The Valiant Ones 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The Valiant Ones arrives in a 4K UHD presentation courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment's Masters of Cinema imprint, presenting the film in its native 3840 x 2160p resolution, maintaining the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Leveraging a brand new 4K restoration from the original negative, this release uses HEVC (H.265) codec and supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, ensuring an immersive viewing experience. The restoration, completed by L'Immagine Ritrovata Asia laboratory in 2020, included a meticulous process to remove scratches, spots, and flickering while digitally grading the colors based on original timing sheets.

Detail is superb with clear textures visible on skin, clothing weaves, and scenic landscapes. The grain structure has been carefully preserved, imparting a cinematic feel without sacrificing sharpness. Trees, bark, foliage, and even fine details like tent stitching and game board grain are rendered with impressive clarity. Colors are vivid and well-balanced; reds are striking and earthy hues such as grasslands and leaves remain lush. Despite a somewhat cooler tint in outdoor scenes, HDR/Dolby Vision enhances shadow detail, especially in the blue day-for-night sequences. The black levels hold strong, supporting decent frame depth, though the presentation avoids going pitch-black often focusing instead on deep shadow detail.

Digitally, there are no compression artifacts, and the disc holds true to the filmic look thanks to effective grain management. Black levels provide adequate depth without over-relying on inky blacks, while the white scale is particularly noteworthy for highlighting sheen on metal and water surfaces without clipping. Overall, the upgraded 4K mastering showcases a lustrous palette with minimal age-related wear, presenting The Valiant Ones in an almost pristine condition that surpasses earlier 1080p versions significantly.

The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Valiant Ones" features a restored Mandarin LPCM mono track derived from the original sound negative. Despite the track's technical limitations imposed by its source material, it demonstrates an impressive realization. The dialogue is distinctly clean and natural, easily standing out as the focal point. The exaggerated sound effects provide dramatic emphasis during action sequences, including pronounced steel clashes, arrows whooshing, and impactful kicks. The instrumental score, ranging from intense percussive elements to orchestral arrangements, is well-integrated, maintaining dynamic range without overwhelming distortion.

While the audio track occasionally shows boxiness and a slight brightness at higher frequencies, notably within some sections of the score, these imperfections do not significantly detract from the overall listening experience. The sound remains clear with a defined separation between elements, and there are no pervasive signs of damage like hiss or crackle. Additionally, the optional English subtitles are well-formatted, using a crisp white font with proper British spelling and grammar, ensuring accessibility. This blend of technical restoration and attention to detail in subtitles enhances the film's timeless appeal, making the audio presentation on this Blu-ray release robust and engaging.

The extras on the 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Valiant Ones" are a comprehensive dive into the world of Asian cinema, with specialized content that will appeal to aficionados. The inclusion of a brand-new audio commentary from Frank Djeng provides expert insight, while Tony Rayns offers a detailed interview exploring King Hu and the historical rivalry between Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. Further depth is added with a video essay by David Cairns and insightful interviews, both new and archival, with industry veterans such as Billy Chan and Hsu Feng. These features, combined with collectible physical extras and a scholarly booklet by Jonathan Clements, make this release a treasure trove for film enthusiasts seeking to understand the cultural and cinematic significance of "The Valiant Ones."

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: With Asian film expert Frank Djeng.
• Tony Rayns on The Valiant Ones: Interview covering topics like King Hu.
• Tsar of All Wuxia: Video essay by David Cairns on Hu.
• The Life of a Lucky Stuntman: Interview with Billy Chan.
• My Father and I: Interview with actor Ng Ming-choi.
• Memories of Hu: Archival interview with Roger Garcia by Frédéric Ambroisine.
• Archival Interview: With actress Hsu Feng by Frédéric Ambroisine.
• Archival Interview: With actor Ng Ming-choi by Frédéric Ambroisine.
• Collector's Booklet: Essay by Jonathan Clements.

"The Valiant Ones," directed by King Hu, exemplifies the waning glory of the wuxia genre through a gripping yet straightforward narrative. The plot, set in the late Ming Dynasty, is uncomplicated with pirates threatening the land, triggering the deployment of a small band of elite fighters led by skilled tactician Yu Dayou. Hu meticulously represents the era with authentic costumes, weaponry, and historical characters, such as the disinterested Jiajing Emperor. The film’s opening battle scene, influenced by Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai," neatly introduces our protagonists' skills without delving into character arcs or motivations, focusing more on energetic and engaging battle sequences.

The action scenes are notable for their realism, with minimal wire work and a modern filming style characterized by medium shots and quick cuts. This approach ensures a dynamic sense of peril and excitement, as both heroes and antagonists exhibit equal combat prowess. The film maintains a brisk pace, though some may find the section involving a married couple infiltrating the pirates slightly protracted. However, the climactic battle compensates with its gripping intensity. Hu’s creative choices, including strategic warfare scenes and camera techniques, create an overall enjoyable cinematic experience despite the film's simplistic story.

"The Valiant Ones" not only highlights Hu's directorial prowess but also serves as a quasi-personal statement reflecting his departure from established studios like Shaw Brothers. Enriched with Tony Rayns's insightful commentary on King Hu's career and the historical context, it offers viewers a deeper understanding of the film's production background. While primarily designed for mass market appeal with its sweeping epic visuals and martial arts bravado, it subtly critiques authority and celebrates historical splendor, earning its place as a visually stunning, action-packed wuxia film.

"The Valiant Ones" marks director King Hu’s final noteworthy venture into the wuxia genre, and undeniably leaves a lasting impression. The plot is admittedly minimalistic, designed primarily as a vehicle for the frequent and engaging battle scenes, characterized by a modern cinematic flair. This meticulous blend of action sequences and visual storytelling culminates in a film that is both entertaining and aesthetically magnificent. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray release by Eureka is exceptional, presenting a native 4K image with remarkable detail, vibrant colors, satisfactory black levels, and brilliant highlights, ensuring an overall filmic presentation that justifies its inclusion in the 'Masters of Cinema' series.

This set does not hold back on its audio and supplementary content either. The LPCM mono track delivers clean, clear, detailed, and precise sound quality, enhancing the viewing experience. The extras package is expansive, featuring new material that complements the film's UK debut on this disc. The array of included supplements provides invaluable insights and context, further enriching the already impressive release. Although some technical aspects, particularly video quality, exhibit slight variability when comparing the 4K version to the 1080 version, these discrepancies are minor in the grand scheme and do not detract significantly from the viewing experience.

In conclusion, "The Valiant Ones" may be recognized as King Hu's swan song in the wuxia genre, but it undoubtedly reaffirms his prowess. The film is a visual feast and a technical triumph, anchored by extraordinary battles and solidified by a stellar 4K UHD release. With extensive supplementary content and pristine audio-visual quality, this Limited Edition from Eureka’s 'Masters of Cinema' series is a must-have for collectors and aficionados alike. Available from 27 May 2024, this release stands as a fitting tribute to Hu's cinematic legacy.