First of, there are better quality versions on YouTube than what this Eastern Heroes DVD release offers, which is ridiculous. If there was any respect, they would have delivered a much cleaner version rather than this ripped-from-video copy!
The fantastic Joseph Kuo, of who I am a huge fan, directs this incredible kung-fu comedy filled with outstanding fights choreographed by the legendary Corey Yuen Kwai and Yuen Cheung Yan. Of course, this is only made better by the crème-de-la-creme of kung-fu cinema, led by the incredible talent of the Long brothers, who rarely fail to impress.
Having been sent a plaque from the Emperor claiming him the title of World Kung-Fu Champion, master Jack Long embarks on a journey across China to challenge the finest fighters, just to make sure he is worthy of such a title before he retires. There's nothing nasty in what he's doing - he's a modest guy, but when you've got to confirm some thing's, you just have to do whatever it takes...
On his travels with his posse, a young Lee Yi Min latches on hoping that Long will take him as his student so that he may learn kung-fu and take revenge for his fathers murder, leading to a master versus student showdown that became the storyline to Yuen Woo Ping's epic, Legend Of A Fighter, a few years later. Of course, Long's students aren't going to make it easy for Min and tease the life out of him as he tags along regardless. Director Kuo delivers another classic, with 7 Grandmasters offering a decent plot excelled by fantastic fight scenes. While it still carries some humour, mainly when Lee Yi Min is around, 7 Grandmasters doesn't get too silly and sticks to its plotline without losing itself.
Jack Long is just one of the most amazing martial artists ever committed to film. His moves, on-screen presence, and acting are always in top form, as is his brother. Although Jack leads the way, both siblings get to show their stuff many, many times in some greatly choreographed action that comes from two of Hong Kong's finest action directors, with Corey Yuen Kwai himself getting to face off against Jack in one of the films highlight fights.
With minimal training sequences, which is rare for a kung-fu film of this era, the classic 7 Grandmasters is packed with one-to-one battles, leading to an incredible finalebetween Jack Long, Lee Yi Min and Alan Chui, that shines as one of kung-fu cinema's best!
Overall: A well made, kung-fu classic and one of Joseph Kuo's best films...
