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

[ShawAngela]

2 hours ago, Super Ninja said:

Not according to this list found here on the forum. Fusian's interest were obviously a decade older swordplay films. Maybe you confused it with Ringing Sword?

 

Fusian Films (2007):

Eight Immortals (1971) (Classic Collection - 5827-6)

King of Kings (1969) (Classic Collection - 5838-6)

Young Avengers, The (1969) (Classic Collection - 5839-6)

Whirlwind Knight (1969) (Classic Collection - 5845-6)

Absurd Brave (1969) (Classic Collection - 5846-6)

Bloody Mask (1969) (Classic Collection - 5847-6)

Duel with the Devil (1970) (Classic Collection - 5856-6)

Fight for the Agreement (1968) (Classic Collection - 5857-6)

Famous Swordsman (1969) (Classic Collection - 5860-6)

Lady 9 Flower (1969) (Classic Collection - 5862-6)

Ringing Sword (1969) (Classic Collection - 5863-6)

Fire Bulls (1966) (Classic Collection - 5903-6)

Yes, you are right! Ringing sword with Fan Ling, right?

[Super Ninja]

3 hours ago, ShawAngela said:

Yes, you are right! Ringing sword with Fan Ling, right?

You're good. 

Honestly, I've never even heard of Ringing Sword before, had to look it up. I see it was made by the same director who made The Bravest Revenge. That already makes it worth checking in my book.  

[ShawAngela]

1 hour ago, Super Ninja said:

You're good. 

Honestly, I've never even heard of Ringing Sword before, had to look it up. I see it was made by the same director who made The Bravest Revenge. That already makes it worth checking in my book.  

And if I'm not mistaken, there must be Kong Ban as well in it. You should enjoy this movie.

[ShawAngela]

The delivery 1975

Thanks to a very kind member here, I finally was able to buy the three Dark Force martial arts movies they released, and I began with this one.

Well... I must say that I have been a little bit disappointed. The fights were good, but I expected a more interesting movie with Chen Hui Min and Charles Heung. First, I didn't really understand the interest to show this nude scene that had nothing to do with the plot, and second, I didn't really understand the convoluted plot Charles Heung imagined to do the delivery : from what was said, he wanted to lure the police informant, but did he even know who this informant was?

I felt some pity for Chen Hui Min, who was cheated by both Charles Heung and his lover, and there was some incoherent things : when she shoots him, he seems to be only hurt on the arm, and there is blood on his right arm, so, how come he dies??! And what is it that he searched in his pocket to show her before she shoots? I was unable to identify the thing that fell on the armchair.

All in all, it's a watchable movie for me, maybe I was expecting too much.

[ShawAngela]

The shadow chaser 1973

THIS is the kind of non stop furious and fast action movie I love! 

How I enjoyed it! I just finished it and I LOVED IT A LOT!

The only thing that I was disappointed with, is that Chang Ling didn't have a single fight in it.

Not only the plot and the fights are very good, but also it has some of my favorite actors in it : of course, Chang Ling, but also Tien Yeh as a bad guy and an actor that I almost hadn't recognized. I wouldn't even have recognized him if I hadn't seen his name in the cast : Chen Hui Lou, as the mute, deformed and faithful servant of the always bad guy Yi Yuan!

For those who haven't got this movie yet, I strongly recommend it.

[ShawAngela]

The golden triangle 1975 with Lo Lieh

Nice movie, with Tian Ni, Sombat Metanee, Lo Lieh and a vicious Tien Feng.

The ending fight opposing Tien Feng and Tian Ni is a highlight of the movie, too bad that it's so short.

[saltysam]

15 hours ago, Yihetuan said:

According to the Schröder media German dvd the run time is 80 mins. I take it that's the source Jamal used for the custom?

https://www.ofdb.de/fassung/91169,454942,Fliegenden-Feuerstühle-Die/

https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=886897

It ran 75 min 26 sec. I think it's from the german dvd as there's a brief instance of german dialogue.

[Whoishe]

On 5/13/2024 at 6:55 PM, kuenfist said:

She did a good job in Shaolin Ex Monk and the The Four Invincible. Her carrer where small she made only 23 Films (HKMDB) or 31 (HKcinemagic). But most of the time fu !!!

I went through some of her movies over the last few nights. 

Shaolin Ex Monk was fantastic to watch thanks to John Liu fights and Four Invincibles made me curious about Shao Tan-Feng (https://hkmdb.com/db/people/view.mhtml?id=67659&display_set=eng) who was playing her mother. However, Cecilia Wong barely did anything there.

However, she had a lot of fights in Deadly Shaolin Mantis (weapons mostly) and The Magnificent Kick (mostly bare-handed), those two are definitely worth checking out if someone would like to watch more of her.

I will write a few words down the road after watching TV series with her...one day.

