Eureka Blu-ray Film Review

Heroes & Villains: Three Films Starring Jet Li (1995–98) • Blu-ray [Eureka Classics] — crime thrills and fantasy with the kung fu legend

A trio of 1990s martial arts films with Hong Kong star Jet Li…

Jet Li ranks among the top three (or four) martial arts superstars to emerge from Hong Kong’s action movie industry. This box set from Eureka Entertainment showcases his acting range and acrobatic stunt skills in a variety of roles with three (or four) films from his heyday. The collection features two contemporary crime thrillers bracketing two different versions of a period fantasy adventure set in the 1930s. Many fans consider these movies to mark the end of an era for Li as he began transitioning from the purist kung fu genre toward mainstream international stardom.

According to IMDb, he was paid a mere CN¥ 1 per day for his debut in Shaolin Temple (1982), which he made at the age of 19, shortly after retiring from competitive martial arts, having won five Chinese national Wushu championships and mastering several Shaolin forms. He’s often credited…