Reviews
Shu shan zheng zhuan (2001)
Beware, American viewers!
Just a note to American audiences...when Miramax released its dubbed "Zu Warriors" after Crouching Tiger became a hit, it chopped down "Legend of Zu" from 104 minutes to 76 minutes. Important character elements are lopped off, but I guess Miramax thought that helped the "pacing" of the film. Also added to the beginning is an introduction of the scenario and the characters by Zhang Ziyi's character Joy (dubbed again, of course).
If you insist on watching the dubbed "Zu Warriors," be sure to catch "Legend of Zu" first so that you have a sense of comparison. Or even better, watch the spectacular original "Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain"!
Hao xiao zi di xia yi zhao (1979)
Nice little movie...
FIGHTING ACE has all the elements of a good kung fu film, from a revenge-centered plot to a lovable sidekick. It is quite enjoyable, and the fights themselves occur often and are well-choreographed.
At the age of two, Che Kao (John Liu, star of the epic INVINCIBLE ARMOUR) sees his parents murdered by an evil master after a kung fu book (or something; it's never quite made clear). For the next twenty years, he seeks a master to teach him kung fu so that he can get revenge...sound familiar? It should, but FIGHTING ACE somehow makes all the elements come together and make them entertaining. Che first trains under Master Yen (played by Kwan Young Moon, the superb villain from MASTER WITH CRACKED FINGERS), who is under contract to teach the idiotic Cheng--a memorable quote being "I think you really are a fool!" Eventually he must leave and train under three (count 'em!) other men, although he keeps respect for Yen by refusing to call the others master.
Along for the ride are Master Yen's daughter Shao Lun and fellow servant Shen, who serves as comic relief (although in this case the humor isn't overbearing and actually serves to further the plot!). Of course, as Che Kao learns his path crosses with that of his parent's killer, and the final fight is quite satisfying, albeit somber.
The fight sequences in FIGHTING ACE are to commended, including styles such as "fish in the water" and "butterfly falls to the ground," as the instructors call them. Each fighter also has a unique style and move that can be seen a number of times throughout the movie. This adds a nice dimension to such characters as Shun, who would be just a bumbling sidekick in any other movie; here, he actually saves Che Kao in the showdown with his rolling moves.
In all, FIGHTING ACE is a nice film, pleasant for the hour and a half that it lasts. Perhaps the best thing it will give you is exposure to John Liu and the guest star Kwan Young Moon (who gets too little screen time); I highly recommend their other films. My rating: 8/10
Ninja bugeicho momochi sandayu (1980)
A great anti-classic
SHOGUN'S NINJA has so many strange and cool aspects in it, it's hard to even remember it all. Whereas its more fantastical counterpart LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI (which even has lots of the same casting) is somehow too disjointed, SHOGUN'S NINJA remains cohesive and fun to watch through all two hours; I couldn't take my eyes off it.
The basic plot revolves around the dying Momoichi clan after Takamaru returns (played by Henry Sanada, in this role looking so much like NINJA SCROLL's Jubei that they must've seen this film). The clan members have steadily been eradicated by the evil Shogun (Sonny Chiba!) and so have to learn all they can to strike back. Along the way, there are so many outrageous stunts, traps, and elements that you will be unsure whether to laugh or stare in awe; more on those later. Takamaru is aided by a pair of kung-fu women (one of whom, Airin, is most likely the inspiration for "Tekken"'s Xiaoyou), the reluctant warrior Hanzo (who is quite reminiscent of Patrick Stewart with hair), and more ninjas than you can shake a stick at. Shogun wants Takamura's swords, because their blades hold the map to the Momoichi gold cache. This of course leads to confrontation after confrontation, with every weapon imaginable and more gory deaths than you can count.
But enough about the plot, which is somewhat tenuous. SHOGUN'S NINJA should be viewed for its crazy features. These include (in some semblance of order) harakiri, a circus monkey, slo-mo kicks, spider AND mole ninjas (not ninja spiders, but almost as cool...), an escape by candle, kung-fu handmaidens, execution by hot oil, human shields, a white-haired master, a booby-trapped forest (complete with ninja tack!), and a showdown in a rock quarry. Yes, that's right, all that crazy crap is in the movie; look for it all!
