Opium & The Kung Fu Master - DVD Review

The nexus of "Opium & The Kung Fu Master", a bountified Shaw Brothers feature, released from the vaults by Funimation, shows a martial arts master who loses everything because of his addiction to opium. Its intensity follows a much bigger but slightly more domestic angle of drugs within the community. The action, as is typical and wonderful of Shaw Brothers style, is quick and furious with specific attention played to style and form. The humor and drama blend with mainstream accuracy and the aspect of the widescreen format works well though the reality of the studio-based sets, at times, are all too obvious. Teacher Tie San is a man who can singlehandedly save a town through his skill. His men look up to him. An opium trader understands that the best way to take down an enemy is addict him to your product. The key is to never use your own stash. This causes the master's downfall culminating after one of his men follows his example and descends into opium only to lose his family to poisoned homicide. His brother-in-arms in turn tries to burn down the opium factory only to be later slaughtered by his opposers in trying to defend his teacher's honor. Tie cannot defeat them because he has the shakes. By rote, his blind master teaches him to overcome his sickness which is not unlike the later "Karate Kid". There are some great images within the picture especially a slow motion shot of the villain twirling a spear. The coda music also simplifies and heightens the actions with distinct fervor. The ending fight, like any underdog story, is fast and methodical yet simple in its intent. As far as trailers, the newer inclinations of horror with "Ghost Train" and inventive psy-fy motif with "Mushi" shows the new Asian cinema but fails to reflect on the other Shaw Brothers pictures available. The DVD is bare bones in terms of menu and features to make it fiscally possible to release. Ultimately though, seeing these films with newfound pristine perception and original aspects of dubbing and subtitling is a gift, Out of 5, I give it a 3.