Magnificent Bodyguards (Hong Kong, 1978, 88 Fims, 3-D and 2D Blu-ray + Anaglyph 3D, NR, 103 min.). This is an impressive presentation of a not-so-impressive early Jackie Chan film. It was directed by Lo Wei (“Fist of Fury,” “The Big Boss,” both with Bruce Lee) and written by Ku Lung (“The Killer Meteors,” TV’s “The Legend of Lu Xiao Feng” series of films). This was at a time that Lo was trying to turn Chan into the next Bruce Lee, something Chan clearly was unhappy with, and it is more an ensemble cast as, despite Chan being first billed, more screen time is given to James Tien (“Fist of Fury,” “The Big Boss”) as Lo did not believe Chan would draw that many moviegoers.

Nonetheless, Chan did co-design the fighting sequences, portions of which would become his classic style, such as opponents entering from offscreen after he has dealt with the first attackers, and extreme closeups of the action. The latter was due to the film being shot in 3D, a first for the Hong Kong film industry.

Yes, I said the film was made in 3D and this new set contains a brand new 2K transfer from the original film materials presented in digital 3D, which mirrors the theatrical experience, as well as flat 2D and Anaglyph 3D, which make use of the custom 3D glasses included with the set (thus not needing a 3D Blu-ray player). To accommodate the 3D presentation, a lot of times things are thrust forward, as if at the viewer, as are the occasional punches and swinging of weapons.

Chan plays Master Ting Chong, an expert fighter with renowned fists and even the ability to fight successfully when blindfolded. He says that is because he has 18 lives, double that of a cat. Ting joins a team of guards who are hired to escort an ill man across Stormy Hills, a land filled with danger and usually death. The man, never seen until near the film’s end, is said to be the younger brother of Lady Nan (Wang Ping of “Five Fingers of Death,” “Vengeance!”), for whom money is no problem. Supposedly, the ill brother needs to see a certain doctor within three days, but as the sometimes-slow film develops that sense of urgency seems dropped.

Nonetheless, the film is filled with fighting, starting with five of Nan’s men trying to test Ting’s skills and then Ting’s combat against the would-be guards he has dismissed. One he does choose is his friend Deaf Chang (Bruce Leung aka Leung Siu-Lung of “Kung Fu Hustle,” “Deadly Hands of Kung Fu”), who reads lips. Chang is a tanner of all hides except human skin.

The film then veers off for an episode in Flag Town, the ghost town adjacent to Stormy Hills, whose sole inhabitant is tavern operator Lady Ma (Liu Ming of “Any Which Way You Punch”), who nonetheless suddenly has two large groups passing through to feed. The main reason for this episode is to introduce Lady Ma and fighter Tsang Wu-Yi (Tien).

As they travel through Stormy Hills, fighters on cliffs hurl rocks down at them; Ting, Chang and Tsang battle 18 monks and suffer in their Chamber of Monster Bells; stay at Peace Inn; join up with Lady Liu Jin-Lian, whom Ting, of course, fights; have Ting dropped into a chamber of snakes; and finally meet Lord Yu (Luk Chuen), the king of Stormy Hills.

The film versions come with audio commentary by Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto; an optional English dub, both with the original music and alternate music cues; “Punching into the Third Dimension,” James Mudge discussing the film (19:28); “A New Dimension in Action?” with Steve Lawson discussing filming the fights and how they compare to Chan’s later films (8:56); the 3D glasses; and a 32-page illustrated booklet with an essays by Thorsten Boose on the film and 3D films produced in Hong Kong, plus a map of the Stormy Hills and the song lyrics about them. The box comes with a 3D lenticular cover image. Grade: film 3 stars; extras 4 stars

Rating guide: 5 stars = classic; 4 stars = excellent; 3 stars = good; 2 stars = fair; dog = skip it

Purchase link for some titles: https://moviezyng.com?bg_ref=ApLKdWV51k

Jackie Chan’s Breakout Hits! (Hong Kong, 1994-1998, Arrow Video, 10 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, R or PG-13, 642 min.). This set presents six of Chan’s Western breakthrough hits that made him an international star. The films are “Drunken Master II” (1994, NR, 102 min.), “Rumble in the Bronx” (1995, R, 87 min.), “Thunderbolt” (1995, R, 110 min.), “Police Story 4: The First Strike” (1966, PG-13, 107 min.), “Mr. Nice Guy” (1997, PG-13, 88 min.) and “Who Am I?” (1998, PG-13, 108 min.). The six films come with a total of 14 cuts, with four of the films spilling over onto a second disc.

