5 comments about Spooky Encounters.

1. I don't know what's written on the english box, but on the DVD-box I have it says "Amazing 30 minutes ending fight", but as the movie ended I still haven't seen that fight yet... During the whole movie there were like 2-3 fights, only one of the worth watching...
   I don't count the fights against the mummy for fights, since all he did was jump around avoiding the mummy

   If you like to watch two sourceres (sp?) keep throwing fireballs at each other, this movie might be something for you, but if you're looking for just a little bit horror, comedy or martial arts, then go look somewhere else, since this movie contains none of those elements :(

   Sammo Hung is among the best martial arts actors in the world, so I can't believe he would ever do something like this :(




2. On your website it was actually stated that it was acted by Alfred Cheung (Gui Meng Jiao) but after i have received the movie it was not.
   
   So, i don't know how to rate.



3. Fortunately for the viewer, Sammo Hung is able to just barely rescue this film from oblivion. His always interesting martial arts is the highlight of this piecs of fluff.



4. It's hard blending multiple genre elements and making them work (work well at least). For proof take a look at Spooky Encounters, a Sammo Hung starring and directed picture from 1980 that attempts the unenviable task of blending comedy, horror, and Kung Fu into a single cohesive work. Regretably for the viewer he doesn't quite get it right and the film is all over the place while still finding it possible to be boring at the same time. Sammo does manage to get all the elements that he wanted in here, it's just that without the ability to focus on any of them they all end up being spread a little thinly so none of it is able to impress (or sometimes keep your attention). Now when watching a low budget Sammo Hung movie you expect the dialogue and effects to be dodgey at best... but normally he more than makes up for it with his choreography and martial arts skill. Unfortunately here he keeps the fighting to a minimum until the finale (noticibly undercranked too), but even then it's nothing that you'll remeber long after the credits roll. Unlike the rest of the film though, the closing scene is memorable and so unpolitically correct that I can't even get into describing it here (I shot right up from my seat in awe even), it just has to be seen. All that being said, the movie is still watchable (do to Sammo Hung alone) and even some fun, however; this same formula was done much better in later films like Mr. Vampire and Big Trouble In Little China (a personal fave). The actual DVD release from Fox/Fortune Star is clean, crisp, and most importantly, incredibly inexpensive to buy.



5. "Spooky Encounters" (aka Close Encounters of the Spooky Kind; 1981) is a seminal work in the hybrid genre of Hong Kong comedy/kung fu/horror films. While this had been done before by the Shaw Brother's "The Spiritual Boxer" (1975), "The Spiritual Boxer Part II" (1979) and Lo Wei's unsuccessful "Spiritual Kung Fu" (1978), "Spooky Encounters" is the film most causal in the formative kyonsi (hopping vampires) craze of the 1980s with "Mr. Vampire" (1985) as the best example of that subgenre with its plethora of sequels. It was directed by and stars Sammo Hung Kam-Bo ("Warrior's Two" and "The Prodigal Son" who would also produce "Mr. Vampire") during the golden age of Golden Harvest and was the first film under Sammo's Bo Ho Films Company.
   
   Sammo stars as Bold Cheung an affable courageous not-so-bright cuckold who works for Mr. Tam (I am not quite sure what Cheung does though). However, Tam is cheating with Cheung's wife and Cheung came awfully close to finding the two together; however, he did find a shoe that was left behind. Since Tam, who is going to run for mayor, does not want any scandal he decides to employ the services of a black-magic Taoist named Chin Hoi to murder Bold Cheung. Luckily his brother-in-witchcraft Tsui (Chung Faat who is also in Sammo's "Prodigal Son" and "Magnificent Butcher") is astonished he will breaks the rules of the sect (the four rules are: must not be greedy, must not kill, must not insult our god and must not behave badly) and goes off to help Cheung.
   
   Tsui's first good deed is to help Cheung survive a bet with an employee of Tam (played by the ubiquitous Wu Ma) to spend a night in a haunted place that looks like a giant storage shed. It houses a kyonsi - an undead vampire/zombie that is stiff, has to hop to get around, can suck blood through its long fingernails (does not happen here) and has good kung fu skills for some reason. Cheung being a bit of a dullard gets talked into staying two nights. Obviously this does not work so Mr. Tam ends up framing Cheung for the murder of his wife though no body is found. Now Sammo has the law after him led by the Inspector (Lam Ching-Ying) as well as the supernatural sorcerer.
   
   There is not much to complain about in this film. The few annoyances with the movie is the episodic structure the film takes on in the beginning and the underutilization of Lam Ching-Ying ("Mr. Vampire") fighting especially since he is credited as an action director. Also, the very ending is quite unsuspecting (not necessarily for Hong Kong aficionados) and seemed a bit excessive and hard to watch (for those who have not seen it I will not spoil it, it even startled me the second time I watched the movie). You also might not appreciate the film if you like chickens (unless you like exploding ones). There is also some mention of animal killing though nothing is shown (except for the chickens).
   
   The strengths of the film are many. Sammo is in the best shape of his life during the early 80s. He does look slightly corpulent but his kung fu and movement appears effortlessly and adroit (a big difference to how he would appear in the late 80s and beyond). I did notice he was doubled in a few scenes like when he was transformed into the Monkey King, he does not do some of the swinging movements, but for most he was not doubled. There are a couple of classic fight scenes with the tea house bit where Cheung loses control of his arm to the evil Taoist and takes on the tavern (I do not think it influenced Evil Dead II though you never know) and the excellent showdown at the Longevity Inn where Cheung is transformed into the Monkey King and has to fight the Dragon Slayer. In those fights Sammo does some great fighting with a bench in the first and a spear in the second. The whole finale I found quite entertaining with the dueling Taoists. Sammo's direction was also strongest in the 80s where he uses hand-held cameras to great use and has nice composition within frames. He does overuse undercranking in this movie though he tends to do that a lot in his films (as well as most Hong Kong films during that period). His best asset as a director is that he makes everyone else look better and never puts himself in the forefront if he does not have to.
   
