Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards (1980) Review

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Wu Ma

Year: 1980

Plot:

“Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards” is a martial arts movie from 1970. The movie has a plot that follows Chang Fung, a martial arts student that is studying under a drunken master. His master has made enemies through his life and a gang of warriors show up to kill him. Chang must defend his master and use drunken kung fu to fight back.

Thoughts:

If you have been reading my reviews, you know that I often look at the transfer at first. The transfer is lower end VHS quality on this one, and the dub is louder than the alternating sounds at times. The lighting is way bright, and the contrast is also, making it an interesting watch, as though someone is throwing on a brightness to your screen. That doesn’t take away from the action, but it’s noticeable on the DVD I watched.

We are introduced to our main character, training in drunken style kung fu, and there’s a bit of comedy throughout. The drunk is interesting, and teaches in an unorthodox way. The music is comical, and the lessons are too, making for an entertaining bit of progression for the movie.

The general plot is that our main teacher has some debts to be repaid and our hero must fight off the warriors that come after him to collect. However, to get there, and to see that, there are multiple smaller stories that have nothing to do with that progression. For instance, there’s a random tournament of fighters, there’s a scene where one of our character pees on a wall, there’s some stealing going on, and just random sequences that don’t necessarily move the plot along but are there for filler.

The majority of the brawling aside from the tournament fight is due to the drunkards having enemies that are looking for him. That kind of moves the plot along, but for the most part it’s convoluted. You have to throw away your notebook on this one, and just watch some funny moments, as there is comedy mixed into a variety of the scenes.

“Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards” is not that fun to watch. Sure, there are comedic moments, and the plot is thin enough for you to take a little nap to, but there’s a lot missing in this one. I found myself a little bored at times, but I stuck with it. I did appreciate the brawling, especially the last fight which is always a good sign with these type of movies, but it just isn’t enough to save it as a whole. With that in mind, I have to lower the rating some, even though there’s enough kung fu to make it watchable. I guess I’m of two minds when it comes to “Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards”. I give this a rating of 2 out of 5.

Add "Kung Fu of 8 Drunkards" to your collection or stream it by clicking here. 

Fists of Fury (1971) Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

Director: Lo Wei

Year: 1971

Plot:

“Fists of Fury” is a 1971 film that is really “The Big Boss”. Bruce Lee stars as a man who seeks revenge for the death of his family members. He discovers that the ice factory he was working at is trafficking drugs, and as a result caused the death of his family members. That’s about as simple as you can make the movie’s plot, although there is some side action, and a little more information that you’ll glean from the movie overall. However, at the crux of the film, it’s a revenge plot. This is explored through various plot points, including our main hero’s family starting to go missing, and the revelation that the ice factory he works at is trafficking drugs. It tightens up, before leading to a major showdown to close the film out.

Thoughts:

First, the transfer and audio are top notch for this movie. You can get it on blu ray, and you can stream it in high definition as well. The transfers on this are great, and well worth your time to seek out. This is somewhat unusual for the genre, and you can tell through the reviews that I have. It’s a nice thing to see up front, a nice overall transfer, excellent even.

There is a lot of story to this movie. It is driven by plot, and you are introduced to the characters through different scenarios. It is not a straightforward fight film, so don’t expect all out brawls throughout every quarter of the film, it’s just not that type of movie. If you’re used to kung fu films that keep brawling throughout this is not it. That’s not bad, it’s just an observation that I made while watching the film. Plot heavy, the movie takes time to build the story, and you are not in for a frenetic style. That’s where this stands out, making it a crime drama at times, more than a kung fu movie.

Due to the nature of the story, “Fists of Fury” ‘becomes more than just a fight film. It gets serious, and while there is some fighting, it doesn’t feel like your traditional kung fu movie. It feels more important, especially in that our main hero doesn’t get involved in every brawl until he is provoked. Once provoked he jumps into the fray. When we do see Bruce Lee fight, he does so with grace and poise, fast and to the point.

“Fists of Fury” is a good movie. It stands tall amongst fight movies, because it’s not just about that. In fact, there’s far more to it than fighting, and really holds a good candle to cinema in general. At the core it’s simple, but as you unravel it a bit, you have crime, drama, and action, making it a great one to watch. It has something for everyone, and that’s rare in the genre. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Add "Fists of Fury" to your collection or stream it by clicking here! 

