The Postman Fights Back

The Hallmark Movie production system, which cranks out holiday-themed romcoms at an unbelievable pace, is probably the closest we can get right now to the assembly-line system used by Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest at the height of their international success.  Developing talent and staying on top of trends, both studios combined to put Hong Kong cinema on the map and launched their fair share of action icons; among them Chow Yun-Fat, who’s part of a team sent to deliver four mysterious cases to a warlord hidden in the mountains of feudal China in 1982’s The Postman Strikes Back.

A postal worker whose job is almost obsolete, Errand Horse (Bryan Leung) agrees to lead a ragtag group through rebel territory in exchange for a quick payday upon delivery.  Fu Jun (Chow Yun-Fat), Hu (Eddy Ko) and Bu (Mei Sheng Fan) fill out the roster, bringing their specific set of skills that come in handy when a rebel leader attempts to hijack their goods.  But that’s nothing compared to the masked ninja who’s following their every move…and the ruthless army that awaits at the end of their journey.

 

Director Ronny Yu’s film is not a lighthearted affair.  In fact, the final 30 minutes are as bloody and brutal as your average spaghetti western.  There’s an odd tone to the production that leans hard into historical rivalries and political subterfuge.  But fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping doesn’t disappoint when it comes to staging his share of clever fight scenes, including a Master-Blaster-type boss battle and a thrilling attack by bad guys on homemade ice skates!  Typical of Woo-Ping, the impact from each punch is equivalent to a hammer blow, tossing opponents across the screen with reckless abandon.  And that ninja showdown throws out every trick in the book!

 

But it’s a bit of a slog to get there.  Luckily, Chow Yun-Fat supplies some much needed charm as a cocky gambler whose hidden wrist arrows come in handy in a pinch.  His presence alone is probably what will attract most fans to the film and they’ll certainly get their money’s worth.  Still a few years away from his breakout role in John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, he already had all the swagger and good-looks working in his favor. And The Postman Fights Back proves he was ready for the spotlight to turn his way.

 

88 Films adds another fascinating title to their 88 Asia Collection, just as beautifully packaged and presented as the rest.  The 1080p image is seriously flawless on the special edition Blu-ray that includes a slipcover and foldout poster.  The Hong Kong cut runs 90 minutes while the Export Cut shaves off a minute or two but adds an English dub and alternate score.  Extras include two audio commentaries (one on each version), interviews, stills and trailers.

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