First up is “Drunken Master II.” The fun film excels in its fight scenes and was the last film Chan made before his breakthrough in America with “Rumble in the Bronx.” He already was 40 at the time. Many have called the closing 20-minute fight scene the greatest of all time.

The film opens with Wong Fei-hung (Chan), his brother Tso (Tseung Chi Kwong) and father Wong Kei-ying (Lung Ti) heading for a train. To avoid excessive taxes, Fei-hung decides to hide their father’s ginseng in an ambassador’s luggage. To retrieve the ginseng on the train, Fei-hung and Tso let loose some chickens in the first-class dining car. All this leads to Fei-hung, with sword, battling a stranger with a spear underneath the train. The fight carries over to a nearby building and hand-to-hand combat. Fei-hung manages to get back on the train, but he has accidentally exchanged bagged boxes with the spear-wielding thief. Instead of his physician father’s ginseng, he has the precious great jade seal of the emperor, an artifact that officials are turning over to the British for a UK museum.

Fei-hung gets to show off some of his father’s forbidden drunken style of fighting – liquor or wine helps the fighting skill apparently and Chan’s body takes some incredible angles during fighting – when challenged by fishmonger Tsang (Felix Wong) in the town square. A bit later, Fei-hung gets disowned by his father, after they fight, leading a drunken Fei-hung to sing, “I Hate Daddy.”

As the fun fighting continues, Fei-hung fights off a couple dozen armed attackers, using a table, while a brawl involving steel workers has snakes thrown as weapons. At one point during the tremendous closing fight, Fei-hung falls on hot coals and has to crawl off them. Reportedly, Chan did the stunt three times to get it right, but burned his arms on the third try. He then rolls down some stairs.

As always, the closing credits include behind-the-scenes looks at some of the stunts and injuries that incurred.

In addition to the Hong Kong cut, there is the international cut (100 min.) and the re-titled American cut, “The Legend of Drunken Master” (102 min.). All three also have English dubs. There is audio commentary by Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto; two new features, “Before the Breakout” with stuntman Wang Yao, academic Dr. Wayne Wong and critics David West and James Mudge looking at Chan’s early career (8:50) and “Breakout Part 1!” with Wong, West, Mudge and stuntman Mars discussing the film (9:28); new interviews with Yuen Kai-Chi (12:17), Mars (10:47) and historian Dr. Lars Laamann (12:17); an appreciation by Ricky Baker (10:22); a 2000 interview with Chan (6:40); an alternate Mandarin drinking scene (2:09) and opening credits (1:18); textless outtakes (2:27); Chinese New Year’s messages by Chan (42 secs.); and an image gallery. Grade: film 4 stars; extras 4.5 stars

“Rumble in the Bronx” has Chan as Keung, who visits and helps his Uncle Bill (Bill Tung of the “Police Story” franchise) in New York City, before forced to fight a biker gang and the mob with his martial art skills. Bill has just sold his grocery store to Elaine (Anita Mui), but a biker gang stirs up trouble by almost wrecking his luxury car and shoplifting from the store. Keung gets a fan in young Danny (Morgan Lam), who is being raised by his older sister Nancy (Francoise Yip), unfortunately with the biker gang. A common enemy is the White Tiger syndicate, thanks to a bag of missing diamonds.

The film is presented in two versions, the Hong Kong cut and the international cut (89 min.), both also have English dubs. The Hong Kong cut has audio commentary by Djeng and DeSanto. Other extras are “Breakout! Part 2” with Mars, stuntwoman Kathy Hubble, Baker, West and Mudge (14:32); an extended Hubble interview (18:44); textless outtakes (3:33); alternate footage of two scenes (1:26); and an image gallery. The second disc adds additional scenes from the TV version (5:24); an interview with Chan (2:55); and seven TV spots. Grade: film 3.75 stars; extras 4 stars

“Thunderbolt,” directed by Gordon Chan,has sports car mechanic Chan Foh To (Chan) forced to beat a criminal street racer to release his kidnapped sisters. The villain is Warner "Cougar" Krugman (Thorsten Nickel). Chan initially seems to have delivered Cougar to the police, whom he helps by reporting illegally upgraded cars, but Cougar escapes and takes Chan's two sisters hostage. Sammo Hung does the fight choreography, which includes an early skirmish in Chan's auto repair shop and a later one in a Japanese Pachinko parlor. The previously injured Jackie Chan is stunt doubled in most of the fight scenes.