One Foot Crane (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Min-Hsiung Wu

Year:  1979

Plot:

“One Foot Crane” has a very simple plot, and it was released in 1979. The main plot according to sources online is that an orphan girl studies the art of Crane Boxing for many years so that she can seek revenge on the culprits that slaughtered her family. Unlike other movies, the main plot comes at you fast. The beginning of the film shows the slaughter of the family by 4 swordsmen, meanwhile a little girl watches. She runs away and is found by an old man who teachers her kung fu. That story is the crux of the movie, a revenge plot, with a little minor element here and there, but it sticks to the larger story very well. Even the subplot is about revenge, and our  main heroine shines bright in the end.

Thoughts:

Let’s begin with the quality of the transfer, which is higher VHS, with good lighting and more than adequate dubbing. It is in standard definition, even on DVD and it is a rare one so you may have to pay a little if you want to have the physical copy. It looks good overall, and I had no problem seeing things, even in the dark lighting at times.

The movie’s plot moves fast for a change. We get going forward with the death of a family, and a young lady that survives. She is rescued by a martial arts master and she learns kung fu. She then embarks on a quest to find the men responsible for killing her family. These men are wanted in a city, and she tells the magistrates that she will find and bring the men to justice. This plot carries through the majority of the movie, even though there are some fights that progress things a little as well. I liked the plot, it’s interesting, and the revenge story makes sense, never really straying from the overall path.

The fighting isn’t bad, our hero gets ridiculed at times for being a girl but she shows up and proves the naysayers wrong. There’s a good flow to the fights, and they use different weapons throughout. Each fight builds the story a little, and features some high quality sequences. I was impressed with how the story’s continuity was proven throughout. As far as a fight film is concerned, this is a good one, and I liked the flow of things, which is sometimes hit or miss. Not in this case, it flows well, there’s good fighting, and for some reason it just caught me in a good mood. I give “One Foot Crane” a 4 out of 5.

Add “One Foot Crane” to your collection or stream it byclicking here.

The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu (1980) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Chi Lo

Year: 1980

Plot:

“The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu” is a 1980 movie that has a simplified plot, but lots of surprises throughout the movie. The plot according to internet sources is about two good guys that help the weak, and are captured and told to chase after the Dragon Gang. They must fight their way through the Dragon Gang, but they also must confront a Taoist with a zombie, and then fight the leader of the gang as well. All in all, there’s a lot of fighting to be had, and our heroes must overcome quite a bit to get their triumph.

Thoughts:

Let’s begin my thoughts with the traditional talk of the transfer and dubbing. The dubbing leaves a little to be desired, and the transfer is VHS quality. It’s not grand, but it has enough clarity to make it worth your time. The music is clear, the dubbing is clear too, but don’t expect perfection with this DVD, even though there are several versions available.

The plot gets moving swiftly, and I appreciated that. There’s a little bit of subplot, but it’s mainly a focus on the larger plot, getting rid of the Dragon Gang by forcing two heroes that have been arrested to get the job done. It’s a simple premise, and one that works within the genre. The initial setup is swift, but getting to the fighting takes a little bit of time. There’s a lull in place, so don’t think that this is all brawling. That’s not to say that it’s boring, but I wanted to make viewers aware that there’s a bit of storytelling and build towards the fighting that is to come.

 The Dragon Gang is no joke, they have a lot of fighters, and even a zombie! I kid you not, a zombie comes to fruition and is one of the fighters that the duo has to get through. The brawling is great, there’s some nice back and forth, good kung fu, and definitely a nice plot that surrounds it. Even though there’s a lot to offer with “The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu”, the transfer and dub bring it down a few notches. That being said, I give this one a 3 out of 5.

Add "The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu" to your collection or stream it by clicking here! 

Against The Drunken Cat Paws (1979) Review

Rating:  3 out of 5

Director: Shan-His Ting

Year: 1979

Plot:

“Against the Drunken Cat Paws” is also known as “No One Can Touch Her”, and “13 Evil Bandits”. It’s a movie that was released in 1979, and features a female main hero. The main plot concerns our hero, a blind martial artist that needs to figure out who killed her father, and hopefully gain her sight back and avenge her father as well. Another plot online stated that our hero has to figure out how to take on 13 evil doers of kung fu to reign supreme as the best.

