What was the last classic martial-arts film you watched?

[Morgoth Bauglir]

Haha I was wondering if anyone saw that top 10 list I did. Assuming you are talking about me yes I was kind of stuck in between whether Delightful Forest was a basher. Taking what you say into account I will consider it just part basher.

Hapkido is another one I didn't know whether to include. I haven't seen it in awhile but the scenes that always come to mind is the Hapkido demonstration at the school and Whang In sik's kicking display at the end. But the rest of the fights are basher style I think. So is it a basher or not?

[paimeifist]

I think I have labeled it a basher here as well. Id rather watch that or even King Boxer than Fist of Fury. (Among other films) I know, I'm a mark. Lol. I honestly just don't get into Bruce much.

Very interesting note about the Wu Song style.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

Sword of Justice Rarescope- I've been waiting to see this for so long it's really been killing me. But I finally got it and the hype could not be any bigger for me going into it. Well, the verdict is in, and it is a classic. It's a wuxia about a bunch of badass assassins. I was in heaven.

[Cold Bishop]

There was a discussion recently about restored wuxia on DVD, and Sword of Justice is a good example of a film's lack of restoration helping: I love the monochromatic, sepia look from the washed-out colors. It's like Alexander Sokurov shot a martial-arts film. I almost dread what the film is supposed to look like.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

Haha I'm not on board with you there. I'd really like to see a remastered version just to see what it would like. But I agree that the not so great print gives the movie a unique feel. I think that it also may be helping to hide how cheap the movie is(not that a movie's budget means anything to me). But then again I thought that the room where CKT fights Yuen Wah in Killer Constable looked cheap. Come to find out, when I watched it remastered, it didn't look cheap at all it was a great looking set. I always thought that Killer Constable would be better watching on VHS than remastered. The washed out colors seem to fit the dark tone. But the remastered version was quite a surprise. So I agree with you Cold Bishop, but I also don't agree. I wouldn't go out of my way to get my hands on a remastered Sword of Justice, but I would give it a look.

[The Dragon]

Why do you consider it your favorite than?

It doesn't have to be better, or worse than anything else... It's my favorite because it captures Lee in a popular at the time setting; Japanese vs Chinese revenge-driven action piece. He had an animalistic charisma about himself that poured onto the screen. It's a lot like what Jimmy Wang Yu did with the original One Armed Swordsman.

Out of that era I love the following:

Fist of Fury

King Boxer

The Chinese Boxer

Hapkido

Lady Whirwind

The Tournament

When Tae Kwan do Strikes

The One Armed Boxer

Vengeance

The Boxer From Shangtung

The Duel

The Deadly Knives

The Casino

The Screaming Tiger

Four Real Friends

Dragons Never Die

Two Graves of Kung Fu

Fists of Vengeance

The Bloody Fists

Just to name a few...

[paimeifist]

I didn't say it had to be better or worse to be your favorite man, I just wanted to know why. I haven't seen many of the films you listed, I need to watch more bashers. From what I have seen King Boxer is my favorite, and there are definitely films with better fighting than that, so I understand where youre coming from.

From your list there all I have seen is King, Shangtung, One Arm, Chinese Boxer, and Fist of Fury. Anything I should make a priority to see?

For comparison, Kid with the Golden Arm is my favorite venoms film, and I remember being puzzled by a pretty bad review (2.5/5 or something) on it on HKflix back when they were around. (I miss that site)

[Secret Executioner]

It doesn't have to be better, or worse than anything else... It's my favorite because it captures Lee in a popular at the time setting; Japanese vs Chinese revenge-driven action piece. He had an animalistic charisma about himself that poured onto the screen. It's a lot like what Jimmy Wang Yu did with the original One Armed Swordsman.