The film has audio commentary by Djeng and DeSanto and an English dub available. Also included are the Japanese cut (97 min.); “Breakout! Part 3” with Mars, West, Mudge and dubbing supervisor Paul Clay discussing the film (12:21); an interview with Clay (8:32); textless outtakes (4:01); alternate export credits (5:30); six Japanese Chan trailers; and an image gallery. Grade: film 3 stars; extras 3.75 stars

“Police Story 4: First Strike” seesInspector Chan Ka Kui (Jackie Chan) participate in a sting operation against an international spy-ring. But when one of them (Jackson Lou as Jackson Tsui) gets away, Chan is ordered to apprehend him and locate a missing nuclear warhead. This leads Chan all over the globe, starting with Tsui's sister in Australia. The Hong Kong cut has audio commentary by Djeng and DeSanto and comes with “Breakout! Part 4” with West and Mudge (7:33), textless outtakes (3:32) and an image gallery. Also included is the international cut, retitled “Jackie Chan’s First Strike” (83 min.), plus additional scenes from the TV version (10:22) and an appreciation by Djeng (11:49). Grade: film 3.5 stars; extras 3.25 stars

“Mr. Nice Guy” comes in three cuts, with the extra two being the Japanese (97 min.) and the international/American (88 min.). After recording footage of a violent drug deal involving kingpin Giancarlo (Richard Norton) and a mysterious gang called "The Demons," journalist Diana (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) flees the scene when her partner is captured. She literally bumps into TV chef Jackie (Chan) during the escape. Jackie’s quick reflexes and formidable hand-to-hand skills are matched by his homemade noodles, but Diana’s tape gets mixed up in the shuffle with a recording of Chan's cooking show. Giancarlo and his men end up chasing Diana and the unwitting Jackie, along with his sister Miki and a few other friends. The result is a near-marathon of terrific set-pieces. The dialogue is weak and there are too many supporting characters.

The Hong Kong version has new audio commentary by Mudge and “Breakout! Part 5” with Mars, West and Mudge (8:24); an appreciation by Djeng (11:56); textless outtakes (4:19) and an image gallery. Grade: film 3.5 stars; extras 3 stars

“Who Am I?” has a secret agent (Jackie Chan, who co-directed with Benny Chan, and co-wrote with two others) losing his memory after falling from a crashing helicopter into the South African jungle, after his mission of kidnapping three scientists who were experimenting with a powerful mineral. Chan’s character, who takes the name Who Am I, goes through a series of exotic locations while he is hunted by the villains behind the helicopter crash. He also is chased by several other agency operatives, but he has no idea why. The action scenes are exceptional, including late ones in the Netherlands. In one he uses clogs as weapons and then he is atop the Willemswerf skyscraper in Rotterdam, with its angled outcropping that he slides down to escape.

The Hong Kong version has audio commentary by Mudge; “Breakout! Part 6” with Mudge, actor Glory Simon and second unit cinematographer Ray Wong discussing the film (9:48); “From Drunk to Slam Dunk!: Jackie Chan in the New Millennium”with Mudge, West, Baker, Simon, Dr. Wong, Ray Wong, Hubble, Wang Yao and Mars discussing Chan's career after this film (20:07); a three-part making of (89 min.); alternate English credits (6:54); textless outtakes (3:39) and an image galley. The international cut (99 min.) on disc 10 comes with interviews with Ray Wong (8:15) and Glory Simon (8:32). Grade: film 3 stars; extras 4 stars

In addition, the set comes with a reversible poster; 24 lobby card reproductions; and a 160-page perfect bound book with an archival interview with Jackie Chan by Craig D. Reid and new writing by Thorsten Boose, Peter S. Bruce, Matt McAllister, Elaine Chung and Jialu Zhu. These bring the overall extras to 5 stars

Strange Cargo (1940, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 113 min.). This was the eighth and final screen pairing of Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. Their earlier films included “Laughing Sinners,” “Possessed,” “Chained,” “Dancing Lady” and “Love on the Run.” It features an escape from an island prison in French Guiana. Gable plays Verne, who has made five escape tries in three years. Despite only having three years left to serve, he joins an escape attempt by Moll (Albert Dekker of “The Wild Bunch,” “Kiss Me Deadly”).

As the film starts, Verne is assigned wharf duty after his latest escape attempt and sees Julie (Crawford), a reluctant resident of the island who works in the tavern, grabs her by the ankle and forces her to talk to him. He manages to stay in town and sneak into her room that night, but the aptly named M'sieu Pig (Peter Lorre of “The Maltese Falcon,” “Casablanca”) informs on him. The unexpected result is that Julie is given only 12 hours to vacate the island, as she had had contact with an inmate.

