Director; Yuen Woo Ping
Starring; Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen
Genre; Action/ martial arts
Year; 1989
Release; UK HK Legends
The title is a little confusing, like many HK films, it has several. Actually the 4th is a very loose series, all are widely known under varying titles. Here in the UK this has no number, but has 4 elsewhere. It's from the same series as Yes Madam. Anyway, this is from the heyday of HK action flicks, the 80's (ok and the 90's), and it's a real gem. The fights are intense, and hard hitting. Cynthia Khan is cuter than Michelle Yeoh (who she replaces) and doe sthe movie stuff just as well. Yen is very young, and has something to prove, which shows in his awesome performance. Great stuff and well worth a watch.
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Monday 28 April 2008
Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster
Director; Ishiro Honda
Starring; Akiko Wakabyashi
Genre; Monster
Year; 1964
Release; US Sony BFG Toho Masters Collection
This fim marks a turning point in the career of the big guy, Godzilla was, in his previous 4 outings, the bad guy. He starts as such here too, Toho bring in Rodan too, who had already appeared independantly in her own movie. The film starts with Godzilla and Rodan fighting, in a prolonged battle. Ghidorah makes it's first appearence, and, after much persuasion from Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan join forces with the larvae state Moth to fight Ghidorah. Godzilla would remain a good guy untill the 1985 series reboot. Having seen both versions, the original Japanese is the better one (show me a time when it isn't). A fun romp for men in rubber suits, and well worth seeing if a bit of Kaiju is your bag. Akiko, playing the princess, is a real cutie too..............
Starring; Akiko Wakabyashi
Genre; Monster
Year; 1964
Release; US Sony BFG Toho Masters Collection
This fim marks a turning point in the career of the big guy, Godzilla was, in his previous 4 outings, the bad guy. He starts as such here too, Toho bring in Rodan too, who had already appeared independantly in her own movie. The film starts with Godzilla and Rodan fighting, in a prolonged battle. Ghidorah makes it's first appearence, and, after much persuasion from Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan join forces with the larvae state Moth to fight Ghidorah. Godzilla would remain a good guy untill the 1985 series reboot. Having seen both versions, the original Japanese is the better one (show me a time when it isn't). A fun romp for men in rubber suits, and well worth seeing if a bit of Kaiju is your bag. Akiko, playing the princess, is a real cutie too..............
Rumble in Hing Kong a.k.a. Young Tiger a.k.a. Police Woman
Director; Mu Zhu
Starring; Jackie Chan, Charlie Chin
Genre; Action, Martial Arts
Year; 1973
Release; UK Prism Leisure (boxset)
Disgraceful cash-in attempt. An early Chan film, where he has a small role, as a bad guy. He is NOT the star of this pic, despite what is touted on the cover. The 'Rumble' title has been added to cash in on the much later Bronx film. Thing is, the Police Woman title is also misleading, there is one, but she aint the main character either. The taxi driver, played by a young Charlie Chin is, maybe he's meant to be the young tiger, fuck knows. This is one awful movie anyway, despite the lack of Chan, which I knew before I saw it, it's just a bad film anyway. TBH, if it wasent for Chans presence, keeping a certain marketability for the film, this would probably be in the public domain now, or, worse still, it's just the sort of crap that a certain Godfrey Ho liked to turn into 'Ninja films' in the 80's. Only for Chan completists.
Starring; Jackie Chan, Charlie Chin
Genre; Action, Martial Arts
Year; 1973
Release; UK Prism Leisure (boxset)
Disgraceful cash-in attempt. An early Chan film, where he has a small role, as a bad guy. He is NOT the star of this pic, despite what is touted on the cover. The 'Rumble' title has been added to cash in on the much later Bronx film. Thing is, the Police Woman title is also misleading, there is one, but she aint the main character either. The taxi driver, played by a young Charlie Chin is, maybe he's meant to be the young tiger, fuck knows. This is one awful movie anyway, despite the lack of Chan, which I knew before I saw it, it's just a bad film anyway. TBH, if it wasent for Chans presence, keeping a certain marketability for the film, this would probably be in the public domain now, or, worse still, it's just the sort of crap that a certain Godfrey Ho liked to turn into 'Ninja films' in the 80's. Only for Chan completists.
