Deadly Silver Angels (1981) Review

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Chih-Chao Chang

Year: 1981

Plot:

The official plot from various sites states that there are two gangs of women in bikinis that come together to kill a gangster boss that killed their fathers. A revenge plot overall, and one where women are the central heroes. While the main plot is a revenge one, there is plenty of subplot going on, including scenes of gambling, all out brawls, and more.

Thoughts:

I usually can follow along a plot well enough, but “Deadly Silver Angels” really tried my patience. I tried to get into it, and while it does have some good moments, it definitely was taxing to get through. This is a modern kung fu movie, so there’s gun play, and modern 1980s settings. The story is a revenge one, where a group of women band together against the mob, but that plot point takes a while to get to.

I found the pacing to be very slow. I mean crawling at times. Despite that, there were some decent brawls, but they were shadowed at times because of the transfer. In fact, the transfer overall is not very good. I found myself struggling to see some of the action at times, especially when there was darkness or low lighting. The transfer is not even VHS quality, so be warned if you track this rarity down, it’s going to be a little hard to see at times.

Aside from the slow plot, bad transfer, and mediocre dubbing, “Deadly Silver Angels” still has some credence for being an actioner. I found the brawling to be good, and did enjoy the plot at times. However, it was done so poorly that I can’t rate it very high. I actually wanted to get to sleep at one point, because the sub plots and plots were a bit hard to follow. With all that in mind, I give “Deadly Silver Angels” a 2 out of 5.

Shaolin Iron Claws (1978) Review

Rating: 4 out 5

Director: Shih-Hao Ko

Year: 1978

Plot:

“Shaolin Iron Claws” comes through with a plot that is a little involved, and I had to read up on it to get the whole thing. Though the movie does flow well, it’s still a little bit much to follow if you’re not used to things. There’s a change in Chinese government, and regional warlords want to overthrow the new government. One chief, however, doesn’t want in on the overthrow and leaks a document that outlines the new plan to overthrow things to local law enforcement. When the evil warlords find out, they send two assassins to gain revenge, and then that leads to a secondary love story, cause a shift in the story to a revenge plot to avenge the death of a girlfriend. Not only that, we have a main hero that fights for the honor of the government, and well, things go off the rails at points, mixing story with kung fu action.

Thoughts:

“Shaolin Iron Claws” is a plot heavy kung fu movie, and a lot hinges on the story, as much as the brawling. I noticed that the transfer is VHS quality, but the dubbing left a little to be desired. That knocked off a couple of points for me, especially when the sound design put the voices way loud compared to the music. The sound design is bad, with echoing dubbing mixed with symphonic musical styles.

The above plot is something, but there are side plots that aren’t too bad, but lead to brawling. The movie is clunky in terms of plotting, and that’s something that kind of made me a little turned off overall. I thought some of it was unnecessary, but I understand what the director and writer was going for, giving the audience a little more than just straightforward kung fu. That is going to either hit or miss your likes, but it’s something that I noticed for sure. It’s a little convoluted.

The brawling is good, and you’ll be in for some classic moves, and kung fu style overall. However, they are often interrupted by interludes, and story. There’s also a focus on cuts and close ups which can be a little off putting as well. However, despite that, there’s some good boxing found here. 30 minutes into the movie and the plot really starts to flow. There’s a lot of stop gaps, and some comedy here and there too, with a focus on secondary characters more than our hero at times.

As for the brawling, as I said, it’s good, and has a great sense of pacing. The fighting will have you enjoying the slow parts too, because they build tension to larger elements. I found myself intrigued with the story at points and really liked the fighting, including weapons of martial arts at times too. This is a standout movie for sure, and has some great fights, elevating the ranking. I give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Add "Shaolin Iron Claws to your collection by clicking here! 

Battle Creek Brawl (1980) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Robert Clouse

Year: 1980

Plot:

“Battle Creek Brawl” is also known as “The Big Brawl” and was the first major American movie for Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan stars as an immigrant in Chicago and must participate in a street fighting tournament in order to save his family, as well as gain prize money. Now, this is all setup with Jackie’s character having to deal with the mob, who wants money from Chan’s family. So in essence, Jackie’s character takes on the mob, but has to fight in the tournament or the mob will cause harm. It’s a simple plot, with a focus on training, comedic timing, and your hero taking on several opponents to get to the big win at the end. In the end, it’s a simple plot with Jackie Chan using his fighting skills to try and take care of his family, who are dealing with a mob issue.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed was the transfer was great. It’s stellar, and looks nearly high definition on the DVD that I have. The second thing I noticed was the dubbing was quite good, and that’s most likely because it was an American production. Chan’s work here is great, and starts with comedic brawling in the first fight, then subsequently gets more and more involved. The comedic timing of Chan makes this one entertaining to watch, and definitely had me laughing a bit. One highlight I have to mention is the roller skating sequences, which are fun, including some action while on roller skates. Chan is awesome on skates, skateboards, and more, and he proves it again in “Battle Creek Brawl”.

The story is fast paced, moving through the plot with relative speed. It’s a movie that is very much carried by Chan and his character, conflicted for fighting and his dad’s wishes. There’s heart to the plot, it’s not just fighting, but of course fighting is part of the larger story, which is why it’s being reviewed on this site.

Overall, “Battle Creek Brawl” is an average kung fu movie. It is more of an action movie, with a good plot, than what you’d expect from Chan’s early work. The American influence is shown throughout, and while there’s plenty of fighting, there’s also plenty of drama to be had. Not the best Jackie Chan movie, but far from bad, I give this one a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “Battle Creek Brawl” to your DVD collection or stream it by clicking here.

