By the time 1986 arrived, Yuen Biao, one Hong Kong’s “Three Dragons,” had appeared in the Sammo Hung-co-directed Warrior’s Two (1978), lead Brandy Yuen Jan-Yeung’s The Champions (1983), and co-starred in Jackie Chan’s Project A (1983) and Sammo Hung’s My Lucky Stars (1985). These projects are just a select few in a career spanning 59 years and still going. Now, the Joe Cheung Tung-Cho-directed action rom-com Rosa (神勇雙響炮續集), starring Biao, Lowell Lo Koon-Ting (Magnificent Warriors), Kara Wai Ying-Hung (Dragon; The Lady is the Boss), and Lu Hsiao-Fen (Song of the Exile), is set to be re-released by 88 Films with a brand-new 2K restoration, deluxe packaging, and supplemental materials for collectors the world over to enjoy.
After both Hong Kong Officers “Little Monster” Hsia (Yuen) and “Mustache” Lei Kung (Lo Koon-Ting) run afoul of their superior, Inspector Tin (Paul Chun Pui), the two find themselves tasked with tracking down the girlfriend of an informer who’s on the run with information on the criminal Boss Wang Ping Tang (James Tien Chun). While trying to get close to the suspect’s girlfriend, Rosa (Lu), Lei and Hsia pull in Lei’s sister (Wai) to help them lower Rosa’s defenses. Amid various shenanigans that slowly develop trust among the foursome, Boss Wang’s men continue to hunt for the information until a final confrontation is forced.
This following home review is based on a retail Blu-ray copy provided by 88 Films via MVD Entertainment Group.
If you’re aware of boutique distributor 88 Films, you know that they center Asian cinema, offering restorations of titles significant to its larger release history and delving into titles of a particular star or studio. They’ve produced single-title releases with simple slips, multi-film collections in hard boxes, and deluxe editions in formats HD and 4K UHD. For Rosa, 88 Films offers a deluxe edition of their 2K HD Blu-ray, beefing up the physical materials to make up for meager on-disc ones. This approach provides owners with the sensation of having something special to sit on their shelves and the quality of the work shines through.
Moving from the outside in, Rosa is packaged with an O-ring slip featuring new artwork from frequent 88 Films collaborator/designer Sean Longmore on the front and release information on the back amid stills from the feature. The O-ring itself is light and fairly flimsy, but, when coupled with the hardcase shell that houses the remaining materials, the slip allows owners to admire the design of the packaging while keeping the materials safe from spilling out. Once removed, the hardcase has the same front-facing art design and a different back design (original marketing art for the film featuring Rosa and Hsia in matching outfits battling two goons in suits). Within the hardshell are three items: a single art card with promo materials on the front and back; the 40-page booklet containing release information, two essays, and special thanks on the creation of the restoration; and the clear plastic case with reversible liner and a single Blu-ray. The front liner presents the aforementioned new art while the interior art is from the original theatrical poster release. Back to the booklet for a moment, the first essay, “Rosa and the Rhythm of 80s Hong Kong Cinema” by Fraser Elliot explores the film from the perspective of HK movie-making at the time. For those that notice how Rosa feels … fluid in its storytelling, almost as though it’s a series of sequences loosely held together by plot … Elliot offers historical context for why this occurs, including but not limited to the way films were shot at the time as handled by the various production companies involved (Bo Ho Films and Paragon being two that actor/filmmaker and fellow Dragon Sammo Hung is connected to). The second essay, “Longing for the Shaw Brothers, Reaping the Golden Harvest” by Paul Bramhall takes a vastly different approach to the examination of Rosa by examining the timing of the release of the film as it was during a period of change for HK cinema, as well as how that change impacted Biao as an actor who struggled the most to breakout, compared to his fellow Dragons, despite his skillsets and charm: Jackie Chan and Hung. One can look at The Champions, Warriors Two, Project A (1983), Dragons Forever (1988), and Eastern Condors (1987) — several of which are available via 88 Films — and see that recognition for Biao should be as global as that of his fellow Dragons, instead of just limited to HK cinema and action fans.
ROSA packshot. Photo courtesy of 88 Films and MVD Entertainment Group.