Saturday 26 April 2008
Godzilla: Final Wars
Director; Ryuhei Kitamura
Starring; Masahiro Matsuoka
Genre; Monster
Year; 2004
Release; US Sony
To mark the 50th anniversary of the original Godzilla, Toho announced the final film. Heard that before, and theye already said maybe not in the future, just for now. They roll them all out here, a bigger list of monsters even than Destroy All Monsters ( a previous 'final' film). Heck, they even give a shot to the crap yank version, although he gets a pasting in about 20 seconds (deservedly so). The story is pretty lame though, and theres too much of it, not enough monsters. This was supposed to be the grand finale, we want to see monsters, and lots of em. Not emos, playing Matrix with their mates. The monster fights are too short, the human segments too long. Cool to see Kane Kosugi acting again (son of 80's uber-ninja, Sho Kosugi), but, overall, disappointing. Not as good as it could have, or should have, been. Still, if you're into Godzilla, or kaiju, then you gotta have it.
Starring; Masahiro Matsuoka
Genre; Monster
Year; 2004
Release; US Sony
To mark the 50th anniversary of the original Godzilla, Toho announced the final film. Heard that before, and theye already said maybe not in the future, just for now. They roll them all out here, a bigger list of monsters even than Destroy All Monsters ( a previous 'final' film). Heck, they even give a shot to the crap yank version, although he gets a pasting in about 20 seconds (deservedly so). The story is pretty lame though, and theres too much of it, not enough monsters. This was supposed to be the grand finale, we want to see monsters, and lots of em. Not emos, playing Matrix with their mates. The monster fights are too short, the human segments too long. Cool to see Kane Kosugi acting again (son of 80's uber-ninja, Sho Kosugi), but, overall, disappointing. Not as good as it could have, or should have, been. Still, if you're into Godzilla, or kaiju, then you gotta have it.
The Return Of Godzilla
Director; Koji Hashimoto
Starring; Ken Tanaka
Genre; Monster
Year; 1984
Release; HK Universe
Toho ressurrected the big guy in 1985, after a 7 year haitus, and gave the series a reboot. A direct sequal to the 1954 original, all the intervening films are ignored. Back as the bad guy again, where he should be, to terrorise Tokyo once more. Great kaiju film, in this, the original Japanese version, can't help but feel sad at the end. Get the original, non Raymond Burr one, it's much better.
Starring; Ken Tanaka
Genre; Monster
Year; 1984
Release; HK Universe
Toho ressurrected the big guy in 1985, after a 7 year haitus, and gave the series a reboot. A direct sequal to the 1954 original, all the intervening films are ignored. Back as the bad guy again, where he should be, to terrorise Tokyo once more. Great kaiju film, in this, the original Japanese version, can't help but feel sad at the end. Get the original, non Raymond Burr one, it's much better.
Godzilla Raids Again
Director; Motoyoshi Oda
Starring; Hiroshi Koizumi
Genre; Monster
Year; 1955
Release; US, Sony BMG Toho Masters Collection
Godzilla died at the end of the first one, so how is he back? There's more than one, that's how. First of many sequals, the big grey dude goes up against Anguirus. And enjoyable enough romp, but still dark, creepy and menacing, in the vein of the original, rather than the campy fun that was to come in the 60's. A worthy sequal, but then, I have only seen the orignial, subtitled Japanese version, not the American one.
Starring; Hiroshi Koizumi
Genre; Monster
Year; 1955
Release; US, Sony BMG Toho Masters Collection
Godzilla died at the end of the first one, so how is he back? There's more than one, that's how. First of many sequals, the big grey dude goes up against Anguirus. And enjoyable enough romp, but still dark, creepy and menacing, in the vein of the original, rather than the campy fun that was to come in the 60's. A worthy sequal, but then, I have only seen the orignial, subtitled Japanese version, not the American one.
Hapkido
Director; Huang Feng
Starring; Angela Mao, Carter Wong, Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1972
Release; UK HK Legends
Very like Fist of Fury in essence, and released the same year. This is a rather racist film, the Japanese here are very one dimensional, all are evil, nasty bastards. FOF was a little more sympathetic. PC bollocks aside though, this is a great film. Wong and Hung do well, both in early roles (Hung aint that fat either), Mao is the star though, and kicks arse. I have a restored version, and if you look carefully you can see Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, as extras/stuntmen.