The Shaolin Drunk Monkey (1981) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Godfrey Ho

Year: 1981

Plot:

The story immediately opens up with a brawl, and you get a sense for what is coming. Silver Eagle comes out of hiding to attack any master of kung fu, especially those that are from the Shaolin temple. When the temple is torn down, a beggar befriends a survivor and teaches him Drunk Monkey Fist. That then leads to training, and eventually an encounter with Silver Eagle. So, it’s Drunk Monkey Fist versus Eagle Claw in the end, with several styles on display. There is some sub plot as well, so it’s not just straightforward one sided brawling, it has some depth of character, which is appreciated.

Thoughts:

The opening brawl gets you in the mood for kung fu action, in which we first see Silver Eagle attack. He uses Eagle Claw kung fu to take out an elderly man, and claims he has the superior kung fu. We then move to the other part of the story, but the opener alone is really well done. The transfer is VHS quality, and there’s plenty of darkness at times, even though the dub isn’t too bad. The transfer does leave something to be desired, though.

There is a little comedy rolled into the process of meeting characters, with the Old Beggar character doing some interesting kung fu. The story is a little slow to move along, but you get a good setup of character, so that there’s a sense of meaning to the brawls that are to come. Speaking of brawls, there are some serious ones and there are some comedic ones. This is not a superhero type of movie, so there’s a back and forth to the fights which I appreciate.

“The Shaolin Drunk Monkey” has a lot of great kung fu action, and comedy. There’s a little bit of everything for the fight movie fan. It doesn’t always take itself too seriously, and that breaks up the seriousness of the movie. However, things get serious towards the end, and of course the end fights are great. This is a good kung fu movie, with lots of action, and great style. The Silver Eagle is stellar as well, and is a true villain for our hero to take on. I give this movie a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “The Shaolin Drunk Monkey” to your DVD collection or stream it by clicking here.

The Mystery of Chess Boxing (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Joseph Kuo

Year: 1979

Plot:

A simple plot unfolds when The Ghost Face Killer returns to seek revenge on any martial artist that opposed him before. He has a Five Elements Fighting style, and it is one of the best in the land. On the other hand, we are introduced to our hero, he is in school learning kung fu to avenge his father’s death. After getting thrown out of school because he is believed to be working with the Ghost Face Killer, he finds a new teacher. The new teacher is an elderly man that teaches him a form of Chess Boxing, and with that he learns of the villain, and how to defeat him, going into a master ending with two major styles going at it overall.

Thoughts:

“The Mystery of Chess Boxing” introduces us to a hero that is, you guessed it, seeking revenge for his father’s death. His father died at the hands of The Ghostface Killer, who does Five Elements Kung Fu, a deadly practice. He is presumed dead at the beginning of the film, but then shows up to seek revenge on those that rose against him before. He goes on a killing spree, taking out various kung fu practitioners. Meanwhile our hero wants to learn kung fu, and we are introduced to him and his comedic ways. He has some comedy to him, and he moves the plot along with relative ease.

The plot is swift, giving you all of the information you need right when you want it. You also get introduced to the villain up front, which is nice, and you see plenty of action before the story unfolds. There’s also quite a bit of comedy in the form of hazing our hero at the kung fu school. Beside the comedy interludes, we are treated to a variety of fights that really stands out overall.

The transfer on this movie is good, higher quality VHS, with some nice colors. The dub isn’t too bad, but the music at times could be louder than the rest of the sounds, but not terrible at all. There’s no major film breaking, or scan lines or anything, just straightforward transfer so that’s cool.

As the story unfolds, you get to cheer on the hero. The character breakdown is good, and the fights get better as the film progresses. The Five Elements Kung Fu versus Chess Boxing is truly an interesting match up, and one that makes for a good ender. At the end of the day, “The Mystery of Chess Boxing” gets a 4 out of 5 rating.

Add “The Mystery of Chess Boxing” to your DVD collectionhere, or stream it for cheap.

The Invincible Armour (1977) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: See-Yuen Ng

Year: 1977

Plot:

One of the more popular kung fu movies to come out in the 1970s is that of “The Invincible Armour”, and it came out in 1977. The movie is about a young man, Chow Lu Fong, that has been framed for murder by a corrupt official. He is on the run and gets chased down by a bounty hunter, only to befriend him because he is innocent, and then get on a revenge plot to seek out the corrupt official. Now, the corrupt official is a master of Eagle Claw kung fu, and is a masterful technician so the two new friends must battle and get to the end. Oh, and the villain looks a lot like Pai Mei, but there’s no notes that suggest that it’s him. He is a eunuch from what I read, though, but again that’s something that isn’t necessarily a big deal. The plot moves fast, and is simple, hero must fight villain of course.

Thoughts:

The first thing that I noticed about “The Invincible Armour” was that it was restored for DVD and looks great. That immediately made me want to watch more, because the quality is exceptional. I also found the dub track to be good too, with clarity of sound and music intact.

The story is good, a hero is framed for murder, and a corrupt official causes him to get chased down. This of course sets up a course of action where our hero must defend himself against ruthless squads against him. The story is simple, moves forward swiftly and doesn’t have a lot of filler. I loved the way it flowed, and found the movie to be interesting. There’s some great fights in this one, and of course the ender with a good flow of different kung fu styles. There’s a lot of focus on the kung fu, and the camera doesn’t get too close at times, letting you see the style and fights with precision.

“The Invincible Armour” is a near perfect kung fu movie. There’s very little not to like when it comes to this movie. I liked it, and though the transfer was great. You’ll find that the story is good, the fighting is great, and the ender will leave you breathless. Overall, this is a good kung fu movie, and I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “The Invincible Armour” to your DVD collection or streamit for cheap by clicking here.