One of the movie's funniest elements is its music; everything from battle sequences to casual conversations are underscored by psychedelic '70s jazz. At first seeming inappropriate, the score grew on me as the movie continued, being edited in quite well and seeming to actually be written FOR the movie (a frightening prospect in itself!). While some might berate the soundtrack, it must also be taken into account that the immensely popular "Cowboy Bebop" employs a similar style of music that is anachronistic and yet creates a jarring shift in mood; in battles that would otherwise be fraught with tension, the lounge-style sounds kept me from being too involved and were, overall, entertaining!
In addition to the previous list of thingamabobs, SHOGUN'S NINJA still has some surprisingly reflective and artistic moments, from a staredown through steam to flashbacks of a pool of blood. The director obviously knew what he was doing, assembling a competent cast and putting them together in an epic movie that is still over-the-top. Be sure to watch this movie with a load of friends, and you will certainly enjoy yourselves. My rating: 8.5/10
Ma tou da jue dou (1973)
Another keeper from Brentwood's 10-packs!
CHINESE HERCULES is a martial-arts movie with a nice plot, something you don't see too often in the genre! The fight scenes are also not bad, and considering that Bolo Yeung is one of the bad guys, can it really be that terrible?? :)
Starting with our protagonist Lee Hsi accidentally killing someone in a fight, CHINESE HERCULES follows him through his flight to a small village, which is entirely dependent on the traffic that comes into their pier. As such, the owner of the pier can control all the workers (isn't ownership great?) and beat them up without remorse. Lee wants to defend his friends, but he's sworn an oath to never fight again. Also, the current boss of the pier is eventually overrun by chain-smoking Boss Chan and his giant of a henchman, Chiang Tai (played by our buddy Bolo).
The fight scenes in CHINESE HERCULES, when they actually happen, are not terrible, with the exception of one scene in the middle (wherein a disgruntled worker barges in on the pier owner "doing business") that is entirely overdubbed by shabby sound effects. The most interesting part of the fights is seeing Lee's emotions as he fights with himself over whether or not to fight OTHER people. And eventually, what do you think he decides to do? Take a wild guess!
As mentioned earlier, the struggle of the village's inhabitants against the big bosses is possibly the best feature of CHINESE HERCULES. Add into that an emotionally torn Lee and a huge-ass bad guy and you've got a solid script, and a great movie. My rating: 7.5/10
Zhui ming qiang (1971)
"Ma Chin, the spell of your magic sword has been broken...by me!"
So begins the dialogue in BLOOD OF THE DRAGON, which is probably the least important element of this almost-nonstop action martial arts movie. Starring Wang Yu (from the amazing ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN series), BLOOD OF THE DRAGON is an above-average movie with a pretty cool protagonist and enough blood and gore to satisfy any fan of violence.
Wang Yu plays Lung Ti, also known as the mercenary White Dragon. This is the "Dragon" referenced in the title, so you know to look out for his blood in this movie...lots of it. You see, about a quarter of the way through the movie, White Dragon sustains a backstabbing (what a guy!) and STILL manages to kick butt throughout the rest of the movie. It's a tough job saving China, but somebody's gotta do it. White Dragon gets caught up in a revolution against the evil Mongol government, and the movie gets quite a few patriotic sentiments in it; the Mongols are portrayed as hairy louts, and White Dragon and the prince who fights alongside him are cool, honorable dudes. :)
Right off the bat, BLOOD OF THE DRAGON gets into heavy action with rapid camera-cutting and frenetic editing. White Dragon wields a huge iron spear throughout the movie, and he goes against everything from a broadsword (a so-called "magic sword," but I never really saw why it was so special), a three-piece staff, throwing stars, and one of those nifty sword/whip things (used by intimidating bad guy Red Wolf). There are several unintentionally funny moments in the battles, when it is obvious that the editing is a bit sub-par, but this is to be expected from a thirty-minute fight scene with over sixty guys (yes, that IS the finale of the movie!).