Starring; Angela Mao, Carter Wong, Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1972
Release; UK HK Legends
Very like Fist of Fury in essence, and released the same year. This is a rather racist film, the Japanese here are very one dimensional, all are evil, nasty bastards. FOF was a little more sympathetic. PC bollocks aside though, this is a great film. Wong and Hung do well, both in early roles (Hung aint that fat either), Mao is the star though, and kicks arse. I have a restored version, and if you look carefully you can see Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, as extras/stuntmen.
Close Encounters Of The Spooky Kind
Director; Sammo Hung
Starring; Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts Horror Comedy
Year; 1981
Release; UK HK Legends
A cross-genre effort from the worlds most energetic fat guy. Hung stars, directs and choreographs this (again). A cool film, the effects aint bad, considering the time and place it was made, and the money they had. The comedy is strange, for an asian film, as it's not fucking purile infantile annoying crap (they don't do comedy well, just action comedy), and its actually funny, in parts. Paved the way for things like Mr Vampire, and other such things. Really rather good.
Starring; Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts Horror Comedy
Year; 1981
Release; UK HK Legends
A cross-genre effort from the worlds most energetic fat guy. Hung stars, directs and choreographs this (again). A cool film, the effects aint bad, considering the time and place it was made, and the money they had. The comedy is strange, for an asian film, as it's not fucking purile infantile annoying crap (they don't do comedy well, just action comedy), and its actually funny, in parts. Paved the way for things like Mr Vampire, and other such things. Really rather good.
Shaolin vs. Lama
Director; Tsao Nam Lee
Starring; Alexander Lou, Kuo Chung Ching
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1983
Release; UK RBF
Pretty damn decent traditional kung fu flick. Better than the usual stuff, but not by much. If you like a bit of chop socky this is a must have. More involved than usual storyline, good fights, good little film.
Starring; Alexander Lou, Kuo Chung Ching
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1983
Release; UK RBF
Pretty damn decent traditional kung fu flick. Better than the usual stuff, but not by much. If you like a bit of chop socky this is a must have. More involved than usual storyline, good fights, good little film.
Police Assasins, a.k.a. Yes Madam
Director; Cory Yuen
Starring; Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1986
Release; UK HK Legends (boxset)
It's the girls turn to step into the limelight this time. Yeoh plays a tough HK policewoman, who has to, reluctantly, team up with an English Scotland Yard special agent, Rothrock. Some good fights and stunts, during the main body of the film make this an entertaining watch, however, the final scene is amazing. Great stunts, and the fights pack a real punch, worth seeing for the final scene alone. Oh, and the clothes/hair/make-up, this was made in '86 and is VERY 1986......
Starring; Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1986
Release; UK HK Legends (boxset)
It's the girls turn to step into the limelight this time. Yeoh plays a tough HK policewoman, who has to, reluctantly, team up with an English Scotland Yard special agent, Rothrock. Some good fights and stunts, during the main body of the film make this an entertaining watch, however, the final scene is amazing. Great stunts, and the fights pack a real punch, worth seeing for the final scene alone. Oh, and the clothes/hair/make-up, this was made in '86 and is VERY 1986......
Knockabout
Director; Sammo Hung
Starring; Yeun Biao, Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1979
Release; UK HK Legends
A first major role for Biao (the version I saw says 'introducing', but he'd done a fair bit of bit part and extra work beforehand). Directed by Hung, as you'd expect the action scenes are fast and furious, the stunts excellent. Biao shows his great acrobatic skills, and all in all, a superb entry in the genre. A must see for fans of kung fu cinema.
Starring; Yeun Biao, Sammo Hung
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1979
Release; UK HK Legends
A first major role for Biao (the version I saw says 'introducing', but he'd done a fair bit of bit part and extra work beforehand). Directed by Hung, as you'd expect the action scenes are fast and furious, the stunts excellent. Biao shows his great acrobatic skills, and all in all, a superb entry in the genre. A must see for fans of kung fu cinema.
