Ma Su Chen (DVD – Fourth Strike)

By Mark Pollard | Published March 25, 2009

This edition of THE REBEL BOXER, aka MA SU CHEN (1972) is a rare Taiwanese basher flick, and sequel to FURIOUS SLAUGHTER, starring Jimmy Wang Yu and Nancy Yen that arrives in the U.S. on DVD courtesy of start-up, budget kung fu movie label Fourth Strike. It’s a solid release worth picking up despite minor imperfections and missing original Chinese language tracks.

Previously, this film has been made available on DVD in the U.S. by budget distributor Crash Cinema under the original English title of MA SU CHEN. This out-of-print version was letterboxed but not anamorphic like Fourth Strike’s release and it came with only an English dub. The film has also been released on DVD in Japan as part of a Jimmy Wang Yu box set that includes FURIOUS SLAUGHTER and KNIGHT ERRANT. It has been confirmed by one source on the Asian DVD Guide Forum that this set does not contain English dubs or subtitles.

The no frills edition from Fourth Strike appears to use multiple source prints, the majority in relatively good condition for a budget release. There is yellowish discoloration, scratches, low contrast, and other evidence of general degradation. Only during the opening, English-language credits does it actually look bad with very low resolution.

The original English-dubbed audio track that is available pops and crackles but maintains its balance at high and low registers. For a very brief period the film cuts to a Mandarin-language track with English subtitles, presumably due to damage or missing audio on the English dub.

Beyond these basics, this is a barebones release with simple yet tidy and accurate cover art. Bonus features are limited to original international trailers for THE REBEL BOXER, DRAGONS NEVER DIE and ONE-ARMED CHIVALRY FIGHTS AGAINST ONE-ARMED CHIVALRY.

As of this writing, Fourth Strike’s DVD release of THE REBEL BOXER is only available at Far East Flix, a kung fu movie dealer and retail arm of one of the label’s partners.

Format: Region 0 NTSC DVD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio: English 2.0 Mono (with some Mandarin)
Subtitles: English (during Mandarin segment)
Length: 78 minutes
Release Date: 2009

beardyj
Bought it and loved it Nuff said : 0 )

Killer Meteor
Come on, a Mandarin track should be an essential feature, especially since it still exists. Whats the point of these half assed releases otherwise?

CRodriguez
Go to their website and email them Chen. Or maybe you can come out with your own release considering it's so easy to do and make it 100% to your liking. =)

chen lung
It's simple to find some of it, just going through the right channels. A Mandarin soundtrack is on the Japanese DVD.

I'd be interested in what the response is.

CRodriguez
A lot of things exist, finding them is the hard part... especially when it has to do with Asian cinema. Lots of things disappear, most of the time forever.

chen lung
I appreciate it's hard. However, a Mandarin soundtrack does exist and knowing that, adding one would seal the deal for many. Maybe they can explain why.

slave
sorry i meant the circumstances remark. i'm subconscious at this point

slave
Missed opportunity is the possibility. most this stuff is hard as hell to find, i mean, you're lucky if you obtain the movie itself. One Armed Chivalry is something i never thought would see the light of day.

chen lung
Quite disappointing it doesn't contain an original Mandarin soundtrack. Missed opportunity, unless it was circumstances beyond their control.

I wonder if this release imports King's possibly PAL>NTSC video.

Seems annoyingly lacking.

CRodriguez
I purchased this from Far East Flix and it definitely is A LOT better than the Crash version Slave. Check it out.

slave
this certainly sounds alot better than the Crash Cinema version, which was virtually impossible to optically assimilate. hope that you review the One Armed Chivalry to stimulate my confidence unlike the stimulus package.