Jet Li’s 90s Action Masterpieces Get a 4K Reissue!

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In the 1990s, Jet Li was a prominent action movie star, collaborating with top-tier directors to create an impressive collection of martial arts and action films. Some of his best (though harder to find) movies from that era are being reissued in 4K on digital platforms, thanks to Shout! Studios. The following five Jet Li classics will be released: “Tai Chi Master” (1993), “The Legend” (1993), “The Legend 2” (1993), “Fist of Legend” (1994), and “The Bodyguard from Beijing” (1994). These films will be available in 4K on February 18, 2025, through common digital platforms like Google Play, Fandango at Home, YouTube, Prime Video, Apple TV. For the first time, they will also be offered as a bundle on Apple TV and Fandango at Home. As stated in the press release from Shout! Studios:

In the ’80s and ’90s, Hong Kong cinema, especially the martial arts films of Jet Li, gained worldwide recognition for their exhilarating action sequences, distinctive visual aesthetics, and compelling narratives. These HK action classics are created by prolific actor, martial artist, and producer Jet Li, along with early works from acclaimed directors Gordon Chan, Yuen Woo-Ping, and Corey Yuen. On February 18, 2025, Shout! Studios, in partnership with Jet Li, will release these iconic movies – Fist of Legend (1994), Tai Chi Master (1993), The Legend (1993), The Legend 2 (1993), and The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994) – in stunning 4K digital format.

Jet Li expressed his gratitude towards our latest collaborator, Shout! Studios, in a press release. With this partnership, movie enthusiasts will now have effortless access to these captivating movies in breathtaking 4K quality across multiple digital platforms. Li hopes that a fresh wave of viewers will be acquainted with the action masterpieces, offering a peek into the remarkable skills of directors, scriptwriters, actors, stunt performers, and the entire crew hailing from the illustrious Hong Kong cinema legacy. For a more comprehensive understanding, here are brief overviews of the five films that follow.

Fist of Legend

Starring Jet Li, Siu-Ho Chin, Billy Chow | Directed by Gordon Chan

1937 saw a dedicated martial arts practitioner arrive back in Shanghai after completing his studies abroad, only to discover that his master had passed away and their martial arts school was being bullied by the aggressive Black Dragon Clan, a group of ultranationalists.

Tai Chi Master

Starring Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Siu-Ho Chin | Directed by Woo-Ping Yuen

Two Shaolin monks – one calm and modest, the other passionate and ambitious – are kicked out from their temple following a groundless charge of dishonesty. They venture down separate journeys before meeting again when one deceives the other and comes close to defeating him in battle. Whilst recovering, the more composed monk learns the strength of the gentle, flowing martial art of tai chi.

The Legend (aka The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk)

Starring Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Michelle Rei | Directed by Corey Yuen

Confident in his martial arts abilities, Fong Sai-Yuk (Jet Li) is renowned as one of the top fighters in the region. When a wealthy merchant (Sibelle Hu) proposes a competition to win the hand of his daughter (Li Jia Xing) in marriage, Fong eagerly accepts. Unfortunately, a case of mistaken identity forces Fong to step aside, causing his mother (Zhu Zhang) to take on the challenge instead. During this time, Fong’s father becomes embroiled in additional issues as part of a clandestine anti-government group.

The Legend 2 (aka The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk 2)

Starring Jet Li, Josephine Siao, Jeffrey Lau | Directed by Corey Yuen

As a cinephile, I find myself in an intriguing predicament, embroiled in the tale of Fong Sai Yuk (Jet Li), a Chinese legend who finds himself on the wrong side of a clandestine mission for the Red Flower Society. To retrieve a crucial artifact, he must win over the governor’s daughter, Man-Yin (Amy Kwok). This decision stirs dissent among my heart’s beloved, Ting Ting (Michelle Reis), and even my martial arts mentor mother (Josephine Hsiao). To complicate matters further, I engage in a martial arts tournament where I cross swords with the nefarious Yu (Chuen-Hua Chi) in an attempt to reinstate the Ming Dynasty.

The Bodyguard from Beijing

Starring Jet Li, Christy Chung, Kent Cheng | Directed by Corey Yuen

A skilled martial artist serves as the protective guard for a wealthy tycoon’s significant other, who holds crucial evidence in a murder case. As they strive to maintain a business-like bond and avoid potential perils, an unexpected attraction begins to develop between them.

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2025-01-30 23:03