Tiger on the Beat I & II – Imprint Asia Review
Tiger on the Beat I & II (1988–1990)
Release: Imprint Asia #83–84
Label: Imprint Asia / Via Vision Entertainment
Films: Tiger on the Beat (1988) & Tiger on the Beat II (1990)
Director: Lau Kar-leung
If there is one thing Hong Kong action cinema of the late ’80s and early ’90s knew how to do, it was mixing outrageous action with comedy, attitude and characters you couldn’t help but enjoy. Tiger on the Beat and its sequel are perfect examples, and Imprint Asia has brought both together in another seriously impressive package.
Tiger on the Beat
The first film sees Chow Yun-fat as hotshot cop Francis Li, partnered with Conan Lee’s rather unpredictable Michael Tso. The two aren’t exactly best friends when they are thrown together, but when a drug investigation begins to spiral out of control, the pair have little choice but to put their differences aside.
Directed by the legendary Lau Kar-leung, Tiger on the Beat is a glorious blend of buddy-cop comedy, gunplay, martial arts and spectacular stunt work. Chow Yun-fat is clearly having a ball, while Conan Lee brings the physicality that makes the action sequences such a joy to watch.
And then there is that chainsaw fight.
It’s the kind of sequence that could only really come from Hong Kong cinema at this time completely bonkers, brilliantly choreographed and impossible to forget.
Tiger on the Beat II
The sequel moves away from Chow Yun-fat and brings Conan Lee back, with Lau Kar-leung once again behind the camera.
This time, Lam is approaching 40 and becomes involved in protecting his nephew Buffalo and Sweet Dream, who has accidentally witnessed a murder. Before long they are caught up in an underground arms-smuggling operation and fighting for their lives.
While it doesn’t quite have the same buddy-cop dynamic as the original, Tiger on the Beat II has plenty of action to compensate. Lau Kar-leung once again delivers some excellent martial-arts choreography, with Conan Lee getting plenty of opportunities to show exactly what he could do.
However, there is one sequence that inevitably dominates the conversation surrounding the film.
Early in the movie, Conan Lee attempts a stunt where Buffalo jumps from an elevated position towards a lamppost, intending to grab it and slide down. The stunt went badly wrong when Lee missed his intended grip and fell to the pavement below. The footage was retained and incorporated into the finished film.
What’s particularly remarkable is that Lau Kar-Leung chose to include the accident in the finished movie, even replaying the fall. Watching it today, there’s an uncomfortable mixture of amazement and disbelief. It is a stark reminder of just how dangerous Hong Kong action filmmaking could be during this era.
Interestingly, Lee himself discussed the stunt in an interview with Eastern Film Fans, explaining that he wanted to adjust his trajectory in mid-air and that the pole was very slippery. He also described wanting the stunt to become a trademark of his bravery as an action performer
It’s a sequel that is perhaps unfairly overshadowed by its predecessor, but viewed on its own terms, there is a lot to enjoy here.
Picture & Sound
This is where Imprint Asia really delivers.
Both films have been restored from their original camera negatives and receive new 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR10 presentations on 4K UHD, with the Blu-rays carrying the 1080p versions of those restorations.
The image quality is a substantial upgrade for these films, retaining the character of the original photography while bringing out considerably more detail and clarity.
The Cantonese LPCM 2.0 mono tracks are included alongside English audio, with newly translated optional English subtitles.
For fans who want to experience these films in their original Cantonese presentations, this is exactly the sort of treatment you want from a modern physical-media release.
Special Features
Imprint hasn’t simply thrown the two films onto four discs and called it a day.
Tiger on the Beat
- Audio commentary by Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
- A Tiger’s Tale – interview with stuntman/actor Bill Lui
- Striped to Kill: A Tiger on the Beat Retrospective – interview with critic James Mudge
- The Godfather – interview with producer Wellington Fung
- Breaking the Mould – interview with actor Gordon Liu
- Theatrical trailer
Tiger on the Beat II
- Audio commentary by Frank Djeng
- Clawing Out a Classic – interview with martial arts director/actor Ridley Tsui
- Hunting for Heroic Bloodshed – interview with critic James Mudge
- Trailers
There is also a 60-page hardcover booklet, featuring production stills and brand-new essays from Paul Bramhall and Steve Kopian.
For collectors, that booklet and the presentation in the limited-edition hardbox make this much more than a simple upgrade.
The Verdict
Tiger on the Beat remains the standout for me. The combination of Chow Yun-fat, Conan Lee, Lau Kar-leung’s direction and some absolutely insane Hong Kong action makes it a film that still knows exactly how to entertain.
But having Tiger on the Beat II alongside it makes this an even more attractive package, especially for fans of Conan Lee and Lau Kar-leung’s martial-arts choreography. Imprint Asia has given both films the treatment they deserve, with excellent new restorations, plenty of worthwhile extras and a beautiful collector-friendly presentation. If you’re a fan of classic Hong Kong action cinema, this is one release that deserves a place on the shelf.
★★★★★ Essential for Hong Kong action fans and collectors.
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