White Dragon, with his fairly easy-going attitude and honorable heart, may remind viewers of Jubei from NINJA SCROLL or Gatsu from "Berserk." Either way, the dubbing on Dragon's voice (and the rest of the cast) is above average, with all the lines understandable and at times emotional; much of this could also be attributed to Wang Yu's actual ability to act. :) Also, be sure not to miss out on the horribly inappropriate music by the band Flood! All in all, a fun movie with great weapons sequences. My rating: 8/10
Fainaru faito - Saigo no ichigeki (1989)
Something intriguing about it...
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
At first, BLOODFIGHT seems like your typical tournament kung-fu film. There are interestingly strange fights at the beginning, and two competitors stand out as the best. Soon, however, the movie turns into a prolonged flashback with several fresh additions to the genre.
After winning the World Fighting Championship, Masahiro Kai has retired from the deadly sport to maintain his gym. Seeking a new protege, he finds an a**hole of a white guy, who is always seen with his Japanese posse in a "F*** YOU" Jeep. Kai wants to focus the punk's energy into fighting spirit, but all the punk wants to do is beat the crap out of people. Soon, Kai takes on a different student (one who is at odds with the group of punks), Ryu Tenmei. Torn between his dedication to the martial arts and his feelings for his girlfriend, Ryu finally makes it to the World Championship about halfway through the movie.
"But what's this?" you ask. "The movie can't be over yet!" That's when things take a turn for the grisly...the villain of the tournament, played intimidatingly as always by Bolo Yeung, kills Ryu. Yes, that's right, I didn't see it coming either. From this point on, the movie turns into a vengeance tale, with Kai seeking to retrain himself and enter into the tournament to make peace with Ryu and himself.
Several elements make this movie a good one. First, the unique plot and characters make it a memorable '80s movie. The movie is shot entirely in English, so the white-guy punk has a decidedly bitchy edge to him that instantly makes the viewer hate him. Also, Bolo Yeung's character doesn't appear on screen much, thus making him less the villain and more the supreme obstacle for Ryu and Kai to overcome. As noted before, the movie is shot in English (no dubbing or anything), which can cause some confusion with the female actors (Kai's wife, Ryu's girlfriend) due to their THICK accents. This is easily overcome by the emotion and depth in Ryu and Kai's characters, and how they play off each other quite ingeniously.
Overall, BLOODFIGHT may seem to be a vehicle for Bolo Yeung, having just finished the similar BLOODSPORT. In my opinion, however, BLOODFIGHT stands on its own as an interesting '80s martial arts movie. My rating: 7.5/10
Satomi hakken-den (1983)
Something old, something new...and a lot of blue.
LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI, on its most base level, is every kid's dream movie: it has eight (count 'em!) mystical warriors, immortality, monsters and evil deities, sacrifices and heroic deeds, and a pointless breast or two. Unfortunately, the elements of the film fail to tie together into a good, coherent film.
The movie deals with a princess destined to destroy some evil undead guys (unfortunately, they're not zombies, which are always B-movie gold). Told through a confusing Chinese manuscript back story, she is apparently the reincarnation of a martyred girl from generations ago. Over the course of 133 long minutes, she is joined by the titled eight warriors (although I think only two of them even come close to being samurai...), including Sonny Chiba as the typical fighter-dude, a huge cave-dweller and his son, a female ninja assassin, and an evil general who sees the light side...or something.
As earlier mentioned, this movie is one of those martial-arts epics that attempts to cram everything that should be cool into one two-hour feature. This story might work exceedingly well as a video game (Final Fantasy, anyone?) but just as FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN failed to convey a sense of a coherent world, LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI also tends to focus more on (poorly conceived) set pieces and monsters than atmosphere and action. There are a few good moments to be found in the ending storm of the bad-guy fortress, but the sacrifices made and the triumph attained mean nothing to the viewer due to the huge amount of material thrown in their face. My rating: 6/10
San shi liu mi xing quan (1977)
Don't look for Jackie Chan...