Tai Chi Shadow Boxing (1979) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Han-Hsiang Yu

Year: 1979

Plot:

The main plot of “Tai Chi Shadow Boxing” is about a couple of brothers that meet a drunk that teaches them a new style of kung fu. However, before you get to that storyline, you are introduced to several other players that aren’t part of the movie long term, but rather are just thieves and kung fu experts. They move along the plot showing that they want to help others, getting into brawls defending the little guy, but honestly it’s a little convoluted to start. There’s a bit of comedy in the fights, so they are entertaining to say the least. The plot thickens and we get a revenge storyline at one point, but for the most part, it’s training and kung fu tactics with the old drunk, showing the young ones his overall style and showing them that it’s a superior fighting method to what they already know.

Thoughts:

The transfer quality on “Tai Chi Shadow Boxing” is VHS quality, with a lot of good to it, but no major upgrade from what I saw. The dub isn’t bad at all. The story gets a little while to really get started with a focus on comedic fights, stealing, and random moments. The movie then switches gears and turns into a training movie, with a good nod to Jackie Chan’s movies and style. There’s a subplot here and there, but the majority of the story focuses on the two brothers and the old man, even unto the end fight scene.

The fights are good overall, and the old man’s style is legit, showcasing some great moments, and even good overall kung fu towards the end of the movie. I like seeing the old man characters fight, especially in light of young kung fu experts that need to learn more. There are moments where the camera is too close up for the action, and other moments are almost at half speed, making for a little bit of a downside. Overall, though, the movie funnels its way into working well with kung fu, comedy, training, and enough subplot to keep you entertained. I give “Tai Chi Shadow Boxing” a 3 out of 5.

Add “Tai Chi Shadow Boxing” to your DVD collection by clicking here.

The Fearless Hyena (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Jackie Chan

Year: 1979

Plot:

“The Fearless Hyena” was also released as “Revenge of the Dragon”, “Superfighter 3”, and “The Shadowman”. The movie also spawned a sequel, but for the moment, let’s concentrate on the story at hand. Our main hero, played by Jackie Chan, trains in kung fu by his grandfather, but he doesn’t take it too serious. He starts fights, and does other tomfoolery, he eventually lands a job training students, but finds himself in the crosshair of an evil kung fu master. When that master kills his grandfather, it’s up to our hero to seek revenge, and learns a new style of kung fu to take on the evil master. There’s a great deal of comedy in this one, alongside rigorous training, but at the heart of the film is a revenge plot.

Thoughts:

Jackie Chan makes his directorial debut with “The Fearless Hyena”, and it’s a good overall film. The quality of the transfer that I saw was good, and while it wasn’t high definition, it still had a lot of good editing and dubbing. The story is comedic at times, with Jackie Chan doing a great deal of acrobatics, getting into brawls with random thugs. Things get serous in the third act, as Chan’s character fights back against those that caused the death of his grandfather. There’s a good bit of story, good amount of fighting, and great comedy from Chan, including dressing in drag at one point.

Overall, Jackie Chan’s direction and kung fu style is great. It features a great deal of story to build up towards the ultimate end. There’s some great kung fu mixed with comedy, and da story that is easy to follow and not bad at all. This is one good piece of film making, with classic comedy from Chan and great kung fu overall. I give this one a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “The Fearless Hyena” to your DVD collection by clicking here.

The White Butterfly Killer (1973) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Cheng Hou

Year: 1973

Plot:

The synopsis of the film is that a girl witnesses the murder of her grandfather and plots revenge on the killers. The killers are opium smugglers and so she becomes “The White Butterfly Killer” to get her revenge on the gang that is responsible for killing her grandfather.

Even though that’s the synopsis that is plastered throughout the net, the plot follows a little more closely a revenge plot that isn’t on the film itself.  Yes, there’s revenge, but you have to watch a lot more of it than just the first ten or so minutes, because it establishes itself as a different type of story at first. In fact, you’ll have a hard time deciphering the story if you watch the beginning as there are brawls that have nothing to do with the white butterfly, they just showcase the power of the gang and other random individuals. That’s not to say it’s bad, it’s just a matter of fact. The plot is simple, it’s a revenge flick and the main hero is a woman that seeks that revenge overall through kung fu action.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed was the film quality, it was slightly upgraded from the VHS release, but that’s not much. It still wasn’t in HD or anything like that, but it was clear, alongside the sound design which was dubbed. I also noticed that the story was a little convoluted at first glance, with some brawls that don’t seem to follow the main story drag. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s definitely a bit out of cohesion.

Once the main story comes through, we do get that revenge plot. A woman’s grandfather is killed because the gang wants to sleep with her, and that makes her want to seek revenge when she sees the gang members at her Inn. From there we get back and forth fighting, and it’s quite good. I did notice that the fighting was close up a lot, but there was enough cuts and breaks to make it worthwhile. The fighting of course was not one and done, with a lot of back and forth. Our heroine is awesome, bringing together some great kung fu against villains that seek to get with her, or defend themselves because she’s attacking in revenge for her grandfather, and a rape that is revealed to be another case she’s after the gang.

The pacing is a little slow. You have to sit through some setup overall, and even though you get some brawling up front, there’s a little bit of story that comes through between that and the more fluid moments to come. That’s standard though, don’t take that as a bad thing. Hsu Feng’s kung fu style here is great, and features a variety of opponents, giving you a good mix to look at. I give “The White Butterfly Killer” a 4 out of 5 rating, as it’s above average with some great kung fu mixed in a revenge plot.

Add “White Butterfly Killer” to your collection or  stream it by clicking here!

