Two monks follow a reformed demon, while another demon causes mischief in Ngai Choi Lam & Sze-Yu Lau’s Saga of the Phoenix, now in a new Blu-ray from 88 Films.
The Film
Another week, another Golden Harvest review (The Hung box set, Rosa, and TMNT III for the past month)! And more Yuen Biao after Shanghai, Shanghai, and Rosa!
Saga of the Phoenix is the 1989 sequel to The Peacock King of the previous year, based on a Japanese Manga. It has that light 80s kid Saturday Afternoon fantasy run. Apparently, more kid-friendly than the original; it’s a fun one. I dig that vibe; I can see this playing well in that outlook, especially in its context. The sense of fun, gags, and hijinks make the film totally enjoyable. There is a little lacking, not quite there, with too much downtime in the second act, but the bookending sequences are so much fun, featuring big, goofy, practical effects and a wild approach, making it a worthy watch.
As noted, this is a sequel. I’m stating here that I’ve not seen the first one. It’s not streaming, so I didn’t get to watch before this review, but it is also receiving a release from 88 Films. Sorry. I might have lost some information, but I think I got what I needed; the commentary says I don’t need to know much. It seems Ashura, the Virgin of Hell, was up to no good last time, or being used in some way for nefarious purposes. For our sequel, monks Peacock and Lucky Fruit have brought her a divine tribunal, after she causes a little trouble on earth (she’s good-hearted, by prone to mischief). It’s determined by the abbot, played by Zatoichi himself, Shintaro Katsu, that she’s to be damned to a dark hellscape for the good of humanity. She’s instead allowed to spend a week on Earth from pleading, with the pair as her bodyguards and a trio of nuns keeping tabs. They ended up targeted by a Hell’s concubine and hooked up with a young woman and her inventor brother. Let’s not forget Tricky Ghost, a little puppet that would be called a Baby Yoda knockoff if this were made today. Hijinks ensue.
Saga of the Phoenix is a film of two halves, with vastly different styles and methods. Riki-Oh director Ngai Choi Lam films the action and underworld scenes, filled with wild, over-the-top practical effects, monster, ninja-fingered fighters, and so much fun. This is where it shines for me. The gloriously over-the-top villainy of the Hell’s Concubine and the creatures is a cheesy joy. The other half, directed by Sze-Yu Lau, are the antics on earth as Ashura gets her time to wander, and are less so. It’s broader. Tricksy Demon – the sort of 80s so obviously a puppet but wonderful in Gremlins-esque look is the center of it, but the fighting nuns with their chain weapons are fun. The whole is an exercise of excess in various ways.
There’s not a lot of action, the middle goofy bit is rather padded, but I dug the energetic wire work when it does happen. It’s too bad Yuen Biao’s Peacock is frozen for such a long time. This is far more Japanese model turned actor Hiroshi Abe’s flick (it’s a Japanese-Hong Kong collaboration between Golden Harvest and Toho), along with Gloria Yip as Ashura; she’s wonderfully cute and charming.
Saga of the Phoenix is a goofy slice of mid-afternoon movie fun, with some wild effects, fun sequences, more puppets than you can shake a stick at, and a joyous sense of good-natured energy. It’s over the top in the right ways, but drags a bit in the center. I am interested in seeking out the first.
Image from 88 films
The Package
88 Films’ Saga of the Phoenix comes on a single-disc Blu-Ray with the standard hard case. It has a reversible sleeve with original and new art. That, with a 40-page bound booklet and a two-sided art cart, slides into a hard box, which has an O-sleeve to hold it all in. The box has the same art as the card and the disc sleeve. The O-sleeve has the new art.
The Presentation
Saga of the Pheoni has a new 2k scan from the original negative. It looks pretty good, especially in the more stage-bound fantasy sequences. But those bits are more controlled with specific lighting and design. The exterior on location bits are a little softer, as was the nature of the filming at the time. But it’s still looking good, just a bit plainer. Audio is 2.0 Cantonese with English Subtitles.
The Features
Commentary
Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto join forces for the 34th (or so) commentary together! My fourth of the pair and the sixth in the past few weeks to feature at least one. Good thing they’re good at it. In each of their talks, they’ve discussed the films, the details, and around it. While I miss some of the background of not hearing their commentary for the first film, I liked learning about the Chinese/Japanese collaboration. Much of it is how th film is different from the first, how it was made within a year, and the more kidification.
Saga of Golden Harvest – International Connection
Albert Lee talks about the history of Golden Harvest, his own career, and, more specifically, how Golden Harvest worked with Toho to create this film series and others. A nice look behind the curtain of the industry and dealings of companies working together (22m)
Japanese footage
A combination of alternate footage, extended scenes, or fully deleted scenes meant for the Japanese release of the film. Some shift things to a big degree. Very interesting (11m)
Image Gallery
I didn’t count how many, but 5 minutes’ worth of lobby cards, photos from the shoot, posters, and the like.
Trailer
A very long trailer looking at the weidness. (4m)
Booklet
Two very insightful history essays, one on Hong Kong’s history of adapting Japanese manga by Andrew Heskins and the other a wider look at Hong Kong and Japanese collaborations by David West, mixed with photos and lobby cards of the film.
Final Notes
Saga of the Phoenix is a kid-friendly, goofy matinee film with wild practical effects, weird sequences, and a fun puppet front and center. The commentary is fantastic, and I liked Lee’s look at how it all worked. A good pick up for a fun flick.