Plot: What’s it about?
After learning of the death of his disciples, a guillotine master (Kam Kang) swears revenge and begins a search for the assassin. The man responsible for the deaths is the one armed boxer (Jimmy Wang Yu), but as the guillotine master is blind, finding even a one armed man will prove to be a difficult task. As the blind master starts a wave of murder on all one armed men he encounters, the real one armed boxer teaches at a powerful martial arts school. In order to help draw out the true one armed boxer, the head of the well known Eagle Claw school opens a large tournament, which should draw countless warriors. And indeed, the one armed boxer arrives, though he is present not as a fighter, but instead as a mere spectator. As the tournament battles continue however, he finds himself under attack from various assassins, though his incredible and often superhuman techniques keep him safe, if just for the moment. But the blind master begins to brandish his guillotine with great skill, leaving severed heads in his wake. As more and more assassins take aim on him, the one armed boxer’s resistance is put to the test. But when the time comes to face the blind guillotine master, can even his skills overcome the weapon’s destructive powers? The battle will be epic in all respects, but only one man can emerge as the victor…
If you’re a fan of old school martial arts movies, then you’ll be thrilled with this release of Master of the Flying Guillotine. This is one of the wildest, outlandish, and most fun kung fu pictures ever made, the kind of flick that is an instant good time. Have some friends over, pop open some beers, and this movie will provide the kind of experience you’re after, with tons of laughter and even more insane action scenes. I mean, this movie is so much fun, its like cinematic Prozac, as you simply can’t be depressed while it plays. The plot runs thin, but you won’t care for a second, thanks to the constant assault on the senses. A highlight is an extended sequence of various fights, which includes fighters from numerous disciplines sporting weapons of all kinds, from poles to spears to of course, the namesake weapon of mass destruction. The budget was also very sparse, so you’ll see some mistakes, but in the end, the mishaps add up to even more enjoyment. Jimmy Wang Yu stars and directs this picture, infusing it with a sense of madcap lunacy, not to mention some terrific cinematography in most scenes. But we can’t forget to discuss the soundtrack, which has some wicked cool electronic music and really enhances the experience. This release from Pathfinder also includes twelve minutes of additional footage, a brand new visual treatment, and a decent selection of supplements. So like I said, if you’re a fan of old school kung fu or just love to have fun, then Master of the Flying Guillotine is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Master of the Flying Guillotine is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Pathfinder hasn’t rested on its laurels and recycled the previous disc’s transfer, instead we have a brand new treatment, one that delivers an anamorphic presentation. Even so, the elements remain in rather worn condition, but this is not Pathfinder’s fault, as the prints haven’t been well handled. This is at heart the same version seen in the prior release, just given the benefit of anamorphic enhancement. Still, this is a more than solid looking presentation, one which is an immense improvement over previous home video incarnations. The print looks incredible when compared to other versions, with much less grain, debris, and marks, a real eye opener, to be sure. Some flaws remain, but if you’ve suffered through prior video editions, you’ll be stunned by this presentation. The colors are bright, though not all that vibrant, while black levels are more than acceptable. There is some softness and print wear, but for fans of the flick, this is like watching a brand new movie.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with the previous release, both Mandarin and English language options are available, but this time, as separate versions of the film itself. So you’ll need to choose the proper disc, depending on which version of the movie you wish to experience. I imagine most people are used to the English language version, so I am glad it was included, but I am more pleased to find the Mandarin option here. I’d never been able to see this in the original language, so it was a treat and for nostalgia’s sake, we can give the English language version a listen now and again. In a few places however, there is no English audio available, so the track defaults to Mandarin in those instances. The tracks have some slight wear & tear, but sound solid and better than I’ve heard before on home video. If you’ve viewed prior releases, then you’ll notice some nice improvements in overall presentation. This disc also includes subtitles in English and Spanish, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The English language version is provided on this release, in an edition that runs a few minutes shorter than the original. So this is not just an alternate dialogue option, but a different version of the movie itself, so fans can check out both. Next are exclusive interviews with star Jimmy Wang Yu and of course, these are a wonderful new addition. You don’t see many interviews with stars of these classic martial arts films, so I am pleased to see some included here. An audio commentary with film critics Wade Major and Andy Klein is up next though it isn’t as worthwhile as I had hoped. All the usual factoids about the genre and stars is here, but not much else beyond that. I’m sure they know their movies, but this is an ill prepared session that offers minimal insight. This release also includes some talent files, a selection of still photos, and three of the film’s theatrical trailers.