   The mixture of humor/action/spookiness works well too. The horror aspect is definitely influenced by the Shaw Brother's films like "Black Magic" (1975) but never goes into the grossness (or nudity) of that film. The humor lightens the macabre aspect while kung fu and comedy meld well for some reason. "Spooky Encounters" is not scary or gore-filled by today's standards, but it is still a good spooky film that is a must for those into 1980s Hong Kong martial arts cinema or fans of Sammo Hung.
   
   Best advice learned from this film -- when you need more chi stamp the ground and if two opponents are evenly matched the one with the higher alter will win.
   
   I have the Fortune Star/Fox release which has a good transfer but no extras except trailers. The biggest plus is that there are no dubtitles. It does include the original mono release which I prefer over the surround sound because of the strange overemphasis it has on contact-hits and other noises. I did notice the score takes some cues from another film but I cannot think of what it could be nor could I find any information while researching for this film. The surround sound version of the movie seems to deemphasize aspects of that lifted score. Here is another example too of an R1 release Hong Kong release that does not match the Hong Kong Legends R2 release for extras. The HKL version has a Bey Logan commentary and other extras (I cannot comment on them since I do not own it).

5 comments about My Lucky Stars.

1. ok this move is funny but the only good action is at the end and it is mosle fist fiting no using odd objects like a lader ect but the fiting at the end was wiy it got a 3 not a 1. If you like the odd objects that he fits with than this move is not for you but than agin this is my opion not yours



2. This is a great movie, and it has a wonderful plot. The humor is dead-on, and I really enjoyed the action in it. Might not be one of the movies you watch to see just Jackie, but it's wonderful to see Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao (though he's not in it very much) and Jackie Chan working together. The acting is good, and it's great to watch in subtitles or voice-over. I'd suggest anyone who's a fan of Jackie Chan or of Chinese import action-comedy movies to buy this movie. You won't regret it.



3. I this is a very good movie written by Sammo Hung I must say this it is a very childish movie! As it was was made to be this is the considerd the second movie in the very long series that just continues. actully the series borrows from Winners and sinners(considerd to be the first) but isn't also Pom Pom borrows from winners and sinners. Most of this movie is about nothing but jokes about grooping and rapeing women. I dont want to say too much about this movie becuase I want you to watch it but first one must watch winners and sinners. Kang Jack sang is only in the first 3 movies a little sammo comes in and out from time to time after the first three but it is a stupid movie and if you dont like those dont watch the movie but I love sammo hung he is a great actor and writer he just never got as huge as Kang Jack Sang(Jakie Chan) Becuase he likes to share the spot light and isnt as selfcentered as Kang Jack Sang.
   
   Richard eing funny funny man
   Yuen Baio great stunt guy and actor I think never got famious but needs a hand used to do a lot of Kang Jack sang's (JACKIE CHAN'S) stunts ALL THE TIME but never got the credit.
   
   I like some of Kang Jack Sang's movies but I don't respect him as a person



4. This movie is just like Winners and Sinners and it is actually sort of a sequel. In Winners and Sinners Yuen Biao has about 30 seconds of screen time and has a good fight in his extremely limited role. He is in this one for maybe 3 minutes and somehow seems to fight even less!
   
   Curly gets replaced by a stupid little kid type of character but as stupid as he looks, Sammo manages to make all of the characters pretty likeable. Charlie Chin(On the Run) had a great scheme in Winners and Sinners where he would go into a jewerly store, ask to see a diamond ring, go up to a random person, act like the person is their friend, go to shake their hand but really put a fake gun in their hand, and right as he gives the person the gun it goes off and he has blood packets ready and runs off out of the store with the diamond ring acting like he really got shot. I never got enough of that gag! Well Sammo certainly can't top that but all of the characters are just as enjoyable as Winners.
   
   So the story is not really that important. Muscles(Jackie Chan) and Yuen Biao are looking for this defective cop at the start of the movie and Biao ends up being kidnapped(Don't worry, you see him again 80 minutes later). So Jackie says he needs his fat friend(Sammo) to help him on this mission of getting his friend back and also getting back contraband diamonds. Sammo says he needs his friends to come with and he will be mroe than happy to help. Next we get a very nice looking woman to work with them and the boys get to play games with her for the next 30 minutes. Finally at the end Jackie meets back up with Sammo and we get a great final fight. THERE IS NO ACTION IN THIS MOVIE UNTIL THE FINAL FIGHT!! We get a punch or two from Jackie and Yuen Biao at the start but literally nothing else until the end! And what an end it was. Jackie vs. DIck Wei, an AWESOME chick fight, and of course with Sammo as the main star of the movie, he gets some of his best fight scenes ever.
   
   Sammo's jokes are sort of hit and miss just like in Winners and Sinners but when they are pulled off it is guaranteed you will be laughing for a while.



5. Im a spoiled fan of Chan in Western flicks, and was expecting more of the same. Wrong. The characters and plot were sophomoric and mostly a clumsy attempt at Three-Stooges type comedy. Example - when not in their black "uniform," the scowling bad Ninjas appear in 50's style zoot-suits and broad-brimmed hats (except the sexy female baddie). The two main fight scenes (very early, and at the end) totaled about 10-15" and were classic Chan. Otherwise, a much better investment of time and bucks is Li's "Fearless."

5 comments about Secret Rivals 2 - Revenge of the Gold Fox.

1. Maybe I was expecting too much, but this was just a touch above average. It starts out incredibly with two Kung Fu experts composing a poem. The dialogue is humorous yet profound... then in walks a man with a metal hand who spars with another student, followed by an excellent fight between a Shaolin Monk and a random henchman (at this point I'm thinking "THIS IS GREAT"). Unfortunately neither the storyline nor the excellent gong fu of Golden Fox was enough to carry this movie to the classic level. The fighting receives a 5 star rating and IS a must have for any serious collection- BUT there is nothing else outstanding about this film. It actually reminds me of a toned down version of a much better film, Invincible Armour (a true classic).
   
   PS- the audio is horrid!!! I had to turn my TV up all the way to hear the words only to have to turn it way down in other parts because of wild fluctuation in the sounds... it was good exercise though.



2. As in the first Secret Rivals, John Liu's kicks are outstanding, however in this entry, the fight choreography is much better making for a much more exciting film.