Swift Shaolin Boxer (1978) Review

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Chan Hung-Man

Year: 1978

Plot:

The top draw to “Swift Shaolin Boxer” is that it features Angela Mao, female martial artist. The story is about a group of female friends that are looking to seize the Five Phoenix Night-Shing Pearl from the Black Wind Fortress. They want to overthrown the fortress and restore order, and that’s the limited plot that I knew going into the movie.

The reality of the movie, however, is that there is a variety of different stories intersecting with fights, and not really a central hero or villain as you’d expect from these films.

Thoughts:

Well if you were looking for a linear story with plot and interesting moments, throw it out the window. I marked down a few points just because the story here is convoluted, to the point where you get entire fight scenes that aren’t part of the story as a whole. That’s not to say that it’s bad, but it’s interesting to see overall. Chan Hung-Man’s direction is a little off here, but as I type this, I’m reminded of a fight scene that is on a ladder made of swords, so it’s not all bad.

The story takes some time to play out, and you see a mix of fighting and dialogue before you get to the crux of the plot. There are some interesting sequences found here, including children fighting, and kung fu of different styles. Twenty minutes into the movie, and you swear you’re watching a different movie altogether, considering the fighting and moments are not related to the synopsis aforementioned.

Forget the story, it’s a variety show here, and  honestly it’s a lot of different stories coming through at once. Mixing in a lot of kung fu, you get a random assortment of fights, moments of interest, and really not much else. Sure there’s a central story, but it’s convoluted and hard to follow let alone try to write it down. It’s for that reason why I give this movie a 2 out of 5 rating.

Check out Swift Shaolin Boxer through amazon today, and look out for the vhs or dvd where you can get it. 

Meltdown (1995) Review

Ranking: 4 out of 5

Director: Jing Wong

Year: 1995

Plot:

“Meltdown” is also known as “High Risk”, and it is a 1995 action kung fu movie starring Jet Li. We see our main character Kit Li as a bomb squad member that is trying to diffuse a bomb that has a lot of kids on it and his wife. He dutifully tries to save the kids when he receives a call from “The Doctor”, and takes credit for the bomb and more. When the bomb goes off, despite Kit’s efforts, he is devastated and leaves the force. He then becomes a stunt double and body guard for a cowardly martial arts star. From there the plot switches up to an exhibition of the crown jewels of Russia, the Doctor and his gang want to steal them and take over a building, but they have to contend with Kit, who happens to be on premises and knows about the issue. There’s a revenge plot here, and while there are side characters, it’s a straight line for Kit to get his revenge on The Doctor.

Thoughts:

First of all, this movie looks great, I got a DVD and the transfer is quite good. The dubbing is also quite good overall. The plot flows quickly, and I found the overall story to be easy to follow and setup quite well with relative ease. That being said, this is a standard revenge plot type of movie, although it is wrapped in a modern package. That means that there is gun play, explosions, crazy stunts and more. Jet Li stars in a great action movie, but it is not necessarily a straight forward kung fu movie.

There is kung fu in the movie, Jet Li is a master, but the larger story and scenarios are modern action elements. That’s not to say that this is a bad thing, the movie is good, it flows great, and there’s plenty of action to be had. However, if you were expecting a lot more brawling, you’ll definitely not think much of this one in that arena. This Jet Li movie is solid, with good acting, good brawling, plenty of action, and a story that doesn’t let up. “Meltdown” is not what I expected, but it definitely kept me entertained. From the cowardly martial artist character to our main hero, there’s some good stuff here from comedy to action. I give this movie a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “Meltdown” to your DVD collection or stream it byclicking here.

10 Fingers of Steel (1973) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Chang Chi, Lung Chien

Year: 1973

Plot:

“10 Fingers of Steel”, is also known as “King of Boxers”, and I found another IMDB reference to an animal revenge, but for the sake of the review we will stick with the name “10 Fingers of Steel”. The story follows our main hero played by Wang Yu who discovers his fishing village ransacked and killed by what he believes is the Japanese. He then travels to Japan to seek revenge. He befriends a pickpocket woman and she helps teach him a style of kung fu that will help him in his quest. The movie goes through various sequences to move the story along, and it is your standard revenge plot.

Thoughts:

As with all the movies I review for this blog, I noticed that the film quality has been restored and updated. The dub is also quite good overall. The story is fast moving, and good overall, with a nod to kung fu early on, and throughout the build up of the revenge plot. Wang Yu does well here, with good boxing, and kung fu action. He takes on several opponents here, and befriends a woman that teaches him some stellar moves.

“10 Fingers of Steel” has several moments that are considered b-plot, and you get a good sense of action throughout. There’s one sequence that made me cringe which included kids getting whipped for not making enough money through their pick pocketing. It’s easy to classify this one as a straight revenge film, but there’s a lot more to it, making this an interesting kung fu movie. There’s drama, comedy, and kung fu found in this film, and the quality is quite good for the year. I liked it a lot, and give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

Watch “10 Fingers of Steel” by clicking here to get it fromAmazon prime for cheap!

Iron Dragon Strikes Back (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Kwai Chi Hung

Year: 1979

Plot:

The movie starts fast with a fight scene that features a lot of weapons and a hand to hand combat, which drew me in immediately. “Iron Dragon Strikes Back” has an overall plot that is simple enough. The plot is with Bruce Li finding a stash of gold during a scuba diving expedition. When he and his friends divide it, there is some stolen and Bruce and his friends go after them and try to get the stolen property back.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed about “Iron Dragon Strikes Back” is the pacing. It delivers you into the frenetic kung fu space right away, and gives you fighting action. That’s not to say that the whole movie is like that, but the beginning is definitely a strong point, giving you action right away. It then slows down some to tell you the rest of the background, and it really gets a lull. The movie has some high points, and it definitely got me going, but then there are some soft spots where the story progresses and nothing happens. Those moments are ok, as they build the story, but they lead to sloppy fighting. The end fight, however, is a classic that you’ll want to take a gander at, especially if you’re a fan of sword play. The villain is revealed, the action is fast, and you get a real sense of the kung fu action you’d expect. I for one am glad to have stuck with it, as it comes at you fast and furious. I give this film a rating of 4 out of 5 especially for the end fight which gives credence to the larger picture of kung fu cinema.

