The 7 Grandmasters

First of, there are better quality versions on YouTube than what this Eastern Heroes DVD release offers, which is ridiculous. If there was any respect, they would have delivered a much cleaner version rather than this ripped-from-video copy!

The fantastic Joseph Kuo, of who I am a huge fan, directs this incredible kung-fu comedy filled with outstanding fights choreographed by the legendary Corey Yuen Kwai and Yuen Cheung Yan. Of course, this is only made better by the crème-de-la-creme of kung-fu cinema, led by the incredible talent of the Long brothers, who rarely fail to impress.

Having been sent a plaque from the Emperor claiming him the title of World Kung-Fu Champion, master Jack Long embarks on a journey across China to challenge the finest fighters, just to make sure he is worthy of such a title before he retires. There's nothing nasty in what he's doing - he's a modest guy, but when you've got to confirm some thing's, you just have to do whatever it takes...

On his travels with his posse, a young Lee Yi Min latches on hoping that Long will take him as his student so that he may learn kung-fu and take revenge for his fathers murder, leading to a master versus student showdown that became the storyline to Yuen Woo Ping's epic, Legend Of A Fighter, a few years later. Of course, Long's students aren't going to make it easy for Min and tease the life out of him as he tags along regardless. Director Kuo delivers another classic, with 7 Grandmasters offering a decent plot excelled by fantastic fight scenes. While it still carries some humour, mainly when Lee Yi Min is around, 7 Grandmasters doesn't get too silly and sticks to its plotline without losing itself.

Jack Long is just one of the most amazing martial artists ever committed to film. His moves, on-screen presence, and acting are always in top form, as is his brother. Although Jack leads the way, both siblings get to show their stuff many, many times in some greatly choreographed action that comes from two of Hong Kong's finest action directors, with Corey Yuen Kwai himself getting to face off against Jack in one of the films highlight fights.

With minimal training sequences, which is rare for a kung-fu film of this era, the classic 7 Grandmasters is packed with one-to-one battles, leading to an incredible finalebetween Jack Long, Lee Yi Min and Alan Chui, that shines as one of kung-fu cinema's best!

Overall: A well made, kung-fu classic and one of Joseph Kuo's best films...

Producer Joseph Kuo scores big with this film. Most true Kung Fu historians feel it is one of the best Martial Arts movies ever made. Great blend of comedy and action. The movie centers around the teacher (San Kwan Chun) and his quest to defeat the 7 Grandmasters. He and his students travel around China fighting one master at a time. Amongst this; pupil Lee Yee Min tries to convince the teacher to take him as a student. His efforts fail several times before the teacher gives in. He then practices his skills against his elder classmates who he eventually surpasses. Lee Ye Min wants to learn Kung Fu badly because of his fathers murder in a friendly duel. Once an expert he then can seek out a duel with the killer of his father. He initially is told that the killer was of all people his own teacher. He swore and took an oath that he would avenge his father's death, so he and the teacher fight using practically the same same style (Pia Ma 7 strikes) After using stolen secret strikes learned from another teacher he badly wounds his teacher but he won't kill him. His secret teacher reappears and tells Lee that he's the actual killer of his father. Now with teacher at his side he can seek revenge. The final battle is epic with Lee's teacher (San Kwan Chun) remembering the last thing his dying teacher told him: that "All Pia Ma Strikes Are Corelated". The teacher then gives his pupil proper advice and he defeats his fathers actual killer. An excellent martial arts film that stays away from too many corny lines that other Kung Fu flicks have. It does have silly humor but it flows well with the flick so it is tolerable. Good plot and story line, with many different fighting styles used (Monkey,Mantis,Tiger, Etc) You can't go wrong here, this film is certainly one of the best.

Lee I Min is one of those kung fu actors who never quite made it to the first rank, but combined here with the great direction of Joseph Kuo and action by Corey Yuen it produced a classy film to make kung fu addicts drool. The story has been told above but it can not be emphasised enough that the fights (of which there are many) are superb and wonderfully staged. The ending is fairly obvious but still exciting - with one of the best end fights on film. I liked the understated attraction between Lee I Min and the Masters daughter (the beautiful Nancy Yen) and the believable jealously of the other students. There are a few weaknesses but the story sweeps you along and you look forward to the next fight and twist. The Monkey Kung Fu exponent (Chin Yuet Sang) is an absolute classic. According to the liner notes by Linn Haynes (Media Blasters) this film is based on the life of a real Pai Mei kung fu expert named Cheung Lai-chun who fought and bested top mainland kung fu experts in the mid-1940s at the age of 66. Pai Mei is famous from the Kill Bill films (played by Gordon Liu) but the real story / legend is worth seeking out. One of the best and really worth watching.

Joseph Kuo - you may not have heard the name or be as familiar with it or you may be a fan already. Though I would be surprised why you would need to read a review if that were the case. I have to admit, I have my problems with names. As most martial arts fans, I am more than aware of the big names (Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan to mention just a few) and also the Shaw Brothers, who made some crazy movies in their time.

That being said, there were others who made really good movies too and Kuo is one of them. He may be copying a lot of things or you may feel that you have seen certain tropes in other movies, but that is just the way it is. Thankful that certain companies do release the movies I grew up with on Blu Ray - so I was able to watch this one too. It has plenty of action - and while some stunts may feel outdated or aged (especially compared to some recent stuff like what you may have seen from Tony Jaa or Donnie Yen), it still is nice to look at. Especially when it seems that (almost) everyone involved in the fights here, does it for honor and not to kill the opponent.

You have to have a heart for old school kung fu movies - because this is what this is. The pacing and the style may seem uneven at times, but it does work out in the end - no pun intended.

This really defines a blueprint for this kind of movie: 1) Guy with ridiculous facial hair and/or silly hat wonders through the wilderness,happens upon another guy practicing Kung Fu 2) Brief conversation involving a) a particular technique of one of the silly-haired-guys, b) the number of provinces in which the other silly-haired guy is undefeated 3) Fight, preferably involving some kind of animal-style Kung Fu. 4) Repeat as many times as you can squeeze into a couple of hours.

Throw in a grueling training sequence (though this maybe isn't quite grueling enough in this movie), a bit of betrayal (ideally involving someone killing someone else's master), some slapstick comedy, some bad dubbing (this genre is really the only one where dubbing should be allowed) and there you have it - the perfect Kung Fu movie. I defy anyone not to enjoy it.