The Peacock King
Director; Nam Nai Choi
Starring; Yeun Biao
Genre; Action Horror
Year; 1986
Release; UK HK Legends
Strange film this, attempting to combine horror with martial arts. There are better attempts at this. Biao is under used, and although Gordon Liu appears, he does little really. Only for completests really, not worth seeing for any special reason
Starring; Yeun Biao
Genre; Action Horror
Year; 1986
Release; UK HK Legends
Strange film this, attempting to combine horror with martial arts. There are better attempts at this. Biao is under used, and although Gordon Liu appears, he does little really. Only for completests really, not worth seeing for any special reason
Thursday 24 April 2008
Enter The Ninja
Director; Menahem Golam
Starring; Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi
Genre; Ninjacrap
Year; 1981
Release; UK M.I.A.
Golam-Globus jumps aboard the Ninja bandwagon. Perennial spaghetti westerner Nero exchanges rawhide and a six-shooter for a Ninja costume and Katana. George provides the eye-candy, as Nero's best mates wife. Showing that Ninja are in fact, low characters, he gives her one, while his mate is flaked out drunk, nice move, hero. Impressively poorly researched too, Kosugi rants about his ancestors being Samurai, and Nero's acceptance into Ninjahood is a disgrace. I got news for you kid, it's you who is the disgrace, Ninja were dispised by everyone, especially Samurai. Nero is totally untrained in martial arts, so although he is doubled in the suited scenes, he has to do a few moves in plain clothes, with no double. Elvis kicks are the best way to describe it ( a phrase coined by a mate)
Well worth seeing though, its not a bad film, its a good film, with a few bad points.
Starring; Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi
Genre; Ninjacrap
Year; 1981
Release; UK M.I.A.
Golam-Globus jumps aboard the Ninja bandwagon. Perennial spaghetti westerner Nero exchanges rawhide and a six-shooter for a Ninja costume and Katana. George provides the eye-candy, as Nero's best mates wife. Showing that Ninja are in fact, low characters, he gives her one, while his mate is flaked out drunk, nice move, hero. Impressively poorly researched too, Kosugi rants about his ancestors being Samurai, and Nero's acceptance into Ninjahood is a disgrace. I got news for you kid, it's you who is the disgrace, Ninja were dispised by everyone, especially Samurai. Nero is totally untrained in martial arts, so although he is doubled in the suited scenes, he has to do a few moves in plain clothes, with no double. Elvis kicks are the best way to describe it ( a phrase coined by a mate)
Well worth seeing though, its not a bad film, its a good film, with a few bad points.
The New Big Boss
Director; Donnie Yen
Starring; Donnie Yen
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1997
Release; UK Soulblade
Donnie Yen stars in, directs, and choreographs the action in this. No bad thing, as he knows what he's about. Entertaining stuff, although the flashback-within-flashback stuff can get confusing, it's not too hard to figure out. Great film, and fuck all to do with the Bruce Lee classic.
Starring; Donnie Yen
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1997
Release; UK Soulblade
Donnie Yen stars in, directs, and choreographs the action in this. No bad thing, as he knows what he's about. Entertaining stuff, although the flashback-within-flashback stuff can get confusing, it's not too hard to figure out. Great film, and fuck all to do with the Bruce Lee classic.
Dragon Tiger Gate
Director; Yip Wai-Shun
Starring; Donnie Yen, Nicolas Tse
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 2006
Release; UK Cineasia
Impressive modern kung fu malarky. Yen is criminally overlooked, here in the west. Only genre fans, such as myself, seem aware of him, yet the guy is awesome. The fight scenes are great, with some hard hits. Tse is good as the other brother. Classic kung fu legend, Kuan Tai Chen puts in a good turn too, as the aged boss.
Starring; Donnie Yen, Nicolas Tse
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 2006
Release; UK Cineasia
Impressive modern kung fu malarky. Yen is criminally overlooked, here in the west. Only genre fans, such as myself, seem aware of him, yet the guy is awesome. The fight scenes are great, with some hard hits. Tse is good as the other brother. Classic kung fu legend, Kuan Tai Chen puts in a good turn too, as the aged boss.
The Impossible Kid
Director; Eddie Nicart
Starring; Weng-Weng
Genre; Action
Year; 1982
Release; Cheapo 50 pack, public domain
Ok, this is an extremely low budget, Phillipine made spy thriller. How can this even be watchable, never mind come reccomended as being seen by everyone? By having the lead role played a 2'9" tall guy, that's how!
