Best Wuxia movies 1965-1984
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- DirectorKing HuStarsFeng HsuChun ShihYing BaiA lady fugitive on the run from corrupt government officials is joined in her endeavors by an unambitious painter and skilled Buddhist monks.Wu xia pian masterpiece! Wonderful movie with interesting plot and beautiful landscapes. Hsu Feng is great. I especially like the way King Hu managed the scenes with shaolin Monks.
An absolutely Must see for Wu xia pian lovers!
8,5/10 for me. - DirectorJimmy Wang YuStarsJimmy Wang YuTien Wu ChuKang ChinAfter his students are killed by the One Armed Boxer, a vengeful and blind Kung Fu expert travels to a village where a martial arts contest is being held and vows to behead every one armed man he comes across.This movie is between Wu xia pian and Kung Fu genres. The opening is epic. Pretty good plot. Lots of fights a little bit slow but interesting characters and martial arts styles.
Once you see this movie i think it's impossible to forget it.
7/10 for me. - DirectorKing HuStarsPolly Ling-Feng Shang-KuanChun ShihYing BaiWhen the children of an executed General are pursued in 1457 China, some heroic martial arts swordsmen intervene.Even if it is a classic Wu xia pian i must say it is aging a bit but we can notice it defined most of codes of the Wuxia genre. I rate "Come Drink with me" slightly above this one personally and in my mind Dragon Inn 1992 is way more entertaining!
6,5/10 for me - DirectorChung SunStarsSheng FuLung TiFeng KuChi Ming-sing is a former disciple of a gang run by overlord Yoh Xi-hung. Yoh's disciples hunt Chi relentlessly as he travels on a soul-searching journey. He comes to the aid of a seemingly bumbling man who hardly takes even life-threatening scenes seriously. The man Chi saved starts following him on the road, explaining that he's looking for someone who committed a grievous, unforgivable wrong. As the two travel on the road, it starts to become clear that Chi's companion is more than he seems: he's actually a very skilled martial artist, and his boots contain short blades that he can attach to his sleeves. Chi finally tells his companion his story: he's seeking out a renowned swordsman named Cheuk Yi-fan... not to kill him, but to die at his hand. Chi is haunted of the last job he did with the gang, slaughtering many of Cheuk's family and friends... and Chi himself slew Cheuk's pregnant wife. Chi's companion agrees to help Chi with his mission. But when the two arrive at Yoh's stronghold intent on killing him, Yoh recognizes Chi's companion as none other than Cheuk Yi-fan himself. Will Chi and Cheuk be able to remain together against Yoh's formidable fighting style, or will Yoh succeed at dividing and conquering his foes?This movie is a good entertainment if you have nothing to do. Good story, interesting costumes but the fights aren't exceptionnal.
I rate this movie just above the average.
6/10 for me. - DirectorWing-Cho YipStarsSzu ShihLi TungFeng KuThis sword-filled thriller centers on the title location-an inn where the down and dirty meet to plot nefarious doings.7/10
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsJimmy Wang YuChiao ChiaoChung-Hsin HuangA noble swordsman, whose arm had been chopped off, returns to his former teacher to defend him from a villainous gang of rival swordsmen.I don't understand dithyrambic reviews and notes about this movie. I'm not really a fan of Jimmy Wang Yu and even less of Chang Cheh. Too much scenes in studios, males with ridiculous eyebrows, bad choice of actors (except Tien Feng in this movie) and weak editing.
4/10 for me. - DirectorSiu-Tung ChingStarsNorman ChuDamian LauFlora Chong-LeenThe best sword master from China vs the best sword master from Japan. Who will win?I really like this movie. The 2 main protagonists have done a great job. The story is pretty simple (the best japanese swordman vs the best chinese swordman in order to see what is the best country) but the fights are exciting and nervous, the main theme is great and the end is one of the best i've seen in this type of movie.
I strongly recommend it!