From what I could tell, the above plots aren’t all that wrong. When the father of a kung fu practitioner is killed by a gang, which includes a female, a one armed bandit, a little person, and a self professed crippled warrior, revenge becomes the flavor of the day. At the core of the plot is a revenge plan, and that is explored through brawling, and attacks from gangs. The gangs all say they come to seek their revenge, but never fully explain why. Safe to say, there’s a bit of convoluted elements here, but they are meant to try and give backstory to the blind martial artist. As a whole, it makes sense, but in action it can be a little clunky when delivered for the first time.

Thoughts:

I usually begin my thoughts with the dub and transfer of a film, because it’s important to me to see things clearly. These movies are old, and the transfers can be somewhat hit and miss. That being said, “Against The Drunken Cat Paws” is in standard definition, but with a high VHS transfer, and good overall dubbing. I didn’t find that there were any major flaws from what I could tell. There was some minor editing issue, but the transfer is good overall.

The movie starts out swiftly, with our hero being introduced as a thief in the night. We then move forward to the rest of the plot, which gives us backstory to the hero, and the reasons why she is seeking revenge. This is not without some fighting, as  there is brawling throughout. The kung fu is good, and there is a mix of hand to hand combat, sword fighting, and more. Chia Ling, the actress does an amazing job with the fighting, and it is very cool to see overall. There’s also a kid doing kung fu, which is really cool as well.

The plot features a revenge score, but it is mixed with thievery, and a few other minor subplots. I liked it overall, and there’s a mix of fighting and story that doesn’t make the movie too slow to watch. I did think the main hero having a drinking problem is a bit odd, but it works I guess. “Against The Drunken Cat Paws” isn’t bad, the fighting is fun, and despite some predictable moments, it’s worth checking out. I give this movie a rating of 3 out of 5.

Add "Against The Drunken Paws" to your collection or stream it by clicking here. 

Kung Fu Gold (1975) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Chieh Cheng – Sheng-En Chin

Year: 1975

Plot:

“Kung Fu Gold” is also known as “Two Dragons Fight Against Tiger”, and is listed on a couple of websites with differing plot lines. A group of miners discover gold and want to have a representative of their group go back to their hometown and arrange marriages. But before anyone goes, they fight against one another to see who is strongest and worthy to move forward. That leads to a good deal of brawling, including one fight on top of a scaffold. Our main hero leaves the group at the mountain side, and ventures into the city, only to find out that his own girl was murdered by an evil army officer. He then vows revenge and teams up with a fighter to fight back and get his vengeance. Several subplots are carried out with fighting, including people trying to get the mine out of the control of the miners that staked their claim. But overall the plot follows the revenge in the end, but starts out with the arranged marriage option.

Thoughts:

“Kung Fu Gold” starts fast, with a fist fight in the first five minutes of the movie. The transfer is VHS quality, but on the lower end, with lighting off here and there. The dub is adequate, not spectacular in any way, and it’s something that will annoy some. I didn’t hate it, though.

There are a great deal of brawls in this one, and that’s a great thing because the plot is a little thin. Despite the thinning plot, the fights are well rounded, including weapons, and even a scaffold fight scene that really is worth your time.

Speaking of plot, it’s a bit slow overall. The movie starts out fast, with a brawl, but then slows down as the story plays out. The story continues, and it’s not terrible. It’s definitely a popcorn flick, so you’ll enjoy the story play out, but be warned it’s not fast paced. There’s some lulls here and there, but the fighting makes up for it.

Overall “Kung Fu Gold” has a good mix of fighting, story, and more. I appreciated the main storyline, and really enjoyed the fights, including a great ender as per the norm with these types of movies. The transfer, dubbing, and overall story aren’t perfect, and there is room for improvement, so I can’t rate it too high. I give “Kung Fu Gold” a 3 out of 5.

Add "Kung Fu Gold" to your dvd collection or stream it by clicking here. 