3. You never know what you are gonna get with this guy. He only directed my favorite movie ever---legend of a fighter. He also choreographed one of the worst movies---from china with death. I liked the 1st secret rivals much better and the guy who replaced don wong tao really ruined it for me. There is just too many stupid things that happened in this movie. I seriously wonder if Godfrey Ho took part in the writing of this movie.



4. DEFINATELY TOO AMAZING,,,,THEN AGAIN I'M A JOHN LIU FAN SO NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES,,,,HIS PERFORMACE TO ME IS USUALLY GOLD!!
   
   Definately a classic,,,I thing this one is equally as good as part 1. Be assured there will be no dissapoinment!!



5. story better on the part 1
   the person who recorded part shud be taken out and shot
   
   the picture quality very gud but the sound killed the movie

5 comments about The Prodigal Son.

1. The first time i watched this flick i thought it was sorry and gave it 1 star but after seeing all the good reviews i decided to check it again and it looked like a different movie. The fight scenes are awesome. I wish they had a lasted a little longer. This is a great movie and a collectors item maybe a little overrated but still worth buying. I guess i didn't really watch it the first time



2. "Prodigal Son" has the absolute best authentic Wing Chun fight scenes I have ever seen in a movie. The movie starts off kinda slow and the Cantonese Opera scenes will probably turn off many viewers, however, if you can get past the first half of the movie it gets much better. Basically, when Sammo Hung appears in the movie and the training starts - that's when it gets worth watching. Overall, I would say the movie has some good fight scenes and some decent comedy, but Kung Fu students, particularly Wing Chun practitioners, will probably enjoy this movie more than others.



3. A definite must for any kung-fu flik afficianado. One of the few movies that display Wing Chun in action, and hilarious to boot. If you're not up for buying the DVD, Amazon also has the option to download the movie for $4.



4. Someone owes me an apology because I didn't see this sooner. Probably the white man. I've been in to kung fu for years and had never seen this until yesterday. What up with that? Out of all of Sammo's ground-breaking films, I've never even seen this in a store. I've seen "Iron-Fisted Monk" and "Warriors Two" in the store, but not "The Prodigal Son"? That makes no sense at all. While I like the other two, this one blows them away. It's by no means perfect, but what is?
   
   This movie wastes little time. Yuen Biao is the self-proclaimed town champion, not knowing that all his opponents are bought off by his old man. After getting his tail kicked by a cross-dressing, eyebrowless opera star (Lam Ching Ying, who's excellent), he begs the man to teach him real Wing Chun. The man declines, of course, so Biao joins the opera for the sake of persistence. After the opera troupe is wiped out by hired goons, Lam takes Biao home to teach him, with the aid of Lam's brother (Sammo Hung, who directed and is pretty amazing himself).
   
   The story is really nothing great, but the fight scenes totally are. Absolutely magnificent. You feel every hit, even every block. And talk about fast. The widescreen digital remastering job and optional English dub only makes it that much better. Some things did bother me; like how the slaughter of about 20 dudes seems like no big deal; and how Sammo isn't in this long enough, and doesn't really fight anybody. Those complaints aside, this flick rocks and is a crucial addition to any kung fu collection.
   
   1982. aka: Pull No Punches



5. Sammo Hung Kam-Bo's first film on Wing Chun and one of its important experts Leung Jan was the exquisite treatise named Warriors Two (1978). His second movie, The Prodigal Son (1981), would be a much more box-office successful and less didactic prequel to that film and would be his biggest hit until his next movie Carry on Pickpocket (1982). It should be noted that Sammo's importance to the action and martial art genre cannot be overstated and his 1980s directed efforts are still some of the supreme examples of Hong Kong entertainment. This movie is one of his best and among several of the Golden Harvest produced action classics that I have seen many, many times.
   
   In Warriors Two, the important Wing Chun practitioner Leung Jan was an elder gentleman brilliantly played by Leung Kar-Yan. He is now portrayed by Yuen Biao (Knockabout, Project A) as a protected somewhat spoilt kid whose hubris is directly related to the fact that he has won all his fights, unbeknownst to him though they were thrown. He keeps on his fraudulent winning ways until he tries to fight the brilliant and effeminate Peking opera female impersonator star Leung Yee-Tai (Lam Ching Ying: Mr. Vampire (1985), Painted Faces (1988)) who stars as Lotus Poon, is a master in Wing Chun and unwilling to take a bribe. This defeat along with the realization that all his wins were faked (and the help of another defeat by two "mole" people) leads him to seek a sifu in Leung Yee-Tai. He refuses and Leung Jan has his dad buy the opera so he can take a job there and hopefully get Yee-Tai to acquiesce.
   
   Meanwhile, Ngai Fei (played by the composer Frankie Chan Fan-Kei in his second acting performance) the son of royalty sees Yee-Tai fight and feels he must challenge him to a battle. This is analogous to the earlier story of Leung Jan; both are prodigal sons, except that Ngai Fei can actually fight. This leads to an awesome fight on a junk between Ngai and Yee-Tai that is interrupted by Yee-Tai's asthma attack. Ngai being honorable will not take advantage of his sick opponent. However, his two of his cronies employed by Ngai's father are not so exemplary. They see Yee-Tai as a threat and later try to off him in an overly violent attack by hired ninja-like assassins. This is one of the few scenes in the film where compared to the tone of the film was a bit excessive (though still quite cool).
   
   To escape from these assassins and to allow Yee-Tai to heal, they go to Yee-Tai's Wing Chun brother Wong Wah Bo's (director Sammo Hung) house where he is not teaching his overweight daughter Twiggy (Ho Wai-Han) how to fight he is doing calligraphy (one of the funniest and impossible to describe scenes; also shows his interest in this art form analogous to the calligraphy fighting scene in The Magnificent Butcher (1979)). He is a master of the long distance form (masculine) of Wing Chun while his comrade Yee-Tai knows only close fighting. Leung Jan must get both of these masters to teach him so he can become a stalwart in martial arts and take part in the ubiquitous training scenes.
   
