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The Blade - The Criterion Collection

£29.99

Released: 13th April 2026. Among the boldest accomplishments of Hong Kong cinema’s golden age, this uniquely visceral martial-arts movie puts a gritty new spin on the story of the one-armed swordsman, an iconic figure from the moment he was introduced by the Shaw Brothers studio in 1967. Composed in a whirlwind of immersive close-ups and fractured editing, The Blade follows the young sword-maker Ding On (Vincent Zhao), who, after losing an arm in an ambush, transforms himself into a furious avenger. With its intentionally disorienting stylization and starkly brutal tone, The Blade was a rare commercial disappointment for Tsui Hark, but it has since been reclaimed as one of the director’s most radical visions—a tour de force of action expressionism, and a scathing reappraisal of the wuxia genre’s code of masculinity, that achieves a feverish intensity 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features New audio commentary featuring Hong Kong cinema expert and producer Frank Djeng Action et vérité (2006), a documentary featuring director Tsui Hark, coscreenwriter Koan Hui, and actor Xiong Xin-xin New video essay by filmmakers Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting) New York Asian Film Festival Q&A with Tsui from 2011 Alternate English-dubbed track International-version opening and end credits Trailer New English subtitle translation PLUS: An essay by author Lisa Morton New cover by Oliver Barrett

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4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

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  • Details

    Released:
    13th April 2026
    Category:
    Feature, Action
    Studio:
    Criterion Collection
    Format:
    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
    Barcode:
    5061088922375
  • Description

    Among the boldest accomplishments of Hong Kong cinema’s golden age, this uniquely visceral martial-arts movie puts a gritty new spin on the story of the one-armed swordsman, an iconic figure from the moment he was introduced by the Shaw Brothers studio in 1967. Composed in a whirlwind of immersive close-ups and fractured editing, The Blade follows the young sword-maker Ding On (Vincent Zhao), who, after losing an arm in an ambush, transforms himself into a furious avenger. With its intentionally disorienting stylization and starkly brutal tone, The Blade was a rare commercial disappointment for Tsui Hark, but it has since been reclaimed as one of the director’s most radical visions—a tour de force of action expressionism, and a scathing reappraisal of the wuxia genre’s code of masculinity, that achieves a feverish intensity

    4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
    • New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
    • One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
    • New audio commentary featuring Hong Kong cinema expert and producer Frank Djeng
    • Action et vérité (2006), a documentary featuring director Tsui Hark, coscreenwriter Koan Hui, and actor Xiong Xin-xin
    • New video essay by filmmakers Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou (Every Frame a Painting)
    • New York Asian Film Festival Q&A with Tsui from 2011
    • Alternate English-dubbed track
    • International-version opening and end credits
    • Trailer
    • New English subtitle translation
    • PLUS: An essay by author Lisa Morton
    • New cover by Oliver Barrett
    Region Code:
    Region B
    Duration:
    105 minutes
    Original Language:
    Cantonese
    Extras:
    Language(s): Cantonese, Alternate English dub track, Subtitles: English, Interactive Menu, Screen ratio 1 - 1.85:1, Mono, Bonus Footage, Commentary: Frank Djeng (Hong Kong cinema expert), Documentaries: 'Action et Vérité' (2006), Video essay by Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou (filmmakers); New York Asian Film Festival Q&A with Tsui Hark from 2011; International version opening and end credits; Essay by Lisa Morton (author); New cover by Oliver Barrett, Trailers
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