Out of that era I love the following:

Fist of Fury

King Boxer

The Chinese Boxer

Hapkido

Lady Whirwind

The Tournament

When Tae Kwan do Strikes

The One Armed Boxer

Vengeance

The Boxer From Shangtung

The Duel

The Deadly Knives

The Casino

The Screaming Tiger

Four Real Friends

Dragons Never Die

Two Graves of Kung Fu

Fists of Vengeance

The Bloody Fists

Just to name a few...

Quite a list here. Sadly, I've only seen FOF - though it remains my fav' Bruce Lee movie (only the footage from GOD is better IMO).

[paimeifist]

I watched the Sword today.. Another movie id consider more of a drama than a martial arts movie..and a damn good one at that! This was a good movie with some great acting and pacing, and maybe the best soundtrack I've ever heard In an MA film, music fit the tone real well. Fights were not great to me, many quick cuts and more jumping than sword swinging, lol. Saddening, because when you did get to see some sword fighting, it was sharp and looked good. Very good, dark movie. Adam Cheng is a good actor, makes me want to attempt to watch this horrid Shaolin and Wu Tang xenon DVD I've had laying around.

[ShawAngela]

You'll enjoy it if you watch it. It's a very good movie, with very good action and Adam Cheng and Liu Chia Hui are excellent in it. Wang Lung Wei and Ching Li are also very good.

[The Amazing Psycho Per]

There was a discussion recently about restored wuxia on DVD, and Sword of Justice is a good example of a film's lack of restoration helping: I love the monochromatic, sepia look from the washed-out colors. It's like Alexander Sokurov shot a martial-arts film. I almost dread what the film is supposed to look like

Haha I'm not on board with you there. I'd really like to see a remastered version just to see what it would like. But I agree that the not so great print gives the movie a unique feel. I think that it also may be helping to hide how cheap the movie is(not that a movie's budget means anything to me). But then again I thought that the room where CKT fights Yuen Wah in Killer Constable looked cheap. Come to find out, when I watched it remastered, it didn't look cheap at all it was a great looking set. I always thought that Killer Constable would be better watching on VHS than remastered. The washed out colors seem to fit the dark tone. But the remastered version was quite a surprise. So I agree with you Cold Bishop, but I also don't agree. I wouldn't go out of my way to get my hands on a remastered Sword of Justice, but I would give it a look

I kind of agree with you both. I do think the washed out mochromatic look of the film gives it a hell a sylish look, and actually enhances the movie somehow. It gives a nice artistic touch it most probably didn't even intend to have.

On the other hand, i'd be curious to see how the orignial remastered version would actually come out. I remember some of Sun Chung's Shaw's outputs looked fantastic once we saw them remastered. Some of the Sword of Justice parts that are not washed out (like the ending segement) do actually have nice cinematography (at least better then it has any right to be for the genre, budget and names involved).

Sword of Justice is really a something special that comes out of nowhere.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

"Dong Won, oh my, the best martial arts fighter in the land." "Exactly you wimp." Yeah Ultimate Weapons is a classic. Did you watch the Videoasia version? The East West DVD looks a lot better.

I decided to revisit Monkey Fist Floating Snake. I didn't like this years ago, and I still think it's pretty bad. The lead actor is unbearable. But even though I wouldn't rate it high, I enjoyed it this time around. Good fights and Sun Jung Chi is good as the teacher. I didn't notice this before, but he has 2 roles. As for the rest of the cast Chang Yi' character is unique. Chen sing has a good cameo. Eddy Ko has a lot screen time but doesn't add anything. Cheng Fu Hung is funny. And Yueh Hua has probably the worst role of his career.

The dubbing is hilarious. "Mister did you need a shave?" "I'm gonna shave you, shave off your face!" There's definitely a so bad that it's good quality that runs through the movie.

