The Four Invincibles: Technical Notes

SIGHT
Xenon has utilized an Ocean Shores video master for their DVD presentation (the OC logo pops up occasionally). The transfer is a full frame presentation, severely truncated from THE FOUR INVINCIBLES original 2.35.1 ratio. This movie is seriously lacking production values, so the transfer is not as appalling as if it were a Shaw Brothers production. However, the fight sequences are clumsily captured in the frame. The fight sequences are natural and not over choreographed—neither are they all that intricate or exciting. The transfer has the combatants going in every direction and frequently off screen unfortunately. The quality of the print is serviceable and free from major blemishes, but things are awfully dark and colorless. There is a certain amount of softness in the image, that hinders the detail level. The action takes place either in tight interiors or in the woods, so there is not a whole lot to look at here, except for the (made-up) ugly mugs of the cast (Cecilia Wong notwithstanding of course). The black levels appear out of synchronization. The transfer is inconsistent as well, and overall clarity and quality vary. See our screenshots for an example of what we are talking about.

SOUND
THE FOUR INVINCIBLES is presented in Dolby Digital Mono 2.0. Overall, this is a good mono sound mix with none of the problems that plague VHS tape--no scratches, pops, or background noise. The audio spans the frequency range allowing for clear and precise sound. Although a composer is credited (Chan Fun Chi), this is stock music which we’ve all heard hundreds of times before. The music anchors the other sound elements in the mix, though. Like all Xenon DVDs, don’t expect the original language track. This is the same English dub employed when THE FOUR INVINCIBLES played selected U.S. theaters nearly 25 years ago. The dialog is prominent in the mix, and does not distort. Don’t expect the same experienced dub team that did all the Shaw Brothers classics. I recognize many of the voices from SHAOLIN DRUNKEN MONK and other bottom-level chop-sockey flicks. The sound effects are rather interesting this time out, because the heroes are not using your typical martial arts weaponry; they are using crutches, canes, and staffs. And during the training sequences the protagonists go against unorthodox training equipment which creates some more strange sound effects. Overall, a solid acoustic effort from Xenon.

FEATURES
The colorful Main Menu reflects the front cover artwork, and adds some tinny Chinese stock music. The only extras on the disc are the bonus fight scenes from the other movies in the Wu Tang Classics collection:

JACKIE AND THE 36 CRAZY FISTS

WU TANG CHAMP AGAINST CHAMP

BUDDHA ASSASSINATOR

EAGLE VS. SILVER FOX

INVINCIBLE OBSESSED FIGHTER

CONCLUSION
THE FOUR INVINCIBLES is essentially a bargain basement rehash of the Venoms movie CRIPPLED AVENGERS, but without all the ingredients that made that epic so monumental. I’ll give this movie credit for one thing, it packs in every element of martial arts cinema into its short running time: drunken masters, crippled fighters, Chinese country bumpkins with no teeth, revenge subplots, training sequences, extreme violence, toilet humor, and every other cliché you can think of. THE FOUR INVINCIBLES also features a strong cast, which really doesn’t save the movie as a whole. The fight sequences are believable, but not very memorable. Xenon’s DVD presentation is certainly good enough for those who appreciate these wacky Kung Fu comedies, but there are better movies in the Wu Tang Classics series to spend your hard earned money on.