5 Pattern Dragon Claws (1983) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Shi-Hyeon Kim

Year: 1983

Plot:

“5 Pattern Dragon Claws” is a 1983 kung fu film that has a very simple plot, and a lot of fighting to its credit. It focuses on a temple that has 4 books of shaolin martial arts techniques. These 4 books are wanted throughout the land, and a local evil gang plots to steal them somehow, anyway possible. When the head of the school is taken out, the students argue over which should keep the books safe, and they must also avenge the loss of the person in charge. There are minor subplots that move the story along, but the main story has to do with the 4 books and their importance.

Thoughts:

Let’s begin with the transfer quality, and it is done very well. It is standard definition, and doesn’t showcase any upgrades. I watched it dubbed and it wasn’t that bad overall. Standard dubbing with a little bit of an issue here and there with the translation, but nothing egregious that I could find. The sound is good, the film grain is there, and it’s good quality for being an 1983 kung fu movie if you ask me. It’s not great, mind you, but it’s above average at times, especially in the daylight sequences.

The plot takes a little to get through and started. However, it flows well enough so you’re not bored. There’s a bit of fighting that all leads forward to a storyline in which the main characters must fight the bad guys in a bit of revenge and protection of the four books that everyone is after. That being said, there’s a great deal of kung fu action here, and a lot of it is stellar and hand to hand action. You’re going to enjoy a lot of the fights, even if they seem to be filler at times, including a fight with a masked kung fu master that shows up for a training montage.

Overall “5 Pattern Dragon Claws” has an interesting story, and some good overall fights. The 4 books of kung being stolen, and revenge subplot work through the film. It has its moments of filler, but not enough to get too negative of a rating. There’s a great deal to watch here, even if the plot gets a little slow at times. It features a good mix of kung fu and plot, and definitely worth your time. The final sequencing fights are well worth your investment. I rate it a 3 out of 5.

Add “5 Pattern Dragon Claws” to your collection or stream it by clicking here.

Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge (1978) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Lu Po Tu

Year: 1978

Plot:

“Bruce Le’s Greatest Revenge” is also known as “Way of the Dragon 2”, and it is supposed to be a sequel to the Bruce Lee film. This is part of the Brucesploitation genre. The simplest way to describe this one is like “Fist of Fury”, according to sources. A kung fu artist must defend his honor after initially not wanting to fight, trying to keep peace between gangs that are rivals. That’s the simplest way to explain what happens, but of course there’s a little more to the story. We are introduced to the characters, including our hero, and we flow through the plot that of course ends with an epic battle.

Thoughts:

First and foremost, this movie is streaming, so you can find it relatively easy. I could not find a DVD copy of it, and I didn’t want to skip it so I decided to watch and review it based on the information I had. That being said, the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s dubbed and the transfer isn’t too grand overall. That is to be expected with a lot of streaming media, but that doesn’t detract too much from the enjoyment that you  may have from the movie as a whole.

The plot is simple, and moves forward with relative ease. You’re going to find that the only major flaw that the plot has is that it can be a little slow to start. In fact, I found that to be my main gripe, is that things just get a while to get going, and you don’t get much in the way of kung fu action at first. Sure, Bruce Le does some great moves but if you are expecting all out brawls and nonstop action, you’ll be disappointed. There’s a little comedy thrown in for good measure, but there are also tough situations including a rape and killing at one point. Things just get out of hand before any fighting begins.

There’s a wide mix of fighting, but when Bruce is involved, it’s a lot more entertaining then the other fights. The movie really gets exciting in the final act where he fights the ultimate villains. He brings a sense of kung fu that is exciting and definitely entertaining. At one point he even fights a young Bolo Yeung! The end fights are fun, and the movie isn’t too bad, but it definitely lacks that real Bruce Lee charisma. It’s not going to win many fans of the genre, but if you’re a fan already, you’ve got to check it out for sure.  I rate this movie a 3 out of 5.

Add "Bruce Le's Greatest Revenge to your collection or stream it by clicking here

Kung Fu From Beyond The Grave (1982) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Chiu Lee

Year: 1982

Plot:

“Kung Fu From Beyond The Grave” is an example of horror and kung fu movies mixing genres. This is not uncommon, as there are a lot of mixed genres in the kung fu world. For the plot of this movie, the gates of the underworld open up and the ghosts of the dead visit our main hero. He is told that he must seek out a priest that is into the dark arts and is dealing in black magic. He then gets help from a book, a few ghosts that are friendly, and a group that belongs to a brothel. It’s a simple plot and it starts immediately after seeing some ghosts rise up. At the core of this movie, a revenge plot unfolds, and our hero’s father wants his son to avenge him, and that’s the crux of the plot.

