Review of Mar`s Villa (aka: Wu Tang Magic Kick)

Introduction

Oh no, here we go again. Another Soulblade DVD review. If you don`t want to read this one, just read one of the others. It will say almost exactly the same things, because the product is pretty much the same pile of garbage.

Insert standard plea here...

Can any DVD company who have rights to martial arts films, and who aren`t called Hong Kong Legends, please transfer all those rights to the aforementioned Hong Kong Legends effective immediately. Nobody does it better than Hong Kong Legends, although perhaps because nobody is trying. But if you won`t try, then don`t do it at all.

Right then, on with this DVD. It`s supposed to be a low budget classic revenge tale that`s worth a look, featuring John Liu, "a great on screen kicker".

Video

Yuck. A non-anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer which is in a little bit of a mess, absolutely reeking of print damage in the form of scratches, dust and dirt. There`s never a clean moment in the entire film, there`s always some scratch or damage to the print.

Better than some of these titles (at least it`s not cropped), but still not what we`re used to in this day and age.

Audio

Another day, another terrible English dub with poor translations and poor choices for voices. As ever there are also lots of weedy sound effects added over the top.

Features

Nothing worth talking about (trailers for other DVDs as well as the main feature itself).

Conclusion

I had slightly raised hopes for this one, given that I`d heard a little something about the film. But right from the start it turns out to be just as hard to watch due to the nastiness of what`s up on screen. Even part of the opening scene was missing, as when characters jumped from one position to another, I worked out that there were some frames missing. A shame really, but typical of these releases from Soulblade DVD.

Once again the film is a mess, the picture`s a mess, the sound is a mess.

If you want to see some great martial arts (with nice picture, sound, subtitles and more) then try Iron Monkey, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Legend of a Fighter, Magnificent Butcher, Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle`s Shadow, Once Upon a Time in China or Fist of Legend. Or why not get a Bruce Lee film instead?

If you want a piece of old tat that no-one has lavished any care and attention upon, this is your thing.

Avoid, even if it`s in a bargain bucket for 1 pound.