Member reason108 Posted December 28, 2015 Member Share Posted December 28, 2015 Yeah, I wish the Lu Feng interview was longer too, I would have enjoyed to hear his comments about his choreography for this and working with Leung Kar Yan and Andy Lau. Actually, I felt he hadn't aged too much considering. I love this movie more each time I see it. It's just so much fun and one of my kung fu comfort films. I added this at the end of my Shaw Brothers collection on my dvd shelf! Though technically not Shaws, of course; it still feels like a Shaws film. All it is missing is Produced by Mona Fong and the Shaws opening logo. As a matter of fact, the movie is missing the opening studio logo. On the Terracotta dvd, it just starts. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Drunken Monk Posted December 29, 2015 Member Share Posted December 29, 2015 As much as I hate to say it, I think "Shanghai 13" is one of those films that has excellent fight scenes but everything else is a bit dreary. The plot meanders a bit and I can see it being a movie that benefits from copious fast forwarding in the future.A shame really, since the fights are spectacular and the all-star cast is a rare treat. Seeing so any legends on screen at the same time really is something that heightens the pleasure gotten from the film but, sadly, I don't think it's enough. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Lady Jin Szu-Yi Posted December 31, 2015 Member Share Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) As much as I hate to say it, I think "Shanghai 13" is one of those films that has excellent fight scenes but everything else is a bit dreary. The plot meanders a bit and I can see it being a movie that benefits from copious fast forwarding in the future.A shame really, since the fights are spectacular and the all-star cast is a rare treat. Seeing so any legends on screen at the same time really is something that heightens the pleasure gotten from the film but, sadly, I don't think it's enough.I respect that, Drunken Monk. I've skipped to parts of a scene (such as when Lu Feng busts on Leung Kar Yan... that's nice that LKY has a lot of ladies, but I want to bask in the chair fu instead.) Edited December 31, 2015 by Lady Jin Szu-Yi 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Morgoth Bauglir Posted December 31, 2015 Member Share Posted December 31, 2015 The plot meanders a bit? I didn't know there was a plot. It's just dudes fighting. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member reason108 Posted January 2, 2016 Member Share Posted January 2, 2016 This movie reminds me of movies like The Twilight Zone or Heavy Metal where you have different stories that make up the whole. Each "segment" in the film is almost like its own mini-movie inside the main film; separated by some really good fight scenes. Most of the actors only appear in their own little segment of the film. Mr Ko and the stolen contract are the macguffin in the story. The only problem is that some of these mini stories in the film start to meander by adding things that really go nowhere. I thought that the story in the gambling house went on for a little too long. Also, the love story idea could have been trimmed down some. But, it is interesting why some of the characters had more screen time/back story than others. I wonder if there was more to this film and it was just edited down or perhaps the actors in the film only had a limited time to appear so they shot what they could. No idea. Still love the fight scenes and the story is good enough. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Morgoth Bauglir Posted January 3, 2016 Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 Protect Mr Gao! Run! That's the plot for Shanghai 13. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Lady Jin Szu-Yi Posted January 3, 2016 Member Share Posted January 3, 2016 It kind of amazes me that Chang Cheh and Ni Kuang produced many simple stories for a good bulk of their films, before delving into slightly more complicated stories for a bit and then returning to very simple stories. This is one of those movies that I absolutely love downgearing to, because I don't have to think. Check my brain at the door, swoon over some of my favorite fu men, have a laugh and scoop my jaw up from the floor. It's fun. While I may be the girl who loves characterization and a good story, I can toss that aside for pure entertainment. This is the kind of movie that I go to the movies for. Pure escapism. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Kwok Choi Posted January 5, 2016 Member Share Posted January 5, 2016 On 1/3/2016 at 0:29 AM, Morgoth Bauglir said: Protect Mr Gao! Run! That's the plot for Shanghai 13. Ha ha ha very funny made my day but on closer scrutiny there is a wee bit more complexity and vital underlying issues than that 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Morgoth Bauglir Posted January 5, 2016 Member Share Posted January 5, 2016 If I look at the "plot" a little bit closer, the only thing I can find is a small story about Ricky Cheng wanting to become the top assassin? around. But it's so poorly done I usually wouldn't mention it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Lady Jin Szu-Yi Posted January 6, 2016 Member Share Posted January 6, 2016 21 hours ago, Morgoth Bauglir said: If I look at the "plot" a little bit closer, the only thing I can find is a small story about Ricky Cheng wanting to become the top assassin? around. But it's so poorly done I usually wouldn't mention it. I thought Quick Blade's switch to the good guys was fun actually, but wanting to be the Top Rascal too...well now that makes me think... Did he only switch sides so he could attempt to become the Top Rascal? Darn it, Morgoth! Now I will be thinking about Quick Blade's motives for awhile. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Morgoth Bauglir Posted January 6, 2016 Member Share Posted January 6, 2016 Yeah I think the only reason Ricky Cheng's character shows up to the party is so he can fight Ti Lung. His character is so damn cool I can overlook the lack of depth in his story. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Lady Jin Szu-Yi Posted January 6, 2016 Member Share Posted January 6, 2016 36 minutes ago, Morgoth Bauglir said: Yeah I think the only reason Ricky Cheng's character shows up to the party is so he can fight Ti Lung. His character is so damn cool I can overlook the lack of depth in his story. Agreed, since that is his choreography all over that final fight too added bonus. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted March 9, 2023 Member Share Posted March 9, 2023 Watched and reviewed this as part of my website's following the Honorable Mention for Best Action Choreography Poll. Check out my thoughts on this Poll Winner! https://abeautifulfilm.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-shanghai-13-1984.html 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member dionbrother Posted March 14, 2023 Member Share Posted March 14, 2023 Not the best Chang Cheh movie but it's one of the more fun movies to watch, simply because you get a wide sampling of different performers doing their thing. The funny exception is Wang Yu spending four minutes picking a lock instead of fighting! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member BornToDefense Posted March 14, 2023 Member Share Posted March 14, 2023 (edited) Can't watch this movie without obsessing over the fact that (I'm pretty sure) Chen Kuan-Tai's house here and Chen Kuan-Tai's house in Death Ring are the exact same set. There's a certain depressed quality to this, Death Ring and Dancing Warrior (which is one of my favorite CC films for reasons I prob can't fully explain). But it's always interesting seeing a filmmaker working with nothing but the bare essentials (and here they're very bare), and of course the fights are excellent as everyone has pointed out. I've heard this referred to as a charity movie for CC ala Just Heroes but I've never seen any evidence of it. Edited March 31, 2023 by BornToDefense 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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