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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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