Celestial Pictures has issued a schedule to retailers of all their Shaw Brothers classics coming to Region 3 DVD during 2004. Of particular notice to martial arts fans is the One-Armed Swordsman saga, the Brave Archer series, more Venoms flicks, and even more from Gordon Liu. Remember, these dates are tentative and Celestial is known for juggling dates so anything is possible. Thanks to AsianDVDGuide.com for the information. 

February:

• LADY IS THE BOSS (Martial Arts)

• CHINATOWN KID (Martial Arts)

• NEW TALES OF THE FLYING FOX (Martial Arts)

• THE IMPOSTER (Action)

• MOONLIGHT SERENADE (Drama)

• THE FORBIDDEN PAST (Drama)

• LUST FOR LOVE OF A CHINESE COURTESAN (Erotic)

• MAID FROM HEAVEN (Drama)

March:

• 8 DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER (Martial Arts)

• EXECUTIONER FROM SHAOLIN (Martial Arts)

• HEX AFTER HEX (Horror) 

• HEX VS. WITCHCRAFT (Horror)

• THE GENERATION GAP (Drama)

• REAR ENTRANCE (Drama)

• FALLEN PETALS (Drama)

• PLACE TO CALL HOME (Drama)

• MADAM SLENDER PLUM (Drama)

• SORROW OF THE GENTRY (Drama)

• YOUNG REBEL (Drama)

April:

• THE FLYING GUILLOTINE (Martial Arts)

• THE FLYING GUILLOTINE PART 2 (Martial Arts)

• THE RESCUE (Martial Arts)

• MAD MONKEY KUNG FU (Martial Arts)

• MY YOUNG AUNTIE (Martial Arts)

• THE VENGEFUL BEAUTY (Action)

• HEX (Horror) 

• BRIDE FROM HELL (Horror) 

• FRIEND FROM INNER SPACE (Comedy)

• 5 BILLION DOLLAR LEGACY (Thriller)

• HONG KONG 73 (Drama)

• SUMMER HEAT (Drama)

• AUNTIE LAN (Drama)

• MIST OVER DREAM LAKE (Drama)

• SINFUL CONFESSION (Erotic)

• THAT'S ADULTERY (Erotic)

• MAID FROM HEAVEN (Musical)

• DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER (Musical)

• MR. FUNNYBONE (Comedy)

May:

• CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS (Martial Arts)

• GOLDEN SWALLOW (Martial Arts)

• SHAOLIN MANTIS (Martial Arts)

• DRAGON SWAMP (Martial Arts)

• CRIPPLED AVENGERS (Martial Arts)

• BLACK FALCON (Action)

• GHOST EYES (Horror)

• CALL GIRLS (Drama)

• REAR ENTRANCE (Drama)

• THIRTEEN (Drama)

• APARTMENT FOR LADIES (Comedy)

• MAD WORLD OF FOOLS (Comedy)

• MR. FUNNYBONE STRIKES AGAIN (Comedy)

June:

• ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN (Martial Arts)

• SWORD OF SWORDS (Martial Arts)

• AVENGING EAGLE (Martial Arts)

• THUNDERING SWORD (Martial Arts)

• GUN BROTHERS (Action)

• A TIME FOR LOVE (Drama)

• THIRTEEN (Drama)

• LOVE SWINDLERS (Erotic)

• CRAZY SEX (Erotic)

• THAT FIERY GIRL (Comedy)

• THE WEST CHAMBER (Musical)

• SINGING THIEF (Musical)

July: 

• RETURN OF THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN (Martial Arts)

• DUEL OF THE CENTURY (Martial Arts)

• SPIRITUAL BOXER (Martial Arts)

• DIRTY HO (Martial Arts)

• DEADLY DUO (Martial Arts)

• THE INFORMER (Thriller) 

• CROCODILE RIVER  (Thriller)

• DIAU CHARM (Drama)

• UNFINISHED MELODY (Drama)

• MY SON (Drama)

• MAYBE IT'S LOVE (Drama)

• AN AMOROUS WOMAN OF THE TANG DYNASTY (Erotic)

• DREAMS OF EROTICISM (Erotic)

August:

• CLAN OF THE AMAZONS (Martial Arts)

• SHAOLIN PRINCE (Martial Arts)

• THE ENCHANTRESS (Martial Arts)

• CASINO (Martial Arts)

• THE GHOST LOVERS (Horror) 

• ADULTERY CHINESE STYLE (Erotic)

• THE ENCHANTING GHOST (Drama)

• MY DREAM BOAT (Drama)

• DOUBLE BLISS (Drama)

• MIST OVER DREAM LAKE (Drama)

• LOVERS DESTINY (Drama)

• WINNERS TAKE ALL (Comedy)

September: 

• NEW ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN (Martial Arts)

• GOLDEN SWORD (Martial Arts)

• ANGEL WITH THE IRON FISTS (Martial Arts)

• HEROES OF THE EAST (Martial Arts)

• MONKEY KUNG FU (Martial Arts)

• THE LADY HERMIT (Martial Arts)

• THE SWORD MATES (Martial Arts)

