Color, 1992, 96 mins. 10 secs.
Directed by Michael Kennedy
Starring Billy Blanks, Jalal Merhi, James Hong, Priscilla Barnes, Master Pan Qing Fu, Harry Mok, Matthias Hues, Mike Chow
Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray) (US R0 HD) / WS (1.85:1) (16:9), Fox (DVD) (US R1 NTSC), Legacy Entertainment (Canada R0 NTSC), Boulevard (DVD) (UK R2 PAL)
the straight-to-VHS action series 
starter Tiger Claws in 1991, Canadian-based producer and frequent star Jalal Merhi started cranking out more martial arts bonanzas at record speed with a frequent stable of regular actors. Among them was the lively and very athletic Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks, with whom he teamed up in 1992's Talons of the Eagle and immediately afterward in the following year's TC 2000. Shown on a few screens a month before it hit tape from MCA/Universal, this one has remained one of the more readily available films from the cycle over the years since it hits all the action beats you could possibly want. Barely a five-minute interval goes by without someone getting chased, kicked, or shot at, so if you're an action fan, proceed with confidence.
both 
men end up being trained by Master Pan (Qing Fu), an expert at the "eagle talon" method (which bears a certain resemblance to tiger claws, of course). Cue the training montage with Pan bouncing on the guys' tummies on the beach, after which they're ready to strut their stuff and enter Li's inner circle. There they encounter Cassandra (Three's Company's Barnes), a fellow undercover agent who may have turned, as well as master fighters including Khan (Hues) and Niko (Mok). Now they have to protect their cover and bust skulls if necessary to take down this international drug ring once and for all.
notable issue, a clearly defective camera used early on the results in visible registration issues during certain shots 
scattered through the film. That flaw wasn't as obvious on the VHS release or the two mediocre DVDs that came out later, but seen in pristine condition thanks to Vinegar Syndrome's gorgeous 4K scan from the original camera negative, it's tough to miss. As usual this VSA Blu-ray edition (limited to 5,000 units complete with a double-sided, fold-out poster) is a great way to appreciate a film that wasn't really available in good quality before and likely won't get any better unless they decide to go the UHD route down the road. The Ultra Stereo mix is nicely replicated here as well with a DTS-HD MA 2.0 English track that most gives the front and rear separation to the pounding electronic score. Optional English SDH subtitles are also provided. 
challenges of working as an actor, producer, and fight choreographer at the same time. Much funnier and more energetic is "Blood, 
Blades and Blanks: Sculpting Talons of the Eagle" (27m13s), a new featurette with Blanks, Merhi, Hues, Mok, and Michael Chow fondly recalling their work on the film, their entries into martial arts, the goofiness of having to shoot two love scenes, the glory of the VHS and early DVD eras, and the practical feats and training required for the film. All of them are great company here and full of entertaining stories. Finally the original trailer is also included.