Review of Scorpion King, The

Introduction

The Scorpion King, a.k.a. Operation Scorpio, is another fan favourite recently released by the Hong Kong Legends label here in the UK.

When Fai Yuk-Su, a naïve schoolboy with a gift for drawing, is expelled for tomfoolery, his shamed father has no option but to ask an old friend to take them in. When Fai should have been learning Shakespeare, now he is being taught how to cook noodles at his Master Lo’s restaurant. However, even here the influence of the underworlds reaches, and soon Yuk-Su and his father are in big trouble with the boss and his protective son, The Scorpion King. They seem like easy targets – until Master Lo reveals his hidden kung fu skills…

Video

As always, the picture HKL has produced is nothing short of amazing. Although we would expect a good picture considering the film was only made in 1991, HKL has surpassed that – the picture is clear and with a high level of detail throughout, the colours are vibrant and the flesh tones spot on.

Audio

The original 2.0 Cantonese track is included, which I found very satisfactory. I am not a big fan of newly remastered 5.1 soundtracks as they often go horribly wrong, so the inclusion of the original is always a must. Here, the audio is clear and the dialogue free from hiss, and there is even some use of surround effects in the fight scenes.

Features

The main extra here is, as so often with HKL discs, another superb commentary by Bey Logan, which manages to be both vastly informative and entertaining to listen to. Especially interesting is his knowledge on the legendary Lau Kar-Leung (Drunken Master II, Eight Diagram Pole Fighter).

The Won Jin showreel is also another superb extra, although only 3 minutes long. Similar to the Hwang Jang Lee showreels on other HKL discs, Won Jon performs his various kicking and acrobatic skills for us, and some of these are quite amazing to watch.

The interview with Chin Kar-Lok runs in at 18mins, whilst the Won Jin inteview lasts 20mins. These substantial interviews are a great complement to the commentary, and together they cover pretty much everything you would want to know about the movie.

Finally, a biography of Lau Kar-Leung, written by Bey Logan, is included on the disc, along with some trailers. Although not as packed as some HKL discs, this is still rounds off a very impressive set of extras.

Conclusion

The Scorpion King has been much anticipated by kung fu fans because of the jaw-dropping skills of the eponymous villain Won Jin. He is indeed one of the best kickers I have ever seen, and can be ranked up there with fellow Korean kicking master Hwang Jang Lee, despite the annoyingly over-the-top use of wires in some scenes, which only serves to lessen Won Jin’s natural ability. The storyline is also suprisingly fun, with Chin Kar-Lok providing an endearing lead role. This is the first HKL title with the great Lau Kar-Leung in it, and although he only has a few number of fights compared to his earlier Shaw Brothers material, his kill has not diminished (especially with the three-section staff!).

Overall I would give this DVD an 8, for its entertaining story, good fights and strong set of features. Highly recommended for any fight fan.