This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) was limited to 6,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
After the Manchu government sends soldiers to kill all of the Shaolin Monks, a young disciple named Fong Sai-Yuk flees with his master in order to avoid being captured and executed. While on the run, Fong meets a young prostitute named Dou Dou who tries to help Fong and his master hide from a ruthless Manchu General skilled with a flying guillotine. Unable to save his master, Fong and Dou Dou are both captured and sent to an underground work prison known as the Red Lotus Temple. Run by a sadistic warden named Kung, who has a penchant for torturing and decapitating his prisoners, the Red Lotus Temple is a booby trap riddled Hell from which no one can escape. Thrown into a pit full of corpses and left to die, Fong must rally the other prisoners to fight back against their evil captors if they have any hope of escaping a fate worse than death. However, Fong must first contend with a former Shaolin disciple turned traitor as well a mysterious masked female fighter in order to save Dou Dou and free himself.
A staggeringly violent martial arts epic, BURNING PARADISE is considered one of director Ringo Lam's (City on Fire) best and most underrated films, as well as his only foray into the Wuxia genre. Produced in collaboration with visionary filmmaker Tsui Hark, BURNING PARADISE separates itself from other kung fu films of the time by incorporating dark fantasy elements and bloody fight choreography with a slick production value and bleak storyline. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present this seldom seen gory martial arts shocker in its first English-friendly Blu-ray release, restored in 2K from the original camera negative.
directed by: Ringo Lam starring: Willie Chi, John Ching, Yamson Domingo, Chun Lam, Carman Lee, Kuei Li, Quan Lin, Kam-Kong Wong, Xiqian Wu 1994 / 105 min / 1.85:1 / Cantonese Mono with English subtitles
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative
Commentary track with film historian & author Samm Deighan
“A Rare Confidant” (16 min) - a brand new interview with actor Wong Kam Kong
Archival interview with Producer Tsui Hark (5 min)
Video essay by filmmaker Chris O’Neill (20 min)
Original theatrical trailer
12-page booklet with essay by martial arts film historian and author Grady Hendrix
Inside sleeve artwork
Newly translated English subtitles and SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.667857 / 5 from 280 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Burning Paradise is a highly acclaimed Blu-ray release of a martial arts fantasy adventure film. Customers praise its stunning artwork, excellent transfer quality, and exquisite packaging. The film's gripping storyline and intense action sequences make it a must-have for fans of the genre.
"Packaging is top notch (as always), the picture looks fantastic, and it is a good action movie." — Brad S.
"The 2k scan looks great very nice slipcover a very good Martial arts action film also includes great booklet" — Damien E.
"The transfer looks fantastic, great release." — Harry C.
Reviews
Ringo scores
"Great film. Rings Lam brings his kinetic style to Wuxia and does a great job. Some great fight choreography and the bonus material is top quality as usual."
— Steven P. (5/5)
A welcome exception
"Completely honors its firey title by giving us way too many encounters with fire and fights surrounded by fire to count them. Yet another Ringo Lam film where the humor component didn't derail the film as much even though it gets quite crass at times. Crass is also the language and violence of the film, so the humor is in good company. I'm really amazed at how outrageously Lam tells this story, as it feels like a period piece dusted off and infused with modern (read: 90s) sensibilities and even the decade's notorious horniness makes appearances throughout. From a pure martial arts craft standpoint, this is a phenomenal film that combines hard-hitting Kung Fu encounters with a bit of Wuxia and some adventure film trappings that wouldn't be out of place in an Indiana Jones film. I don't usually connect that well with "period films" like this, but this was a welcome exception."
— Ralf P. (4/5)
More hk nice.
"More hk nice."
— Miles M. (5/5)
Hidden martial gem with some serious bite.
"Beautiful artwork. Pristine picture."
— Brandon C. (5/5)
Excellent
"Was a blind buy. Very happy with the purchase."
— Michael S. (4/5)
Kung Fu with slightly updated filming sensibilities
"Fantastic release"
— Jeremy E. (5/5)
cool as hell
"movie rules"
— Raffaele V. (5/5)
Fanbloodytastic
"Such a wild and fun film"
— Landon G. (5/5)
Ringo Lam Wuxia
"Ringo Lam's entry into the Wuxia genre. Filled with action, comedy, fights, and cool effects. A great release from VS, especially with Tony Stella's artistic touch on the artwork!"
— Jon B. (5/5)
Disappointing!
"It was so frustrating to see a movie with this budget and production design be shot so poorly with a script this bad. Despite the obvious expenses onscreen for set dec, props and costumes, everything is shot in a weirdly boxed-in, friendly for home video and overlit so you can tell everything is plastic or rubber. Combined with a poor script, these elements just ruined everything. I had been warned but hoped the combination of Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark would lift it up, but instead it felt like a 90s DTV movie with a giant budget."
— Andrew R. (1/5)
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