[shukocarl1441996347]

The Brave and the Evil

[Shaolin Patriot]

Ninja In Ancient China (1993). Chang Cheh's final film!

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8mnu1q

 

[saltysam]

Return Of The Valubales

A Tiara is stolen and car mechanic Chen Tao gets mixed up in being forced to retrieve it. Not much of a story but some hard hitting basher action, especially the last 20 minutes. Chen Tao was pretty fierce in this,looks like he only made two movies?

[kuenfist]

1 hour ago, saltysam said:

Return Of The Valubales

A Tiara is stolen and car mechanic Chen Tao gets mixed up in being forced to retrieve it. Not much of a story but some hard hitting basher action, especially the last 20 minutes. Chen Tao was pretty fierce in this,looks like he only made two movies?

Nice one, have the german version and i think a chinese one. Must watch in my collection.

Must say thank you to you !!! because after your post of the german Blu of 'The Tournament' i bought it. And it is fantastic !!!! It was not cheap (near the price of a mediabook here in germany) and that is why i was sceptic if i should buy it. But as you mentioned no upscale. Real HD !!! Quality is as good as Eureka releases !!! English Dub on board for bouth movies on the disc ... what can i say highly recommended.

[saltysam]

The Valiant Ones

Pirates are ravaging the land so the General rounds up a team to capture them. Simple plot and lesser King Hu but very enjoyable. Great cast including Sammo,Han Ying Chieh,Simon Yuen,Mars,Hsu Feng and many more. Nice 4K transfer on the Eureka disc.

Iron Fist Adventures

Guns, lots of guns in this lesser Wang Yu independent effort.He wears a cool hat though.

[shukocarl1441996347]

The Chinese Mack

Good bashing, weird film.

[DrNgor]

18 Shaolin Disciples (Taiwan, 1975: Hsu Tseng-Hung) - Mediocre kung fu film. Carter Wong plays a former killer in the employ of a Eunuch who seeks revenge against him and the men who killed his wife, including Miao Yi-Tao (Chang Yi). During a fight with Miao, Carter Wong gives him a Power Palm to the nuts and renders him sterile. Carter Wong flees to Shaolin with his baby son to become a monk. A couple of years later, Wong becomes the abbot(!) and a family friend takes his son to raise as his own. The son grows up to be Meng Fei. As an adult, Meng Fei helps his father's "Bureau" or Security Company, but has a hard time listening to his elder sister's (Hsu Feng) orders. His actions call the attention of Miao Yi-Tao, who starts harrassing the Bureau in exchange for the whereabouts of Carter Wong. Everybody eventually converges upon Shaolin for a final (underwhelming finale).

The film is...well...not that good. Meng Fei plays his role as a proto-Jackie Chan, sorta happy-go-lucky, but still with a righteous streak. He doesn't get enough good fighting, though. Hsu Feng is underused in this: she has two fights at night (we know about old Taiwanese movies with nighttime fights) and a short final stand with Miao Yi-Tao, the Eunuch, and his soldiers. There is not final fight, well, not really. Chang Yi briefly tussles with Meng Fei, the monks, and Carter Wong...but it's more about him coming to a spiritual awakening. Bleh. Only for completists of any of the main stars.

[saltysam]

New Fist Of Fury

Much maligned sequel has an unjust reputation imo. Sure at 2 hrs it's overlong, and there are some quiet stretches but it's a proper sequel, with a couple of legacy characters featuring the same actors reprising their role (Lo Wei,Nora Miao) and a good cast, Jackie Chan, Chen Sing,Han Ying Chieh,Sun Lan etc. Some good scraps. The independent other sequel with Bruce Li is probably a better movie but not as polished as this one.

[SDJ]

The whole idea of 2 hours being way too long is weird, anyway. Most Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers movies approached 2 hours. Maybe people are so used to those old cut up versions that remove 25 minutes worth of scenes that they think it's normal or industry standard for martial arts movies to be just over an hour.

Tarantino's 3 hour ironic neo-westerns are markedly too long. Flag of Iron or New Fist of Fury are not.

Edited June 2 by SDJ

[DrNgor]

Gambling For Head (Hong Kong, 1975: Jimmy Shaw) - aka The Savage Barbarian - Despite an English title that is probably second only to Dirty Ho in terms of "titles guaranteed to elicit snickers," this is actually a pretty good basher. According to the HKMDB, it is a loose remake of Harakiri, the jidai-geki classic. Korean actor James Nam plays a man who seeking vengeance against the casino bosses who murdered his brother. The film starts off with Nam, whose character is nameless, showing up at a casino offering to bet his head. The next two thirds are a collection of flashbacks that alternate between him killing his enemies and the events that led to his brother's murder. The last third is pure action goodness.

