My review and appreciation for Queen Bee is admittedly somewhat biased and skewed by my obsession with Lu I-Chan!
I first watched the original Taiwanese version of Queen Bee (i.e not the more common, crappy Filmark version with added Ninjas) around 15 years ago and instantly fell in love with the film - and its sizzling lead, Lu I-Chan. The most accessible version of the Taiwanese cut doing the rounds was/is without subtitles, so although the film was great fun, some finer plot details were missed.
At the beginning of 2023, I managed to acquire a rough, washed-out print but with burnt-in English subtitles, so I was finally able to fill in the missing plot points after all these years.
Lu I-Chan plays Yea Ping/Queen Bee, whose sister is raped (and consequently commits suicide) on the eve of her wedding. Yea Ping goes to a local godfather-esque character named 'Second Master' (O Chun Hung) for help.
Second Master eventually takes Yea Ping under his wing as his adopted daughter, renames her 'Queen Bee' and converts her into a total fighting and gambling bad ass.
From this point on, Queen Bee sets out to get her revenge on the scum that led to her sister's death, whilst getting into some gang-related scraps along the way.
The revenge element doesn't kick in until around the 40th minute mark but, when it does, it's a real joy to watch Lu I-Chan in a variety of great outfits, brandishing a shotgun, katana or throwing darts to dish out her ice cold brand of justice.
If you enjoy this one, check out the other Chester Wong & Lu I-chan collaboratins like the sequel Queen Bee's Revenge (released the same year), Mad Rose, The Imprisoned and The Outlaw (all 1982)