Verne forces his way as part of Moll’s escape by six prisoners, who are joined by a Christ-like presence (Ian Hunter as Cambreau). This is the less-successful allegorical part of the film. Cambreau and Hessler (Paul Lukas), a man who has murdered several different wives, philosophize about the Bible and related topics throughout. The film has a score by the great Franz Waxman. Bonus features include the featurette, "Gable & Crawford" (13:44); Our Gang’s ‘Goin’ Fishin" (9:42); and the cartoon, "Home on the Range." Grade: film 3.25 stars; extras 2 stars

Letty Lynton (1932, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 84 min.). In this earlier Joan Crawford film, she plays the title character, tired of staying in South America with lover Emile Renaul (Nils Asther of “Wild Orchids”). She and her maid Miranda (Louise Closser Hale of “Shanghai Express,” “Dinner at Eight”) set sail for New York City. In the cabin opposite hers is Jerry Darrow (Robert Montgomery of “Lady in the Lake”). They have dinner together the first night and after two weeks aboard, he asks her to marry him. She accepts, but finds Renaul has flown to New York and wants her.

Letty tries to keep the two men apart, but Renaul sees her kiss Darrow and them ride off. Letty tries to get her letters back from Renaul, so he cannot show them to Darrow, but Renaul beats her and she ends up poisoning him.

A very good extra is the documentary “Irving Thalberg: Prince of Hollywood” (74 min.). Thalberg was a producer at Universal at age 21 and then moved to MGM, producing “Ben Hur” and “The Big Parade.” Clark Gable was one of his discoveries. The other extras are five Crawford radio appearances: “Good News of 1938” (52:27), “Good News of 1939” (56:53), Lux Radio Theater’s “A Doll’s House” with Basil Rathbone (59:33), The Silver Theatre’s “The Train Ride” (29:37) and Gulf Screen Guild Theatre’s “None Shall Part Us” with Lew Ayers (31:25). Grade: film 3 stars; extras 3.5 stars

Rose-Marie (1936, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 111 min.). This was the 20th of the 42 movies singing actors Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy made together. MacDonald plays Canadian opera singer Marie de Flor, who suddenly learns her younger brother John Flower (James Stewart in a small, late role in his second feature film) has escaped prison and killed a Mountie in the process. The news comes after she has performed in “Romeo and Juliet” on stage and is entertaining the premier of Quebec.

Helped by Boniface (George Regas), she sets off with money for her brother, only to have Boniface steal the money up north. Sgt. Bruce (Eddy), the Mountie sent to capture her brother, tries to help Marie find her money. As he helps her track Boniface, Bruce falls in love with her, not knowing who her brother is.

An interesting segment includes an Indian dance ceremony and the songs are all good. Extras include “Hollywood – The Second Step,” narrated by Cary Wilson (10:31); “Little Cheeser” cartoon (9:22); and five of their radio shows, including the Screen Guild Players on June 23, 1947 (27:12), two The Nelson Eddy Show/Program on The Electric Hour (7:36 excerpt, 29:10), Vick’s Open House, 1937 with MacDonald (29:57) and Kraft Music Hall of Sept. 16, 1948 (25:12). Grade: film 3 stars; extras 3.25 stars

Night and Day (1946, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 128 min.). In this highly-fictionalized biopic, directed by Michael Curtiz (“Casablanca,” “Mildred Pierce”), Gary Grant plays songwriter Cole Porter. There are 22 musical numbers in the film, most of which are Porter classics from his Broadway shows. Alexis Smith (“Conflict,” “The Age of Innocence”) plays Porter’s love interest and eventual wife, Linda.

As a biography, the film fails, but the music is divine, with Jane Wyman, Ginny Simms and Eve Arden among the singers. Mary Martin plays herself, recreating her Broadway debut, performing “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” Also playing himself is Monty Woolley, a Yale professor who became Porter’s good friend and helped produce his shows.

