking about the art, illustrated via demonstrations by Sifu Austin Goh
and Jude Poyer
– The Heroic Trio, an archival featurette featuring interviews with director Sammo Hung
and stars Yuen Biao and Frankie Chan looking back on the making of the film
– Original theatrical trailers
– Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe
Kim

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?!
– Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Joe Kim
– Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Peter Glagowski

My overall thoughts on The Prodigal Son are that it is an incredibly fun, action-packed, bloody, and campy affair. It delivers everything it promises and some more, but at the end of the day, it is niche. You need to inherently like martial arts flicks for this to be your bag, but if you do like those kinds of flicks, this bag is full, and there is something here for the casual viewer to get into as well. I had a really fun time. I think Arrow did a great job on the release as well. The 2K scan is all that a film like this needs, as it looks bright, clear, and crisp. So, if this flick catches your interest, you’re probably going to want to grab it because it’ll make a great addition to any martial arts fanatic’s movie shelf!

[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO, MVD ENTERTAINMENT]

MY SAG-AFTRA/WGA STRIKE STATEMENT:
As an advocate for creators, actors, and writers, I firmly stand with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their current strike. The entertainment industry is built on these individuals’ extraordinary talents, and their contributions must be appropriately recognized and rewarded. They deserve fair compensation, sensible work hours, and respect for their creative rights. I believe in the power of unity and collective action, and I’m steadfast in my support for their fight for better working conditions and fair remuneration. Together, we can shape a more equitable future in the entertainment world.

#SAGAFTRA #WGA #SAGAFTRAStrong #WGAStrong