Thoughts:

Let’s begin talking about “Kung Fu From Beyond The Grave” with the transfer on the DVD. It is a high quality transfer, and is on par with a VHS of high quality. The dub is also good, and doesn’t leave a lot of room for mistakes, so I appreciated that one. The original language option with subtitles is also available, but I watched the dubbed version, which is my norm. I liked the transfer, and it doesn’t deviate often from the quality.

The plot is super simple, and it begins at the start of the movie. I appreciated that greatly, considering some movies have convoluted plots that meander a bit. This one moves forward with simplicity, and you get into the action overall. There’s little brawling while setting up the movie, however, so don’t expect a drag out fight fest early on. You have to build to it with this one.

The brawling is quite good. Our revenge seeking hero gets entangled with a lot of thugs on his way to getting his ultimate end fight. There’s a lot of interesting points to the film, including ghosts coming back to life, black magic kung fu, regular kung fu, and so much more. It’s a mixed bag, and one that is fun to watch overall. I found myself completely enthralled with moments, especially when the undead come back to fight. The movie moves well, the fights are great, and just has a great mix of horror and action. I loved it, to be honest. I give this movie a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “Kung Fu From Beyond The Grave” to your dvd collection orstream it by clicking here!

Crippled Kung Fu Boxer (1979) Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

Director: Chiu Lee

Year: 1979

Plot:

“Crippled Kung Fu Boxer” is also known as “Ninja Supremo” and is a 1979 kung fu movie. The plot is about a young kung fu trainee that is looking to learn despite his father’s wishes for him not to do so. We then get introduced to several master kung fu artists, and each one ups the other, with our main character running off. A mix of characters are introduced, and the main plot doesn’t get started for quite some time. Our main hero gets involved in several brawls, often by just running into self-proclaimed masters.  

We move plots to training, and it’s your basic montage of training in kung fu, with an older master and a young student.

Mind you, this all is leading somewhere, but the overreaching plot doesn’t start until well into the movie, which is not usual for these types of films.

During the second half of the film we are introduced to a character named the Hunchback, and he is a villain from the past. The Hunchback and his gang target the young student and his master, and after getting a beat down, the plot thickens to where our hero must learn a new kung fu style to fight back. We are introduced to the Drunken Fist, and we see a whole new training ensue, with revenge on the mind of the young student.

Thoughts:

Let’s start looking at “Crippled Kung Fu Boxer” with the transfer. It is VHS quality overall, whether you stream it or get the DVD, you’ll find that this is standard. The dub isn’t too bad, and it has clear English dubbing throughout.

The plot takes a long time to gather. In fact, you’re going to have to watch a lot of back and forth, dialogue, and training before you get to the reasons for the end fights. I believe that a majority of people watching this one will most likely give up in the first half, because it really meanders. The plot doesn’t really take off too well, and by the time it does, you’re either invested or you’re giving up. I watched the full thing, of course.

The brawls are good, don’t get me wrong. There are some that are played for comedy, but they get more and more serious as the film goes on. Things get really serious in the second half of the film, and the fights are more pronounced and well rounded. I warn you, it takes a while to get to the more serious plot point, which can be hit or miss for you.

“Crippled Kung Fu Boxer” is not your straightforward movie. It’s convoluted, it has a meandering plot, and though it has some good fights, it is going to vex you if you’re expecting something a little more tightly wound. The saving grace comes from the fighting, which elevates the sub standard plot. With that in mind, I give this movie a rating of 3 out of 5.

Stream "Crippled Kung Fu Boxer" on amazon by clicking here. 

Kung Fu Rebels (1980) Review

Rating: 2 out of 5

Director: Ching-Chen Yang

Year: 1980

Plot:

The plot of “Kung Fu Rebels” is simple, and yet it’s a full movie that surrounds it. Four masters of kung fu are on a path to fight one another, but only two of them are good. There are two evil masters and they want to be the only ones alive to showcase their kung fu. That being said, they decide to hire and train the ultimate assassin to do their dirty work. Their quest is to murder the good ones, and be the only ones left standing with their mastery of kung fu.