   As normal in biographic cinema, Sammo Hung takes some dramatic license in its portrayal of these real-life characters (which he also did in Warriors Two). Leung Yee-Tai and Wong Wah Bo did in fact teach Leung Jan. Leung Yee Tai was in fact in an opera troupe "Red Junk" (also known as the King Fa Wui Goon troupe) and was known for his "Six-and-a-half point Long Pole" technique which was not addressed in this film. Leung Yee-Tai was known for playing a female lead (female players were illegal at this time) which his portrayer Lam Ching Ying also did under the tutelage of sifu Fan Fok-Fa. This helps in his authentic display and wonderful performance. Possibly his best, though he will always be known for being the thick eye-browed priest in Mr. Vampire and he has mentioned his favorite is in Painted Faces. While the history of Wing Chun is somewhat sketchy and anecdotal, the time period for this movie takes place around the 1850s.
   
   Hong Kong action film expert Bey Logan has named this as his favorite martial art film and it is hard to disagree. While there are a few moments of brutality that seem out-of-place and many of the fights make you wish they were longer, it is a thoroughly satisfying film. Two of the fights: with Lam Ching Ying fighting Frankie Chan and Yuen Biao fighting Frankie Chan are worth watching several times. The finale is quite brutal and fits the Wing Chun mantra of "If an opponent is hurt, go for his wounds" quite well. The action is brilliant, fast paced and fits the theme of the movie quite well with gorgeous displays of Wing Chun and other styles. The plot actually helps the film instead of being inconsequential or a distraction. It is also an exquisite looking film with cinematographer Ricky Lau Koon-Wai (director of Mr. Vampire and many more kyonsi films) doing a superb job. There are also the descriptive backstage Peking opera scenes and the Cantonese comedy which works almost seamless with the action helps make this movie a most enjoyable experience. In fact it is one of my favorite martial art movies (cannot choose one though) and one I would recommend to convert others on to this genre.
   
   I have the Fortune Star/Fox release which is uncut, has a good transfer but no extras except trailers. The biggest plus is that there are no dubtitles. However, the spelling and grammar can be atrocious at times (or quite hilarious) like "5There aren't" and "he's fate as a pig". It does not include the original mono release and the remix can sound quite bad at times. Here is another example of an R1 release Hong Kong release that does not match the Hong Kong Legends R2 release for extras. The HKL version has a Bey Logan commentary and other extras (I cannot comment on them since I do not own it).

5 comments about The Game of Death II.

1. Whoever thinks the choreography of this film is bad is highly mistaken, it's some of the best stuff ever. Also, Tong Lung's kicks show he's no hack, in fact he probably kicks in this movie more than all of Bruce's films in total.
   
   Just like other Ng See-yuen and Yuen Woo-ping collaborations, this movie is all about TKD practitioners. Essentially, this film is Bruceploitation combined with a typical bootmaster filled Seasonal Films movie.
   
   While bruceploitation is no doubt disrespectful stuff, Yuen Woo-ping's choreography and Yuen Biao's stunts saves this one.
   
   Listen to Eric Jacobus, he knows what he's talking about (just search him up and you'll find out why).



2. except karate tiger 4--ha ha, i know you probly like that.
   
   This is also called game of death 2 and officially is called the last bruce lee movie, even though he's not really in it, that's ok, cause like 5 guys that can rival bruce( hwang lee is the only guy i think would really stand a chance against bruce) are in this.
   
   So I advise you to get the GM 2 version, it has english dub that certainly can't rival the jet li collection in badness, but it does havesome altime classic dubbed lines, also look for the song that tarantino ripped for kill bill, which he improved drastically, but it he went with the same singer
   
   Eevry action scene in this is so freaking sweet(except the ones with the white guy).
   
   The main topic that I want to bring up of this movie is the scene where bruce's brother(in the movie)gives in to a yellow toothed nice bodied woman, and she tries to kill him, he prevents her from doing so but then this guy in a lion costume storms in.
   
   Now I have seen this movie about 5 times, and it seriously gets better every time you see it. The first time I saw it the first fight in the greenhouse REALLY caught my eye, but I didn't really like it. Well I need to start watching all movies sober at least the first time but it's really hard when watching a movie called game of death 2 and i didn't even like the first one.
   
   Anyway back to the lion scene----
   I still can't figure out whether or not this lion was supposed to be a real lion or a man dressed up in a lion costume. i would love other opinions on this because it is truly mystafying. And I don't know how to spell that word but I can't think of another one to describe this truly unique movie experience that this lion gave me.
   
   So please check this movie out if you get a chance.
   You are not going to find this in any 50 pack or something because it is a good, so just go buy it at bestbuy for 7.99 like I did, and I guarantee you will rate this as one of the the best Hwang Lee action films, and it is also my favorite cassanova wong performance ever so enjoy.
   
   Oh yeah, it has aYuen Bioa scene, I think he was fighing with a pole, but that ranked like #14 for fight scenes in this.



3. useing 3 min. worth of bruce lee footage(and not the best of that) doesn't mean bruce lee stars in or would even put his name on this junk. this is just a case of tring to make more money of his name without any care for what he wanted or what he stood for.shame on them for making this mess,and shame on me for buying it.



4. Game of Death II (aka Tower of Death) is a dichotomy of a film. It is a Bruceploitation film (though it is one of the better ones) and it is an exiting revenge flick. Raymond Chow had apparently not made enough money off of the insipid Game of Death and was slowly leaking "newly found" footage of Bruce so it was bound that he would create another film with spliced in footage, redubbed dialog and, of course, Bruce's namesake. A lot of people were using Lee's name to promote their own productions, but Golden Harvest (who Bruce worked for; though technically this was a Seasonal production) was the worst of these offenders.
   
   The first act of the movie is the least interesting and worst part of the film. Bruce Lee stars (posthumously edited in) as Billy Lo (Bruce Lee) who visits his friend Chin Ku (Hwang Jang Lee) who is currently beating up an under-classed challenger. After an reestablishment of friendship between the two (never a good sign in a Kung Fu film), he visits an abbot (Roy Chiao revisiting his role from Enter the Dragon so they can reuse and redub footage) to discuss about his contumacious brother Bobby Lo (Tong Lung who also starred in Game of Death).
   
