The Valiant Ones 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Valiant Ones," presented by Eureka! Entertainment through its Masters of Cinema imprint, delivers a native 3840 x 2160p resolution image in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The source material, drawn from a 35mm original negative, has undergone a comprehensive 4K restoration. Utilizing the HEVC (H.265) codec, this release impressively supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10, leveraging the full potential of 10-bit video depth and a Wide Colour Gamut (WCG). The careful digital restoration process has yielded a filmic yet highly detailed presentation, where skin textures, fine clothing weaves, and environmental details such as tree bark and foliage are beautifully resolved. The colours are precisely graded, offering vivid reds, lush earth tones, and natural flesh hues, while shadow details benefit subtly from the advanced HDR implementation.

The meticulous restoration undertaken by L'Immagine Ritrovata Asia laboratory involves the removal of scratches, flicker, and spots, as well as reduction of background audio noise. The film remarkably retains its grain structure, emphasizing its cinematic origins while avoiding over-softening or excessive sharpness. Notably, the saturation and density of the palette receive a significant boost compared to the 1080p version, with certain scenes displaying improved clarity in shadowed areas. The black levels are commendable though not always inky black, while the white scale is handled superbly, highlighting sheens on steel and water without clipping. Despite some instances where grain appears heavy—particularly in sequences involving optical composition—the overall imagery remains stable and impressive. This UHD release stands out not only for its near-perfect preservation of detail and colour but also for its tribute to King Hu's original vision.

This technical tour de force provides an elevated visual experience that surpasses previous releases, making "The Valiant Ones" a noteworthy addition to any 4K UHD Blu-ray collection.

The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray release of "The Valiant Ones" features a Mandarin LPCM mono track, meticulously restored from the original sound negative. While it is technically limited by the source material, this track is remarkably well-realized with a clear definition between its elements. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, maintaining a natural tone and remaining the central focus. The sound effects, including exaggerated clashes of steel and whizzing arrows, are action-oriented and effectively immerse the listener within the film’s dynamic environment. The score ranges from sharp, impactful percussive elements to a more orchestral layering, enhancing the overall audio mix.

Despite some inherent limitations such as mild boxiness and occasional brightness in the highest frequencies, particularly noticeable in some musical scores, the audio track maintains a high standard. These minor issues do not detract from the overall clarity and effectiveness of the audio. The track plays well at reference levels, sitting just on the right side of distortion with minimal hiss or crackle, which ensures an engaging listening experience. Optional English subtitles are available, featuring a legible white font with correct grammar and British spelling that complements the original Mandarin dialogue seamlessly.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Valiant Ones" offers a robust selection of extras that enrich the viewing experience and provide deep insights into the film’s production and its historical context. The highly informative audio commentary by Frank Djeng serves as a comprehensive guide through the movie's intricate details. Tony Rayns adds valuable perspectives on King Hu’s cinematic landscape, including industry rivalries. David Cairns’ video essay delves into Hu’s influence on the Wuxia genre. Interviews with key figures such as stuntman Billy Chan and Ng Ming-choi provide firsthand accounts of working with King Hu, complemented by archival interviews that offer a historical viewpoint. The inclusion of a collector’s booklet and unique packaging enhances the overall value for collectors.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: With Asian film expert Frank Djeng.
• Tony Rayns on The Valiant Ones: Interview with critic and Asian film expert Tony Rayns.
• Tsar of all Wuxia: Video essay by David Cairns.
• The Life of a Lucky Stuntman: Interview with stuntman Billy Chan.
• My Father and I: Interview with actor Ng Ming-choi.
• Memories of Hu: Archival 2003 interview with Roger Garcia.
• Archival 2003 Interview: With actress Hsu Feng.
• Archival 2016 Interview: With actor Ng Ming-choi.
• Collector’s Booklet: Featuring writing by Jonathan Clements.
• Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase: Featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré.

"The Valiant Ones," often hailed as 'perhaps the last true wuxia film,' is directed by master filmmaker King Hu. Renowned for his work within the genre, Hu’s departure from Shaw Brothers to Golden Harvest resulted in a significant cinematic evolution. Set during the Ming Dynasty, the film's narrative is straightforward — pirates are raiding the Chinese coastline, and an elite group of fighters is dispatched to stop them. Despite its thin plot, Hu meticulously represents the era with authentic costumes, weaponry, and historical characters. The Jiajing Emperor, indifferent and delegating, sets the stage for Yu Dayou, a tactician leading a skilled group against pirates. Drawing heavily from "Seven Samurai," Hu's camera work captures strategic warfare and intense battle scenes, introducing the fighters through a gripping village defense.

Hu sidesteps character development, instead focusing on kinetic action scenes and maintaining a brisk pace. The middle section featuring a husband-and-wife duo infiltrating pirates adds fighting repetition but could afford some trimming. Nevertheless, the energetic choreography, quick cuts, and limited wire work offer grounded combat scenes with a palpable sense of peril. Heroes suffer real wounds and fatalities, ensuring balanced and engaging confrontations with antagonists equally adept in martial arts. The lack of superhuman feats aligns with wuxia conventions but retains realism that enhances audience investment. The climactic battles are particularly captivating, showcasing Hu's ability to ramp up tension and craft poised set pieces reflective of his visual genius.

While “The Valiant Ones” may be viewed as a personal statement by Hu amidst Hong Kong's industry rivalries, it radiates his signature epic sweep and aesthetical prowess. The film stands as a testament to Hu’s place in wuxia, melding historical epic elements with martial artistry. This synthesis extends beyond mere action sequences, painting a broader cinematic canvas that remains revolutionary and engaging for modern audiences.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "The Valiant Ones" from Eureka’s 'Masters of Cinema' series is a fitting tribute to King Hu's last true wuxia film. This classic showcases a paper-thin plot that serves as a backdrop for intense and visually stunning battle scenes. Filmed with a modern cinematic flair, it remains engaging and entertaining from start to finish. The native 4K image restoration is impressive, offering sumptuous visual detail, vibrant colors, robust blacks, and brilliant highlights, enveloped in a truly filmic quality. The LPCM mono track is remarkably clean, clear, and precise, ensuring an immersive audio experience that complements the high visual fidelity.

Technical aspects of this release exhibit some variability compared to the 1080p version, yet they are generally strong and do not detract from the compelling viewing experience. The video quality on this 4K UHD set is particularly notable, providing a substantial upgrade with its Dolby Vision HDR implementation. This meticulous restoration allows viewers to fully appreciate Hu's breathtakingly gorgeous cinematography. Furthermore, the extensive extras package adds significant value to this release. With rich, newly-produced content for its UK debut, collectors and enthusiasts will find much to savor.

In conclusion, "The Valiant Ones" might be celebrated director King Hu’s last true wuxia film, but what a film to go out on; the paper-thin plot there just to hold the many battle scenes together, which come thick and fast, with a modern cinematic style that is engaging and entertaining, while the film looks sumptuous and rightly deserves its place in the ‘Masters of Cinema’ series. Boot The 4K UHD set from Eureka is terrific, the native 4K image is sumptuous, with great detail, glorious colors, decent blacks, brilliant highlights, and an overall filmic image. The LPCM mono track is clean, clear, detailed, and precise. The extras package is extensive and includes all new material for this film that is receiving its UK debut here – and what a disc to do that, with a limited edition to boot! "The Valiant Ones" is available to buy from Eureka's 'Masters of Cinema' series on Limited Edition 4K UHD with Dolby Vision HDR from 27 May 2024.