Search - Dance Of The Drunk Mantis / From China With Death on DVD

Very good value overall

11/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"... Despite
the fact that the DVD is from a VHS source (almost all the
old school movies are, esp. those released by Ground Zero),
this double feature offers the chance to see two of Woo Ping's
excellent early efforts. Dance of the Drunken Mantis stars Whang Jang Li and Simon Yuen (Sam the Seed), and is a classic old schooler. It easily carries its weight. From China with Death (aka Wits to Wits)is a'modern day' action flick set in the 70's and is a kung-fu comedy starring the prolific Wu Ma, Henry Yu Yung and Corey Yuen (who is also in Dance of th DM). Corey Yuen directed flicks like Savior of the Soul, Letter to my Father (Jet li), Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2 (also Jet Li) and many other of Hong Kong's best action movies. In short, these are well worth it for any fan of hong kong/action cinema."

Buy the Original Hong Kong Version, if at all possible

P. Burdick | Oneonta, NY United States | 04/16/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The "Black Belt Theater" series often leaves much to be desired. The transfer of Dance of the Drunken Mantis is so bleached out that the subtitles are often unreadable. Whenever the silver-haired Jang Lee appears, most of his face is indiscernable. What a waste of money! The picture quality on From China with Death (which is dubbed) is also horrible, but due to cropping and the dirty, VHS "original" that was used. I have learned my lesson with "Black Belt Theater": I won't buy that title again.My advice is that you go to a Hong Kong Imports film distributer and try to find ALL your kung-fu films there. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the really good, re-masters of the best martial arts films (per their original HK release version) are Region 3 encoded."

You get what you pay for!

Christopher Hiransomboon | Torrance, CA USA | 07/31/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First off the picture quality is poor on both movies. "Dance" is widescreen but the picture's brightness is so bad that you lose the action at points and the subtitles are often unreadable. "China"'s picture quality is fullscreen but somewhat more watchable but is taken from a VHS copy and even freezes and has tracking problems at points. "Dance" is the only reason to get this DVD as it is a Yuen Woo Ping movie and a sequel of sorts to Drunken Master with Jackie Chan. The action is good (when you can see what's happening) even if the storyline is missing (or not able to be read for those who don't understand Cantonese). I suggest you wait for a better version of the movie on DVD unless you absolutely must have it."

One of the worst transfers ever

morgoth | omaha, NE | 05/07/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"FROM CHINA WITH DEATH-bad picture but very watchable. But who is going to watch a movie where wu ma plays the hero. i know that I certainly never will again.



DANCE OF THE DRUNKEN MANTIS-I actually like this movie better than drunken master. Not too often you will find a sequel that's better than the original. But you just don't beat the drunken masters fight!! If you can get this for like 3.99 like I did, that's the only way that I can reccommend it. When Hwang has a white backround behind him, you literally can't see him."