Reviews

This is a pretty off-beat sort of HK film with a fair share of action and a lot of silliness. Our hero may be incompetent at Kung Fu, but his gadgetry reminds me of Q from the Bond films, whose music is ripped off and whose sexy introductions are parodied at the start of the film. The usual HK blood spilling, a very twisting and contorting (and even surprising in its predictability) plot and a sentimental thread of the happy couple make this worth a look. It kind of sits between Jackie Chan and the Chinese Ghost Story series.

This movie is confusing! The heros parents are friends with "the bad guys???" and are killed by "the good guys". The hero then seeks revenge and a cure to the fatal wound he received as a child. To do this he must learn two stance, one of which he learns from a Shaolin monk trapped in a large rock. Just a little different to MY martial arts teachers!

I found that the plot was hard to follow, the two women in the heroe life being secretive and mysterious - and neither secrets are resolved. The wife-fu is good, but no better than movies like Iron Monkey or the Swordsman. I have to say I was a little disappointed with this film, but if you like HK fantasy, still have a look at it.

I really loved this flick. A Kung Fu Robin Hood fights corruption in officialdom whilst providing for the poor and needy. Kung Fu skills go from fancy kicks and hand work, to wok skills, balancing on poles and beating up bullies with an umbrella. Once the visiting doctor realises his mistake in wanting to defeat our hero, a dynamic team up results against the evil foes from Shaolin who misuse their art to the obligatory Kung Fu bad guys (and girls). The characters are quite good, even the little kid didn't irritate me (good skills). This movie has some padding, with the father-son routine. It worked ok, adding some plot and human interest to the movie. Even one of the corrupt officials (Master Fox) moves beyond 1D, though the Shaolin monk is truly the 1D bad guy. Well done Tsui Hark.

I am constantly pleasantly surprised by old kung fu flicks. Typical of the genre, anti-Japanese sentiment makes for a good action flick, as Ninjas try to bump of the Chinese general who keeps Japanese pirates at bay. With the aid of three martial arts experts, the generals son seek to save the generals life. There isn't much in the way of charater development, and the Ninja spies are pretty obvious, but some of the fight scenes are pretty good, including one of the better sword fights I have seen, between a chinese and a samuri. Well worth a look for the kung fu buffs.

The Chinese Boxer is typical of Chinese propaganda about the Japanese. Chinese boxing is for sport, Karate is for killing, and boy do they kill. Eye gouging and rape in an action-packed fist-fest. A chinese man returns to challenge the kung fu master who threw him out of town with his new found Judo skills. His defeat leads to calling on Japanese Karate experts, and on it goes from there. Our hero's entire school is wiped out, leaving him to seek revenge by learning new techniques.... you get the idea. The town becomes an excuse for the local gambling den. The final fight seen involves some nice sword play. An ok flick, could have done without the rape scene, which isn't too explicit, but still...

This has to be one of my favorite Jackie Chan films for the fast action. The plot is at first fairly mundane, just an excuse for a team up with Jackie and some other improbable characters, including that played by James Tien - beware or he'll skin you alive! Although this is one of Jackie's earlier and more serious films - there is plenty to keep you laughing, including the improbable plot development later on. The villains are weird and wonderful and the fight scenes typical of Chan in this era. Things to look out for include the occasional 'borrowed' piece of music from Star Wars. All in all, if you are willing to suspend your disbelief (what's new), then the slightly ham acting won't get in the way of some good action.