Zhong Hua Zhang Fu (1979)

Cool.

The little story starts off very nicely with the rolling couple. Unfortunately, this is a bit too short, and I find the departure and return of the bride in question a bit too easy. Oh well, just like Liu must have thought: let's forget about it.

Furthermore, the film is a long series of cool fights between Liu and Japanese grandmasters. China vs. Japan, 10-0. But hey, a little chauvinism never hurts.

Beautiful choreography that is sometimes a bit disrupted by the idiotic sounds we also know from the many other kung fu flicks. Kaboom! Swipe! Fortunately, I had the original version and was at least spared the monotonous dubs, although the subtitles did sometimes fly by a bit fast.

Back to the fight scenes, because they make the film. And actually, they are magnificent. Perhaps with the exception of the one with the fat judoka and the oil. A bit lackluster. But the rest was often mouth-watering (I want to master the crab style too).

On to part 2!

Good.

Translated from Dutch · View original

Not entirely convinced.

That is also because I am slightly less fond of martial arts involving weapons. I often find it a bit less spectacular and thrilling, and a bit less acrobatic too. And in that case, you are a bit wrong with this film, since it is a continuous series of gunfights.

Indeed, there is a bit more respect for Japan and their martial arts in this film (even a few Japanese words), but the Chinese domination really speaks volumes. I find it a bit of a shame; it leaves the story and the film with a somewhat nasty aftertaste.

The choreography remains strong and there is absolutely no shortage of fights in this film, but the highlight for me is the drunken boxing, which actually felt a bit out of place as a scene.

For fans of the clash of weapons, I personally wasn't quite as impressed, but ultimately still quite entertaining.

2.5*

Translated from Dutch · View original

Revised on Blu-ray from the Shawscope Vol. 1 box set by Arrow.

Directed by Lau Kar-Leung, who also has a small role himself as a master of drunken boxing. Gordon Liu is back as well and impresses once again, his spear technique in particular is stunning. The film gets off to a somewhat slow start in the first 45 minutes, but as soon as the Japanese make their entrance, we are treated to a demonstration of various weapons. It almost feels like a tournament with a new challenge against one of the Japanese warriors every day. It is a shame that a fight against the grandmaster on the Japanese side is missing, but despite that, a strong Shaw flick.

The cast also includes many familiar faces, including the Japanese Yasuaki Kurata (known from Fist of Legend with Jet Li) and Yuen Siu-tien aka Beggar So (who worked with Jackie Chan in Drunken Master that same year).

Translated from Dutch · View original