SIGHT
THE UNBEATEN 28 was filmed in 1980 on low grade film stock. So there is plenty of discoloration, blemishes, grain, etc. Having stated that, this is a decent full frame transfer from Ground Zero, considerably cleaner and more colorful than their MASKED AVENGERS and CHINESE SUPER NINJAS DVDs. The full frame transfer sacrifices the movie’s low production values, yet fully retains the integrity of the fight choreography (which often suffers from jittery editing). The depth of the image provides unusual clarity, and the detail level is not compromised. In one of the films best moments, Meng Fei battles what looks like living statues. The color schemes and visual cues are suitably nightmarish. The interiors of the Tai Shing Shrine are appropriately brownish, with lots of colorful studio backlighting that displays vibrant reds, blues, greens, etc. The perfectly calibrated black levels help anchor the colorful canvas. THE UNBEATEN 28 contains some weapons work with swords, staffs, and triple irons. Meng Fei uses a ring weapon and Mark Long employs a hat which buzzes around like a flying guillotine. The transfer job on this disc is overall pleasing and reminiscent of the solid transfer of that other Meng Fei Ground Zero flick, KUNG FU OF 8 DRUNKARDS.
SOUND
I don’t know what Ground Zero has done to their DVD authoring, but the sound on this disc is quite an improvement. The DVD loads up the main menu where some sinister themes emanate from the soundfield with true stereo fidelity. The soundtrack for the movie is not as vibrant as the menu audio, but it’s still one of the best mono tracks we’ve heard in a while. Even though the audio is only Dolby Digital Mono 2.0, the soundtrack exhibits amazing depth, clarity, and resonance. Inside the Tai Shing Temple (which is where more than half the movie takes place), there is a marvelous echo effect that enhances the vocals and sound effects. The clanging weapons sound especially good in the shrine. The score is your typical Joseph Kuo affair—no original composing at all, just a collage of stock Kung Fu themes that we are all familiar with.
FEATURES
None.
CONCLUSION
Of all Joseph Kuo’s later low-budget films, this is the one that comes close to capturing the Shaw Brothers vibe. The sets and solemn drama capture some of that SB magic. Some awkward moments of humor and poorly photographed fight sequences keep this one from shooting to the top of the Kuo heap. Still, if you are a fan of Joseph Kuo then you’ll want to discover THE UNBEATEN 28 for yourself. Ground Zero kicks off their Eastern Heroes series with a bang, five decent flicks with transfers that easily match up favorably with the best efforts from Tai Seng. If you are already a fan of THE UNBEATEN 28, you’ll probably should be aware that there is a superior Region 2 DVD with a widescreen transfer. Of course, you’ll have to pay more to import that one. |
Technical Notes:
