NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Eureka Classics Blu-ray (August 2024): Eureka Classics have transferred Lo Wei's A Man Called Tiger to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration". This package offers both the 'Hong Kong theatrical' and, 1/2 hour shorter, 're-release' versions. Even with a discrepancy in the transfer, the image for both is not too far off with the theatrical looking negligibly superior. Overall there are a few inconsistencies but much of the film looks quite pleasing showing any inferiorities as representative of the era/genre. It can look soft-ish at times but there are instances of depth. Overall, I would say a rather middling HD presentation, but on-par with the sources, i suspect.  

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Eureka Classics use linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Mandarin with an optional English language DUB - for both cuts. A Man Called Tiger seems to have a fight sequence every few minutes. The whiplash effects are extensive, animated and predictably hollow. There are swords, knives, hatchets, axes and guns utilized. The score was by Joseph Koo (The Double Crossers, The Skyhawk, Lady Whirlwind, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, Slaughter in San Francisco) sounding supportive and fully representative of the gene - plus there are two lounge songs (included as music videos in the extras) by Frances Yip Lai-Yee playing a guitar in the 'Hostess' club and outdoors by a stream. The audio is flat and a bit tinny (authentic) in the uncompressed. Eureka Classics offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Eureka Blu-ray offers two new commentaries - both for the original Hong Kong theatrical cut. The first is by go-to Asian film experts Michael Worth and Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) who did the commentaries on Eureka's Blu-rays of Slaughter in San Francisco, Magic Cop, Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind, Knockabout, The Shaolin Plot, Dreadnaught and many more. They talk about how Bruce Lee left this project to do The Way of the Dragon. They also address the theatrical cut of the film - what is removed fro the re-release, locations in Hong Kong, the rating ("R" for violence,) Lo Wei (falling out with Bruce Lee), performers, Ying-Chieh Han's fight choreography and much more. It's very informative. The second commentary is by action cinema experts Mike Leeder (editor of 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion) and Arne Venema. We have heard Leeder and Venema via excellent commentaries on Eureka's Blu-rays of Odd Couple and The Shaolin Plot - plus 88 Films Blu-rays of The Fearless Hyena, Dragon's Forever plus Vinegar Syndrome's Righting Wrongs and many more. They talk about the revenge / vigilante aspect of the film and it moving to a Yakuza Gangster mystery effort than a casino milieu flic. They are always fun and know their stuff.  There is also a brand new 7-minute video essay by Brandon Bentley entitled Cutting Tiger, Hidden Subtitles discussing that aspect of the final film. Included are two music videos prepared exclusively for this release; Do You Know What Sadness Means? + Because I Have Your Love - performed in the film by Frances Yip Lai-Yee. There is 2-minutes of a textless opening and a longer trailer for A Man Called Tiger. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork, a limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling, a limited edition reversible poster featuring original poster artwork and there is a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer and critic James Oliver, and a short essay by Brandon Bentley about the versions of the film presented on this release.

Many fans of the genre can't help but wonder what Bruce Lee would have been like (had he stayed) in Lo Wei's A Man Called Tiger. Replacing him was James Wang Yu (Beach of the War Gods, The Man From Hong Kong) who was one of the first major stars of wuxia cinema. He's a wonderful leading man but no one had the screen charisma of Lee for martial arts. James-Dean-like Wang has been associated with members of the Bamboo Union, the largest of Taiwan's three main criminal Triads, though his status as a 'made man' was never made public. He's initially a man-on-a-mission in A Man Called Tiger trying to avenge his father's death against organized gambling criminals. He then becomes a somewhat reluctant gangster quasi-boss shaking down local vendors for protection coinage and shows his, no nonsense, badass side. In 2020 via the New Beverly Cinema, Quentin Tarantino stated that "For most of the movie it looks like a Japanese Yakuza film, plays like an Italian gangster film, and has the fight every ten minutes pace of a Hong Kong chop socky pic, until suddenly, without any proper set up, we find ourselves into the beginning of the film’s extended climax." A Man Called Tiger has appeal and the Eureka Classics Blu-ray does it right with two expert commentaries, booklet and more. Fans of the genre / era may be intrigued.

Gary Tooze