Zen Kwando Strikes in Paris and other John Liu movies

[dionbrother]

BTW, getting back to the topic of the thread, has anybody heard of John Liu's current whereabouts?  I know there's a story of "an old man seen in a photo taken in South Korea" but that's it.  Hell, I'd have taken lessons in Zen Kwan Do if he'd franchised the schools internationally!

[Cognoscente]

3 hours ago, dionbrother said:

He was also the secret money man for the Machados opening BJJ schools in the US a couple of decades back, but that's another story for another time (it involves the Gracies screwing him over).

I would love to know more about this.

Back to Good Guys, Chuck in that movie was sort of like what if Robert Redford did martial arts in Three Days of the Condor - a 1975 film which makes it easy to see why Tom Cruise wanted to be directed by Sydney Pollack for The Firm but makes it hard to see why Sydney couldn't return for Mission: Impossible (which has a similar plot).

[dionbrother]

The story as I heard it from both the late Richard Bustillo and Chuck's most recent autobiography, forgive any memory lapses about some of the details: Norris and Bob Wall trained with the Gracies while on a scuba diving vacation in Brazil back around 1984 or maybe a little later.  Chuck was so impressed he offered to help them establish a beachhead in America, unaware that Rorion was already in LA teaching out of his garage.  Chuck may have introduced his pal John Milius to the Gracies, but I can't say for sure.  So Chuck asked them to perform a demo at a Vegas trade show he promoted every year for martial arts school owners.  The Gracies put on an impressive show.  Afterwards, behind closed doors, Rorion demands something crazy like $10,000 or more for the demonstration, which was never agreed upon.  Chuck was contacted about the extortion attempt and then said to just pay them.  Then he made some phone calls to Brazil, looking for the Gracies' rivals and offered to help the Machados start a chain of schools in the US.  I think he had the Machado Brothers on his WALKER tv show basically advertising their BJJ on network tv.  That's how the Machados got a foothold in the US market in the 90s without any superstar fighters repping them in UFC.

[NoKUNGFUforYU]

12 hours ago, dionbrother said:

The story as I heard it from both the late Richard Bustillo and Chuck's most recent autobiography, forgive any memory lapses about some of the details: Norris and Bob Wall trained with the Gracies while on a scuba diving vacation in Brazil back around 1984 or maybe a little later.  Chuck was so impressed he offered to help them establish a beachhead in America, unaware that Rorion was already in LA teaching out of his garage.  Chuck may have introduced his pal John Milius to the Gracies, but I can't say for sure.  So Chuck asked them to perform a demo at a Vegas trade show he promoted every year for martial arts school owners.  The Gracies put on an impressive show.  Afterwards, behind closed doors, Rorion demands something crazy like $10,000 or more for the demonstration, which was never agreed upon.  Chuck was contacted about the extortion attempt and then said to just pay them.  Then he made some phone calls to Brazil, looking for the Gracies' rivals and offered to help the Machados start a chain of schools in the US.  I think he had the Machado Brothers on his WALKER tv show basically advertising their BJJ on network tv.  That's how the Machados got a foothold in the US market in the 90s without any superstar fighters repping them in UFC.

The Gracies are a family of grifters with connections to fascist movements.

 https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2020/7/7/21316034/renzo-gracie-family-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-crime-homophobia-propaganda-bolsonaro-news

http://www.thescrap.co/helio-gracie-linked-to-1930s-brazilian-fascism-movement/

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/mma-fighter-ralph-gracie-gets-jail-for-assaulting-5-time-jiu-jitsu-world-champion-in-anaheim-da/

[One Armed Boxer]

On 9/5/2021 at 7:35 AM, DrNgor said:

I watched Ninja in the Claws of the CIA (1981) - aka Kung Fu Emanuelle - today. That was one bizarre little vanity project.

On 9/13/2021 at 4:33 AM, saltysam said:

I'm a John Liu fan but this is pretty crap, he should've stuck to his Taiwanese kung fu epics.

I also got around to watching this one recently, and would have to concur, although it certainly wasn't without its 'charms'! I gave it the full review treatment over at COF - 

https://cityonfire.com/ninja-in-the-claws-of-the-cia-aka-kung-fu-emanuelle-1981-review-made-in-china-zen-kwun-do/

 

[northern b]

This is a great thread with the additional info on the scene in the 70s and the Chuck Norris info - top stuff guys!!

 

Jon Liu- Secret Rivals 1 and 2 Snuff Bottle Connection,  Dragon blood i enjoyed, Invincible Armour and Fighting Ace are also good but i prefer the fights  in the former 4

 Mars Villa was ok

Death Duel of Kung Fu i found over rated- some bad edits and angles in this 

Shaolin Ex Monk i didn't rate

All personal taste I guess

 

Edited December 19, 2021 by northern b

[NoKUNGFUforYU]

John Liu, the poor man's Tan Tao Liang.

[northern b]

6 hours ago, NoKUNGFUforYU said:

John Liu, the poor man's Tan Tao Liang.

He very much divides opinion that’s for sure! 

[Cognoscente]

John Liu is like what if Yuen Wah was more handsome but less talented.

[dionbrother]

When I was a kid, I preferred him to Bruce Lee.  USA Network ran KUNG FU COMMANDOS and RENEGADE MONK frequently.  And both were excellent, fun movies that you'd watch more than once.  I was a Tae Kwon Do kid and that was my 12 year old bias.  The kicks looked great and not many other actors in the Kung Fu Theater movies could throw those kicks.  As more films became available during the VHS revolution, I discovered he made a lot of junk as well(STRUGGLE THROUGH DEATH is a literal struggle to watch).  But I can still watch his best movies anytime.  