Add "Iron Dragon Strikes Back" To your collection by clicking here! 

Dance of the Drunken Mantis (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Yuen Woo-Ping

Year: 1979

Plot:

The basic plot is Sam the Seed has to fight Rubber Legs to prove superiority of Drunken Manti Style overall. There’s a drinking and fighting contest involved, and that’s the crux of the film’s plot overall.

Aside from that, you are treated to fight sequences and different stories regarding the drunken master and his tomfoolery. As well as the villain, so you aren’t just stuck with one storyline throughout, you get a few plots working together to make the film entertaining. Some of these scenes are played for comedy, so you can get a break from the seriousness of kung fu, and enjoy a little banter and acrobatics to say the least.

Thoughts:

First and foremost, the digital transfer is great on this DVD if you can find it. It’s not expensive. The upgraded DVD is well worth your time, and it looks almost like Blu Ray, from the edition that I received. The fighting from the beginning is crisp, and throughout really puts on a showcase of power. I was impressed with the film quality, and that’s my initial take. There is some comedy involved to break up the story line, which is nice, and entertaining, including some interesting kung fu styles early on.

The kung fu is slick, and it is filled with comedy. The Drunken Master here is legendary, and possesses a sense of comedic timing and kung fu mastery, making this movie a funny one to watch. There are serious moments, but they aren’t prevalent throughout. There’s a lot of comedy in comparison to the king fu that ends up being the finale. You’ll find that the overall fun and demeanor of the film makes it a must watch. It has a balance of plot exchange and pacing that is really good, never slowing down or causing you to yawn. There is a balance between fights, training, comedy, and more, making this a standout epic of kung fu movies. I recommend it, and give it a 4 out of 5 rating.

Add “Dance of the Drunken Mantis” to your DVD collection byclicking here!

Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave (1979) Review

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Lee Doo-Yong

Year: 1979

Plot:

The movie is originally known as “Visitor of America”, and is part of the Brucesploitation genre of kung fu movies. The opening of the movie is right out of horror movie lore, as lightning strikes the grave of Brue Lee. When lightning hits it, out rises Bruce Lee ready for combat. The title screen comes through and we see the title, “Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave”, and we are in for a good romp, right? Well, that’s the last  you really get about Lee, as the movie features a different story altogether.

The plot revolves our main hero looking for his brother in the big city, which looks a lot like Los Angeles to me. He befriends a lady along the way, and tries to figure out what happened to his brother, who may have been involved in a criminal syndicate. The movie plays out like a standard revenge, detective film, and has fighting thrown into the mix as well.

Thoughts:

I watched the English dub version, and it was not upgraded or remastered in any way. It looks a lot like a VHS transfer, and that hinders the quality a bit. I also found out through a little searching, that the opening sequences was made for the US release of the movie, even though the film has nothing to do with Bruce Lee at all. I give it a couple of strikes for that reason, and the lack of upgrade in film quality as the grain is seen throughout and simply not grand. There’s a lot of darkness, shadows, and bad dubbing that comes through with this movie. The plot takes a while to unfold, and there are a lot of stop gaps, including a parade sequence in what seems to be real time. It’s laughable to say the least.

Our main hero mimics some of the work of Bruce Lee, in the way that he fights, although he lacks the same precision that you expect from The Dragon. While the fights are good, they are not grand at all, and feature a lot of cuts. The pacing is slow, so don’t expect any frenetic paced fighting. There’s a lack of fluidity to the fights, and it takes me away from the movie a bit. Other than that, it’s more of an action movie at times, than a kung fu movie, so I give it a rating of 2 out of 5.

Add “Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave” to your DVDcollection by clicking here.

Duel of the Dragon (1979) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Chung Ting

Year: 1979

Plot:

“Duel of the Dragon” is also known as “Of Cooks and Kung fu” and follows a simple storyline at first, then branches the path a little to showcase kung fu. The main story features a grandfather teaching his grandson “Cooking Kung Fu”, so we see a lot of training montages, and comedic moments. One of which includes our main hero catching fish to prove his kung fu style and cooking style mesh well. It’s a hilarious little segment and breaks up the main story alongside other quick moments. There is a side story that encapsulates everything in which a villain is killing the emperor’s cooks, and that leads to some good overall sequences too, but it seems to be part of the story not the main one, but definitely a side one that gets bigger with time.

Thoughts:

Our main hero tries hard to mimic Jackie Chan, and that’s not a bad thing. He works well with kung fu, acrobatics, and comedy, which lends itself well to the film. The edition I saw wasn’t upgraded at all, so it’s the original VHS cut, and the film grain is still there, not really updated at all. The story is convoluted, and meanders a bit before getting to the final fight which is really worth checking out. Other than that, “Duel of the Dragon” really doesn’t hold a lot of weight, with the exception of introducing a cooking style of kung fu, which is entertaining overall. The training montages, and the comedic elements mix well for an entertaining romp, though it lacks in storytelling at times. Don’t expect an all out brawl of a movie, as there is a lot of comedic dialogue that comes through. There’s comedy, there’s kung fu, and there’s a lot of fun to be had, giving this a rating of 3 out of 5.

