THE LADY IS THE BOSS (1983)
Label: 88 Films
Region Code: A,B
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 97 Minutes 8 Seconds
Audio: Cantonese 2.0 Dual-Mono LPCM with newly translated English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1)
Director: Chia-Liang Liu
Cast: Kara Wai, Hou Hsiao, Chia-Hui Liu, Yue Wong, Chan-Peng Chang, Te-Lo Mai, Lung-Wei Wang, Feng Ku, Tien-Hsiang Lung, Chien Sun, Hui-Huang Lin, Kwok-Keung Chan, Leung Chan, Kuo Hua Chang, Hung Chen, Ling Wei Chen, Bing-Chuen Cheung
The Shaw Brothers studio produced The Lady is the Boss (1983), directed by Lau Kar-leung (The Shadow Boxing), as a kung-fu culture-clash comedy very much along the lines of something like the American films in which a group of kids have to band together to save the arcade, or the bowling alley, or their right to hang out on the beach.
Here it's the Wang Chiang martial arts school which is set to be knocked-down to make way for new construction. The school is lead by Wang Hsieh Yun (Lau Kar-Leung, The Spiritual Boxer), who is prepared to make a stand against it;s demolition alongside his five students Lee Hon Man (Gordon Liu, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin), Ah Wing (Wong Yu, The Kung Fu Instructor), Wong Yuen Shuei (Robert Mak, To Kill a Mastermind), Ng Ming Fat (Cheung Chin-Pang), and Cheuk Jin Shing (Hsiao Ho, Spiritual Boxer 2). They are told however to stand down and find a new location for the school by their master and await their master's return to commemorate the new school. Much to the surprise and chagrin of nearly everyone it's not their master who arrives, but his young Americanized daughter Mei Ling Chan (Kara Hui, The Inspector Wears Skirts). Wang and Mei Lang immediately clash as she does not favor the instructor's old school style of training, nor does he appreciate Mei Lang Chan's recruiting of non-desirables into the martial arts school, the latter of which which puts the school at odds with local triad Big Boss (Johnny Wang, Five Deadly Venoms) who does not appreciate his newly martial arts trained hostesses fighting back against scummy men who frequent his establishments.
The flick is very 80s in that the tone is uneven and the story can get a bit choppy but it's a ton of fun, the fight choreograph, done by director/actor Lau Kar-leung is pretty terrific, plus we get 80's shenanigans like Mei Ling Chan and her crew taking on baddies with their BMX bikes which brought to mind BMX Bandits, which came out the same year, which is never a bad thing in my book. The fight set pieces pack a nice punch, and Kara Hui is a joy to behold as the spunky and ass-kicking, if a bit naive, Mei Ling Chan.
The generational rift is played for comedy initially but comes around to be something more thoughtful at the end, with Wang and the Americanized Chan coming to terms with both the modernization and tradition, seeing the merit in both approaches, though I must say that I was a tad let down that her character is sidelined at the end, but still a terrific watch. If you're down for some fun ass-kicking this late era Shaw Brothers production delivers the good and then some, recommended.
Audio/Video: The Lady is the Boss (1983) arrives on Blu-ray from 88 Films as part of the 88 Asia line-up. The source look terrific, grain is well managed, and the 80s colors have a nice pop to them. Occasionally some diffused lighting softens the image a tad, but generally it is a sharp and nicely textured image. The sole audio option is Cantonese 20 dual-mono with optional, newly translated English subtitles.
Extras include a new Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng in which he discusses the film in context of Lau Kar-Leung's My Young Auntie and other films, it's themes of new versus old, and how it fit into the changing time. We also get the 14-min Sam Ho on Lau Kar-leung by Fred Ambroisine; a 3-min Stills Gallery and a 1-min Trailer.
The single-disc release arrives in a clear, full-height keepcase with a Reversible Sleeve with Original Hong Kong Artwork as well as a new Lucas Peverill artwork, plus a Limited Edition O-ring same new artwork by Lucas Peverill. Inside there's a Limited Edition Double-sided Fold-out Poster with both the new and original artworks.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Frank Djeng
- Sam Ho on Lau Kar-leung by Fred Ambroisine (13:56)
- Stills Gallery (3:12)
- Trailer (1:13)
- Limited Edition O-ring with Brand-New Artwork by Lucas Peverill
- 2.0 DTS-HD MA Cantonese Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
- High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
- Limited Edition Double-Sided Fold-out poster
- Reversible Sleeve featuring Original Hong Kong Art
Screenshots from the 88 Films Blu-ray:
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