From the Collection: The Blade (1995)
Tsui Hark’s 1995 martial arts film The Blade has been added to the Criterion Collection.
Among the boldest accomplishments of Hong Kong cinema’s golden age, this uniquely visceral martial-arts movie puts a gritty new spin on the story of the one-armed swordsman, an iconic figure from the moment he was introduced by the Shaw Brothers studio in 1967. Composed in a whirlwind of immersive close-ups and fractured editing, The Blade follows the young sword-maker Ding On (Vincent Zhao), who, after losing an arm in an ambush, transforms himself into a furious avenger. With its intentionally disorienting stylization and starkly brutal tone, The Blade was a rare commercial disappointment for Tsui Hark, but it has since been reclaimed as one of the director’s most radical visions—a tour de force of action expressionism, and a scathing reappraisal of the wuxia genre’s code of masculinity, that achieves a feverish intensity.
Here’s What the Disc Includes:
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
- New audio commentary featuring Hong Kong cinema expert and producer Frank Djeng
- Action et vérité (2006), a documentary featuring director Tsui Hark, coscreenwriter Koan Hui, and actor Xiong Xin-xin
- New video essay by filmmakers Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)
- New York Asian Film Festival Q&A with Tsui from 2011
- Alternate English-dubbed track
- International-version opening and end credits
- Trailer
- New English subtitle translation
- New cover by Oliver Barrett
- PLUS: An essay by author Lisa Morton
Watching The Blade is watching a speeding locomotive with no brakes. It’s a non-stop, epic journey about revenge, the hero’s journey, love, longing, and tragedy. There is so much going on in this movie, and it never takes a breath. The plot can get a little muddled at times, but it quickly clears up. You always know who you are rooting for and who is the villain. The fight sequences are spectacular and some of the most violent wuxia fights I’ve ever seen. Along with the excessive blood, Hark added a level of brutality to these battles, showing us the soldiers’ raw wounds, making the hits even harder. The 4k restoration is beautiful, elevating the picture and sound so the colors and fights are crystal clear, and the sound is layered and crisp. The climactic fight is a true spectacle, showcasing the physicality of the actors and Hark’s brilliant vision. The Blade’s relentless pace and aggressive style will leave you breathless.
The disc’s special features are good, especially. Also, I want to give a special shoutout to the new cover from Oliver Barrett. It is one of my favorite Criterion covers of the year and one I would love as a poster. The Blade is an excellent Wuxia Renaissance movie and will make you want to dive headfirst into Hark’s filmography.
You can find The Blade on the Criterion Collection website or wherever you find Criterion DVDs.
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From the Collection is an analysis of non-new-release movies, whether seen on DVD, streaming, or in a theater. It includes a brief history of the film, a review of the film, and content about the experience of seeing the film and/or the contents of the film’s DVD.
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