[Secret Executioner]

I decided to revisit Monkey Fist Floating Snake. I didn't like this years ago, and I still think it's pretty bad. The lead actor is unbearable. But even though I wouldn't rate it high, I enjoyed it this time around. Good fights and Sun Jung Chi is good as the teacher. I didn't notice this before, but he has 2 roles. As for the rest of the cast Chang Yi' character is unique. Chen sing has a good cameo. Eddy Ko has a lot screen time but doesn't add anything. Cheng Fu Hung is funny. And Yueh Hua has probably the worst role of his career.

The dubbing is hilarious. "Mister did you need a shave?" "I'm gonna shave you, shave off your face!" There's definitely a so bad that it's good quality that runs through the movie.

I really like this one. Guess the French dub has to do with it, but the teacher is pretty funny. And yeah, Chang Yi is kinda wasted, walking around and doing nothing. Not sure where/how the others are though.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

I actually like Chang Yi's character. Ok yeah, he does just kind of walk around. But i don't know if I've seen another movie where the villain, who is already is a kung fu master, is defeated by one of the heroes midway through the movie, and then the villain goes to train so that he can take revenge on the heroes.

[Secret Executioner]

I actually like Chang Yi's character. Ok yeah, he does just kind of walk around. But i don't know if I've seen another movie where the villain, who is already is a kung fu master, is defeated by one of the heroes midway through the movie, and then the villain goes to train so that he can take revenge on the heroes.

Sure that's pretty unique as far as characters go. And yeah, the villain actually training is kinda strange, very unusual - you usually see them doing nothing or being evil for the sake of it while the hero(es) is/are training.

[NoKUNGFUforYU]

Brave and The Evil 1971 Wang Yu, Polly Kuan, Dir Wang Yu for Union films-

My mini review from fuflixbulliten.com-

What Wang Yu lacks in ability and form, he makes up for in energy and volume. Sure, he looks like a 12 year old from the 70's jumping around after seeing a Bruce Lee movie, but he knows how to amp up the suspense. My understanding is that he was a always getting into fights all over Asia, at bars, and I guess winning. That gave him a lot of street creed, and the Triads have a big fan base I guess. I imagine that people figured, sure, he's sloppy, but he kicks ass, so who cares? Also, in a real fight, it's not so pretty.

While I prefer good martial arts action, he knew how to direct a movie, especially back when he was on top of the heap. This being a Union production, the prints and color are in really, really good shape. Sets and camera work are right there with Shaw brothers as well. Polly Kuan is not up to her usual Tae kwon Do moves, and this may be because it was one of her earlier empty hand efforts, but she still looks like one cute, psycho little broad.

PS- some cool weapons here and there. In a way, more realistic, as bandits would use swords if they couldn't get guns, not Kung Fu (empty handed) per se.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

Not sure where/how the others are though.

Yueh Hua plays the fake kung fu master In Monkey Fist Floating Snake. He's the guy who shows up for a duel at the end of the movie, and runs away. Yueh Hua can act circles around most kung fu actors. He's up there with guys like Damian Lau and Ling Yun. To give him a role like this, I have to wonder if the director was trying to ruin his career:ooh:

[Secret Executioner]

Yueh Hua plays the fake kung fu master In Monkey Fist Floating Snake. He's the guy who shows up for a duel at the end of the movie, and runs away. Yueh Hua can act circles around most kung fu actors. He's up there with guys like Damian Lau and Ling Yun. To give him a role like this, I have to wonder if the director was trying to ruin his career:ooh:

Don't remember that one, guess I'm in for a re-watch haha.

[masterofoneinchpunch]

The Bloody Fists (1972: Ng See-yuen: Hong Kong) aka Deadly Buddhist Raiders

Another Japanese as bad guys trying to take over local martial arts clubs list. Though this one adds in a MacGuffin in the guise of the Dragon Herb. This herb is needed to cure a plague, but the Japanese want it for themselves (though they do offer to pay.) Not as good as the earlier Fist of Fury or the later Hapkido in both action and plot it does offer some brutal basher fight scenes. It also has a good guy appearance from Chan Sing who normally plays the antagonist including a bad Japanese in New Fist of Fury. The main bad guy (of course Japanese) is played by Chen Kuan-tai. I will watch anything with him in it. However, when his character is first introduced he is wearing a face covering mask that is similar to The Winter Solider in the second Captain America – seriously it reminds me of it with the long hair parted in the middle. But what is pretty hilarious is that it appears that a few people are doubling for Chen (check skin color, eye shape, nose shape etc…) until he takes that mask off for good.