   Of course, the scenes that compromise the first act are not only exploitative of Bruce Lee they are also poorly done. The most obvious is that the backgrounds do not match between Bruce's footage and the new footage. Also check out the sculpted back muscles of Bruce and compare them to his double. It is not even close. The fight scenes with Bruce (and his double) do not flow well. However, anytime you see a fight scene and that Bruce (or his double) does a difficult move such as a flip you will notice that it is the incomparable Yuen Biao (he even has a small role toward the beginning.)
   Bruce later visits the funeral of his friend Chin Ku and he is prevented from examining the body (this must mean something to the plot.) When the ceremony takes place a helicopter comes by and snags the coffin. For some strange reason, well to dispose of the fake Bruce character, he jumps on the coffin as it is flying away and is hit with a dart and falls to his death. This is absolutely absurd. Though this is not as bad as the 70s clothes at the funeral or the tacky real funeral footage of Bruce Lee that would come next.
   
   Now the movie gets more interesting and less exploitative. Bobby learns of his brother's death from his father who tells him to meet Sherman Lan. Sherman tells him to go to the Palace of Death. Now this is an interesting place. It is owned by Lewis, played by Roy Horan who has been an executive at Seasonal, an actor who also acted in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow, a student of Hwang Jang Lee and currently a lecturer at HK Polytechnic University; obviously his life is more interesting than this film. Bobby suspects Lewis as the culprit behind his brother's death. Lewis likes to eat raw meat, is surrounded by lions (who are fed the fighters that he defeats), Killer Peacocks and a one-armed valet (oh my). The one-armed assistant, a monk from the Fan Yu temple) does not seem that he could be of great use to Lewis, but Lewis says that he is faithful and he has known him for a long time (do not dwell on this fact because the absurdity of what happens later is quite hilarious). I really do not trust one-armed people in Hong Kong films unless they are played by Jimmy Wang Yu.
   
   Lewis tells Bobby of a tower built by abbot Hung Kuang. However, it cannot be found above ground. The abbot had it built underground (this is a nice twist until you see how much they spent on the set design and how many levels there actually are). Obviously there is going to be a show down there with Bobby fighting however is behind all of this madness. I will not give it away (or tell what happens at the Palace of Death) but it is fairly obvious who it will be.
   
   The final act of the film leads to some good fighting scenes, obviously with the help of action director Yuen Wo-Ping, as Bobby makes his way down the tower (try to see how many times Yuen Biao is used as a stunt double; hint check every other move Bobby makes). Most of the film is entertaining (not counting the irritating and unnecessary flashbacks). There is always going to be tackiness involved anytime you invoke Bruce Lee's inimitable name; but once the movie gets past that it is fun to watch. In fact it is the best Bruceploitation film out there -- though that does not necessarily mean that much.



5. For a B movie forgetting the Kung FU fans, but writing it as a B movie comedy.
   You have some left over footage from another movie and a dead star, well the chinese production company decided let us make another movie, so how do you make the plot, so it goes like this:
   
   Bruce Lee's best friend gets killed, so Bruce Lee goes to avenge his death, then Bruce Lee gets killed and then very tacky use of real funeral footage of course being resourceful, so then Bruce Lee's little brother goes out to avenge the death of Bruce Lee who was out avenging the death of Bruce Lee's best friend.
   Now no exploitation movie should be without a 100 Chinese Elvis posers that wear Elvis style Gi and have Elvis style square sun glasses on, this is classic. So in the end and I am giving away the plot here is that Bruce Lee's best friend was not dead, but fights Bruce Lee's little brother to the death, who was trying to avenge Bruce Lee's murder who was out to avenge the death of Bruce Lee's best friend when he died, but who didn't really die.
   So if you like exploitation comedies and are a beer drinker, this was alot of fun for me if you like this type of thing. If you think this is a serious action kung fu movie, then I suggest you drink more beer

5 comments about Once Upon a Time in China Trilogy.

1. This is a classic trilogy for fans of Jet Li and/or period Kung Fu. Jet Li is 'wong fei hong', a legend in China. As is common for this genre, there's quite a bit of slapstick humor in the first movie. The second and third movie may seem better if you're not so into the clowning around. As usual, Jet Li's kung fu is truly impressive, although the wired choreography is a little annoying at times.
   
   All in all, well worthwhile for anyone interested in (period) kung fu movies or simply admiring Jet Li's talent!



2. Be warned that this transfer is so blurry and bad that I couldn't imagine anything being worse. It looks like a bootleg and it was so bad I couldn't even finish watching the first movie...



3. The items I purchased were in excellant condition. Recommend buying from this seller in the future.



4. First off, buy the "Once Upon a Time in China" Trilogy, not Collection. Collection has far more technical issues than the Trilogy. Unfortunately, since Amazon groups all of its reviews, there's confusion as to which version is being referred to.
   
   Second, there are 6 movies in this series. The first 3 are the ones to focus on (and the ones sold in this package). 4 and 5 don't star Jet Li. Number 6 (Once Upon a Time in China and America) stars Jet Li, but has a different director (Sammo Hung) than 1-3 did (Tsui Hark, HK's Spielberg-some would argue) and is, at best, mediocre.
   
   The OUATIC series is about the adventures of Wong Fei Hung, a Chinese folk hero. This character pops up a lot (as a child in Iron Monkey, Jackie Chan's character in the Drunken Master series). Each portrayal is very different and most aren't based but on the slightest detail to the actual historical character. But that aside, here's what the movies are really about:
   
   Yes, Jet Li's character struggles with a HK overrun with British Imperialists and the woman who loves him and all the drama that follows and. . .honestly, no one really cares. The story is an odd mix. When there aren't action sequences, much of the story plays out like a routine period piece. The story is decent and worth a look, but subsequent viewings will have you simply skipping ahead to the action sequences because. . .
   
   . . .these are simply the best collection of HK/Kung Fu/Wire Fu fight sequences you will ever find. You have an actor at the top of his kung fu game with choreographers who are given a lot of freedom and creativity to use the actors talents, all captured by a director at the peak of his powers. These fight sequences are the stuff of legend, the yardstick that all kung fu fights are measured against. Not to take anything away from other flicks of Jet's like Fist of Legend or Fong Sai Yuk, but these are the best. And to get them all in one package for such a cheap price is nothing short of criminal. I paid a small fortune to get these three films from HK before this version was released.
   
