Mirage (aka Mirage of Martial Arts)

1987

Director: Tsui Siu Ming

Starring: Yu Rong Guang, Tsui Siu Ming, Pasha Romani, Connie Khan

 1987 was quite a year for Hong Kong action cinema. Sammo Hung released his magnum opus, 'Eastern Condors', Jackie Chan countered with his supreme sequel to 'Project A', then the two brothers reunited with third brother, Yuen Biao for 'Dragons Forever' which for them could be equated with The Beatles releasing Abbey Road (not as farfetched as it may sound). John Woo meanwhile, unleashed 'A Better Tomorrow 2' which contained no less than the most unbelievable finale in the annals of action cinema... whew! I thought I had seen all there was to offer from that year, so imagine my surprise when not too long ago I discovered this well hidden masterpiece which not only can stand alongside it's more celebrated brethren, but can contend for the title outright.

The strory: While accompanying a convoy of goods making it's way across the Silk Road, adventurer/photographer, Tong (Yu Rong Guang) finds his party ambushed by bandits. After defeating said bandits, Tong and his party are stunned to see over the horizon the vision of a beautiful woman. No one can explain the phenomona. The task is complete, but Tong cannot remove the vision from his mind and sets forth with his friend on a journey through Mongolia in the hopes of discovering that woman to be real.

Actor/Producer/Director Tsui Siu Ming took his ambitious show on the road, this being a Mainland China production. The results are often breathtakingly beautiful with sumptuous cinematography that nearly approaches the level of a David Lean production. But make no mistake, this is an action picture and the plentiful fights and stunts are simply among the best ever comitted to celluloid. No matter how many Hong Kong action films from the '80s I've seen over the years, I'll never get jaded to the miraculous stunts that populated them. This film is no exception and if anything amps up the quality of the stuntwork to a level little seen, even from this time period. As I stare in wonder and bewilderment at the spectacle, it makes me feel fortunate that such cinema was made before the horrid development of C.G.I. which as far as I'm concerned helped mark the death knell of such pictures.

The cast really give it their all as well.  In one of his earliest roles, Yu Rong Guang commands the screen, already displaying the skill and charisma that would soon make him a star in Asia. Director Tsui cast himself as Tong's faithful sidekick, lending the role all the inheret goofiness and sincerity that's called for. He also put himself out their in the explosive finale by setting himself ablaze (compared to Ringo Lam who preferred to let his stars perform the deed). Despite my feeble attempt at research, I have no idea who Pasha Romani is and that's a shame. As the lovely 'vision' who turns out to be nothing short of a nightmare for our love smitten hero, Romani's portrayal of the evil, animalistic warrior queen steals the film. So viscious and so powerful is her portrayal that it is nothing short of terrifying. If anyone reading this review has any further info about ms. Romani that they wish to share here, I'd greatly appreciate it.

'Mirage' is the kind of movie that comes along only every so often. Though the drama does admittedly take the occasional misstep for the action/adventure fan, it is the complete picture; strong perfs, wonderful scenery, expert direction and constant jaw dropping fights and stunts. It's a damn shame that such an amazing work like this is to this day, still waiting for discovery.

Rating: 9/10

Tai Chi Chuan (aka Secret of Tai Chi)

                                                               1982
                                                  Director: Chick I Hung
                                   Starring: Xian Gao, Liang Guo, Hoi Yin Lee
                             
                                                  
One of my earliest exposures to Mainland China martial arts cinema, thanks to a timely vhs release by Ocean Shores.

An evil general orders an attack on a small clan that had been opposing him. The matriach is killed and only a few survive. These include an ex General and his two sons... who naturally swear revenge. Wrecklessly attacking the a portion of the General's army, the sons watch their father get mortally wounded, but are saved by a Shaolin monk. As he dies, the father explains to one of his sons that he was adopted and that his real father was also a General who was offed by the same baddie. They  swear double revenge, but now are wise enough to go into hiding. They retreat to a secret cave where they can plot and plan. One day while gathering food, the two heroes witness two woman "dancing". Attempting to get a closer look, they are found out. The ladies explain that they are practicing Tai Chi. Their father explains that he too is an ousted General (alot of that going around) and agrees to teach the two vistors this unusual martial art and help prepare to get revenge.