Once ready to explore the disc itself, the supplemental materials include two audio commentary tracks (one a conversation between Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto and the other featuring David West), an interview with director Cheung and assistant director Benz Kong To-Hoi, the English opening and closing titles, the original trailer, and an image gallery. With it being the only item to view separate from the film, the 23-minute conversation between Cheung and Kong offers a chance to learn about the making of the film. Though not labeled as such, it appears to be a new interview with the two, structured as individual talking head interviews. Cheung discusses some of his early work and experiences at the start of his career (talking about the filmmakers and actors he’s worked with), his favorite films (tough for him to narrow), and the task of making the film once a vision was determined. Everything he says is either supported by footage of him sitting as he answers or with footage from the film. Instead of just chatting with them together or showing them one at a time, both Cheung and Kong speak to us, each sharing a little bit of information before cutting to the other with what they say specific to their experiences before coming together to explore Rosa. Once they get to Rosa, the editing of the respective interviews creates a bit of a conversation-like style in which one finishes speaking about something before the other is “brought in.” It creates a nice flow as we sit and listen to their experience whether it was about the style, the structure, or even the writing (one of the writer’s being In the Mood for Love’s Wong Kar-Wai).
The reason you’re here, though, the reason you’re reading this review, is to learn what you can about the restoration while deciding whether you should snag this or not. If you’re familiar with the film and/or collect HK cinema and/or are a fan of Biao, then rest easy. The 2K restoration on Rosa is immaculate. Watching the film with the 2.0 Cantonese mono with English subtitles, the audio comes through clear and clean; set the volume once and you’re done. The audio mix allows the dialogue to come through while also balancing the score and foley work to make the martial arts possess impact. Likewise, the work done on the video components (from the original negative as reported by the press release) is visibly impressive. Details are sharp and colors are defined to the point that the film possesses a sense of a modern release rather than being 39 years old. There’s no haze, no wear, and no grime — really no sense at all of aging of any kind. Regardless of how one feels about the film itself, this may be the best the film has looked and sounded.
Here’s the thing — Rosa is a bit of a rara avis. It’s a crime thriller in that the central component is the two cops needing to get close to an informant’s girlfriend in order to find the evidence the informant reportedly has before (a) he sells it off or (b) he’s killed. It’s also a rom-com because Hsia kinda likes Lei Kung’s sister and Lei Kung fancies Rosa, which means that first the two cops have to earn her trust and then work together to somehow get Rosa to return Lei Kung advances. Additionally, though the two cops are skilled fighters, they’re also a little silly, which puts them in the “bumbling” category even though they’re demonstrably capable (albeit more so Hsia than Lei Kung). These three elements don’t always blend well with the action requiring an intensity that the romance and comedy don’t quite match, the romance being executed with an element of comedy that’s certainly distasteful by modern standards (and based on what we know of HK cinema in the ‘80s, even then), and the comedy integrating wonderfully with the action and romance but sometimes to the detriment of severity. In short, there are pieces of Rosa worth experiencing and it’s great fun seeing Biao and Dick Wei going against each other again, this time with Wei playing one of Boss Wang’s goons instead of in direct opposition to Biao as in The Champions, but the singular moments don’t necessarily equate to worthy time spent. Instead, one finds themselves wondering why Biao and Kara Wai, both accomplished action stars, weren’t the actual center of the film and why it is that Biao, charismatic as he is, couldn’t find projects that could make better use of his skillset.
When it’s all said and done, recommending Rosa is a tad tricky. If you’re already of the mind that this is a film to own, you’re not going to be disappointed between the packaging and supplemental materials as the quality is apparent. Not only that, but the included essays and interview allow fans and general cinephiles to obtain a greater contextual understanding of the film and its release. Plus, the 2K restoration is nothing short of impressive. This deluxe edition is Project A quality work for a single-title non-4K release. But if the above doesn’t describe you, the film isn’t of such a quality where owning a deluxe edition will do little more than cost you more than you’ll enjoy it. As such, you’d be better off waiting to either pick this up on sale or see if 88 Films releases a standard edition. Either way, unless you’re hard up to own this title now, waiting is the best recommendation.
Rosa Special Features:
Limited Edition Features:
- O-ring & rigid slip case with new artwork by Sean Longmore
- 40-page perfect bound book
- Premium art card
Supplemental Features:
- Brand new 2K restoration from the Original Negative
- High-Definition Blu-ray presentation in original 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
- 2.0 Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles
- 2.0 English Mono Dub
- Audio Commentary by HK Cinema Experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto
- Audio Commentary by HK Cinema Expert David West
- Interview with Joe Cheung & Benz Kong (23:23)
- English Opening and Closing Titles
- Image Gallery
- Original Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong poster artwork
Available on Blu-ray December 9th, 2025.
For more information, head to the official 88 Films Rosa webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Rosa webpage.
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Categories: Home Video, Reviews
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