This film is utter nuts, the fun-size hero goes around beating up bad guys, and the women all fall for him. No one hardley mentions he's waist height, and would really get drop-kicked into the Pacific. It's a sequal too, I found this in a cheapo pack of 50 martial arts movies (they're all public domain anyway, so are free to reproduce).
You gotta see this.......
Starring; Weng-Weng
Genre; Action
Year; 1982
Release; Cheapo 50 pack, public domain
Ok, this is an extremely low budget, Phillipine made spy thriller. How can this even be watchable, never mind come reccomended as being seen by everyone? By having the lead role played a 2'9" tall guy, that's how!
This film is utter nuts, the fun-size hero goes around beating up bad guys, and the women all fall for him. No one hardley mentions he's waist height, and would really get drop-kicked into the Pacific. It's a sequal too, I found this in a cheapo pack of 50 martial arts movies (they're all public domain anyway, so are free to reproduce).
You gotta see this.......
Ninja Strikes Back
Director; Joseph Kong
Starring; Bruce Le, Hwang Jang Lee
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1982
Release; UK Film 2000
Not very convincing Bruce Lee imitator Bruce Le stars in this fairly run of the mill outing. Set in modern day Rome, this film offers little really, other than to raise the question 'do copywright laws exist in this world?' Harold 'Oddjob' Sakata appears in this, and every time he does, a few bars of the Bond theme are played. He even throws a metal rimmed bowler hat, at one stage. Other than the questionable ethics, which are to be expected as Joseph Kong is one of Godfrey Ho's many pseydenyms, this film offers little. Only worth seeing for Hwang Jang Lee really.
Starring; Bruce Le, Hwang Jang Lee
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1982
Release; UK Film 2000
Not very convincing Bruce Lee imitator Bruce Le stars in this fairly run of the mill outing. Set in modern day Rome, this film offers little really, other than to raise the question 'do copywright laws exist in this world?' Harold 'Oddjob' Sakata appears in this, and every time he does, a few bars of the Bond theme are played. He even throws a metal rimmed bowler hat, at one stage. Other than the questionable ethics, which are to be expected as Joseph Kong is one of Godfrey Ho's many pseydenyms, this film offers little. Only worth seeing for Hwang Jang Lee really.
Full Contact
Director; Ringo Lam
Starring; Chow Yun Fat, Simon Yam, Anthony Wong
Genre; Action.
Year; 1992
Release; UK HK Legends, Magazine cover
Decent little actioner. Fat is a bouncer, who gets double crossed and goes after revenge. Yam does a good turn as the gay bad guy. Not the best from anyone concerned really, but a solid enough action film.
Starring; Chow Yun Fat, Simon Yam, Anthony Wong
Genre; Action.
Year; 1992
Release; UK HK Legends, Magazine cover
Decent little actioner. Fat is a bouncer, who gets double crossed and goes after revenge. Yam does a good turn as the gay bad guy. Not the best from anyone concerned really, but a solid enough action film.
Revenge of the Drunken Master
Director; Godfrey Ho
Starring; Johnny Chan, Eagle Han
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1984
Release; UK IVL
Abso-fucking-lutely god awful. Master of the rip-off Ho strikes again. This time we have some twat calling himself Johnny Chan, in a film that has fuck all to do with Drunken Master. Utter bollocks, not even a decent fight scene to save it.
Starring; Johnny Chan, Eagle Han
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1984
Release; UK IVL
Abso-fucking-lutely god awful. Master of the rip-off Ho strikes again. This time we have some twat calling himself Johnny Chan, in a film that has fuck all to do with Drunken Master. Utter bollocks, not even a decent fight scene to save it.
Eagle vs. Silver Fox
Director: Godfrey Ho
Starring: Hwang Jang Lee
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1980
Release; IVL
Decent little chop socky flick. Made bearable by some good fight scenes. Bootmaster Lee is always worth watching.
Starring: Hwang Jang Lee
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1980
Release; IVL
Decent little chop socky flick. Made bearable by some good fight scenes. Bootmaster Lee is always worth watching.
