Chang Cheh’s ‘Ninja in Ancient China’ released

One of Chang Cheh’s final martial arts movies makes its debut on DVD today Dec. 26th courtesy of GreenfanDVD, a new home video label based in the U.K.

Released in 1989 (possibly 1993), NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA is directed and produced by legendary martial arts movie master Chang Cheh, known to legions of fans for his many colorful kung fu and wuxia movies produced at Shaw Brothers studios over 20 years, beginning in the mid-1960s.

When tragedy befalls Taoist master Yu at the hands of power hungry General Suen Cheuk, the master’s students, the Five Element Ninjas, decide that revenge is their only option. However, if they are to have their revenge they must first infiltrate the inner circle of the General’s closest allies.

NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA is a rare independent film that features the fighting skills of Chang Cheh’s post-Venoms-era stunt team including action directors Du Yu-ming (WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH) and Dong Zhihua, who is internationally known for playing Donut, the pole fighter in Stephen Chow’s KUNG FU HUSTLE.

This release is 91 minutes in length, region 0 DVD, NTSC compatible, widescreen (approximately 1.66:1 aspect ratio), and features Mandarin audio with English subtitles.

DVD extras include a full-length audio commentary by kung fu film expert Nick Watkins, a color booklet with essay by Kung Fu Cinema’s own forum administrator Linn Haynes, an image gallery, and previews of other GreenfanDVD releases.

On that note, GreenfanDVD has two wuxia titles queued up for future release including THE DREAM SWORD (1979) and RETURN OF THE DEADLY BLADE (1981). The latter is an indie classic that stars screen legends David Chiang and Yasuaki Kurata, along with choreography from emerging action directing master Ching Siu-tung.

NINJA IN ANCIENT CHINA is currently available directly from GreenfanDVD.com. They do not have an order form up as of this time but they do have a contact form. The company publicly claims their releases are legit in a statement on their official web site. Hopefully, BCI Eclipse or some other U.S. distributor will pick up this and future titles from GreenfanDVD so us Yanks don’t have to pay outrageous exchange rates with deflated U.S. currency. I’ll tell ya, I’d love to give a kung fu kick to the Federal Reserve.