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.
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