Why not add “Duel of the Dragon” to your collection by clickinghere!

New Police Story (2004) Review

Rating: 5 out 5

Director: Benny Chan

Year: 2004

Plot:

The plot of “New Police Story” is a little different for a Jackie Chan film. We find our hero in trouble, a drunk, and someone that feels guilt because he thinks he caused the death of his fellow policemen. He is targeted and a victim of a gang. He is befriended by a young man that helps him get back on the case and seeks revenge on the gang, and it gets very personal at one point. Through a series of fights, and stunts, Jackie Chan’s police character has to face off against evil Joe and a Gang of Five, a much younger team to overcome the threat and seek revenge for his partners that are lost in the first sequences of this kung fu modern action movie. It really is a “NEW” Police Story than what you’re used to that’s for sure.

Thoughts:

The first takeaway from this movie that I get is the cinematography. Because it was filmed in 2004, the cinematography is excellent, with a focus on clarity, and great overall shots. You really get a feel for the story, and Jackie Chan is a perfect candidate for the role. The film quality is high, and it’s very high tech, clear, and the definition is grand. I loved the clarity, and the shots taken throughout the film.

The plot is fast, giving you an introduction to the character, and the reasons why he has become a drunk. The story is well done, and frenetic at times, moving through various sequences with care. I liked how things went through, alongside the dubbing. The dubbing is great if you ask me.

The fighting is well choregraphed, Jackie Chan is stellar here, and his younger opponents are excellent as well. The kung fu is stunning, alongside the many stunts that Jackie pulls to bring together the story. There are several fights that have backgrounds that are incredible including a lego fight scene that sticks in my memory for sure. It’s not just Jackie doing stunts, the young villains in the gang of 5 put on a showcase of modern stunt work too, and of course they put on a show of kung fu that is brilliant. It’s not just pure kung fu, mind you, there’s gun play involved as well, but that doesn’t hinder the story in any way. The story is good, the pacing is fast, the visuals are delightful, and the kung fu is great, giving this a 5 out of 5 rating.

Add “New Police Story” to your collection or stream it byclicking here!

One Armed Swordsman vs. 9 Killers (1976) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Year: 1976

Director: Teng-Hung Hsu

Plot:

The “One Armed Swordsman” has a few movies, but this is not one of continuity, so don’t expect the same thing from this movie as the others. However, “One Armed Swordsman vs. 9 Killers” is a stand-alone movie that features our titular hero, Wang Yu, as he must battle 9 killers that are out to finish the job that cost him his arm and his family. Along the way, we befriends a member of the rival gang, but that is short lived, as he must fight him too eventually.

Thoughts:

There’s no major restoration on this film, so immediately there are some points down, but that doesn’t mean that this movie is bad. In fact, it has a lot going for it, including the titular character of the One Armed Swordsman. The swordsman comes through with revenge in mind and he takes on 9 killers. That is the crux of the story, and while there is a b-story that plays out, it’s minor to say the least. Our hero travels to find those that attacked him, took his arm and his family. The fights are good, with our hero only using his one arm, no swords for most of his side of the fighting, and takes on several masters of kung fu. I found the fighting to be mostly one sided, and a lot of it was definitely not back and forth, with the main character being superior to all the others fast, and easily. That’s not to say it’s bad, it’s just something that I noticed while watching this one. The pacing is fast, you go from fight to fight swiftly, and there’s even some comedy thrown into the mix, but mostly it’s a revenge film with one armed swordsman getting the upper hand in all of the fights. The flow and ease of the fighting is great, and definitely worth checking out, especially for the ending fight which takes a good focal point in finishing the movie!  Overall, not a bad movie, but definitely lacking here and there, giving it a rating of 3 out of 5.

Add “One Armed Swordsman vs. 9 Killers” on DVD to yourcollection by clicking here!

The Flying Guillotine (1975) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Year: 1975

Director: Meng-Hua Ho

Plot:

Not to be confused with other titles of similar name, this is the 1975 release, and it is a stand alone feature. The story has to do with the creation of the flying guillotine, a weapon that the emperor has commissioned. Once the guillotine is complete, a team starts to learn how to use it best, and there’s a great deal of time given to this sort of training etc. However, not all is well, as the leader of the group starts to question the tool and the emperor’s motives to utilize it. The movie moves around the political theater, rather than just fighting, which makes for a slow moving plot. There’s much story afoot, but of course fighting is in the mix, and eventually becomes the point of the movie as our main character Xin Kang is conflicted about the guillotine as a whole. The simplest way to put the plot is that the main hero is conflicted about the emperor’s motives, and decides to leave the temple, only to have to deal with the henchmen that chase him and follow his moves. The movie mixes political drama, sex, kung fu, and more within the time allotted, however it does none of them particularly well or overboard, with the exception of drama. There’s an attempt to focus on character development over pure fighting, which is something to take note of, overall.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed about this movie was the look and feel of the film. It is not updated, restored, or anything like that. It is VHS quality, at least the edition that I saw. It is dubbed well, however. The movie’s pacing is slow, and focused a lot more on the conflicts and issues between individuals and the emperor rather than on fighting itself. It’s for that reason why you may not love this movie, as I didn’t think it was that great at times. The invention of the guillotine, and the use of it is really cool, and those sequences are presented well, including training and utilization of the weapon. It is a masterful weapon that really makes the premise shine, even if the fighting is lacking at times.