The heart of the film is the extended flashback that makes up the middle third of the movie, which caps off the tragic story of the protagonist's brother. It is well directed and I really felt for him as his circumstances got all the more desperate. The first and third acts are full of kung fu goodness, choreographed by Bruce Leung Siu-Lung (who shows up as a henchman in one of the latter fights). The fights are in the basher style, but like Call Me Dragon and Little Superman, they have energy to spare and are more than a little brutal. Weapons used include short cudgels, chains with bear traps at the end, a stick with a chain and a hidden dagger, and a whip with metal weights on it. James Nam's opponents include Travador Ramos (Filipino), Yukio Someno (Japanese) and Kim Ki-joo (South Korean). A good film that would make a great double bill with Tan Tao-Liang's The Conspiracy of Thieves, which came out the same year and has a similar opening scene.

[DrNgor]

Heroes in the Late Ming Dynasty (Taiwan, 1975: Wu Ming-Hsiung) - aka Heroes in Ming Dynasty - In 1566, the Manchurians (led by Halu Cheibou) have started attacking the Ming Empire. They clash with General Shun Ting-Pi (Bai Ying) and take two cities, but are unable to further there advance. So, the Manchurians make a deal with Wei Hung-Chang (Carter Wong), a corrupt high offficial in the Ming Court, to get rid of General Shun. "King" Wei has an Imperial Edict delivered to General Shun placing him under arrest to undergo a court martial at the Capitol, although Provost Marshall (Tien Ho), will try to eliminate the general beforehand. Lucky for the general, his loyal retainer, Wu Chang-Chun (Roc Tien Peng), and his daughter, Shun Chen-Ying (Polly Shang-Kuan), are there to protect him. Will they be able to protect him until he reaches the palace? Will he be able to beat the false charges levied against him by corrupt officials?

Heroes in the Late Ming Dynasty is a historical intrigue film with a bit of action in it, sort of a "King Hu Lite." It fits in with his other films, like Dragon Inn and The Valiant Ones, set about 10 years after the events of the latter. Director Wu Ming-Hsiung, however, lacks King Hu's more artistic sensibilities. There are some suspenseful sequences, especially involving the soldiers (led by choreographer Han Ying-Chieh) trying to set up an ambush at the inn, with Chen-Ying standing in their way. Polly Shang-Kuan's character is arguably the most powerful one in the film, doing all sorts of neat "martial arts" aided by camera tricks, trampolines and clever edits. And her actual kung fu beats the rest of the cast, too. Roc Tien is his usual self (he doesn't impress me) and don't expect much from Carter Wong, either. Fan favorite Wei Tzu-Yun (aka Barry Chan) shows up as the son of a retired general, but only gets one fight.

[Whoishe]

On 5/14/2024 at 8:55 AM, Whoishe said:

 

 

It looks like Chinese websites I'm using only have 1st episode out of 20 working properly. Does anyone have a full Drama in the collection? This is something I would like to watch fully if possible.

Edited June 12 by Whoishe

[Yihetuan]

3 hours ago, Whoishe said:

It looks like Chinese websites I'm using only have 1st episode out of 20 working properly. Does anyone have a full Drama in the collection? This is something I would like to watch fully if possible.

I have the complete series. Send me a list of what you have and I'll gladly do a trade.

 

[randomiseallmytargets]

Evening i just joined the forum yesterday and i watched Lee Tso Nam's The Green Jade Statuette, had to watch it through the Wu tang collection since it's surprisingly hard to find/torrent 

But i'm really happy it's another solid flick yet again and Tommy Lee stole the show at first i was concerned his character was just gonna be a jokey racist stereotype but then he turned into the most frightning fighter in the whole film.

 

I think what i appreciate the most about Tso Nam's movies is the fact that he takes what seem to be bland plotlines and then adds interesting characters and intrigue that make them really compelling.

 

[Yihetuan]

The best version is still the Thuglife & Jamal custom with the original audio. It's still readily available if you know where to look but I would dm @JAMAL since he's a member here and probably can help you out.

[randomiseallmytargets]

1 minute ago, Yihetuan said:

The best version is still the Thuglife & Jamal custom with the original audio. It's still readily available if you know where to look but I would dm @JAMAL since he's a member here and probably can help you out.

I will do in a bit thanks for this, like i said i only signed on yesterday so there will be alot to get to grips with on here lol

[SDJ]

3 hours ago, randomiseallmytargets said:

Evening i just joined the forum yesterday and i watched Lee Tso Nam's The Green Jade Statuette, had to watch it through the Wu tang collection since it's surprisingly hard to find/torrent 

Ugh, yeah. It's depressing how many of these movies could end up as borderline lost media when the discs eventually become impossible to find. (Other than blurry youtube rips which look even worse than the bootlegs they're ripped from--and with youtube's erratic terrible decisions lately, you can't trust yt is gonna be around forever.)

My favorite Tso Nam Lee flick is either Eagle's Claw or Leg Fighters, depending on the day. He was the master of above average cheapos.