Thoughts:

As with all the movies that I review, I first look at the transfer to see if it’s any good. In the case of “Kung Fu Rebels” the DVD is just a VHS transfer as far as I can tell, and it is not updated in anyway. It has good dubbing, but the rest is not that grand. Don’t expect high definition quality on this one, as it is not there.

Aside from the transfer, the story is very simple, and stretched out quite a bit. There are four central characters to this movie, and they are either good or bad. Then there’s a fifth character that is an outlier that is set to attack the protagonists. The kung fu action starts early on in the film, but it is not straight forward, it has a bit of comedy to it. The comedy makes the movie a bit fun to watch, but you don’t get a lot of serious brawls early on. They are fast, and use comedy to move them along. In fact, some of them are down right silly, and played for pure laughs.

Because of the transfer, the fighting is sometimes too close to be enjoyable, at least in some of the early on fights. There’s a ramp up in quality towards the third act and final fights, which is standard for kung fu movies of the era. I appreciated the final ones, and definitely thought it had some weight to it. However, I didn’t think the story merited such a long winded telling. I found myself a little bored with the story, and while there were some decent subplots to kind of carry the overall burden, the comedy and fighting, and random moments just didn’t add up for me. Yes, it has some good kung fu, but getting to it and enjoying it just left me wanting. I give “Kung Fu Rebels” a rating of 2 out of 5.

Add "Kung Fu Rebels" to your DVD collection or stream it by clicking here. 

Kung Fu Zombie (1981) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Shan Hua

Year: 1981

Plot:

“Kung Fu Zombie” is a movie that mixes genres of kung fu and horror. There’s a little comedy thrown in to the mix as well, but the majority is serious. The plot surrounds a criminal seeking to kill our hero Billly Chong, but he doesn’t want to do it  himself so  he gets a wizard to get zombies to do it for him. Then there’s a subplot for reincarnation of the fallen villain, and trying to find a body that they can use. When Billy’s father gets caught up with a past dispute collection, Billy must jump into action and attack. Then, if that wasn’t enough, the story moves forward to having a vampire, I kid you not. So, there’s a vampire, zombies, and of course kung fu all rolled into one movie.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed when watching “Kung Fu Zombie” was the transfer. The DVD transfer isn’t too bad, but there some moments where there’s dark spots so it’s like a VHS upgraded to DVD. The dub isn’t too bad, and it features a good sense of timing.

The premise of the film is fascinating to me, zombies and kung fu? Yes please! Though that’s the main focus, there’s some brawling without that, including several normal fist fights. I found the brawling to be good overall, and the mix of the paranormal only made it more fascinating. The plot moves a little slowly, but once it gets going, it showcases some interesting moments from paranormal activities to fighting straight up. There’s a solid mix of macabre and kung fu, so don’t think it’s just one handed. Oh, and of course, there’s a bit of comedy involved too, so it’s not just purely kung fu, macabre, or anything like that.

Focusing on the plot, there’s a lot going on, but it makes sense. There are villains that are seeking revenge, and our hero has to defend himself. However, the villains aren’t just marauders or anything, they send the undead, and of course when you think that’s enough, a vampire subplot comes through as well. This may seem convoluted at first glance, but when you see the movie, it makes sense. It’s interesting, and it had me glued to the screen. The zombies are awesome, and they jump too. There’s a good amount of practical effects to animate them, and it’s a cool thing to see. I liked it a great deal. With all that in mind, the mix of macabre and kung fu really is awesome to me. I give this movie a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add "Kung Fu Zombie" to your collection or stream it by clicking here. 

The 8 Masters (1977) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Joseph Kuo

Year: 1977

Plot:

“The 8 Masters” is a movie that starts fast, and then builds up to quite a revenge plot. The plot is about a young child that is rescued from his home and is brought to the Shaolin Temple. When his uncle dies, the temple takes the young child and teaches him kung fu. He masters the Shaolin style of kung fu, gets older and passes the test of the Shaolin masters. He wants to be a monk and not leave the temple, but the priests say he has other duties to accomplish in the outside world first. That leads him on a quest to visit his mother. However, things go awry when his mother is kidnapped, and he must face off against 8 Masters of Kung Fu.