The movie is slow paced, with a lot of focus on character development. The character development is fine, don’t get me wrong, but the Shaw Brothers have a knack for putting together good fight features. I was expecting more of a fighting film than what was presented here. That’s not to say that this is bad, don’t get me wrong, it’s just slow paced and lacking in the kung fu action at times. Brush that aside and the drama is heavy, and leads you into an interesting focal point, making it a good collector’s item, especially if you want all of the movies featuring the guillotine as a weapon. I rate “The Flying Guillotine” 3 out of 5.

Why not add “The Flying Guillotine” to your DVD collection?Click here!

Executioners From Shaolin (1977) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Lau Kar-Leung

Year: 1977

Plot:

“Executioners From Shaolin” is also known as “Shaolin Executioners” and “Executioners of Death”, and is a 1977 kung fu movie directed by Lau Kar-Leung. The story starts fast, as the Shaolin Temple is burned down and the followers scatter, but not without a fight. Under the orders of Pai Mei, the white haired priest, the temple is burned down. There are some survivors, and the shaolin followers split up. The story shifts to one hero and a love story ensues, I kid you not. The love story features little to no kung fu, and you have to wait quite a while before you get to the next level. Our hero vows revenge and after training for a decade comes for Pai Mei, only to fail. Pai Mei is situated as a master of kung fu, and so much so that he is unbeatable. After our hero fails twice, his son takes up the mantle and fights Pai Mei with a mix of crane style and tiger style, with an epic battle.

Thoughts:

The opening fight scene alone is worth price of admission with “Executioners From Shaolin”. I honestly just wanted to see more Pai Mei fights, which is why I picked this one up to watch. The movie features a great deal of fighting, albeit losses for our hero. He trains, and the training is good, but he cant beat Pai Mei, so his son takes on the mantle. I thought the story was good, but it was more than a kung fu movie, as there is a lot of time spent on non-fighting story. The non-fighting builds character, which is nice, and the love story is pleasant, but you definitely want more action. I wanted to see more fighting, but that’s ok, the pacing allowed for an ok measure of success in terms of storytelling. Pai Mei is awesome, his fighting style is unique, he can take nut shots, and despite being the villain, puts forth some killer kung fu. The hero here is definitely given a great deal of training, and while he can’t win, his son does and that’s an interesting story too. Overall, “Executioners of Shaolin” isn’t half bad, but the mid-level story interrupts the fighting enough to get a lower ranking. I give it a 3 out of 5 rating.

Do you want to add “Executioners From Shaolin” to your DVDcollection? Click here!

Shaolin Raiders of Death (1979) Review

Rating 3 out of 5

Director: Ting Chung, Chester Wang Chung-Kuang

Year: 1979

Plot:

“Shaolin Raiders of Death” is also known as “Kung Fu of 7 Steps”, and is a kung fu movie that doesn’t stary too far from the formulas of classic kung fu movies. It was released in 1979, and the story is simple. The synopsis I found online says that a takeover is plotted with the help of the Five Hands Gang. However, after watching the movie, I can tell you that there’s more to it than just that. Little Tiger is our main hero and he trains in the 7 Steps Kung Fu Style to protect the town he lives in from the invaders simply known as the Five Hands Gang. After his master is beaten up by the gang, he trains even harder, and must take on the gang to protect his village.

Thoughts:

The overall film quality takes a hit, with this movie not being restored, and dubbed overall. The dubbing at times is mumbled, and the quality of the movie is a little bit rough around the edges. For that I knocked it down a few points, however, take that away and you are treated to a solid kung fu film. Little Tiger’s kung fu is great, and the training elements are interesting, including frog jumping, walking on hands, and much more. Aside from the training, the kung fu elements are great, with a lot of attention to minor details, albeit not always pushing the storyline forward.

There are some comedic moments in this one, but they are few and far between. The majority of the movie is spent trying to figure out who the elusive 5 Hand Gang is and why they are in town. After that is figured out, the training and fighting begins, and it doesn’t let up until the gang is defeated.

Overall, “Shaolin Raiders of Death” aka “7 Steps of Kung Fu” is a solid action kung fu movie. It doesn’t stray too far from traditional paths, as there is a revenge plot thrown into the mix of fighting. There is a training montage, and there is a lot of great fight choreography. I would say that this is a no nonsense type of film, but the pacing lacks a little at times, and the film grain is tough because it wasn’t restored or anything. Oh, and the dubbing is tough at times. Other than that, this is a good kung fu movie to check out. I rate it a 3 out of 5.

Want to add “Shaolin Raiders of Death” to your collection?Click here to pick it up on DVD.

Wheels on Meals (1984) Review

Rating 4 out of 5

Director: Sammo Hung

Year: 1984

Plot:

“Wheels on Meals” is not a traditional kung fu movie, as it is modern. It was made in 1984 and it is directed by Sammo Hung, starring Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, and Sammo Hung. The plot surrounds cousins that own a food truck, and they are thrown into a caper when a pick pocket shows up and wrecks their lives a bit. Meanwhile a private detective runs into her as well, and finds out that she’s a target of a gang, and together with the cousins decide to help her out. Three different stories converge on one, protecting the pick pocket, Sylvia, and making sure that the evil gang doesn’t win.

Thoughts:

“Wheels on Meals” is an example of a kung fu comedy. This is evident throughout the movie with Jackie Chan and friends doing prat falls, and miscommunications within the dialogue. There are a great deal of moments that are played up for laughs, including zany moments like that of a 3-stooges, running around hitting one another, falls, and more. The comedy is not overdone, and lends itself well to the kung fu action which comes through here and there, as well as the ending. This movie is a better, solid introduction to action comedies, than a straight forward kung fu actioner.

