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

ADDITION: Eureka Blu-ray (April 2024): Eureka have transferred Daniel Lee's Black Mask to Blu-ray. This includes four versions on two dual-layered Blu-rays; the fully uncut Hong Kong (Cantonese) version, the original US version on the first - the alternate Taiwanese cut of the film and an extended version featuring all the unique footage from the various releases of the film re-inserted. They are cited as being "2K restorations" and are separate transfers (not seamlessly branched.) To go a step further on the latter two (both on a second Blu-ray); "This longer Taiwanese (Mandarin) version of the film was prepared exclusively for release in Taiwan and features a different opening text crawl, some longer dialogue scenes as well as some extra violence that was removed from the original Hong Kong release. As original materials could not be located, scenes unique to the Taiwan version are from a lower quality source. The alternate Mandarin audio option was produced for later home video releases and features remixed audio and effects." While the "extended version of the film attempts to incorporate all unique footage from the various releases of the film into a single cut. The majority of the footage comes from the Hong Kong release version, but also features additional footage from both the US and Taiwanese versions." We reviewed the Lionsgate MPEG-2 Blu-ray from 2008 HERE and compared a couple of captures below as well as each of the four versions in this Eureka release. Generally the Export (both on this Eureka release and the Lionsgate) have warmer skin tones - orangey, are brighter and show a shade more information in the frame. The Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Extended versions can look rough and lean blue with a few instances of compression artifacts / macro blocking. Without going into extraneous detail the Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Extended versions look about the same - as do the two US version colors. Thick without gloss and frequently heavy showing less crisp detail. I presume this is a fair representation of the original production. The 'export version' is, by far, the tightest looking (see sample HERE) if that visual aspect appeals to you most. I lean to the HK version and those are the majority of captures below.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-rays, Eureka use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround bump as an option for the Hong Kong version (the other being stereo) - both in Cantonese - and linear PCM 2.0 channel (all 24-bit) for all other  tracks - on the other versions. Languages are listed above (ex. the Taiwanese version has two Mandarin tracks - one original the other alternate). The linear PCM audio track on the extended version is almost entirely in Cantonese but short sections will feature Mandarin and English DUB'ing. Black Mask is rife with aggressive fight sequences (power-packed punches and kicks) and effects (rain, machine equipment, lasers, gunfire, explosions, acid spraying etc.) - they range from intense to scattered but are certainly impactful with an impressive amount of depth in general. The DUBs are kind of weak although this is certainly in-line with the theatrical. Overall this does appear authentic with occasional warts. The score was by Teddy Robin Kwan (As Time Goes By, Shanghai Shanghai.) Also credited are DJ Revolution (their only film composition credit) and Ben Vaughn (his first and who later went on to do TV work.) Depending on the version there is Hip Hop / Heavy Metal music and sampling by Half-A-Mil, Jonzun Crew, Erik Schrody (as Everlast), Badmarsh & Shri, Fat Joe (as J. Cartagena)  and much more. This all brings even more energy to the film and sounds reasonably clean. Eureka offer optional English subtitles (no preent on the Export's English DUB version) on their Region FREE Blu-rays.

The Eureka Blu-ray offer a new commentary by go-to Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) on the Honk Kong version where he states that instead of focusing on cast and crew information he analyses the sci-fi and superhero genre themes. We have heard Djeng's expertise on commentates for Eureka's Blu-rays of Slaughter in San Francisco, Magic Cop, Angela Mao: Hapkido & Lady Whirlwind, Knockabout, The Shaolin Plot and Dreadnaught. It's at his usual excellent informative standard. On the Export version we get a new commentary by Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder (editor of 100% Jackie Chan: The Essential Companion) and Arne Venema. They usually do commentaries on martial arts films on Blu-ray like The Fearless Hyena and Dragon's Forever. Here they discuss the title name translation, the producer Hark Tsui, how violent even the US version is, how many people die in the film, the laser sound effects, the explosive opening, the pop diva Karen Mok's hairstyle and mixed ancestry, Jet Li, director Daniel Lee, the locations and much more. It's fun and informative. Other extras include a new 1/2 hour interview with stuntman Mike Lambert as well as new interviews with film critic Andrew Heskins and another with with Leon Hunt, author of Kung Fu Cult Masters: From Bruce Lee to Crouching Tiger, for 18-minutes. Eureka include an archival 'Making of' featurette running 20-minutes with interviews. There are also three theatrical trailers as well as a US Video trailer. The limited edition package include an O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) and a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Simon Abrams.

Daniel Lee's Black Mask is filled with excessive violence carrying themes of revenge and government conspiracy. It has a cool sci-fi edge taken from the 1992 'manhua' - Chinese-language comic produced in Greater China. There is an embraceable homage with Jet Li's character Tsui Chik (the 'Black Mask') wearing a domino face covering and chauffeur's cap evoking Bruce Lee's Kato in The Green Hornet television series. Li is always charismatic but very much so here as a quiet librarian with his secret badass 'supersoldier' persona in his past... or so he thought. Pop diva Karen Mok adds a much-needed cuteness and Tsui's friend, Inspector 'Rock' Shek Wai-Ho (played by Ching Wan Lau), no-nonsense stability. Black Mask is a remarkably kinetic film with an immense amount of choreographed action. Quite a ride. Fans will be very pleased with the Eureka Blu-ray package - four versions, two commentaries, interviews, booklet. Easily the most complete home theater package of the explosive film... ever. Recommended.

Gary Tooze