36 CRAZY FISTS, while directed and choreographed by martial-arts legend Jackie Chan, doesn't feature him in any recognizable role. One is inclined to feel cheated because of this, and I would generally have to agree; 36 CRAZY FISTS may've been a great film if it had starred Chan, but as it stands, it is simply a mundane movie.
It features the overly-typical revenge plot, along with the old master, the bumbling sidekicks (complete with trombone "waaahh" sounds!) and the clever-yet-flighty girl we've all come to know and love (?) from the kung-fu genre. The fight scenes are not all bad, especially the final few between the old white-haired guy (a sure sign of martial-arts mastery, apparently) and the young student. Also along for this final fight sequence are the student's two (count 'em, TWO!) teachers, a fellow disciple of the old man, and at least three other guys who just throw around insults. Wow, that's some fight!
Maybe the most notable thing about 36 CRAZY FISTS (and this isn't a good thing) is its title; it suffers from PNS (Poorly-Named Syndrome), in that the 36 "crazy fists" are only one of dozens of technique the student learns. Moreover, they aren't even fists but sweep-chops! Oh well.
In short, this movie doesn't have anything special going for it...move along, move along. My rating: 5.5/10
Mang quan gui shou (1979)
Martial arts mediocrity
I saw BLIND FIST OF BRUCE in Brentwood's fantastic 10-pack format, and it has set the standard for my viewing of these films. While not a terrible chop-socky movie, there isn't really much in BLIND FIST to set it apart from the rest.
BLIND FIST OF BRUCE stars Bruce Li (no, NOT Bruce Lee unfortunately) in what is labeled a "tribute to the formula that made Bruce Lee a star!" Li plays a banker whose town is set upon by a ruthless gang. Sound familiar? It should, as indeed this formula has been used for well over a hundred kung-fu movies. At times, BLIND FIST reminded me of Jackie Chan's MASTER WITH CRACKED FINGERS, but the two are incomparable in terms of action. While Li plays his part competently enough, his two "teachers" (who soon enough become gang members themselves) have that sort of chop-socky comic relief that doesn't hold well with American audiences.
There are enough characters to keep BLIND FIST interesting, including a blind man who has mastered the martial arts, a geisha and her kung-fu maid, and Li's aforementioned cat-fu and dog-fu mentors (they teach him such moves as "peeing dog" and "licking yourself"). Also, the film has enough of those beat-em-up moments for the audience to hate the bad guys and to side with Li and his blind teacher. Unfortunately, there is simply nothing too special about BLIND FIST OF BRUCE.
While not bad, I would recommend this movie only to die-hards like myself, rather than as an entry-level feature. Instead, watch MASTER WITH CRACKED FINGERS or, even better, FIVE DEADLY VENOMS. :)
Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980)
Only look to this for comedy!
FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH is to the martial-arts genre what KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE is to the horror genre; it is pure and utter exploitational shlock...and yet it is hysterically, unintentionally funny.
Despite what others have said about this film being a "disgrace" to the name of Bruce Lee, I found it as more of a tribute, despite its numerous references to "Bruce Lee's successor." The general story is that the Madison Square Gardens is hosting a tournament to determine the aforementioned "successor," with Oscar-winner (not for THIS film!) Adolph Caesar as the hokey announcer. Also along for the ride is Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, determined to make his mark upon the blaxploitation world!! Through a series of poor flashbacks, the pair relate Bruce's (purely fictional) story.
The writer of this film certainly has a talent for penning crap, and yet my friends and I couldn't help but laugh so hard we cried. Clips from an old Chinese soap opera are re-dubbed to make Bruce's "biography," which then introduce a flashback-IN-a-flashback (got that?) about Bruce's great-grandfather, who was apparently a samurai. The footage for this segment is taken from INVINCIBLE SUPER CHAN, a cult classic in its own right due to a numerous wire tricks, a midget, and some guy with an abacus. Who knows what the writer of FIST OF FEAR was thinking when he wrote this...however, who cares??