The story is simple and predictable, a little too much so for this fan. But this is how it was for these early Mainland China epics. There was really no originality to speak of. Any fan of the genre has seen this story dozens of times (if not more so) in various Hong Kong and Taiwan lensed features. What does set this (and other Mainland films) apart from it's city dwelling brethren are the breathtaking country side settings and amazing (and plentiful) martial arts sequences, performed by actual lifelong practitioners (as opposed to Hong Kong where many of it's biggest stars where taught expressly for feature films). Although it's flowery Tai Chi and Wushu movements may take a little getting used to at first, ultimately it makes for terrific viewing. Of course as I mentioned in my review of 'Undaunted Wudang', there is a tradeoff of sorts as the very things that make these fighters so impressive also make them less personable. What you'll come away with here is remembering the action scenery, but not so much any one actor (no Fu Sheng or Chen Kwan Tai to be found here) and certainly not the dime a dozen plot (which truth to tell, I needed to rewatch just to remember what the story here was actually about).

Ultimately, "Tai Chi Chuan' will appeal to hard core martial arts film fans and perhaps to actual Tai Chi practicioners as the film is as much a Tai Chi lesson as it is a story bound film. Casual action fans may not be as into it, but for kung fu addicts, it easily serves it's purpose.

                                                                   Rating: 5/10

The Undaunted Wu Dang

                                                                        

1985

Director: Sha Sun

Starring: Quan Lin, Yuwen Li , Yali Tang

The People's Republic of China were late commers to the Kung Fu film fray. Their initial entry was 1981's The Shaolin Temple which featured the film debut of an eighteen year old Jet Li. It was a huge hit and started a whole slew of period martial arts films from the "homeland". Plotwise, these films were for the most part, retreads of the previous decades' kung fu epics that were produced in Hong Kong and Taiwan. There was very little originality going on here. On the positive side however, there were actual China countryside locations which gave these films a certain majestic sweep that had largely been absent in the previous decades' city lensed releases. This combined with the use of actual martial artists (Wushu experts, all) managed to give these epics a very different and welcomed vibe to what fans at the time were accustomed to. This film, 1985's Undaunted Wu Dang is one of their best.

The story is simplicity itself and all too familiar to long time fans of the genre. Mean, nasty Japanese Judo experts visit China and challenge the local's best fighters to a tournament. The Japanese win handily until a revered Wu Dang master steps up and defeats them. This doesn't sit well, so the Japanese fighters later ambush and poison our hero (not the most gracious of losers, are they?). His lone daughter seeking revenge (naturally)  heads to the mountains to visit her uncle, another Wu Dang master who lives a hermit like existence. After teaching her some vital tricks of the trade, our heroine heads back to challenge the Japanese and lay a Wu Dang smackdown on their Judo asses.

Director Sha Sun keeps things noteably subdued, here (and thankfully minus the comedic scenes that peppered several early Mainland productions). Everybody is quite stoic and even the Japanese baddies keep things for the most part low key (contrast this with the over the top presentations in so many Hong Kong bashers of the early 70s). While this is a refreshing change of pace, I'm not sure I'd want this as the norm for my kung fu movie viewing. Part of my love for this genre is it's over the top presentation, both in the actors/characters as well as in the often extreme action and violence. The underplaying of the roles causes the actors to seem arguably less personable. The fact that most of them were martial artisits first and actors second likely contributed to this as well. It is overcome however by some truly unbelievable displays of wushu combat. The flips, twists, punches and kicks on display here are absolutely mind blowing. The fight sequences look much more fluid and less choreographed than what I have come accustomed to seeing. Watching what these wushu artists are able to accomplish so effortlessly with their bodies is a humbling experience.

Overall, Undaunted Wu Dang with it's authentic period detail. magnificent mountainous scenery and mesmerizing displays of wushu style martial arts comes highly recommended to jaded kung fu film fans. I personally may not actually prefer this to the best of the  stage bound Shaw Bros. epics, but I'll definitely take it over the likes of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon any day of the week!

                                                             *** / ****