Bei jing ren

It opens with a lesson in evolution. Next, the scientists discuss the plot. A fossil has been found that links human evolution. The evil Japanese are coming to steal it. Martial artists will be needed.

There are many martial artist/actors who seemed to come from nowhere to star in a few of these movies and then returned to nowhere. Yeung C. Lee is probably the strongest example of this phenomenon because he has only this movie credit as lead. His fighting is certainly good though he does copy a lot of Bruce Lee's actions and mannerisms but not blatantly.

If the viewer can get past the silly story line, one dimensional characters, and unrealistic actions and outcomes, then the fights finally start. Most of the fighting is hand to hand brawls against numerous attackers simultaneously. There is plenty of action in the second half of the movie. Nothing is special and nothing is bad either.

My copy is a digital file that plays on a HDTV as wide screen but small. The dialog is Chinese and the subtitles are Chinese over English.

I rate this movie as standard, average, middle of the road, as found in hundreds of other movies of this time and genre. My recommendation to the fans is take it or leave it.

Made in 1973 as THE PEKING MAN and released in Italy 1976 with a fake tagline ("The Man who dared to challenge the deadly fury of Bruce Lee"), THE PEKING MAN is a cut above the usual revenge-formula of these movies: the story opens with a documentary tone showing the Peking Man skull, a discovery Japan wants to steal from China, because the specimen could destroy the myth foundation of Jap Emperor. Tons of fistfights ensues between secret agents from everywhere. Korean Yeung C.Lee (cat-yelling like Bruce Lee) plays a chinese partisan initially dressed like a sort of Kato: he looks like a driver but then becomes the most dangerous fighter on the scene. Actor Yee Yuan plays as usual the moustached Japan officer, while stuntman Tsai Hung is the most die-hard opponent: the final duel between him and Yeung C. Lee is the longest and better staged of this low-budget Spy-Vs-Spy martial extravaganza. Photography is very dark (I dont know if it depends to the italian print I saw 40 years ago or if intentionally), rythm is fast-paced, with just some boring moment (as the sex scene in the Japan headquarter). I recommend this if you like unrelenting action with no FX, just real stuntmen and martial artists. With a real budget and a better script, it could have been a great movie, nonetheless it's still enjoyable. Director Chang Mei Chun made also DYNASTY, the first Taiwan's 3D movie; stuntmen To Wai Wo (the one-armed evil in TOWER OF DEATH/GAME OF DEATH II) and To Man Bo (who directed delightful trash like DRAGON LEE FIGHTS BACK), served in this as Kung-Fu coreographers. A not-so-guilty pleasure.