Comparison between the Celestial version (represented here by the US DVD by Image Entertainment) and the original version (included on the UK/US Blu-ray from Arrow Video).

- 2 relevant missing bits
- Duration: 3.8 sec

Several other master errors/"framecuts" with a duration of less than 1 sec each were not listed in the report.

In late 2021, Arrow Video released the "Shawscope Vol. 1" box set in the UK/USA, which included 12 films from the legendary Hong Kong film studios. In addition to 5 legacy HD masters from licensor Celestial, there were 7 new HD restorations here that did not have the infamous framecuts that can be found in most of Celestial's catalog. In several reports, exemplified by the comparison to The Five Venoms, where other reports for titles in the box are also linked. Since November 21, 2022 (UK) and December 06, 2022 (USA) respectively, the "Shawscope Vol. 2" box is now available. This time there are even 14 films on board, with 9 of them in new HD restorations without framecuts.

Having already discussed Mad Monkey Kung Fu, let's take a closer look at The Boxer's Omen contained on Disc 7. The title is certainly particularly exciting for many because of its drastic scenes. For a long time, only the Taiwan VHS was in circulation here, which was radically censored by 10 minutes, but had a longer moment during a sex scene at the beginning compared to the Celestial master evaluated on DVD/VCD (see our report). Anyway, the film is also available in a new restoration and the running time difference looks like this:

• Previous Celestial master: 103:43 min (US DVD in NTSC) - equivalent to 99:26 min in PAL speed on the HK VCD or Japan DVD
• 2022 restoration from Arrow Video: 105:25 min (Arrow Video Blu-ray at 23.976 fps).

Minus Celestial and Shaw cues on the old version, the new Arrow restoration is actually 02:15 min longer. Curiously, the Arrow version even lacks any references to Shaw Studios. Otherwise, unfortunately only "framecuts" without completely missing shots really make up the difference, but they are by no means evenly distributed. Especially in the first half of the film, large parts run absolutely identically and only in the last 20-30 minutes does the annoying practice completely take over.

What's also unfortunately not included in the new restoration: the longer moment of the sex scene from the Taiwan VHS. But Arrow Video knew about it and at least put the corresponding part in the bonus material from the VHS source. We have also attached screenshots of it. All in all, of course, the best presentation of the cult trash shocker so far.

Running time details are arranged according to the scheme
US DVD in NTSC / Arrow Blu-ray in 23.976fps

The Celestial logo is missing from Arrow, at least on the main video file. Curiously, the Shaw logo is also missing from this restoration.

+ 27.5 sec

00:39-00:44 / 00:12

According to the title card, the Arrow restoration is missing the two references to Shaw's producing involvement.

+ 4.5 sec

The remaining credits run a bit longer in the Arrow restoration and so the 4.5 sec are exactly made up for.


53:28 / 53:22

Here a little information on the location is missing in the Arrow master. The same thing happens later in 69:38 / 69:52 and 80:55 / 81:32. It is interesting at least with the last timecode that shortly thereafter (81:18 / 81:55) also in the Arrow master, the same location info appears over another scene.

It should also be mentioned that the locations mentioned here have already been mentioned at the beginning of the film, also in the Arrow master: "Hong Kong" right in the very first shot after the opening credits in the first minute and "Thailand" at ~ 10:30. Probably Celestial overdid it a bit at that time to mention the frequent location changes more than necessary.

No runtime difference

US DVD (Celestial master)	2022 UK/US Blu-ray (Arrow Video restoration)

90:19 / 91:19-91:21

Only in the last 20 minutes do the framecuts become more frequent, and a large part of the difference in runtime occurs here. The framecuts also gradually become longer and longer. The spot here is unspectacular in itself and only mentioned as an example: Chan Hung climbs a moment longer over the railing and the following shot also begins a moment earlier.

1.4 sec

93:44 / 94:54-94:56

The woman can be seen much earlier. Her arms are turned a little to the side here at the beginning, while the Celestial master sets in when she holds her arms straight up.

2.4 sec

The credits are different. In Arrow, it's blue lettering, and again, a reference to Shaw Brothers is missing from the final end card. The Celestial logo is of course no longer there, as usual.

US DVD (Celestial master)	2022 UK/US Blu-ray (Arrow Video restoration)

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Here's another look at the clip from the bonus material, which includes the one additional moment from the Taiwanese VHS. The spot comes from 00:45-00:45 in the bonus segment / 07:29 on the main movie:

In addition, the same segment points to the concluding text on the Taiwan VHS, which ends the story with a moral sermon. It's also interesting to see that the credits start with the same blue variant as in the Arrow restoration. As so often with Celestial, the credits in their previous edition were probably recreated digitally. Finally, there is also an acknowledgement at the end of the bonus clip.