Thoughts:

The first thing I noticed was the transfer had some issues. There were times when it was clear, and updated with a high definition look to it, but then it would shift to low darkness and fading shadows like that of an old VHS tape. That mixed bag knocked it down one point, even though the dub and sound are good. The opening sequences of kung fu brings you into the movie, and then we are thrown into the plot, which is cool to see because it features a young boy learning kung fu and showing off skills. It’s always cool to see kids doing kung fu in these movies.

The brawling is great, but before you get to that, you’re treated to a true hero’s story. Our main hero has to pass the Shaolin masters’ test to graduate, and that has some really cool sets and brawling, that alone makes this one worthwhile, with the set pieces set up like a maze.

Once our hero is out of the temple he does his best not to get into trouble, but it finds him, and his brawling style is noticed as being from Shaolin Temple, which causes opponents to run after seeing his tattoo of a dragon on his arm. The story gets serious when his mom is kidnapped, after he refuses to fight, and eventually dies. That leads our hero fight for a worthy cause.

The plot moves forward with a brisk pace, I liked that a lot. You really get a sense for the purpose of our hero, and there’s no wasted moments. The story draws you in, and you really root for the hero through the brawling. There are several good fights, some with weapons, some with hand to hand action, but overall the kung fu is grand here, and well worth your time. I rate this movie 4 out of 5.

Add “The 8 Masters” to your DVD collection by clicking here,or stream it online, it’s awesome.

Sleeping Fist (1979) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Wing-Cho Yip

Year: 1979

Plot:

“Sleeping Fist” has a simple plot that weaves around a few subplots, before getting to the final epic battle. Chin Tai Ba is a police officer that gets beat down by criminals, and ends up getting rescued by a young martial artist. He is then taken to a master of Sleeping Fist style kung fu, and he trains in that. After the training and mastery of Sleeping Fist, he ventures out to get his revenge. However, the crew run into something else, the villains have a master too, and they utilize Eagle Claw Kung Fu,  making it an ultimate test of wills at the end of the movie. That’s as simple as I can make the plot based on what I saw, and read, and while there’s a few smaller plots, that’s the overarching plot line.

Thoughts:

“Sleeping Fist” opens with a red backdrop and a showcase of kung fu from our main characters. I loved that starting line, and we see a great amount of action to start. We then move to the movie and there’s comedy afoot which I loved to see overall. There’s a kung fu kid that is chased by a few guys and he uses a very tall unicycle to get away. It’s hilarious, and got me chuckling.

The plot moves swiftly, and you get a sense for the characters overall. There’s plenty of brawling too, but there’s a stop gap to get the story and training moving forward. I noticed the transfer was VHS quality, and the dubbing wasn’t too bad either. The sound design is good overall, and definitely above average at times.

The brawling is good overall, and definitely a highlight of the movie. There’s an elevation to it too, with fights getting more and more complex until the ender. If you’re a fan of mixed styles, you’ll definitely appreciate this one as there is a mix of kung fu styles, and of course Eagle Claw and Sleeping Fist too. Even with the stop gaps, and plot development, there’s a lot of good to be found with this one, and it definitely has a great deal of heart mixed with kung fu. The kid makes this one stand out for sure, and it’s impressive to see a young actor so good at kung fu. Overall, “Sleeping Fist” is a good movie, with plenty to offer fight fans and regular movie fans as well. I give this movie a rating of 4 out of 5.

Add “Sleeping Fist” to your DVD collection or stream it byclicking here!

The Last Dragon (1985) Review

Rating: 3 out 5

Director: Michael Schultz

Year: 1985

Plot:

The simplest way to view this movie is to stick to the basic storyline. A young martial artist has learned all he can from his teacher, and now must search for a new teacher to obtain the final level of his kung fu, known as the Glow. However, his quest takes some turns when he has to face off against the Shogun of Harlem, who has it out for our hero named Brue Leroy. I kid you not. There’s a subplot involving a powerful man trying to get his girlfriend’s music video played on some video count down show. We also see Bruce Leroy teaching, and going through his days. The heart of the matter is still the search for a new master that will elevate his martial arts to the next level, but of course not without going through the Shogun.