   You'll see some of the most innovative and intense wirework, skill, and choreography you've ever witnessed, stuff that makes the Matrix look tame by comparison, despite coming out years before the Wachowski's ever put word 1 to paper. Every scenario you can imagine is captured, Jet vs. 1, Jet vs. some, Jet vs many, Jet with weapons, Jet with bare hands, Jet with props=like an ubrella, Jet vs. flaming arrows, Jet vs. boss characters in the most insane environments you can imagine. I can't stress it enough, this is as good as it gets. Even skipping over the story, the fight scenes will entertain you and your next several generations long after you're gone. Simple as that. If you're into Kung Fu flicks and somehow have slept on this one, just buy it.



5. This is a bit of a renaissance-man-film, if one can say that. It does a lot of things simultaneously. Firstly, it is a great kung fu flick, with some of the best names in the buisness including of course Jet Li, the inimitable Yuen Biao as well as Yuen Wo Ping of later Matrix fame. Secondly, it is a big, well told drama about doctor Wong Fei Hong, a real life character and something of a Chinese folk hero, and the modernisation/changing of Imperial China some hundred and a bit years ago. If you took away the fighting, it would still be a good film, a very rare thing with martial arts films. Thirdly, it is a great opportunity to see how the Chinese themselves (if "only" the Hong Kong Chinese) look upon their own history and their own heroes. That particular time in Chinese history, in which "Once Upon a Time in China" plays out, is not only tumultuous and chaotic, but the actual transitional period between imperial and repulican China.
   
   It is well acted, wonderfully directed, beautifully scored, and a blast to watch. Definitely one of the best films ever to come out of Hong Kong.

No comments about Supercop.

5 comments about The Hand of Death.

1. This is a pre 1986 John Woo film. He wrote it and directed it it is a good movie. It has a good plot. It is a realy slow moving film action wise. The charactors are very well thought out and planned and the story is realy good but it is a kong fu movie with a lot of acton sceens. It's not meant to be a film just on the basis of plot and story. The action sceens are a staple of what this film is as a period martial arts film. Believe me I love movies with that are period films that aren't martal arts films in hong kong but they don't need to be based on the sole idea of reveange. They are sopposed to be a certan way. I finaly got used to this film and I do like it. But there is no reason why the action sceens should be this slow paced Samo Hung is tha acton director after all. I think that John Woo must have wanted the acton sceens this slow paced but for what reason I do not know. Even the stars of the movie in "count down in kung fu" also called head of death by golden harvest in the original english dub. Tao-liang Tan was the lead and I have seen him do crazy insane stunts but in this movie it was very slow and tame. See it for youself! To you it may be good it may not!



2. The movie starts out with a really cool scene showing the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. Look for a quick cameo by Wilson Tong. Sammo is in a cool role as like a general. His buckteeth look a bit stupid but his fighting doesn't. THIS IS A DORIAN TAN MOVE but Jackie Chan is great in his small role as a man looking to help out Tan take care of the villian played by james Tien. The story is not going to go down as one of the best ever told. A swordsman comes to help them out and they take down the evil guys. The thing that really stood out is Jackie playing a serious role. He does it very well and his fight with a spear was awesome. Sammo and Dorian Tan have a good fight. Really good fighting all around. The final fight is not spectacular but James Tien puts on a good performance.
   
   The DVD is great. Widecreened, great picture quality, and dual language tracks. Just about all that you could ask for.



3. I really like this movie co-staring a very young Jackie Chan. This is not a Jackie Chan movie. He has a small role but when he starts to kick but it's worth the wait. I like the music, fighting and beautiful outdoor sets. I don't see how anyone could dislike this movie.



4. Early in John Woo's career as a director in Hong Kong, he had the auspiciousness to direct three of the seven fortunes in Yuen Biao, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung in their first movie together Hand of Death (1976: Chinese Title literally means Shaolin Gate) though much was not made of this at the time because they were all struggling to make a career. They have yet to work together again in such a capacity though they have said nothing but kind words about each other since. An interesting point, in hindsight, is that the star of the film is none of the three (it is hard to spot Yuen Biao as his role is of a stunt double and bit actor) but Korean export and Tae Kwon Do expert Dorian Tan Tao-Liang.
   
   Dorian Tan Tao-Liang stars as Yun Fei a Shaolin trained fighter looking to find Zhang Yi (John Woo) and escort him through White Stone town and across the White River. Zhang holds a map of all Qing bases in the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in southeast China. He can get a hold of Zhang by contacting pupil Chiu Guo. However, when he is found, he has already been arrested and ready to be beheaded by the Manchus led by a traitor of the Shaolin Shih Xiaofeng (ubiquitous bad guy James Tien: Fearless Hyena, Winners and Sinners) who has taught himself White Crane Soul Chaser Style (he is the titular Hand of Death). Even though his Kung Fu is superior, he has the additional help of Eight Bodyguards with different styles and two top ranking guards in Smiling Fox and Du Ching (Sammo Hung who also does the stunt coordination) whose overbite is quite preposterous and resembles a "hopping vampire" though he is trained in tiger and crane styles.
   
   Yun Fei gets the assistance of a woodcutter Tan, who helped him earlier to get past a roadblock and dispose of a body (a true friend helps you get rid of a corpse). Tan's elder brother was killed by Shih's men. Tan also obtains the help of "The Wanderer" (Yeung Wai) an expert swordsman who accidentally killed a prostitute he was in love with also because of Shih and would have given up his sword for good if it was not for Yun. These men will help Zhang Yi get across the river to get the plans to help once and for all defeat the Qing Empire and restore the Ming Dynasty (the plot of the Qing Dynasty as bad guys is one of the staples of Hong Kong martial art movies like Heroes Two, Royal Tramp and Iron Monkey).
   
   Many will have bought, borrowed or rented this movie because of the presence of Jackie Chan. He originally was only supposed to have a stunt man role (helped hired onto the film by his "big brother" Sammo Hung) but as John Woo found one of the Korean actors lacking in the physical department, he replaced his part with Jackie Chan and expanded his role according to an interview with Lee Server in "Asian Pop Cinema" he stated he "changed the whole script to focus more on him and show his great skill." though there might be some fraudulent hindsight with that statement. Jackie originally had been the stunt coordinator for Woo's first film Young Dragons (1975) that came out a year earlier. Jackie did get hurt on the film, getting knocked unconscious after being pulled by a cable while being kicked by Dorian Tan and landing and hitting his head on a rock (though this would not be as bad as his most famous accident in Operation Condor where he almost lost his life).
   
