Super Kung Fu Kid: Technical Notes

SIGHT
Any movie from 1974 suffers from discoloration, blemishes, grain, etc, and THE SUPER KUNG FU KID is no exception. The source element used for this DVD is a full frame Ocean Shores video master, which has surely seen better days. However, the quality of the print is better than most martial arts films from the late 1970s and 80s. THE SUPER KUNG FU KID is plagued with low production values which forces the filmmakers to film the action in expansive exteriors, and even though the photography is cropped, the action sequences are well framed—not something you usually see with these older movies. Occasionally, detail is lost in the shadows. Black levels are deeply calibrated and skin tones are fully balanced. The editing and action are pleasingly preserved in this transfer.

SOUND
The sound on Tai Seng’s disc is Dolby Digital Mono 2.0. The frequency levels exhibit a broad range of highs and lows, and the acoustics are crisp and clear. There is no hiss, background noise, or other audio anomalies evident in the soundtrack. THE SUPER KUNG FU KID is mainly dialog driven with the expected martial arts sound effects (such as kicks, chops, clanging staffs and swords, etc.). The dialog is delivered with depth and clarity; however there is one major problem with the English dubbing. THE SUPER KUNG FU KID contains a large cast with many speaking roles. There’s like 2 or 3 voice actors handling the vocal duties, and it is very bizarre to see a character having a conversation with another actor with the same voice coming from both. The score is an energetic 1970’s funk-tinged orchestration common to this era.

FEATURES
The only extras are English language trailers for these upcoming Tai Seng special edition DVDs (all trailers are widescreen with Dolby Digital Mono sound):

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

DRAGON INN

ARMAGEDDON

THE DUEL

FIST POWER

BODY WEAPON

DEADFUL MELODY

THE ASSASSIN

FISTS OF FURY (TV)

There is also the requisite 30-second Martial Arts Theatre compilation trailer.

CONCLUSION
THE SUPER KUNG FU KID overcomes major weaknesses to provide a solid 90 minutes of brisk, fast-paced Kung Fu entertainment. Considering the film’s independent origins, Joseph Kong Hung delivers energy, intensity, and savage action. THE SUPER KUNG FU KID features talents such as Bolo Yeung, San Kuei, Mars, Nick Cheung, and others. Tai Seng’s bare bones DVD edition of THE SUPER KUNG FU KID includes a decent full frame transfer.