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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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