9/10 for me - DirectorCheh ChangStarsDavid Da-Wei ChiangChing LeeLung TiLei Li lost his right-arm in a sword duel with the master of a martial arts school, long ago. Now, he is able to defend himself well with just his left arm, and kung fu techniques. That he proves with just the help of his friend Chung-Chieng, when he crosses his path with a beautiful girl in need, Pao Chiao. Even against impossible odds, he will prove a great warrior.slightly better than the series of Wang Yu, this movie has nothing exceptional in my eyes, in any case nothing to deserve 7.2/10, but is still watchable for any wuxia fan.
6/10. - DirectorCheh ChangStarsJimmy Wang YuChiao ChiaoChia Essie LinAfter defeating The Long-Armed Devil and his armies, our nubbed hero has been living in retirement as a farmer, but circumstances causes him to come out of retirement and take on The Eight Kings, each warrior with their own unique fighting style. The time has come for the one armed swordsman to return.Mediocre!
5/10 - DirectorKing HuStarsLi Hua LiRoy ChiaoFeng HsuLee Khan, a high official under Mongolian Emperor Yuan of the Yuan dynasty (year 1366) procures the battle map of the Chinese rebel Chu Yuan-Chang's army. Rebel spies, aided by treachery within Khan's ranks, strive to corner him in an inn.Pretty similar to Dragon Inn (1967).
- DirectorMeng-Hua HoStarsPei-Pei ChengLieh LoSzu ShihMartial arts star Cheng Pei pei and versatile director Ho Meng hua were a great team, who elevated this tale of a virtuous swordswoman's revenge on the Black Demon who injured her to one of the best of both their careers.
- DirectorYuen ChorStarsLily HoHua YuehBetty Pei TiThe Four Seasons Brothel is run by a ruthless madam, Lady Chun Yi. Countless young girls have been kidnapped or bought and then sold into a life of servitude, prostitution, and torture at this brothel. Ai Nu, an honest, but poor family's only daughter, is one of the newest girls that was recently kidnapped and sold to Lady Chun. To complicate matters even more, Lady Chun is a lesbian and quickly falls in love with the virginal Ai Nu, who will not let her spirit be broken and tries to escape again and again. This causes Lady Chun to use all of her resources to break her, including auctioning off Ai Nu's virginity to a group of wealthy businessmen. She eventually entrusts Ai Nu with a number of ancient kung-fu secrets like the Ghost Hands, which allows you to thrust your fists into an opponent's chest. Soon after murder erupts within the brothel. A diligent detective, Chi Te, visits the brothel and becomes increasingly involved in the murder investigation. He realizes he must do everything he can to prevent Ai Nu from taking her much deserved revenge on everyone that has wronged her over the years.Beautiful wuxia with soul. The 2 main actress did a great job. The editing and pace are pretty good. Too bad most of scenes are shot in studio.
7,5/10 - DirectorKing HuStarsFeng HsuYing BaiRoy ChiaoThe emperor dispatches an officer and a small band of men to deal with pirates.A little bit disappointed by this one. It's not bad but once you have seen the classic A touch of Zen, your expectations can only be high.
I find the characters and villains in general uninteresting despite the presence of Sammo Hung who embodies their leader.
Hsu Feng is not used much in this movie. You almost have the feeling she is mute.
This movie is still enjoyable for wuxias fan but nothing memorable according to me. - DirectorChun-Ku LuStarsNorman ChuTony LiuJung WangHsu Shao-chiang stars as a veritable "Spider-Swordsman" - master of the "Silkworm Style" - in this eye-filling, mind-bending martial arts phantasmagorical which truly warrants the description: "unforgettable."
- DirectorChia TangStarsDerek Tung-Sing YeeJason Piao PaiPhillip KoShaolin Temple becomes suspect when several clan leaders are robbed and killed by the deadly Shaolin Palm technique.
- DirectorJohn WooStarsPai WeiDamian LauKong LauA son tries to avenge his father, and gets two sword fighters to help him.