Thoughts:

The start of the film introduces the audience to Bruce Leroy, played by an African American martial artist, Taimak. He shows off his kung fu style, while his teacher throws literal arrows at him, which he blocks and hits away. He is then informed that he needs to find a new teacher as he’s learned all he could to that point. Brue Leroy is played for comedy with the name, but the story is serious. There are comic moments, but Leroy isn’t a paper character. He shows true dedication to teaching, practicing his kung fu, and avoiding fights.

The transfer on the DVD is good, there’s no need for dubbing, this was an American release. The plot flows easily, there’s plenty to watch here, and it’s light on fighting. In fact, the majority of the film does not include fighting, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie. It’s just that the plot carries through the story, and moves forward with the quest of our hero Leroy.

Average kung fu movie fans will not like the pacing on this movie. It is story heavy, and fight light. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it’s something that you’re going to definitely notice if you’re a fight film fan. It has a lot more comedy, and straightforward storyline than fight, though there is a build to that ultimate fight that takes place between Bruce Leroy and Shonuff. Overall this is an interesting character study, but it is not a pure kung fu movie, though it takes a lot of the ethos of kung fu movies and places them in the 1980s New York City, which is cool. I give “The Last Dragon” a rating of 3 out of 5.

Add "The Last Dragon" to your blu ray collection or stream it by clicking here. 

Ninja In The Dragon’s Den (1982) Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

Director: Corey Yuen

Year: 1982

Plot:

“Ninja In The Dragon’s Den” has a simplified plot, and really focuses on two different types of martial arts. The story follows two rivals one of kung fu and one of ninjitsu, as they join together for revenge after their master gets killed by a master villain. So the plot is very simple, a revenge movie.

Thoughts:

The first thing I thought about “Ninja In The Dragon’s Den” was that the transfer was quite good. The overall transfer is high quality VHS style overall, and that was a good thing. It has great overall sound too, and the dubbing is not too bad at all.

The plot starts with a rogue ninja taking out officials of the government. We then move to seeing a ninja sect being told that they must stop him at all costs. This of course sets up the background for the ninja. We then move forward to the kung fu master as well, and our hero looks like Jackie Chan. A revenge plot begins, but the pacing of course is a little slow in building. There’s a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure, so you don’t get caught up with pure kung fu, and that’s something that I appreciated about the movie’s plot points. Mixing in action, comedy, and story is always welcome.

There is one scenario that you will not want to miss, and that’s stilt fighting, that’s right. A kung fu artist on stilts fighting, and it brings about a great deal of comedy with it. It’s short lived but it stands out amidst a more serious movie plot. The battles are good, using kung fu and ninja style, as well as using weapons here and there. The movie has heart too, so it’s not just a straight forward revenge plot, even though it is shared. It’s a good film with a lot to offer, mixing both ninja and kung fu genres quite well. I give “Ninja In The Dragon’s Den” a 4 out of 5.

Add “Ninja In The Dragon’s Den” to your collection byclicking here.

Police Story (1985) Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

Director: Jackie Chan

Year: 1985

Plot:

The easiest way to follow this one is to simplify the plot. “Police Story” is about a police offer that is framed for the murder of a dirty cop, and he must clear his name by any means necessary. In the mean time there is also subplots that involve mistaken identity, protecting a witness, and one hell of a raid on a drug lord to open things up.

Thoughts:

“Police Story” flows fast, it’s high definition on blu ray, and it is one of the outstanding movies that Jackie Chan has ever been a part of, with incredible stuntwork and some amazing kung fu as well. Chan’s character is framed, and he must clear his name by any means necessary. He goes to some crazy depths to do that, including fighting a drug lord and his henchmen, and much more. He also has to deal with protecting a witness, and well, things get out of hand fast.

The transfer is incredible for this movie, and you’re going to absolutely love the way it looks on modern television screens. The sound is great, the music is good too, and the kung fu is top notch. However, because it’s more of a modern movie, you’re going to find that there’s modern elements to it as well, including gun play, car chases, and more. It definitely features a great deal of back and forth to build the story, and there’s a good sense of danger all around. Chan’s kung fu is great, and something you will be amazed by overall.

“Police Story” delivers on all cylinders. You’re going to love the way it flows, a fast paced cinematic event. Chan’s direction is great, his stunt work is grand, and the brawling is second to none. I give this one a 5 out of 5 rating.

Add “Police Story” to your Blu Ray Collection by clicking here, or stream it somewhere, I don’t know.