[One Armed Boxer]

On 6/15/2009 at 10:40 AM, Morgoth Bauglir said:

I like how in Dragon Blood all the white guys have guns, but nobody can pull their gun out before John Liu starts kicking them. It got so repetitious that I couldn't help but laugh.

On 9/25/2020 at 7:22 PM, Coliseum1972 said:

Liu in Mexico 3/6 , more like Liu on Tenerife lol.......takes places mex-US border , baddies after golden dragon broche , they blind him. Fight scenes are nothing special.

'Dragon Blood' was part 2 in my John Liu Director & Star Double Bill that I recently put myself through. Surprisingly I enjoyed this one a lot more than when I first watched it several years ago. Not including the unfinished 'New York Ninja' and his role in 'Trinity Goes East', this can essentially be considered to be his swansong. Naturally, I gave it the full review treatment over at COF - 

https://cityonfire.com/dragon-blood-aka-john-liu-in-mexico-1982-review-dragons/

 

[Cognoscente]

On 10/5/2021 at 5:06 AM, dionbrother said:

WAY OF THE DRAGON's box office grosses are likely totaled from its entire theatrical run until the mid-80s, when Columbia would pair it on a double feature with GAME OF DEATH.  They picked it up when Bryanston went out of business(and to prison).

Recently, I've been browsing a Bruce Lee forum where Bruce's money issues were brought up in conjunction with Bryanston being a criminal outfit.

"In James Bishop's book, "Bruce Lee: Dynamic Becoming" there's a whole chapter on Bruce Lee's death. To sum it up, Bryanston pictures, was owned and operated by the Colombo Crime family in New York. It distributed "Way of the Dragon" a/k/a "Return of the Dragon" in the U.S. This can also be verified by F.B.I. agent, Kelly. (see: "The Other Hollywood: The Porno Business" by Legs McNeil, where Kelly is cited as noting that Bryanston pictures financed in part, the distribution of Way of the Dragon). Bryanston pictures is also listed in "Unsettled Matters" by Tom Bleecker. Bryanston pictures stole money from the actors in its other independent movie--"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". When the actor in Texas Chainsaw, who played the role of the freakish hitchhiker in the van, demanded from Bryanston that he be paid, or he would sue them, the men in suits at the Bryanston office said "You don't want to do that" and made a menacing threatening, veiled threat. This actor was so troubled that he went to FBI agent, Kelly, who showed him photos of all the actors Bryanston had "knocked off", and agent Kelly even mentioned that Bryanston killed Bruce Lee because he was threatening to sue Bryanston because the accounting books were doctored and Bruce received far less money than he was supposed to get from Way of the Dragon."

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/bruceleeclubuk/ian-brings-up-interesting-point-on-bruce-brandon-s-t597.html

[dionbrother]

Considering Bryanston didn't acquire WAY OF THE DRAGON until long after Bruce had passed away, the veracity of that info is questionable. 

[Killer Meteor]

On 1/20/2022 at 2:03 AM, dionbrother said:

Considering Bryanston didn't acquire WAY OF THE DRAGON until long after Bruce had passed away, the veracity of that info is questionable. 

Wouldn't surprise me if they took credit for Bruce's death as a form of intimidation.

[Drunken Monk]

Ninja in the Claws of the Cia (1981) - An absolutely loopy film that, in all honesty, is more entertaining than New York Ninja. The plot is simple: John Liu has invented a new style of martial arts and he's hired to teach some CIA recruits (including Casanova Wong) how to fight.
The whole thing feels like a bloody fever dream. The dub track is HILARIOUS with lines like "Oh, you cad!" making it feel like it was recorded in another era. Another example of weirdness is that all the men are bare-footed throughout the film because "That's what happens in the kung fu movies." Also, John Liu randomly buys Casanova Wong a rabbit which is then violently killed by a bunch of soldiers.
For some reason, all the CIA soldiers (?) are very rapey. In fact, they try to rape a particular lady a number of times. It makes no sense. With that said, the film definitely needs to be sleazier. The whole thing feels like there's an uncut version somewhere with full frontal nudity and hardcore penetration shots. As it is, it feels a little too safe, despite having the air of a porno about it.
The action is good. Typical John Liu stuff. There isn't a ton of it early on but there is the odd fight here and there. Some brief moments between Wong and Liu. Things do pick up towards the end 
The plot of this one involves some bizarre hypnosis angle that I'm not sure I entirely understood. To be honest, I don't think I was meant to understand it.
When it comes to Ninja in the Claws of the CIA, get some friends over, have a glass of wine or six or whatever your poison is and stick it in the Blu Ray player. You'll have a good laugh with this one.
As an actual kung fu film, it's not the best. In fact, it's a bit lame. Solid action but a tedious plot that really feels like it drags despise the 90 minute run time. Definitely watch it as a comedy rather than an action flick.

[Coliseum1972]

On 1/20/2022 at 3:03 AM, dionbrother said:

Considering Bryanston didn't acquire WAY OF THE DRAGON until long after Bruce had passed away, the veracity of that info is questionable. 

the movie made profit , how many times was it re-issued in Italy alone , like 4 times until early 80s. Then of course vhs came along. Shown twice in France/Germany too (1974/75 & R79). And re-issued UK , Japan etc. Shown 3 times in HK (1972 , R76 , R83) & HK re-issues could profit as much as then new films

Edited July 27, 2023 by Coliseum1972