Magnificent Bodyguards Explained
Magnificent Bodyguards is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts film directed and produced by Lo Wei.[3] The film stars Jackie Chan, James Tien, Leung Siu-lung, and Wang Ping. Chan, along with Luk Chuen also worked as stunt coordinators. This film was well received in Hong Kong, but Chan himself doesn't like it. He puts it down to Lo Wei not giving him any creative freedom. This was the first film in Hong Kong to be filmed using 3-D technology, and it features music from Star Wars.[3]
Plot
Lord Ting Chung is hired to escort a woman's sick brother to the doctor, but he does it for free. To get there they must pass through "Stormy Hills", an area of Ancient China controlled by criminals. Then the sick man turns out to be the king of the criminals and is not really sick; he is just trying to reclaim his throne from an imposter. The king had previously murdered Ting Chung's father, and now Ting Chung has to fight for his life to get out and also to avenge his father.
Cast
- Jackie Chan as Lord Ting Chung
- James Tien as Tsang / Chang Wu-yi
- Leung Siu-lung as Chang
- Wang Ping as Lady Nan
- Lau Ming as Old Lady of Ma Por Inn
- Lee Man-tai as Bearded Shaolin Abbot
- Luk Chuen as King
- Fang Fang as Liu Chin-lien
- Ko Keung as Wen Liang-yu
Home media
- The Japanese Laserdisc is said to be the only version containing the 3D version, though the only audio language option is Japanese and it is missing 10 minutes of footage.
- On 22 March 2002, Eastern Heroes released it on DVD cropped from 2.35:1 to 1.78:1 and an English dub (edited to remove Star Wars music) with no other language options.
- On 28 October 2005, Universal Japan released their DVD in 2.35:1. However, it has no English subtitles.
- On 5 March 2007, Hong Kong Legends released their DVD in 2.35:1 in Cantonese with newly translated English subtitles. However, the Cantonese "mono" is a downmix from the 5.1 remix. Mandarin is the correct language.
- In 2010, Fortune Star/Shout Factory released the film as part of the "Jackie Chan Eight Film Collection" DVD set. It is in 2.35:1, features the mono English dub, as well as the Star Wars music cues edited out of other versions.
- On 23 September 2024, 88 Films Presents 88 Asia Collection released their Blu-ray in 2.35:1 in Mandarin with newly translated English subtitles. However, the Cantonese "mono" is a downmix from the 5.1 remix.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Magnificent Bodyguards (1978) . . 23 June 2020.
- Web site: 영화정보 . Movie Information . KOFIC . . ko . 26 August 2019 . dead . 21 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190321025355/http://kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/mast/mvie/searchMovieList.do .
- Web site: PopMatters. It's Pure Kung Fu Theatre and Somehow, 'Star Wars' in 'Jackie Chan Beginnings'. J.C.. Maçek III. 2 October 2013. 17 July 2014.