   Others might watch this because it belongs in the oeuvre of John Woo. It is still very early in his career (his fourth film in two years of being a director), but you can see traces of his talent. There are some nice handheld scenes, a little use of slow motion and hints of "heroic bloodshed" elements (though this would come to blossom in Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979)) like an early scene when Jackie Chan and Dorian Tan first meet which seemed to hint a certain homoerotism (or else those were some of the most strange smiles I have ever seen), but then failed to capitalize on it later in the film.
   
   Overall, this is a decent, yet unspectacular film. The direction is solid, yet it does not feel like a John Woo directed movie. The scenery of the Korean hillsides is absolutely beautiful and helps makes this movie easier to watch. The story is mediocre, but not too many glaring holes in the story. The Kung Fu ability is give or take. The kicking of Dorian Tan is beautiful to behold, his punching ability and forms are good but not great. Jackie Chan is also awesome with his fighting and you get to see him use a spear the Little Eagle God Lance as it is called in the film (which that and the staff are the traditional weapons that Jackie is best with). The highlight fight scenes of the movie are when Jackie fights several of the Eight Bodyguards and later when Dorian fights Sammo. The latter is especially impressive because of Sammo's willingness to hurt his body to make Tan look good. James Tien is not much of a martial artist, though his acting if fine as he is the consummate Hong Kong bad guy, so his hand-to-hand combat scenes are a bit pedantic though he has one scene wielding a sword that was good.
   
   ***½/*****
   
   The Fox/Fortune Star R1 release is a very good barebones release. There are no dubtitles and the film is uncut. There is an English dub, a genuine Mandarin mono track and it is presented in a very nice looking widescreen transfer though there is some damage to the elements. Unfortunately, like most of the Fox/Fortune Star releases you only get trailers as extras. Here is another example where the best release is the R2 Hong Kong Legends version -- Ultra-Bit Edition.



5. Well I can say that this Jackie Chan's film is one of the classic and greatest I've seen coming from a youngster Chan. I expected more participation on Jackie, instead there were several unknown actors that I've never seen in my life as a Chan's fan. I got well impressed by the bad guy performance of Sammo Hung. The guy has great talent making bad boy's role. The only thing I disliked, was Jackie Chan's death. I have the habit of seen Jackie as a Hero and never encounter death but this time, It's the only movie that I found Jackie's character's death. It's worth the buying but in the other hand, if you are a fan that is always accustomed to see Jackie alive at the end of the movies, my advice is not to buy it.

5 comments about The Young Master.

1. I though this particular jackie Chan's flick was a little different from the rest, since his choreography/ comedy are usually the same. Simply, you see one Chan's flick, and you see them all. This one however was different, and interesting from the word "GO"!!
   I though he performed beautifully,,and not the same old same old. The villain was equally impressive, with his amazing foot works. He captured the audience's attention from the moment he escapped incarceration, and was set free by his buddies,,definately a fight scene to be remembered!!!
   
   If you're a true Chan's fan, rest assured,,,you will not be dissapointed. Truly one of chan's best earlier flicks,,,,would make a great addittion to the collection!!



2. Early Jackie Chan, some good kung-fu, not much plot, and what there is, is kind of confusing. oh you can follow it, but why bother? the dragon fight at the begining is quite good.



3. Jackie Chan had already established himself in Hong Kong as a box office champion with 1978's Drunken Master and 1979's Fearless Hyena, but he was not getting his fiscal due from Lo Wei Productions. So he opted out of his contract with Lo Wei and was hired by Golden Harvest. The Young Master was his first picture under that studio. The film was interrupted several times because of the contract dispute with Lo and a Triad that wanted a stake in Jackie's fortune. This was eventually settled with help by Jimmy Wang Yu whom Jackie would owe (along many other actors) several favors. Even with all this chaos, Jackie was still able to create a memorable and must-have film, though the movie is marked by continuity problems.
   
   Jackie stars as Ah Lung a mediocre student (funny he doesn't seem so in the film and that point is soon forgotten) who loses in a beautifully choreographed lion dance competition because his fellow adopted brother Jing Keung (Wei Pei), faked an injury and competed incognito for the Wei Yee school. Lung and Keung's sifu Master Tien soon finds out of this deception and this betrayal leads to Keung leaving the school. After an impassioned plea from Lung, Tien gives Lung his blessing to find his brother. Jackie takes his big white fan (important plot point.) Jing looks for work at the Wei Yee school, but is turned down when he is found to have helped the Wei Yee school win the Lion Dance competition. He is then recruited with two others, including Fung Hark-On (aka Fung Ke-An who was the martial arts consultant with Jackie) who has a large mole on his face - reminiscent of Jackie's mole in Police Woman, to free Master Kim (Hapkido expert Whang In Shik.) Jing uses his big white fan to help Kim escape. So Ah would later be mistaken for his brother and sought after by the local police inspector and his son (played by Hong Kong regulars Shih Kien and Yuen Biao.) This would lead up to an awesome fight scene between two of the Seven Little Fortunes, Yuen and Jackie. Yuen would expertly use a bench and you get to see Jackie use a pole again.
   
   Even with the continuity problems (even admitted by Jackie, including one scene where Jackie is fettered and the next he is not) and the overuse of sped-up footage and zoom shots (including one that is parodied in Kung Pow), this is a fun film to watch.. The high points of this movie are the Cantonese comedy and the sublime martial art scenes. In those fight scenes you get to see him use many props such as sword, pole, bench and even a skirt, a skill he learns from his encounter with the Police Chief's daughter played by Lily Li. The high point of the film is a showdown that involves an 18-minute plus scene between Jackie and Whang (Jackie in his autobiography "I Am Jackie Chan" considers this his ninth best fight scene.) I do not want to describe this sagacious scene too much, because it has to be seen. I will say that I have never seen Jackie get beat up so much in any other movie and most of it is shot with wide-angle lenses with few cuts. Even his solution to winning is unique.
   