- DirectorYuen ChorStarsLung TiLieh LoLi ChingDon't miss this one it is excellent. Chinese sword masters pair up to fight off yet another villain for the deadly PeacockDart. The ending is eye popping don't miss this one. Shaw Brothers come thru yet againThe kind of Wuxia i like! A little more wild than the usual Wuxia. I find Chor Yuen's work way more interesting than Chang Cheh, as i think he is more creative, subtil and simply more talented!
And he did a great job on this movie like he did with his "Ai nu" released in 1972. The story, the staging and the action scenes are well executed. The sword wielded by the hero embodied by Lung Ti is stunning and make a strong impression! Even for today's standards. - DirectorYuen ChorStarsIvy Ling PoHan ChinLieh Lo6 swordsmen, among them 2 sisters and their husbands, a lone ranger and a security guard, plot, betray and outwit each other for a load of gold.
- DirectorKing HuStarsPei-Pei ChengHua YuehChih-Ching YangBandits kidnap a governor's son and demand their imprisoned leader to be set free in exchange. The governor's daughter, a skilled martial artist, is sent to rescue him, but eventually finds herself overmatched and in need of assistance.Classic King Hu movie! I rate it slightly above his cult "Dragon Inn" released one year after this one. Cheng Pei Pei is great in that movie.
I recommend it if you're a fan of wuxias but you have to be aware it is from 1966.
7/10 for me. - DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Liang LiuChia-Yung LiuKara Ying Hung WaiA band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsDavid Da-Wei ChiangLung TiChing LeeYing Ke-Feng, head of Peerless Manor, is an expert swordsman whose escort business transports 200,000 taels of silver to the capital each year. This year, however, he is afflicted with an infirmity that renders him unable to use his sword. Rather than give up this important commission and let the martial world know of his precarious health he means to entrust the consignment to two young knights in his manor, Hsiang Ting and Yun Piao-Piao. As it happens, these two are also betrothed; clearly they have their swordsmanship in common. At Peerless Manor, everyone is suspicious of malevolent strangers who may be sniffing around the silver transport. So when Le I appears astride a high-quality charger but otherwise clearly down on his luck, Hsiang Ting thinks Le I may be a spy for the bad guys in the Flying Tiger Manor. It doesn't help that Le I and Yun Piao-Piao hit it off right away. Even or especially when Le I saves Yun Piao-Piao from a Flying Tiger thug, Hsiang is not assuaged. Yun Piao-Piao is torn, though it seems that a certain sisterly compassion finally wins the day when she arranges to reunite Le I with his horse. It's a cute horse, and Le I seems rather attached ... When the silver convoy passes by a pagoda that happens to house the Flying Tiger gang, Chiao Hung, the Flying Tiger chief, tries to steal the shipment. To win the day, Hsiang and Le must fight together, despite their mutual disaffection.6,5/10
- DirectorChih-Hung KueiStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng KuJason Piao PaiRighteous constable Leng Tian-Ying has a fearsome reputation of killing criminals without remorse. But after being assigned to track a gang that robbed the imperial treasury, he comes to find that his reputation is being used against him.
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokSheng ChiangLi WangWhen director Chang Chen found new talent and blood with "The Five Venoms" actors, most of which were trained in the highly acrobatic Chinese opera and well versed with exotic martial arts weapons, this crated a new spark for his use of bizarre weapons in his films.
- DirectorChia TangStarsLung TiDerek Tung-Sing YeeJason Piao PaiAs the names of Chang Cheh and Liu Chia-liang became legendary, all-too-often the name of their equally valued collaborator, Tang Chia, is omitted. That may be,because, unlike the previous pair, the veteran kung-fu choreographer only went on to direct three movies of his own. Of course, that makes this trio all the more special, and this first effort perhaps the most special of all. It may be an eye-filling, mind-bending martial arts tale of two royal princes battling for the rightful recovery of the throne, but it's also a party, where Tang invites two cinematographers, three editors, and no less than five other choreographer friends to almost literally shoot the works. The results are kung-fu configurations not only never seen before, but never even imagined!