Burning Paradise | Blu-ray

In a world of Hong Kong action dominated by John Woo, Johnnie To, Tsui Hark, and Sammo Hung, Ringo Lam can feel like a bit of an overlooked talent. Despite working with many of the industry's biggest stars of the 80s and 90s his career faded in the decades that followed. At his peak, however, he was a powerful action filmmaker with a style entirely his own.

Burning Paradise is the only traditional martial arts movie of Lam's career. A fantasy and horror tinged tale of warring factions during the Qing Dynasty. A young Shaolin disciple is on the run from government forces. Captured by a sadistic general our hero must battle his way to freedom to continue the struggle against a oppression.

Procuded by legendary fantasy/action director Tsui Hark, Burning Paradise is a wild, bloody, special effects filled wuxia extravaganza. A noted box office bomb upon its release, but it's gained recognition over the years as a uniquely dark and sinister film in a largely up-beat genre.

Special Features (via vinegarsyndrome.com)

• Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative
• Commentary track with film historian & author Samm Deighan
• “A Rare Confidant” (16 min) - a brand new interview with actor Wong Kam Kong
• Archival interview with Producer Tsui Hark (5 min)
• Video essay by filmmaker Chris O’Neill (20 min)
• Original theatrical trailer
• 12-page booklet with essay by martial arts film historian and author Grady Hendrix
• Inside sleeve artwork
• Newly translated English subtitles and SDH subtitles