Saturday 5 April 2008
Godfrey Ho Ninjacrap
Director; Godfrey Ho (or whatever he was calling himself that week)
Stars; Richard Harrison (usually), anyone else who happened to be nearby
Genre; Ninjacrap
Year; About 1984-1989
Release; Usually UK, IVL
An all-encompassing review. Mr Ho made several Ninja films during the 80's. Sort of. What he actually did was film lots of, very very bad, Ninja footage, featuring Western actors. He also got hold of the rights to a lot of bad asian films (often Thai or Phillipino) that were old, unfinished, unreleased etc. Taking the new footage, he cut it into the old fims, then, he redubbed the whole mess, to try and make some sense out of it. Using the same stocks of new footage, across a number of original films, he was able to release a lot of films for very little money. All the films are, basically the same. Utterly unfathomable messes. The Ninja stuff is awful, the western actors are obviously doubled, during the fights, and the fights are over by touching the other guy with the sword. You can tell they are Ninja too, they usually have it written on their headband. Harrison, who appears in many (although not always with his knowledge), is too old, and often wears a camo Ninja suit. Laughable, terrible to the extreme, these films are compulsive viewing.
Stars; Richard Harrison (usually), anyone else who happened to be nearby
Genre; Ninjacrap
Year; About 1984-1989
Release; Usually UK, IVL
An all-encompassing review. Mr Ho made several Ninja films during the 80's. Sort of. What he actually did was film lots of, very very bad, Ninja footage, featuring Western actors. He also got hold of the rights to a lot of bad asian films (often Thai or Phillipino) that were old, unfinished, unreleased etc. Taking the new footage, he cut it into the old fims, then, he redubbed the whole mess, to try and make some sense out of it. Using the same stocks of new footage, across a number of original films, he was able to release a lot of films for very little money. All the films are, basically the same. Utterly unfathomable messes. The Ninja stuff is awful, the western actors are obviously doubled, during the fights, and the fights are over by touching the other guy with the sword. You can tell they are Ninja too, they usually have it written on their headband. Harrison, who appears in many (although not always with his knowledge), is too old, and often wears a camo Ninja suit. Laughable, terrible to the extreme, these films are compulsive viewing.
Ninja In The Dragons Den
Director; Corey Yeun
Starring; Conan Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jang Lee Hwang.
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1982
Release; U.K. HK Legends, magazine cover
Largely overlooked, and forgotten. This is an absolute gem of chop socky flick.
Made in Hong Kong, cashing in the Ninja craze of the early 80's. A little advanced, in actually bringing in an established Japanese martial arts star, Sonny Chiba protoge Sanada. Chinese films of the era usually cast Chinese in Japanese roles, as relations were still very frosty. It's hard to review without mentioning the very similarly themed Zatoichi Meets The One-Armed Swordsman, and earlier, Japanese made co-optive effort. They share the themes of the two main protagonists being unable to understand one another, and consequently, fighting without realising they are basically on the same side. Unlike the Zatoichi film though, here they do manage to realise their mistakes, and team up to fight the bootmaster himself, Jang Lee Hwang, in a truely international finale (Lee is Korean). Typically poor production values are a slight distraction, but these films are not about that. They are about good entertainment, and this is a great way to spend 90-odd minutes.
Starring; Conan Lee, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jang Lee Hwang.
Genre; Martial Arts
Year; 1982
Release; U.K. HK Legends, magazine cover
Largely overlooked, and forgotten. This is an absolute gem of chop socky flick.
Made in Hong Kong, cashing in the Ninja craze of the early 80's. A little advanced, in actually bringing in an established Japanese martial arts star, Sonny Chiba protoge Sanada. Chinese films of the era usually cast Chinese in Japanese roles, as relations were still very frosty. It's hard to review without mentioning the very similarly themed Zatoichi Meets The One-Armed Swordsman, and earlier, Japanese made co-optive effort. They share the themes of the two main protagonists being unable to understand one another, and consequently, fighting without realising they are basically on the same side. Unlike the Zatoichi film though, here they do manage to realise their mistakes, and team up to fight the bootmaster himself, Jang Lee Hwang, in a truely international finale (Lee is Korean). Typically poor production values are a slight distraction, but these films are not about that. They are about good entertainment, and this is a great way to spend 90-odd minutes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
