Jackie Chan fans, your November just got a little more interesting.
88 Films is bringing Magnificent Bodyguards to Blu-ray on November 10, and this isn’t just another trip down Hong Kong action-movie memory lane. The new two-disc release includes both a Real-D 3D Blu-ray and a standard 2D Blu-ray, featuring a brand-new 2K restoration from the original camera negatives.
Directed by legendary filmmaker Wei Lo, Magnificent Bodyguards was part of a pretty wild experiment. Lo, who helped launch Bruce Lee’s career, was introducing 3D filmmaking to Hong Kong—and he wanted his latest discovery, Jackie Chan, to literally jump off the screen.
The story follows Lord Ting Chung (Chan), who agrees to escort a sick woman and her brother through the dangerous Stormy Hills in search of a doctor. Naturally, the journey involves bandits, monks, soldiers, mysterious royal intrigue, and plenty of people who would prefer that the group never reach its destination.
And now, after years of only being available in 2D formats in North America, fans will finally get to experience the movie’s 3D action as originally intended. Chan, James Tien, and Siu-Lung Leung throwing punches and weapons toward the camera? That sounds like exactly the kind of old-school movie madness 3D was made for.
The release also packs in plenty of extras, including multiple Cantonese and Mandarin audio options, two English dubs, an audio commentary from Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, featurettes from James Mudge and Steve Lawson, plus remastered Mandarin and English trailers.
November 10. Two discs. Two dimensions. One very Jackie Chan way to spend an evening.
