Duel to the Death — Duel to the Death(Blu Ray)
Duel to the Death is a 1983 martial arts movie from director and stunt co-ordinator, Siu-Tung Ching (Chinese Ghost Story, Dragon Inn and The Swordsman trilogy). The film was Ching’s directorial debut, up to this point he was renowned as one of the great stunt-co-ordinators on the martial arts scene having previously worked on The Shaolin Boxer and The Sword before going on to work on some of the greatest martial arts films of the 1980s and 90s including A Better Tomorrow II, Moon Warriors and Hero, as well as working with Sam Raimi on the first instalment of his Spider-Man trilogy.
Set in the 16th century, Duel to the Death tells the story of two great warriors, Chinese swordmaster, Ching Wang, the Sword Saint (Damian Lau from Zu Warriors, New Legend of Shaolin and My Father is a Hero), and his Japanese counterpart, Hashimoto (Norman Chu from Tiger on the Beat, Taoist Priest and White-Haired Devil Lady). As champions of their respective nations the pair are due to face one another in a duel to the death for their nation’s honour, however, there are a number of attempts to sabotage the duel which leads to both champions working together and becoming friends, as they attempt to ensure the duel goes ahead to preserve their honour, whilst also foxing the Shogun’s plan to kidnap the world’s most accomplished martial artists in order to make himself ruler of the entire planet.
Duel to the Death is one of the last of the golden age of martial arts movies to spring from Hong Kong. It is beautifully shot and features some of the finest action sequences ever committed to celluloid, choreographed with impeccable style by director Siu-Tung Ching. The performances are great across the board, particularly those of the two leads and Flora Chong-Leen as Sheng Nan, and whilst the plot can seem a little confused at times it doesn’t spoil one’s enjoyment of the film. The new 2k restoration looks stunning, the picture is crisp and clear and the colours are vibrant without any bleed. The disc features a few interesting bonus features including an audio commentary from Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and interviews with screenwriter, Manfred Wong, actor Norman Chu and actress Flora Chong-Leen. This limited edition release also features a collectors booklet featuring essays from James Oliver and Frank Djeng.
Overall, this is a welcome addition to the Eureka catalogue, Duel to the Death is an important film in the pantheon of Hong Kong martial arts cinema, whilst it is often described as the last great film of the golden age of martial arts I think it fair to say it also ushers in the new era, paving the way for films like Moon Warriors, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers. Duel to the Death is a great film and one that deserves all of the accolades thrown at it.