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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (January 2023): Aside from the menus, this appears to be the exact same two Blu-ray discs as the Eureka release from last year... and, of course, it is region 'A' where the Eureka was region 'B'. Same commentaries (5 of them!), same chapter stops, exact same running time, same extras, same image and same audio (cited as "Brand new 2K restorations by Fortune Star".,) same booklet essay, Different cover. The Arrow does offer a Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady, and an illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing on the films by critic James Oliver (same as the Eureka!) We win!

NOTE: If you put the Eureka in a region A-locked player you will get the Arrow menus! (thanks Eric!)

***

ADDITION: Eureka Blu-ray (September 2022): Eureka have transferred two delightful Angela Mao martial arts gems to Blu-ray; Lady Whirlwind and Hapkido - both from 1972. They are on separate dual-layered Blu-rays cited as being from "new 2K restorations". For the vast majority of the presentation the 1080P image quality is exceptionally strong with bright, deep colors, strong detail in close-ups and plenty of pleasing depth. There are infrequent sequences - sometimes only a few seconds long - where the image is imperfect - either abnormally soft (like SD bumps) or ratio skewed that could be the result of warping. This could very well be on the original source. I can't know. But the anomalies are few and far between but I have noted them with examples below. They didn't hinder my joy of watching these two films.   

NOTE: We have added 76 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Lady Whirlwind Blu-ray, Eureka offer the original mono Mandarin in a DTS-HD Master 1.0 track as well as a lossless English DUB. On Hapkido we get DTS-HD mono tracks in Mandarin and two English DUB variation options, plus a newer DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround DUB originally created for the film’s first DVD release. There sound is authentically flat and hollow in the way we nostalgically recall from the genre and era of Hong Kong classics offering crisp snappy cracks of martial arts combat with thuds and hollow grunts of exertion. It really sets the mood. Fans of action will remarks on the extensive choreographed and acrobatic nature of these many action scenes. The score on Lady Whirlwind was by Joseph Koo (Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon) and on Hapkido by Tsao Hua Lai (When Taekwondo Strikes.) Lady Whirlwind has Georges Garvarentz's The Bulldozer Leads The Dance. Hapkido has snippets of the opening theme, Pt.1, of Emerson Lake and Palmer's Eruption. There is another piece of popular 'standard' music in Lady Whirlwind that I am unable to identify. The audio occasionally sounds a shade rough but I imagine that it is authentic to the original production. Eureka offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Eureka Blu-ray offers five (yes five!) new commentaries for the two films. I haven't yet had the opportunity to indulge. On Lady Whirlwind by Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth, a second with Frank Djeng & martial artist / actor Robert “Bobby” Samuels and a third by film journalist and author Samm Deighan. We have heard Djeng and Worth's expertise recently on commentates for Eureka's Blu-rays of Knockabout, The Shaolin Plot and Dreadnaught. Djeng and Samuels were paired on a commentary for Chia-Yung Liu's The Odd Couple (also on Eureka Blu-ray) and I look forward to enjoying this one just as much. We also love Samm Deighan and I can't wait to tuck-into her commentary. For Hapkido we get Djeng and Worth again and a second for that film with Djeng and Samuels. I really enjoyed the 2 new interview with Angela Mao by Djeng. So pleasing to see her comments for about 1/2 hour in total at 72-years young. We also get 32-minutes of Kung Fu Cooking with Thomas King, Angela Mao's son plus we get archival interviews with Angela, Carter Wong, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. There are a variety of opening credits sequences, trailers, TV and Radio spots and stills galleries for both films. The Eureka double Blu-ray package offers a limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong poster artwork. Plus a reversible poster featuring original theatrical artwork and a limited-edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver. The limited edition content is for a 2,000 unit run.      

Eureka's Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind double Blu-ray set is magnificent. Angela Mao was one of the most prominent martial artist actresses of her time and positioned as a female version of Bruce Lee. Some may recall her as Su Lin - Lee's character's doomed sister in Enter the Dragon. She attended ballet classes before joining The Peking Opera and trained in Hapkido. She's gorgeous and has an undeniable onscreen charisma. In Lady Whirlwind, Miss Tien Li-Chun (Angela) comes to town with a score to settle... and kicks ass. Hapkido (released as Lady Kung Fu in North America) has early cameo appearances with Yuen Biao, Corey Yuen and a stuntman named Jackie Chan. This is one of the most complete Blu-ray sets of the year with the five commentaries, new interviews with Angela, artwork, booklet and more. Fans of 70's martial arts - notably set in ancient China - with the decade's most dynamic female star should consider this a must-own. I really enjoyed these visually aesthetic delightful features in 1080P and the endless extras make it absolutely essential. Don't hesitate. 

Gary Tooze