Legendary Weapons of China

As a kid I watched a lot of Shaw Brothers movies, I don't remember having seen this back in the day. Whatever the case it seems to epitomize what Shaw Brothers movies where doing. Action, comedy and a story that is all over the place. Alright the latter might not be a trademark in itself. But it is very apparent in this one. You could skip a lot of the movie story wise and not miss anything when you watch the last third.

Everything is still explained and makes sense. If you like Martial Arts, there is almost no way around it. While it may not have the name of other Shaw Brothers movies, this is still essential viewing for anyone who is into Eastern cinema/genre. It also has quite some blood in it and it aged quite well.

Anyone who has reviewed this movie and stated the plot is stupid has no knowledge of 19th century China. In fact during the Boxer Rebellion these "Boxers" believed through rituals they could make themselves impervious to firearms. No I am not making this up and neither did Chia-Liang Liu and while he exaggerated and had fun with it for comedic values he was making an historical notation. The Martial Arts in this movie are exceptional and so is the outrageous humor instilled in this movie. Not only did he poke fun at the Boxers but also many of the Martial Arts movies of the 1970s that went a little overboard with the magical Kung Fu element. And all in the same breath showed the usage of almost every weapon used in Chinese Martial Arts. The talent in this movie speaks for itself aside from Liu and his brothers there is Fu Sheng, Hou Hsiao and the sweet Kara Hui. They don't make Martial Arts movies this original or good anymore either with all the Ip Man clones and CGI epics not even close. All I can say is Chia-Liang Liu you are sorely missed.... And the point is no amount of skill will help you dodge a bullet!

This is a great kung fu movie once you get the opening done with. The storyline is fairly confusing in the beginning, but that passes with time. The fight scenes are neat to watch, but they get exponentially better as time goes on. The fight with Gordon Liu (36th Chamber) is good and the final fight WAS FANTASTIC! This isn't a movie to sit down and watch for the stimulation. The character development isn't as good as FIVE VENOMS, or SWORDSMAN II, but it's fair. The weapons fighting is just unbelievable in the last fight scene. All in all, if you are a fan of kung-fu movies, get around to checking this one out. The three-section-staff work is even better than in 36th Chamber.

Liu Chi Liang stands as the best kung fu director ever. As a kung fu master himself, he gives the films a unique perspective on the fighting arts. The fight scenes are the best combination of actual martial art ability, choreography, camera work and crazy effects you can get. Maybe Stephen Chow comes close. Watching Liu Chia Liang and his protégés at work is sublime.

That said, this film is a mixed bag. The opening 10 minutes are choppy and confusing. The film changes course for about 20 minutes to give Alexander Fu Sheng two elaborate comic scenes. The characters are about as shallow as you can get until 3/4 of the way into the film. In addition, the film ends very abruptly. The whole thing seems a flimsy excuse to stage fight scenes. But the fight scenes, what you get! Nearly every fight scene is amazing.

Liu Chia Liang, his brother and Liu Chia Hui are in full power here. The finale gives us the two brothers in an extended fight with the title weapons. If you can get the Celestial Films DVD, I suggest watching it on the largest screen you can find. Otherwise you'll miss the intricate moves of these two. The English dub is terrible, avoid if possible.

If you want a better plot try the director's 36th Chamber or Dirty Ho. If it's a fighting extravaganza you want, here it is.

The Yi Ho Society wrongly think that their magic and pugilism skills will protect them from any weapon, including the guns used by the West. Lei Kung (Chia-Liang Liu) realises that this belief will only result in senseless bloodshed and attempts to dissolve the society to save lives. In doing so, he is branded a traitor and is hunted by several of Yi Ho's best fighters.

I love weapons work in kung fu films and Legendary Weapons of China naturally features lots of it, mostly in the second half; unfortunately, the movie also has rather a lot of comedy (in the first half), something that I always struggle with in kung fu films, making the film as a whole something of a mixed bag for me: desperately unfunny nonsense for the best part of an hour, but ending on a high with plenty of crazy fight action employing the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts: rope dart, double tiger hook swords, double hammers, battle axe, snake halberd, kwan dao, twin broadswords, double-edged sword, Chinese spear, three-section chain whip, double daggers, double crutches, monk's spade, staff, tiger fork, rattan shield, single butterfly sword and three-section staff.

Also adding to the fun are the film's sillier weapons, including booby trapped capes and explosive darts, and some really daft moments, best bits being a bonkers fight in the rain and the unforgettable sight of two warriors mutilating themselves, the first poking his own eyes out and the other ripping his goolies off!

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb-not the classic of the genre that I had expected, but entertaining enough.