Hero is a gifted martial artist who is honored to be chosen for training by his mentor, Pride. Upon arriving home to tell his family about this achievement, Hero discovers that his parents have been murdered by a group of foreign gangsters. Hero then uses his family's mystical red sword to exact revenge on his parents' killers. Now a wanted man, Hero is forced to leave behind his lover Jade and his best friend Sheng in order to start a new life in America. 16 years later, Sheng and Hero's now grown son, Sword, travel to 1930s New York City in search of him. Sword learns of his father's time in America through a series of stories told by those that knew Hero best. However, now in this new land, Sword undergoes some of the same treatment as his father and is forced to face many new enemies, such as violent gangsters and racist mine workers.
Loosely based on the popular Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword comic book series and directed by one of Hong Kong's most celebrated directors, Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs, Initial D), A MAN CALLED HERO is an epic tale of revenge and redemption told mostly through flashbacks and is remembered in part for its comic book style cinematography and innovative effects. Starring Ekin Cheng (Heroic Duo, Tokyo Raiders) as Hero, Nicholas Tse (Raging Fire, New Police Story) as Sword, and featuring a strong supporting cast including Hong Kong's notorious Anthony Wong (Ebola Syndrome), martial arts master Yuen Biao (Righting Wrongs), and the lovely Kristy Yeung (Storm Riders), Vinegar Syndrome Archive is proud to present A MAN CALLED HERO on Blu-ray for the first time in North America, newly restored from a studio provided master, complete with all the stylized martial arts action one could ask for, including a memorable fight scene on the top of the Statue of Liberty.
directed by: Andrew Lau
starring: Ekin Cheng, Nicholas Tse, Anthony Wong, Yuen Biao, Kristy Yeung
1999 / 116 min / 2.35:1 / Cantonese 5.1 Surround with English subtitles + English Stereo dub + Mandarin Stereo dub
Additional info:
- Region A Blu-ray
- Newly restored by Vinegar Syndrome from an existing studio master
- Presented in its original Cantonese language 5.1 surround soundtrack with newly translated English subtitles, an English language dub 2.0 stereo soundtrack and a Mandarin language dub 2.0 stereo soundtrack
- Brand new commentary track with film historian Frank Djeng
- "A Blood Sword in the Road: A Man Called Hero’s Place in Hong Kong Cinema’s Action Movie Landscape" (17 min) - a video essay by Justin Decloux of The Important Cinema Club
- Reversible sleeve artwork
- Newly translated English subtitles