The laughs that FIST OF FEAR will cause are practically nonstop, from Williamson's white beeyotch who insists on "making it a six-pack", to his being mistaken for Harry Belafonte, to Bill Louie's cameo as "Green Hornet"'s Kato (he kills a would-be rapist with shurikens!). The actual tournament footage is poor, and yet as a viewer you probably won't even care. After all, Adolph Caesar's final words about there being "no true successor to such a master" seem to make the whole movie alright.
Overall, FIST OF FEAR is a keeper. Show it to your friends, bring lots of snacks, and sit back to have a good long laugh. My rating: 8/10
Fang Shi Yu (1972)
A worthy addition
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS*
Only after watching KUNG FU: THE PUNCH OF DEATH did I realize I had just seen a Fong Sai Yuk movie, and that makes it even better. This movie, while not based on an original premise (guy gets beat up, guy must train, guy exacts revenge), throws in some interesting twists and manages to keep the viewer's attention.
Fong Su Yi (as he's referred to by the dubbers) is played here by Meng Fei, and he seems too engrossed in messing around with his buddies to care about anything else. In the first fifteen minutes, however, his father is murdered and he and his mother must go into hiding from the Iron Brothers; one is "the punch master," the other is "the kick master." This sequence is well done, with the camera showing one guy reaching back for a punch in the courtyard, and then cutting to another guy getting punched in the market, for example. It provides a nice contrast between Sai Yuk's carefree fighting and his parents' fight for their lives.
As the movie goes on, the typical I'm-good-enough-to-get-revenge fight seems to come about forty-five minutes early. Indeed, Fong actually gets beaten within an inch of his life (!) and must be nursed back to health by his mother and kinda-girlfriend (both of whom act fairly believable in their grief). Not only that, but after another half-hour, Fong gets beaten AGAIN (doesn't this guy learn his lesson?)!!
Of course, the movie comes around to the ultimate showdown in a public duel between Fong and the Iron Brothers, as well as their master (I'm guessing as to his identity...). Another nice little twist happens here: Fong isn't even directly responsible for their deaths! The Iron Brothers are both impaled on wooden stakes after poorly-guided falls :) , and their master is crushed under the roof that he takes out with his spear! Cool! Naturally, the movie ends with "THE END" over a freeze-frame of our lucky hero jumping in the air.
This movie has some interesting twists, as you can see, and has some interesting camera angles and fight moves; pick this up if you're looking for a little deviation from the typical formula! My rating: 7.5/10
Karasu tengu Kabuto: Ôgon no me no kemono (1992)
Don't get your hopes up...
This short film, while a perfect example of early Japanese anime, is nothing special. It seems to borrow from the technology of PREDATOR, the style of the "Conan the Adventurer" series, and the ninja elements of NINJA SCROLL and "Berserk", and yet fails to invoke any of them properly.
"RAVEN TENGU KABUTO: Tale of the Golden-Eyed Beast" was, unfortunately, made in 1992, and thus can't quite be blamed for lifting elements from Ninja Scroll. However, the latter film is infinitely more entertaining, as well as easier to follow. "Kabuto" seems to be the second installation in a short series (if so, I'd hate to see the first) that follows the adventures of Kabuto, a ninja/ronin from the Tengu school. Unfortunately, what exists of the plot is mired down in explication involving long names and lots of running.
Far be it from me to criticize an anime for having a back story; I loved the half-fictional settings of Ninja Scroll and Berserk, and yet "Kabuto" lacks the sense of scale of either. Moreover, its fights consist of the horribly typical lines-behind-a-character followed by a strobe flash and severed limbs. Most scenes are hard to follow, from the opening bit with ravens to later bits of wushu-style martial arts/magic.
Perhaps it can be excused for its age, but "Kabuto" is no more than a failed attempt at anime, no more and no less. If you're looking for a good film, avoid this.