Among the musical highlights are stage performances of “You Do Something to Me” with dancing canes; and the accompanying dances with “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Begin the Beguine.” There are outdoor lawn rehearsals of “You’re the Top” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

Extras include direct access to the 22 musical numbers; “Musical Movieland” backstage feature (20:21); a preview of Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra (10:09); and Bugs Bunny in “The Big Snooze,” in which Doc tries to break up the act (7:23). Grade: film 3 stars; extras 2.25 stars

Come Live with Me (1941, Warner Archive Collection, Blu-ray, NR, 86 min.). The pairing here is James Stewart and Hedy Lamarr, with the film directed by Clarence Brown, who also directed “Letty Lynton.” The film is about a Viennese refugee who needs a marriage of convenience to obtain U.S. citizenship, so she will not be deported to almost certain death, like her father experienced. She selects a struggling writer, arranging to pay him weekly, covering his expenses only.

The woman is Johnny Jones (Lamarr of “Samson and Delilah,” “The Strange Woman”), who has been having an affair with Barton Kendrick (Ian Hunter of “Strange Cargo,” “The Adventures of Robin Hood”) for some time. Barton has a “modern marriage” in that his wife Diana (Verree Teasdale of “First Lady,” “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”) knows of his affair and has her own beau in Arnold Stafford (Edward Ashley of “Pride and Prejudice,” “Macao,” “The Court Jester”).

Things start in motion when an immigration agent visits Johnny, saying she will be deported tomorrow because her temporary visa expired three months ago. The agent takes pity on her, telling her of the marriage loophole and giving her an extra week to find a husband.

Johnny goes for a walk and ends up meeting writer Bill Smith (Stewart of “Vertigo,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”) in a coffee shop. She decides he will be her husband and asks to go to his apartment. Thinking it is a date, he is shocked by the marriage proposal, but accepts as he has been unable to sell his stories.

How poor is he? He asks if she wants to hear music, saying he can open his window so they can hear the radio across the street. He agrees to accept $17.80 a week – his rent is $7 a week – but plans to eventually pay her everything back. While Bill falls for Johnny, he only sees her once a week when she brings over the check.

Complications arise when Barton decides to divorce Diana so he can marry Johnny, and Bill submits the first chapters of a story inspired by the citizenship marriage to publishers, one of whom is Barton. Diana, who loves the story, choses it for publication.

Extras include the U.S. Treasury’s “America, Preferred,” about military training camps (7:33); the short “From the Four Corners” (15:40); and the Hanna-Barbera cartoon “Officer Pooch” (8:12). Grade: film 3.5 stars; extras 2 stars

Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines: The Complete Series (1969-1970, Warner Archive Collection, 2 Blu-rays, NR, 470 min.). Speaking of Hanna-Barbera, they were the producers and directors of this animated series about Dick Dastardly and his snickering canine co-pilot Muttley, who plot to stop the carrier pigeon aboard their World War I flying machines in this popular spin-off of “Wacky Races.” It features the vocal talents of Paul Winchell and Don Messick. When muttering Muttley decides he has had enough, he flies off into his own fantasy world, where he gets to be the boss.

The set includes all 17 episodes, remastered from the original negatives, as well as “The Vulture Squadron’s Greatest Misses,” “Dastardly and Muttley’s Spinoffs: What Wacky Races Wrought,” and audio commentaries by animation veterans for two episodes. Grade: series 3.5 stars; extras 3 stars

Covert Affairs: The Complete Series (2010-2014, Universal/USA, 19 Blu-rays, NR, 53 hours 44 min.). The set contains all 75 episodes of the five-season spy series. It stars Piper Perabo (“Coyote Ugly,” TV’s “Yellowstone”) as Annie Walker, a brilliant CIA operative and linguist with girl-next-door charm, the instincts of a born spy and a hunger for adventure. She is plucked straight from training at the Farm and assigned to the Agency’s Domestic Protection Division, tackling high-stakes cases at home and around the globe. Guided by Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham of TV’s “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “Sheriff Country”), a skilled, blind operative who becomes her mentor and closest ally, Annie navigates dangerous missions, while keeping her covert life hidden from family and friends.

Season five jumps ahead several months. Auggie is back at the Domestic Protection Division, Arthur (Peter Gallagher of “American Beauty,” TV’s “The O.C.”) is offered a job in the private sector at McQuaid Security, and Joan (Kari Matchett of “Maudie,” “Cypher”) is returning from maternity leave to find that she has been passed over for the director job in favor of Calder (Hill Harper of “The Skulls,” TV’s “CSI: NY”). Also, Annie, who has been off the grid for months, has resurfaced and is sent to Chicago to investigate a purported terror plot. Her findings develop into an international mission that takes her from Venezuela to Argentina to France.

Extras include deleted scenes, gag reels, a set tour and cast and crew audio commentaries. Grade: series 3.5 stars; extras 2.5 stars