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

ADDITION: Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray (February 2022): Umbrella Entertainment have transferred Michael Mak's Hong Kong softcore pornographic feature Sex and Zen to Blu-ray as their second title entry into their new sub-label 'Sensual Sinema'. The initial entry was Showgirls (1995) and the third will be a double feature of In the Real of the Senses (1976) and Empire of Passion (1978.) Sex and Zen was categorized as a restrictive Category III rating (the Hong Kong equivalent of NC-17 in the US.) There are Asian BDs available but I don't know their quality. This is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate and transferred in 1080P. It has some surface scratches and some compression noise noticed (SD bump?) but also some appealing grain. It looks reasonable if showing minor inconsistencies. Colors appear true and un-embellished. Not dynamic but I would guess the best to date without officially comparing.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Umbrella Entertainment offer robust Cantonese and English (DUB) 5.1 surround tracks in lossless DTS-HD Master (24-bit) and lossy stereo for both languages. Sex and Zen has few aggressive moments (whippings, confrontational sexual activity etc.) that come through with modest separations and a score by Wing-leung Chan that adds a traditional musical expression (the film is supposed to be set in a period some 400-years ago) sounding decent if a bit tinny in higher end of the lossless transfer. Umbrella Entertainment offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray offers an interview with director Michael Mak for about 1/4 hour, in Cantonese, with English subtitles and there is a theatrical trailer.

Michael Mak's Sex and Zen was Hong Kong's most successful film of this genre spawning a couple of sequels and a 3-D titled, more modern, version (none relate to the story of this initial film.)  I have to admit it is pretty cute in its absurdity (in terms of fetishes) and somewhat erotic. Amy Yip (Erotic Ghost Story, Robotrix) became one of the hottest HK stars of the 90's despite never agreeing to show her full naked body onscreen - notably her oversized breasts. This was accomplished through, what became known as the 'Yip Tease', with discrete camera angles, nipple pasties, body doubles, and careful editing so that full frontal nudity was never visible - although partial shots of her breasts, buttocks etc. fill Sex and Zen. I thought it was more graphic than what we consider 'cheesecake' and there are some aggressive, simulated, sex scenes in a variety of amusing positions. There is a book about Amy Yip's life by Chaz Gower, HERE. Certainly there is a place for these funny, sexy, films - a resurgent niche of Hong Kong cinema that cropped up in some of the Shaw martial-arts/horrors of the 70's that added an erotic edge with partial nudity and suggestive sexual activity (The Oily Maniac, The Vengeful Beauty, Black Magic, The Human Goddess, etc.) The Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray has appeal, if light on extras. Yip fans will probably want to indulge.

Gary Tooze