For fight fans, there is a lot of breaks between the battles. In fact, the movie is far more given to comedy and drama than it is to the fighting. For that reason I give this a peg down, though the pacing is good. Due to the pacing, and the action, this “Wheels on Meals” is a good overall romp. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5. It’s not perfect, but it’s comedic, it’s got fighting, and well, I liked it a lot. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Benny “The Jet” Urquidez is in this one! So you know there’s some stellar action, even if he’s not in the entire film.

Want to add Wheels on Meals to your DVD Collection? Then click here! 

Hand of Death (1976) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: John Woo

Year: 1976

Plot:

“Hand of Death” is also known as “Countdown in Kung Fu”, and is a 1976 John Woo directed kung fu movie. The basic plot of the film follows Yun Fei, a student of Shaolin, as he has to take down a warlord that has led an attack against the Shaolin. However, before he can do that, he has to fight 8 bodyguards and a secondary boss before he can get revenge against Shih Shao-Feng, the warlord. Of course, he doesn’t just get in there and win, he loses at first, and must learn a new technique, the Goose fist fighting method in order to get the final victory. However, it’s not easy, and he must train hard to get there. It’s not just one on one either, there are sequences where the invading party catches up with the shaolin fighters that have scattered and attack. This builds the strength of the invading party, so that our hero must overcome something grand. Of course, it all builds to a larger final fight, but one must be patient sometimes.

Thoughts:

From the initial start of the film, you are in for a lot of kung fu action. There’s an initial attack on the Shaolin temple, and that gives you a great introduction on what’s to come, including several masterful points against the Shaolin. You see the bosses that will need to be defeated, and then the story continues. I noticed the film quality is top notch, restored and very good, with subtitles. John Woo’s direction is great too, focusing on the action without disastrous cuts that pull you away. There’s a heavy focus on setting up the story at first, so it’s not just a fight film. With that said, the pacing is a little slow before you get to action at times, pushing the storyline and getting background to the actions overall. This can be a downside if you’re just looking for pure fighting.

Overall, “Hand of Death” is a story driven kung fu movie that has a lot of depth to it. It has feeling, and is not your average kung fu film. It features a great deal of story, good fighting, and traditional elements throughout. It’s much more than a revenge movie, and John Woo’s direction really makes this a lasting film. Oh, and I almost forgot, Jackie Chan is in it too, although he’s got a minor role. I recommend this one for the build up and ending, and interesting story throughout. I rate it a 4 out of 5.

Interested in owning “Hand of Death”? Click here to purchase it on DVD.

Drunken Master (1978) Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

Director: Woo-Ping Yuen

Year: 1978

Plot:

A simple story unfolds with this kung fu film. A young Jackie Chan plays a mischievous son of a dojo owner, who keeps finding himself in trouble. He is so out of control that his father decides to get a master of Drunken Boxing to teach him discipline. We are then thrown into training montages, fights, and more with Jackie going through increasingly difficult tasks in order to master the martial art. There’s a lot of comedy along the way, and while the story seems thin at first, it has a great deal of kung fu action along the way. Jackie Chan’s fame really shines here, and if you have the blu ray, you get more information on plot, importance, and more of this kung fu classic.

Thoughts:

The first thing that you’re going to notice about “Drunken Master” is that the picture quality is really good. No matter how you decide to see this movie, it looks great. It especially looks good if you have the Blu Ray, which features the fully restored film with commentary, the original language track, and good English dub. Purists will no doubt want to see this in the original language, but for those that want to see it dubbed, this movie boasts a good dub.

There’s a lot of great humor in this movie, signature Jackie Chan follies of course. Aside from the comedy, you get some incredible stunt work, and kung fu. The drunken boxing is fascinating to watch, and the cuts are very good overall. You’re going to find that there is a lot of action found here with a good mix of comedy and story, which all pieces together and flows nicely. For those that aren’t big fans of kung fu movies, you may want to show them this one, as it features a mixed bag of entertainment, not just fight after fight. Sure the fights progress the story, but there’s so much humor that breaks it up, that anyone can enjoy it.

Interested in owning “Drunken Master”? Click here to purchase it on Blu Ray, it’s worth your collection.

Clan of the White Lotus (1980) Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

Director: Lo Lieh

Year: 1980

Plot:

“Clan of the White Lotus” is also known as “Fists of the White Lotus” and it is an interesting follow up to the 1977 movie “Executioners from Shaolin” and the 1979 film “Abbot of Shaolin”, featuring similarities to the other two, but of course bringing forth a new story as well. We get started in a fast and furious fight where Pai Mei is defeated by two individuals, and when White Lotus hears of this, demands revenge and murders one of the two. The survivor has to go out and perfect a new technique in order to fight back against White Lotus, and take revenge for his fallen friend. There are two sides to this, both of which seeking revenge, and well, both with just cause all things considered. A simple premise from the Shaw Brothers camp, and definitely one that is not light on the action.

Thoughts:  

A double revenge plot? I can dig that. The movie starts fast and furious with a duo fighting Pai Mei, the evil kung fu master. They seem to have a hard time getting through, but eventually win. Two on one seems unfair, but we’re dealing with a master of the martial arts, and well he takes on some incredible movements. Overall the story moves from that of fighting, to layered fights where our main hero loses time and time again and has to go back to the drawing board. The main focus of the film is the training, and that’s where we really get to the heart of the characters and movies.

The visual design is great on this movie, the dubbing is top notch, and the clarity of the cuts is great too. I liked the flow of the film, and the drama that it takes on, with two revenge plots going at once, both of which justified in their attempts to take out the other. There’s plenty to sink your teeth into on this one, and something for every fan of martial arts cinema, including straight forward kung fu, as well as sword play, and different techniques showcased. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 as it really is an outstanding genre film.

Interested in owning “Clan of the White Lotus”? Click here to purchase it on DVD, it’s worth your collection.