Member GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG Posted April 9, 2013 Member Share Posted April 9, 2013 To Kill a Mastermind 1979 Director: Sun Chung Starring: Dang Wai Ho, Ku Feng, Lau Wai Ling, Wang Lung Wei Sun Chung stubbornly remains one of the lesser known Shaw Bros. directors. His name does not generally resonate the way that his contemporaries, Chang Cheh and Liu Chia Liang do. This is really a shame because although his output hasn't been as proloific, the quality of each of his films has been the equal of anything done at that studio. Some of the films he's best known for are the superior, melodramatic kung fu flicks, Avenging Eagle and The Kung Fu Instructor, the Billy Chong vehicle, A Fistful of Talons and the gory horror cult favorite, Human Skin Lanterns. Basically if it's a film directed by Sun, it is worth seeing. This film, To Kill a Mastermind was lensed in 1979 and sandwiched between Avenging Eagle and Kung Fu Instructor. Unlike the other two films, it was not a hit (in fact it bombed) and was until very recently considerecd a lost film with only fuzzy, blurry bootlegs to judge it upon. Fortunately, a better print surfaced on Youtube and is now available in the grey markets. The reason it failed at the Box Office is most likely attributable to the fact that unlike the others, it didn't feature a name actor in the lead. No Ti Lung or Fu Sheng was to be found here. Regardless, To Kill a Mastermind ranks right up there with the others mentioned; as potent a film as anything else the director has done. The story is about the reformation of the dreaded 7 Evil Spirits Clan. They at one time, ruled the land and now it's leader (played by ever reliable Shaw heavy, Wang Lung Wei) along with some new members has launched a comeback of sorts. Enter General Yang Zhen Yu who is sent to elminate the Clan both from without and within. He has a spy working to sabotage the inner workings of it's members by cleverly staging various ruses, thus allowing distrust to reign in the hope that the Clan will methodically destroy themselves. But even within the elaborate scheming, things aren't as they appear. We're talking double crosses galore, right up utill the finale where the identity of the secret, unseen Grandmaster is revealed. From this tricky, twisty plot, Sun unleashes an amazing visual feast. His films are consistently some of the best looking of all Shaw epics. One of his strengths is the mise en scene. He brilliantly films his stories with clever use of scenery, shot through wide camera angles, that the conflict itself seems to take on a life of it's own; almost overshadowing the individuals involved. The martial arts choreography though very good, tends to rely on more wirework than that of his contemporaries. This is occasionally distracting, but the fighters and choreography (courtesy of veteran Tang Chia) are extremely sharp, so this isn't a problem. To Kill a Mastermind is an upper echelon Shaw Bros. kung fu movie that is in desperate need of rediscovering... as is Sun Chung himself. From: http://farreachingfilms.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html Gd Y-Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member RogueWarrior Posted April 9, 2013 Member Share Posted April 9, 2013 Pretty much spot on. Its a hidden gem. Its better then Kung Fu Instructor but not as good as Avenging Eagle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member bobo Posted April 9, 2013 Member Share Posted April 9, 2013 yes----i agree, this movie is fantastic. only thing that would make it better would be if someone could find the english dub version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member RogueWarrior Posted April 9, 2013 Member Share Posted April 9, 2013 Is there is an Eng Dub for this I would have made the Custom DVD and it would be in your hands by now. *cough* Dragon Missile *cough* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member bobo Posted April 10, 2013 Member Share Posted April 10, 2013 well it always made the lost dub list . there are still dozens of shaw dubs out there that have never surfaced. the LOC has how many listed, and i bet celestial has copies of them all. there's that handful showing on tv in africa-- hardcore collectors have some---and remember that celestial said that no good copy of TO KILL A MASTERMIND existed--yet there it is. just have to wait for something to show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member RogueWarrior Posted April 10, 2013 Member Share Posted April 10, 2013 well it always made the lost dub list . there are still dozens of shaw dubs out there that have never surfaced. the LOC has how many listed, and i bet celestial has copies of them all. there's that handful showing on tv in africa-- hardcore collectors have some---and remember that celestial said that no good copy of TO KILL A MASTERMIND existed--yet there it is. just have to wait for something to show. Track down those Africa TV dubs and send them my way and you will have custom DVD's in your hands in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member JDecloux Posted April 15, 2013 Member Share Posted April 15, 2013 Loved this film. I've always been partial to the way Sun keeps the camera close and furious before suddenly pulls out to a FAR AWAY static wide for a few moments. It really contextuallizes the action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member 66 Mantis Posted April 21, 2013 Member Share Posted April 21, 2013 Lol, thanks for the free publicity, Golden Dragon Yin-Yang! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG Posted April 22, 2013 Author Member Share Posted April 22, 2013 Lol, thanks for the free publicity, Golden Dragon Yin-Yang! 66 Mantis; Just send the royalty check to my PM box...........................LOL! Your Welcome. GD Y-Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Kung Foolery Posted May 21, 2013 Member Share Posted May 21, 2013 Is there a nice copy of this film floating around yet? I haven't been here in awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Monk Sante Posted August 23, 2013 Member Share Posted August 23, 2013 I picked up a copy at Ebay. It's widescreen with subs and good picture quality. This film is a classic. I think its Sun Chung's best work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member GOLDEN DRAGON YIN-YANG Posted August 24, 2013 Author Member Share Posted August 24, 2013 I picked up a copy at Ebay. It's widescreen with subs and good picture quality. This film is a classic. I think its Sun Chung's best work. How much did you pay for it? Is it a PURE Celestial or the copy created by some on this forum which has a problem w/ being to fast? Could you make a copy and sell it if is the better print? Thanks GD Y-Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member RogueWarrior Posted August 24, 2013 Member Share Posted August 24, 2013 99% sure it is the PanMedia boot of the Ziieagle rip. Its on a torrent site for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member teako170 Posted August 24, 2013 Member Share Posted August 24, 2013 As there has never been a legit DVD pressing by Celestial -- the Ziieagle rip is the best you'll find and no one should be paying for it. Plenty of traders have it. Just make a request in the Marketplace section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Iron Boat Posted August 28, 2013 Member Share Posted August 28, 2013 When I first learned of this film my imagination took over. There were many comparisons of Mastermind with the ridiculously awesome Avenging Eagle. As a result I was hoping for a film that could rival Avenging Eagle in action and maybe even be as satisfying a story as well. I must say that for me the unknown cast did take something away from this film, I had a bit of trouble trying to keep up with who is who and why I should be vested in any character. In fact at times it felt more like a Chor Yuen clan fiction film than a Sun Chung action film! With that said I enjoyed To Kill a Mastermind but to compare it with other lesser known Sun Chung films I would rate it below The Proud Youth and Judgement of an Assassin and above Rendezvous with Death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member reason108 Posted September 12, 2013 Member Share Posted September 12, 2013 Just finished watching this movie. I started watching months ago but liked it so I did not finish it right away. So many of these films move so fast they should come with a scorecard to keep track. Its too bad that this never received a better quality release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member kevenz Posted September 13, 2013 Member Share Posted September 13, 2013 what dvd is the remastered version, this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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