[e-mail] Reviews

Prosperous of Family (1970)

An Historical Drama with Martial Arts.

[6/10 · 18 January 2021]

Film-director Ting Shan Si was one of the finest filmmakers in Taiwan: he made the expensive War Movie 800 HUNDRED HEROES (sent by Taiwan to the Oscar as Best Foreign Film, but rejected by the Academy), and he was a favorite of superstar Jimmy Wang Yu: together, they made several movies includings SHOWDOWN, CHOW-KEN, FURIOUS SLAUGHTER, THE FAST FISTS and others. Ting Shan Si's Wushapians were usually better than his Gongfupians, but his War-movies were better than his Wusha. This is a barely adequate movie with vet Villain Tien Yeh (THE ONE-ARMED BOXER) and Martial Arts scenes staged by Yu Tian Lung (later a star on his own in movies like THE BAMBOO BROTHERHOOD), who also plays a role. Real-life father-and-son Ko Hsiang Ting and Ko Shiao Po are also in the supporting cast, alongwith Lei Chun and stuntmen Shan Mao and Chang Yi Kwai(all three seen in the above-mentioned THE ONE-ARMED BOXER).

Chuang (1974)

Scent of a (Chinese) woman.

[6/10 · 18 January 2021]

Kung-Fu Star Roc Tien Peng, one of the most prominent actors in the heydays of Taiwanese cinematic industry (DRAGON INN, A TOUCH OF ZEN, THE TONGFATHER and many others) stops kicking and punching and throws away his longsword in order to wear glasses as the desperate blind-man in this modern sentimental drama from Kung-Fu director/writer Hsiung Ting Wu (TOUGH DUEL, also with Peng). Lady actress Chang Ping Yu as the mother add a quality to this sentimental story with some romance between the blind and his nurse, and Tien shows he can act. Supporting actors are the same you can see in tons Martial Arts movies.

Lie huo (1970)

Beauty of Fury Vs. the Ching Dynasty.

[7/10 · 17 January 2021]

Former Taiwan's action star Polly Shangkuan Lingfeng had many aliases, but her Asian fans used to call her The Phoenix (they said: "Bruce Lee is the Dragon, Polly is the Phoenix!"). This great performer made more than 50 actioners (mostly Wushapians) then got married and retired. This LIE HUO is another one in her line of her sword-armed heroines, but if you like the genre you'll enjoy it because, aside Polly, the valuable Pai Ying stars as her ally against the Ching Dynasty guards. They both acted in King Hu's masterpiece DRAGON INN, and this is not a masterpiece for sure, but the cast is filled by so many Martial regulars, and most of them appeared in DRAGON INN too. Colorful costumes and setting fills the eye and even if the camerawork by director Yang Shi Ching (A GIRL FIGHTER, also with Polly) is merely adequate, who cares about it when THE ONE-ARMED BOXER's stuntmen Lung Fei, Shan Mao, Chang Yi kwai and Chen Shi Wei fights all around as Ching's soldiers? Director King Hu's wife Hsu Feng (A TOUCH OF ZEN) was also in the rich cast, but for some reason she was deleted from the final cut. Don't be cheated by the sentimental title: the only Grand Passion here is for blood-spitting battles. Released in Taiwan 10/24/70. Also known under the titles THE GRANT PASSION and THE FLAMING VENGEANCE.

Da mi tan (1973)

8 million ways to die in Hong Kong.

[6/10 · 17 January 2021]

If you're a private detective in a corrupt city like Hong Kong, no wonder how many times you risks to die: expecially if you're handling a case involving Chen Hung Lieh! Produced and directed by actor Steve Chan (who also plays a role in it), PRIVATE EYE is a fast-paced, rough-cutted modern thriller where the gangsters have a penchant for fistfights, even when they can use a gun (well, you know, it's the formula!). Charlie Chin never was a too credible on-screen fighter, but he was a good-looking actor in several sentimental movies, so he had his share of Kung-Fu actioners (including the trash-cult SISTER OF THE SAN-TUNG BOXER). He's currently living in the US after he retired in 1992. The late Chen Hung Lieh as the main villain emanates his usual wickedness. The late Paul Chang Chung is a solid co-star, while Kung-Fu experts Lau Kar Wing (brother of the legendary director Lau Kar Leung, and himself a legend) and Chan Chuen, a vet stuntman and action director in more than 100 films, staged the effective Martial Arts. Not a classic but if you catch him you'll be not disappointed. Released in Hong Kong 4/12/73.

Si bu mi ren ren zi mi (1968)

From the director who almost made Bruce Lee's THE BIG BOSS!!!

[5/10 · 17 January 2021]

A silly comedy that wasted a gigantic cast from Shaw Brothers heydays: Lee Kwan, Wei Ping Ao, Peter Chen, Tina Chin, Wu Ma, Hao Li Jen and thirty other actors you've seen alongwith Bruce Lee and/or in others Martial Arts pics, run frantically in this below-average marriage comedy directed by prolific actor Wu Chia Hsiang, whose most famous thing was to be fired from the director's chair of THE BIG BOSS, with Lo Wei replacing him because Wu didn't respect the filming schedule, mistreating the actors too. And that's all.

Hei tie (1969)

Great Wusha with a psychological study.

[7/10 · 17 January 2021]

A rare bird: a Wushapian with a story!!! Great set, costumes and performances by all, expecially the main star and action coreographer Pai Ying as the underrated guy who saves the day. The cast is filled with many familiar actors like Sit Hon, Ma Kei, Ko Hsiang Ting and others. Camerawork and photography are top-notch. Even if the action department is low and outdated, the whole movie is very interesting if you're not looking just for flying people. Produced by the glorious Lianbang (Union) that brought us DRAGON INN, RAIDERS OF REVENGE, A GIRL FIGHTER and many others big and little (but always entertaining) Wushapians.