• BAT WITHOUT WINGS (Martial Arts)

• LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA (Martial Arts)

• SPIRIT OF THE SWORD (Martial Arts)

• BATTLE WIZARD (Martial Arts)

• DESCENDANTS OF THE SUN (Martial Arts)

• THE ASSASSIN (Martial Arts)

• NAVAL COMMANDOES (Action)

• BLACK MAGIC 2 (Horror)

• LETS MAKE LAUGH 2 (Comedy)

• DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER (Drama)

October:

• VENGEANCE OF THE GOLDEN BLADE (Martial Arts)

• SHAOLIN AVENGERS (Martial Arts)

• BRAVE ARCHER (Martial Arts)

• BRAVE ARCHER PART 2 (Martial Arts)

• SWORD STAINED WITH ROYAL BLOOD (Martial Arts)

• CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS (Martial Arts)

• TALES OF THE EUNICH (Martial Arts)

• GAMBLERS DELIGHT (Action)

• BATTLE FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (Drama) 

• THE LOTUS LAMP (Drama) 

November:

• LADY HERMIT (Martial Arts)

• CAT VS. RAT (Martial Arts)

• ROVING SWORDSMAN (Martial Arts)

• TALES OF EUNUCH (Martial Arts)

• BRAVE ARCHER PART 3 (Martial Arts)

• KILLERS FIVE (Martial Arts)

• ANGEL STRIKES AGAIN (Thriller)

• CORPSE MANIA (Horror)

• HAUNTED TALES (Horror)

• SUMMONS TO DEATH (Action)

• LOST SOULS (Erotic) 

• AMOROUS LOTUS PAN (Drama)

• FORBIDDEN TALES OF 2 CITIES (Comedy)

December:

• THE CHINESE BOXER (Martial Arts)

• TWIN BLADES OF DOOM (Martial Arts)

• THE MARTIAL CLUB (Martial Arts)

• KING BOXER (Martial Arts)

• BELLS OF DEATH (Martial Arts)

• BLACK BUTTERFLY (Martial Arts)

• THE SILENT SWORDSMAN (Martial Arts)

• SWEET IS REVENGE (Martial Arts)

• KILLER DARTS (Martial Arts)

• KING BOXER (Martial Arts)

• MARTIAL ARTS OF SHAOLIN (Martial Arts)

• TEMPTRESS OF A THOUSAND FACES (Action)

• FRIENDS (Action)

• DREAMS OF EROTICISM (Erotic)

• SINFUL ADULTRESS (Erotic)

Well, Crash Cinema finally returns to reclaim some of their uncut, widescreen martial arts reputation that they used to be known for. They've been promising Ng See Yuen's SECRET RIVALS films (which prominently feature the stunning martial arts prowess of Hwang Jang Li, Wong Dao, and John Liu) for what seems like years now. Finally, Crash Cinema's authoring house got the job done after numerous technical delays. And those marketing geniuses over there decided to come up with a whole new angle for their top releases, hence the new CRASH MASTERS logo. These two widescreen edition DVDs are due March 23 for the unbelievably fair price of $14.99 each. Click the links below to view the magnificent artwork. 

• THE SECRET RIVALS

• THE SECRET RIVALS 2

Now that 2004 is officially underway, Animego is aggressively releasing and marketing their Samurai Video DVD line. And similar to the Celestial/Shaw Bros situation, Animeigo has gone through the expense and effort of completely authoring these DVDs from pristine film prints. The transfers are presented in 16X9 enhanced format allowing these classics to be enjoyed at their absolute best. Many of their Samurai DVDs can be obtained directly through the Animeigo Website and before their street date. The latest releases include:

• LADY SNOWBLOOD

• LONE WOLF & CUB: BABYCART FROM HADES

• LONE WOLF & CUB: BABYCART IN PERIL

• ZATOICH IN DESPERATION

• ZATOICHI AT LARGE

• ZATOICHI THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE

Animeigo promises more Samurai releases in the months ahead. Keep your eyes open for these high quality releases: 

• LADY SNOWBLOOD PART 2

• LONE WOLF & CUB: WHITE HEAVEN AND HELL

• LONE WOLF & CUB: BABYCART IN THE LAND OF DEMONS

• ZATOICHI'S CONSPIRACY

• ZATOICHI MEETS THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN

As bad as the releases of Crash Cinema, Ground Zero, and Xenon have been lately, these three companies look like Criterion in comparison to the DVD releases of Video Asia. Nearly all of this companies releases are poor quality films themselves, and even when they've had an interesting film (like ONE ARMED SWORDSMEN), the feature itself is usually horribly cut and poorly mastered to the point of unwatchability. Many of Video Asia's poorly authored discs just won't play in most DVD players. But for you elite completists out there, here is the rundown of the martials arts double features DVDs that are available March 16. 

• NINJA UNTOUCHABLES/MONKEY WITH 72 MAGICS

• FISTFUL OF TALONS/KUNG FU ZOMBIE

• BLACK EAGLE'S BLADE/SNAKE STRIKES BACK

• NINJA KILLER/WAY OF THE FOX