Import Corner: Fearless Hyena II (88 Films) Blu-ray Review + 1080p Screenshots + Packaging Shots

88 Films finally brings the "patchwork" classic, Fearless Hyena to blu-ray.

Studio: 88 Films
Release Date: March 4th, 1983 (theatrical) / May 20th, 2024 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes 5 seconds
Region Code: B (locked)

Disc Count: 1 (BD-50)

Picture: 1080p (2.35:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (alternate)
Subtitles: English
Slipcover: Yes (a thick one like the Vinegar Syndrome slipcovers)
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Jackie Chan, Dean Shek, Yam Sai-koon, Kwan Yung-moon, James Tien, Chan Wai-lau, Austin Wai
Written by Lo Wei
Directed by Chan Chuen
Rating: BBFC: 18 (bloody martial arts violence)

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Poster

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What's It About?

By the early 1980s, Jackie Chan’s popularity made him box-office gold. Thus when, midway through filming the sequel to his hit THE FEARLESS HYENA, Chan walked off the production to defect to rival studio Golden Harvest, producer Lo Wei opted to complete the film with the help of stunt doubles and recycled footage. The result—the tale of two lazy cousins (Chan and Austin Wai Tin-chi) who join forces to avenge the deaths of their fathers—may not be pure Chan, but there are plenty of loony pleasures (including our hero fighting an adversary with his feet!) to be had.

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Video/Audio

There's no information about the transfer use here other than it is a 1080p transfer. I can say I think it might have been a 2K scan the picture quality seems much better than a normal 1080p transfer. I have a suspicion the transfer was done a few years ago and they just didn't tell 88 Films about it. Regardless, this is a beautiful transfer. Film grain is present but never overwhelming (for all those grain haters). The colors are vivid and lush but never overblown. There are no signs of DNR or any added filters. This is a transfer to be proud of.

There are two English tracks presented here but I would be wrong if I told you I could tell the difference between the two. One sounds better than the other but they both sound like the same track. I don't know if that is the case but they sure as shit sound the same to me.

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Extras/Packaging

Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng and F.J. Desanto - I have sung the praise of the Frank Djeng commentary many times before and this track is no different. Tons of information presented to us in a way where we don't fall asleep. There are many tracks out there from historians that are boring as hell. This track is not. The conversation between Djeng and DeSanto is well worth the price of admission.

Fake Shemps - How Fearless Hyena II Was Completed Without Jackie Chan (16m 23s, HD, 1.78:1) Filmmaker Steve Lawson gives us a history of this troubled production as well as what a "fake Shemp" is. He then talks about films that have been made before Fearless Hyena II including Plan 9 from Outer Space, Game of Death, and another Jackie Chan film, The Master with the Cracked Fingers. We find out there is about 27 minutes of "new" Jackie Chan footage. Then there is the newly shot footage with a stand-in along with footage from other Jackie Chan films. He then goes through the whole film (not minute by minute) and provides commentary about the footage and where it comes from.

Export Opening Credits (1m 58s, HD, 2.35:1)

Japanese Theatrical End Credits (2m 19s, HD, 2.35:1) These credits are great. They play like the opening credits to some shitty 80s TV sitcom.

Hong Kong Trailer (3m 47s, HD, 2.35:1)

Japanese Trailer (1m 35s, HD, 1.78:1) in Japanese with English subtitles

Stills Gallery (2m 40s, HD) autoplays with the main theme from the film

I really like the packaging here. First off, we have a nice, thick slipcover. It's the style Vinegar Syndrome has used for the longest time. I believe other companies are using them like Severin, unless they stopped. The artwork is done by the amazing Kung Fu Bob O'Brien who has done so many awesome blu-ray covers like BATTLE CREEK BRAWL, RIKI-OH: THE STORY OF RICKY, and the original THE FEARLESS HYENA. Taking the slipcover off, we are greeted with a UK-sized, blue blu-ray case. The artwork here is reversible, with one side being the Kung Fu Bob artwork and the other featuring the film's original poster art. Inside the case, we find a 32-page booklet featuring an essay by David West, screenshots artwork, and credits. The disc features a portion of the Kung Fu Bob artwork as it's disc art.

This blu-ray is REGION B (locked).

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Overall

FEARLESS HYENA II sucks. I just want to make that clear. The actual Jackie Chan footage is fine. It's Jackie Chan and you know what you are going to get. But the other footage is pretty damn bad. I will give the film this: At least Lo Wei made a film out of the footage but he kept the story the way the footage was. They didn't pull a GAME OF DEATH and have the original footage not match the new footage in terms of story. The film we got is so far removed from the Bruce Lee version that they feel like two different films. With this film, they have to hide the fact that Chan isn't in most of the film so they have an actor wear a hat, fake mustache, and a red nose. No, not like a clown nose. They just paint part of his nose (not the whole thing, mind you). It makes Jackie look like a buffoon. The story is all over the place, characters come and go as they please, and the fight scenes are average at best. I will most likely never watch this film again unless I am doing an "in order of release" Jackie Chan marathon.

This blu-ray, however, is the exact opposite. We get a premium slipcover with gorgeous artwork, a booklet with a well written essay, a commentary by the always reliable Frank Djeng, a featurette about the making of the film, and trailers. The picture quality is great with a lovely grain structure, and vivid colors. The audio is stupendous with two English tracks and the original Cantonese. I can wholeheartedly recommend FEARLESS HYENA II to Jackie Chan lovers and people who love bad films.

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Extras/Menus