Legendary Weapons of China

The earlier comments give an unfair slating to what is an enjoyable film.The gaffes are obvious , (in such films as this the 1st class director Liu Chia Liang, was redefining the kung fu film , after the earlier swordplay flicks, and bruce lee's seminal movies, this film is set in late Ching dynasty China.) This is a film of rare quality , combining humour , a reasonable plot and some displays of great martial artistry, such as are no longer found in but a handful of films. The choreography is excellent, (only Sammo Hung at his best approaches Liu 's ability to film a fight with loving care for displaying technique)This film also benefits from the presence of the charismatic Fu Sheng and the Multi talented Hui Ying Hung. The special effects are cheap , but cheerful.(the previous reviewer seems to have missed that the purpose of all the bladed cloaks etc. was to show that tricks are no substitute for skill, skill no defence against bullets ... A classic of Kung Fu cinema

This movie has one of the best introductions of any film I have ever seen. The introduction shows a woman demonstrating several weapons of Kung Fu while sinister music plays. By demonstrating, I mean killing several men with these deadly weapons of Kung Fu! This movie has great style and creativity throughout. The story line is actually good, but might take several viewings to really understand what is going on.

Like others have said, it is not really a serious martial arts film, but it is one of my favorites nonetheless. You cannot beat the sinister music/introduction sequence in the beginning of the movie. That is worth watching alone. If you are a fan of Chinese Super Ninja, you will also like this movie.

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.

This is a brilliantly constructed film. I suppose those who remark it having a 'poor plot' long for something more simple, more direct, more traditionally 'Shaw Bros.' To be sure, the plot is intended to provide support for the interlaced themes, but it is complex and meaty on its own terms.

However the themes are indeed the heart of the film. The comic scene of the fake kung fu battle is clearly intended as a parody of the traditional swordplay film, down to the hand-squeezed blood-squib. The use of magic kung fu is, less clearly because more subtly, intended to debunk the myth of such magic, reducing it to a kind of martial-arts parlor trick - magnificently staged, but of course ineffective against anything other than itself. The real martial arts are at last presented with considerable credibility in the final third of the film, but is intended to remind us that, as powerful as it could be, the martial arts cannot compete with modern weaponry. Along the way, we also deal with problems of family loyalty, national loyalty (vs. phony 'patriotism'), and the nature of the spirituality necessary to master the martial arts, which requires an open mind and compassion rather than blind dedication.

What director Liu is reaching for is nothing less than a complete debunking of all the nonsense that had wrapped itself around the study of the martial arts in the 19th century and which was resurrected in the wake of the kung fu film phenomenon of the 1970s. Liu is asking us to respect, even admire, the martial arts, perhaps to learn them - but on their own terms, without all the myths that obscure their real essence.

This makes for a highly sophisticated script, which Liu carefully keeps popularized not only through the use of humor but, more importantly, by tight compression of story and editing. Blink and you will surely miss an important event.

As for the staging and camera-work some have remarked - technically, this film is pure classic Shaw Bros.

And as for the martial arts in the final battle - absolutely magnificent.

Unique in its genre and a real treat.

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!