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Eight Escorts (1980)


teako170

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pa5K4kXPH2Y

Had this flick running in the background other night. Had the potential to be a huge flick considering all the talent involved (Chan Wai Man, Tan Tao Liang, Danny Lee, Lily Li , Wu Ma, Wong Ching, Wong Chung, Choi Hung and director Pao Hsueh Lieh).

Some of the fights seemed they could use just a slight undercrank (maybe 25fps) to help heighten the action but others were filmed okay. Again, a lot of familiar faces so it was worth a look. The print was clean but only full frame. Any comments on this flick?

Some scans from Cinemart (1979) ....

8aescorts.jpg

8bescorts.jpg

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I have this film. I've not been able to place it, but there's something missing with this production. It's very stale. The acting, action, sets, etc., all leave a great deal to be desired.

For the cast involved, it should have been far better.

Maybe this was a Shaw script that was tossed aside and an indy picked it up with less production financing... or, maybe this was one of those Triad productions that forced a number of established stars to perform for a one-off? Sure looks like it.

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Reel Power Stunts
pa5K4kXPH2Y

Some of the fights seemed they could use just a slight undercrank (maybe 25fps) to help heighten the action but others were filmed okay.

The film was most likely shot at 24fps. Shooting more frames would be overcranking and would result in slow motion - not that filmmakers would normally overcrank by just 1fps.

If you mean undercranking (speeding up action), then folks are more likely to shoot 22fps (sometimes 20fps). I have seen stuff sped up in-post (rather than in-camera) or by use of frame cutting. Looks weird to me.

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If you mean undercranking (speeding up action), then folks are more likely to shoot 22fps (sometimes 20fps).

Yes, my typo. I meant 22.

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odioustrident

Dug this out last night and really enjoyed it! One of these films where the dub doesn't help explaining a slightly convoluted plot... but still followable. I thought the action scenes picked up at the halfway mark with a steady flow of good ideas. The Tan Tao Liang vs. Mau Ging Shun fight was crisp and excellent all around. That occasional novelty of seeing Danny Lee do some kung is always worth a look too.

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Morgoth Bauglir

Solid flick. Gonna have to watch this one tonight. I think I have it in one of those World Video triple packs. I remember liking it a ton, even though it's clear that it's not the most well thought out production.

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I got the vengeance video DVD of this. Don't remember if I enjoyed this one or not. Unlike his student John Liu who never made a single bad film. Flashlegs appeared in quite a few below par ones. I recommemnd one he was in thats rare, a taiwanese one with the young, yung pan pan (female who appeared in HK femme fetale movies in the 80's such as angel terminators) called 'The Leg Fighters'

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The film was most likely shot at 24fps. Shooting more frames would be overcranking and would result in slow motion - not that filmmakers would normally overcrank by just 1fps.

If you mean undercranking (speeding up action), then folks are more likely to shoot 22fps (sometimes 20fps). I have seen stuff sped up in-post (rather than in-camera) or by use of frame cutting. Looks weird to me.

Frame cutting is THE WORST. I'd rather see it slower than with frames cut.

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I got the vengeance video DVD of this. Don't remember if I enjoyed this one or not. Unlike his student John Liu who never made a single bad film. Flashlegs appeared in quite a few below par ones. I recommemnd one he was in thats rare, a taiwanese one with the young, yung pan pan (female who appeared in HK femme fetale movies in the 80's such as angel terminators) called 'The Leg Fighters'

I don't think Leg Fighters could be classified as "rare." there is a Tai Seng DVD and also a DVD of questionable origin under the alternate title "The Invincible Kung Fu Legs"

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Eight Escorts (Taiwan, 1979: Pao Hsueh-Li) - When her brother, a famous escort/bodyguard, is killed on a job, Miss Wu (Hsu Feng) takes on a job transporting the priceless "8 Treasures" in hopes of ferreting out the killer, who's been knocking off other caravans as well. Joining her is her mute servant; Tung Feng (Danny Lee), her brother's sworn brother; a high-kicking lawman (Dorian Tan Tao-Liang); and a powerful fighter named Shadow Knife (Ling Yun). Her employer also sends her some of his men later on, including Taiwanese regular Tsai Hung. Out to rob the treasure are thieves with names like Spider (Wong Ching), One Inch Knife (Mao Ching-Shun) and Lily Li Li-li. Of course, there's someone else involved, who happens to be the name actor who shows up in the opening credits, but not in most of the film. 

There are some neat twists and turns and a nice sense of mystery hanging over the proceedings. While you know who most of the villains are, their relationships to each other are in question most of the time. There are some characters who ultimately add nothing to the film, namely Wu Ma, who plays a kung fu master innkeeper who employs acrobatic children at his establishment. Also, the opening credits are promising, showing at least six of the characters engaged in varied training regimens according to their styles and abilities, but the at least one of them--and this is a major character--almost doesn't get to fight at all (certainly not in the final fights). And two of those characters show up for one fight and are quickly dispatched, so that's also a disappointment. The action is choreographed by Chan Muk-Chuen of Iron Monkey and Crippled Masters fame. It's okay, if a little slow. He's not imaginative enough to give us some creative fights, and in the end, it's up to Dorian Tan's kicking and Michael Chan's Eagle Claw to make the film nominally worth watching.

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On 2/3/2022 at 5:46 PM, DrNgor said:

at least one of them--and this is a major character--almost doesn't get to fight at all (certainly not in the final fights). And two of those characters show up for one fight and are quickly dispatched, so that's also a disappointment.

It looks like it often happens in Pao Hsueh Li's movies. It reminds me of Fan Mei Sheng in Blooded Treasury Fight. At the beginnins of the movie, he is asked by tan Tao Liang to be part of the escort and it seems that he then has to be an important character in the movie, and then, he is quickly killed without even having fought, unless the movie has been cut and his part has been cut as well.

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