   This movie is a must buy for Jackie Chan or Hong Kong film fans. The most important decision in buying this film on DVD is what label/version you purchase. There are many shorter versions out there, even several that are widescreen, but the scenes that are taken out are mostly from the action scenes! But, Fortune Star puts out a 106 minute version that is digitally remastered and has the Cantonese (along with dubbed version) audio. Though there is one caveat, many of the cheaper versions have a huge benefit that the Fortune Star DVD does not - Jackie Chan singing in English at the end of the film. Even without that benefit the Fortune Star release is by far the best version of an excellent Jackie Chan film.



4. Isn't it strange? I love old-school kung fu movies. I love Jackie Chan movies (at least before he started making films in America). Yet old-school Jackie Chan films can really be tough to take. Even some of his "classics". This movie is definitely a notch above "Drunken Master" in both fights and humor. It's just wildly inconsistent. Though it does have the Korean born Hapkido Grandmaster Ing-Sik Whang. He rocks. Everything else is a little off. Some of the humor is actually quite funny and there are some cool scenes. The lion dance, for example. It's not bad, and it is enjoyable to watch, but not on the level I was expecting for a kung fu movie. Though expectations will often turn a potentially good movie sour.
   
   The film is digitally remastered and in widescreen, so the presentation is nothing to complain about, but... having Wei Pai and Yuen Biao in your movie and hardly having them do anything IS. What a waste. Usually in Jackie's films of this period the final fight helps make up for the lack of substance that preceded it, but here it doesn't work. The choreography is very good, and ahead of its time, but the premise of the fight is too absurd for them to be able to pull it off. This does have an option for English dubbing. I was taking a chance thinking that it was subtitled only. 2.5, if that helps.
   
   1980



5. Young Master
   Cast: Jackie Chan, Hih Tien (aka Shek kin),Yuen Biao, Chiang Kam ,lily le ,Wang Inn-Sik
   Director: Jackie Chan (also stunt coordinator)
   Writer: Lau Tin Chee, Tung Lio, Edward Tang King-sang
   
   Compared to a list of about 75 other films, this one holds up pretty well, surprisingly. This movie continues in the tradition of the movies he made with Yuen Woo Ping (Snake in the Eagles Shadow, and the masterpiece Drunken Master). This is one of my favorite kung fu comedy ,and one of the best Jackie Chan movies ever. Being one of nine movies he actually directs in the decades he`s been making movies, it really make you wonder. Why only 9? When he is really good at it. This is one of the first films after Golden Harvest bought out his contract with Lo Wei (The Police Commissioner in Chinese Connection).
   
   The end fight is excellent. I know a lot about the martial arts and from a martial artist aspect this is one of the best. However this is a kung fu comedy as I stated, well, In that department it does not fail. It's actually quite hilarious. This is Jackie Chan at the top of his forum.

5 comments about The Victim.

1. The "Victim,,this flick has to be one of the best, and well choreographed movie with Leung Kar Yan,,,he performed stellarly. The movie in it's entirety is well worth what ever the cost. I must admit,,,I went out to purchased this flick based on the hype right here on amazon,,,and I am happy with that decission. The fight scenes are AMAZING,,the old school kung fu,,emmensely wicked. Trust me,,this is must have, rest assured you will not walk away disspointed with your decission to get this flick!!



2. A very good Sammo's film, clearly one of the best he directed and choregraphed in the late 70's (with "Warriors two"). Great martial performance by the effortless charismatic Leung Kar-yan (who's supposed not to be a true martial artist !). Many of the themes were developped in Sammo's later films such as "Pedicab driver" (the story of Leung Kar-yan's wife has similarities with the charater of Fennie Yuen).
   "The victim" of the title is not the one we expected.



3. I currently own over 220 Shaw Brother films made from 1975 to 1981, while Sammo Hung is not your classic action hero considering his non-athletic appearance. I never stop being amazed at what he is able to do athletically. I'm not a big fan of so called class clown kung fu flicks, that's why I've never really migrated over to films with Jacky Chan. But for some reason, Sammo Hung's comedy never out-weighs his true martial art skills. This film is a classic and a must have for any entry level or dedicated collector of martial art films.



4. Sammo Hung directs, choreographs, and stars as Chan Wing, a student looking for the ultimate teacher: One who can beat him in a fair fight. He wallops a few potentials, then meets his desired prospect in Chun Yau (Leung Kar Yan) who, as per usual, wants nothing to do with him. After some goofy attempts at trying to dodge the persistent lad, the master learns that the people he and his wife have been hiding from, have discovered his whereabouts. Chan Wing offers to help, but his request is again denied. He follows the master anyway, and the wife soon tells him about all the family drama that has kept them so mobile. Eventually the master accepts him (after tragedy strikes) and the final cards are dealt... and someone's bluffing.
   
   Though worthy of some criticism, this is a great flick. Plenty of fights, and ALL of them good. No waiting for the last 20 minutes to see some decent action, it's right from the get-go. I usually complain about the sense of humor in Sammo's older films, and there's some rather silly things that I could have done without (the "vampire" scene), but most of the comedy is brief and some of it is actually funny. I can easily overlook a little lame humor when it's punctuated with fight scenes like these.
   
   This version from Martial Arts Theater is full-screened and English-dubbed only. It has a selection for Cantonese, but it doesn't work. The picture quality is quite good, but one has to wonder why 20th Century Fox didn't remaster (and redistribute) this, like so many other Sammo titles from this period. Of the films I've seen that Sammo has directed, this is a close 2nd to "The Prodigal Son". This would be a great starting point for those who love kung fu, but are skeptical of comedies, and Sammo Hung comedies in particular. The film's only special feature is commentary by Ric Meyers and Bobby Samuels. I didn't listen to it, but I hope they mention what an amazing performance Leung Kar Yan gives and that it's worth the price of admission... cuz it is. RECOMMENDED.
   
   1980



5. This film by Sammo Hung is truely a 5 star classic Leung Ka Yan has two great fight scenes in this film one with Wilson Tung and the final battle with Chang Yi is unbelieveable. Not to mention a good story about love and hate,all the performances here are great.