Press Release Criterion Press Release: The Heroic Trio / Executioners (1993) (4k UHD Combo) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

The star power of cinema icons Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, and Michelle Yeoh fuels these gloriously unrestrained action joyrides from auteur Johnnie To and action choreographer Ching Siu-tung. The Heroic Trio and its sequel, Executioners, follow a new kind of justice league: a team of blade-throwing, shotgun-toting, kung fu–fighting heroines who join forces to battle evildoers in a dystopian, noirish city. Blending dazzling martial-arts mayhem with exhilarating blasts of comic-book lunacy, these beloved superhero movies reimagine the genre through the giddy genius of the Hong Kong film industry at its height.

FILM INFO​

• Spine #1207

FILMS IN THIS SET​

• • 
    The Heroic Trio
    
    1993
    With this outrageously entertaining cult favorite, director Johnnie To and his lineup of legendary stars gave Hong Kong cinema something new: its own homegrown superhero cinematic universe. Thief Catcher (Maggie Cheung), Wonder Woman (Anita Mui), and Invisible Girl (Michelle Yeoh) are kick-ass crusaders who must overcome their dark pasts in order to defeat an evil, baby-snatching eunuch terrorizing the city. Eye-popping motorcycle stunts, bloodthirsty undead, cannibal infants, and kinetically choreographed wirework are all part of the wall-to-wall delirium in this irresistible showcase for three of the coolest women warriors ever to hit the screen.
  
  
  • 
    Executioners
    
    1993
    Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, and Michelle Yeoh return in this gritty, postapocalyptic sequel to The Heroic Trio. Following a devastating nuclear attack, Hong Kong’s supply of clean water has fallen into the hands of a masked maniac (Anthony Wong) intent on seizing political power—forcing the three fearless fighters to settle their differences and unite to stop him. Darker in tone than the original, Executioners finds Johnnie To and codirector/martial-arts choreographer Ching Siu-tung continuing to push their whirlwind action set pieces to new levels of cartoon craziness, while adding an abundance of grungy, dystopian atmosphere and a fresh dose of antiauthoritarian attitude.

SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

• 4K digital restorations of The Heroic Trio and Executioners, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• In the 4K UHD edition: One 4K UHD disc of the films and two Blu-rays with the films and special features
• Alternate 5.1 surround Cantonese and English-dubbed soundtracks
• New interview with actor Anthony Wong
• New interview with film critic Samm Deighan (cohost of the podcast Twitch of the Death Nerve)
• Trailers
• New English subtitle translations
• PLUS: An essay by critic Beatrice Loayza
  
  New cover by Alice X. Yang
  
  February 20, 2024

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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[Randy Korstick]

Fun movies. I will be getting this. I only have the old 1998 DVDS so this should be a big upgrade

 

[titch]

What is this? I've never seen these before, but they were made right at the end of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. I've a feeling it will be akin to discovering The Killer, when it was released on LaserDisc. And a 4K UHD release!

 

[lark144]

What is this? I've never seen these before, but they were made right at the end of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. I've a feeling it will be akin to discovering The Killer, when it was released on LaserDisc. And a 4K UHD release!

Early Johnnie To. Heroic Trio, which I've seen, is lots of fun. Of course, how can it not be, with that cast. Stylishly directed. I'll be picking this up. Now if only someone would release a decent Blu-Ray of Johnnie To's The Mission.

 

[Martin_Teller]

Now if only someone would release a decent Blu-Ray of Johnnie To's The Mission.

or Sparrow!

 

[johnmcmasters]

Wow. I can hopefully finally retire my import LDs!