Much of how I perceive films was molded and shaped by the pages of Film Threat Magazine, which debuted as a zine in 1985 before being nationally distributed until 1997. They had focused primarily on independent film, which opened a whole new world to film geeks since the internet wasn’t the resource we know now. Their sister magazine, Film Threat Video Guide, was just as influential, and that’s where I first became aware of Steve Wang and his film Kung Fu Rascals.
Wang might be better known as an effects artist, but his first film, Kung Fu Rascals, was shot on Super 8 and showed what he could accomplish with so little. Because of the article, I found the film on VHS and have always enjoyed it. Thanks to Visual Vengeance, a brand new SD master has been created from the original tapes, all supervised by Wang. It brings the chop-socky Kaiju action comedy to Collector’s Edition Blu-ray.
A dark lord named The Bamboo Man threatens the livelihood of a small village, possibly turning it to rubble. A master thief and his two sidekicks come up with a plan to steal a map and go on a quest to find and master the one power strong enough to bring the Bamboo Man down and save their homes. It won’t be easy, as there’s an entire army of monsters, mutants, and ninjas they must fight through if this plan is to work and bring peace back to the village.
What a joy it was to take a trip back and experience Kung Fu Rascals all over again. It’s been so long since the last time I saw it that my memory was foggy, but seeing it now, with the new SD transfer, made for an enjoyable ride. I know there will never be a perfect transfer, but compared to what I had originally seen, this is a clear step up and most likely the final presentation we will ever need. The film is goofy, but knowing the backstory of how it came to fruition adds to my appreciation.
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Steve Wang also stars in the film along with Johnnie Saiko, Troy Fromin, Michelle McCrary, and Les Claypool III (yep, the Primus front-man and bassist), who also provides the score. The effects are impressive, the action is better than expected, and the humor is infantile. You get the sense that fun was had while making the film, and that sense of mischief transfers to the screen.
Visual Vengeance went all out on special features, including a brand new feature-length documentary, which is imperative viewing since you learn so much about it. You can also find two commentary tracks, Steve Wang and Les Claypool III Meet Again featurette, Chris Gore’s interview on distributing it on VHS, the original short film, trailers, and more.
Along with the loaded disc, you get a slipcover, reversible sleeve, sticker set, folded mini-poster, and 2-sided insert.
Kung Fu Rascals is rough around the edges. Still, it’s an incredibly impressive debut for Steve Wang and a reminder to me how influential this film and the pages of Film Threat Magazine were to my evolution as a writer and fanatic.
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