One way you can tell a non-martial artist from an accomplished one is the way they will do certain kicks especially a spinning heel kick. If you see the leg whip around way earlier than the head (especially awkwardly) than that is a tell-tale sign of a novice. But what would a basher film be without flailing arms and legs. Check out Fong Yau’s head movements when he fights – it is all over the place.

But with Yuen Wo-ping being one of the action directors (and an appearance in the film), the brutal action and a decent amount of it comes off well. The plot does not fare well with (I think) disappearing characters, one bizarre rape scene that probably should have been removed and a meandering “do we even have a” script. Suen Lam (as Chen San) has one of those made to be a bad guy faces and his overuse of facial contortions. I have to stifle the urge to punch the TV when he is on it. Maybe that makes him good or maybe he is just a different version of Dean Shek. Maybe those two should have done a buddy movie together.

It looks like it is filmed in Taiwan. Because of the one and only car and no mention of a war with the Japanese I would put this film at some time in the 1920s or 30s (not sure how old that car is.) It has an early appearance of a nunchaku. This was put on the sohu.com top 100 classic martial art films. I cannot find a link to it, but the movies are mentioned on icheckmovies. I doubt it would make my top 100 though.

I watched the Warner Bros. R1 release of this. It is widescreen, but only has the old school English dub. Not a bad print, but certainly not remastered.

[Doctor Schnabel von Rom]

The Virgins (US DVD): Solid Shaw Brothers drama 6.5/10

[Secret Executioner]

18 Fatal Strikes (HK, 1978), from the Flying Fists Of Kung Fu 12-movie set

What can I say ? This movie is (IMO) very similar to Phantom Kung Fu: similar context (rebels and oppressors), weird techniques with whacky side-effects (Chang Yi's hands smoke whenever he uses his palm of death in Phantom Kung Fu, here the villain - not sure what the name of the actor is, but he looks quite badass - has whacky sound effects and high-pitched screams coming up) and trouble finding a tone (this film goes from guys bickering and sounding like a Monty Python skit to a girl being raped and murdered to people crying and going mad with vengeance...).

That said, it's not a bad film. The fights are entertaining (thanks to the villain's sound effects and to decent choreography - the scene with weapons is a nice touch as well), the main characters are likeable (their bickering s more enjoyable than annoying and they provide some good comedy in the first half) but the monk could have been more developed and the bad guys aren't that memorable (except for the main villain's sound effects).

Overall, I guess it's safe to say this film's on par with the rest of this set - I mentionned Phantom Kung Fu, but there are also similarities with Tai Chi Shadow Boxing (found out while re-reading my review of this one, as it seems like I had next to completely forgotten about it - but the master and his two students, the comedy/bickering, the under-developped villains... Pretty close).

BTW, there's an issue in the middle of the film and so you have about a minute or so of black screen and no sound - guess the source tape was damaged at this point. It looks like it's source from a cropped VHS (fullscreen).

[paimeifist]

7 Steps of Kung Fu. Very good indie movie, I was pretty surprised by Ricky Chengs acrobatic ability. Good fighting, story was slightly more intriguing than the typical revenge fu, lol.

[kevenz]

I just watched 7 Steps of Kung Fu too, great non-stop action movie !

[Morgoth Bauglir]

White haired Chang Shan looked unstoppable during the end fight of 7 Steps. Epic fight.

[paimeifist]

The obvious guy doubling for the girl was hilarious though. Lol