Pan jue (1977)

A Father-Son Drama plus Kung-Fu for Wang Yu.

[6/10 · 17 January 2021]

By 1977 Kung-Fu fighting Jimmy Wang Yu was more a Kung-Fu fading, so he made an attempt to modern Drama with this story about an ex-convicted guy and his honest father who's also a court-judge (played by the accomplished actor-director Wang Yin, the reason I rated a broken 6 to this). The film-making of director Li Su is average but slightly better than his female-sex-obsessed pics like GIRL OF THE PROBLEM, MIDNIGHT COWGIRL or CAMP GIRL P.O.W.'s, and the presence of Kung-Fu vets like Lung Fei, Blackie Ko and Chang Yee Kwai guarantees a passable dose of action. Funnily the cast has a second Wang Yu playing an henchman (he was an eponymous working in several Wang Yu's films like THE ONE ARMED BOXER and THE GALLANT). Watchable.

Wen ti shao nu (1974)

A mediocre female-oriented modern drama.

[4/10 · 17 January 2021]

Taiwanese character-actor and director Li Su had to have a strong penchant for women, judging by the high percentage of female-oriented titles in his directorial job (LADY LEE, MIDNIGHT COWGIRL, THE CAMP OF GIRL P.O.W.'s, and others). Whatever the reason, this GIRL OF THE PROBLEM aka YOUNG INNOCENT GIRLS was (as far as I can recall) a cheaply made Drama with a sentimental undertone, played by Kitty Meng Chui (FIST OF UNICORN) as the leader in a group of girls flirting, joking, loving and sometime fighting in a contemporary setting. Nothing special. Fat actor Tang Ti (director of the above-mentioned Bruce Lee's exploiting FIST OF UNICORN) also appear in this undistinguished feminist effort.

Assault: The Criminals, Part IV (1977)

To live and die in Hong Kong part 4.

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

The last chapter in this outstanding Crime saga of Hong Kong cinema, has two factual episodes: 1) Police Inspector Frankie Wai Wong (THE SHADOW BOXER, THE SHAOLIN MANTIS, THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE) investigates on a gang of rapists; 2) QUEEN OF TEMPLE STREET: a Police Inspector played by Shut Chung Tin (THE TONGFATHER; CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS) investigates on a gambling Triad after a gamble-addict has sold his wife to a brothel in order to pay his heavy debts. Cult-directors Sun Chung and Kuei Chi Hung deliver as usual, supported by a large cast of local cinematic vets including Teresa Ho Ping (THE 14 AMAZONS), the tough guy of many actioners San Kwai (IRON DRAGON STRIKES BACK, FITS TO FIST), Tin Ching (BLOOD BROTHERS) and so many other performers (mostly seen in the previous three chapters of this saga, in different roles of course). Written by Szetu-On, one of the most prolific and well-regarded HK screenwriters (255 movies!). The not aboundant Kung-Fu action is staged by vet coreographer-bitplayer Huang Pei Chia. This time the good box-office numbers weren't good enough to encourage a fifth CRIMINALS chapter, anyway the whole saga has an above-average quality for the Hong Kong cinematic standard of the 70's, proving Shaw Bros' weren't only Martial Arts and their stars could act even without fistfights. Moreover the tone of the whole saga was somber and different from Hollywood's happy-endings.

Arson: The Criminals, Part III (1977)

To live and die in Hong Kong part 3.

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

The HK success of the second THE CRIMINALS was good enough to generate a third part, but this time the real-life crime stories are just twos: 1) in THE GUN-SNATCHERS, Chang Cheh's protege Wang Chung (THE DELINQUENT) is a cop whose gun was stolen by two small-time gangsters played by fatty Fan Mei Sheng (THE WATER MARGIN) and Lam Fai Wong (FIVE SUPERFIGHTERS); 2) ARSON: actor Wong Kin Sun (THE SPIRITUAL BOXER and other 96 movies) is a Triad henchman who, alongwith an accomplice, plans the burning a Night-Club owned by a rival gang, but the action goes wrong and five people living in the same palace are burned alive. Co-directed by Hua Shan and Kuei Chi Hung, this movie provides a good occasion for Kung-Fu actor Wang Chung to prove he's a good actor in the first episode. He's easily the face you remember above all at the end of the movie (and he played the cop who arrests the assassin in the end of HIDDEN TORSO, the first segment of the first CRIMINALS, but he was almost unrecognizable in that brief moment), but the rest of the whole cast is excellent and it includes Lin Yung as a police-inspector, and many usual Kung-Fu actors as Johnny Wang Lung Wei, Lam Fai Wong and others. Characters actor Jim James (FIST OF FURY, GAME OF DEATH) apperas in the second segment, and Lee Sau Kei (the police officer in the above-mentioned Wang Chung's vehicle THE DELINQUENT) plays a cour-lawyer here. Released in Hong Kong 2/4/77. An effective Crime film who shows also a real look on the HK's Ghetto.

Homicides: The Criminals Part II (1976)

To live and die in Hong Kong part 2.

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

Spawned by the success of THE CRIMINALS (see my review on IMDB), CRIMINALS II used the same formula, as it was inspired from three real-life crime stories happened in Hong Kong. 1) THE DEAF-MUTE KILLER sees the late Hon Kwok Choi (SUPERMAN OF KARATE, THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN and many others) as a constantly bullied disabled guy wrongly accused of raping a girl. The real culprit harasses him until the poor deaf-mute reacts in a bloody way. Hon Kwok Choi is marvelous and he often played mute or mentally retarded guys in Kung-Fu films, even if this episode has not Kung-Fu. 2) MAMA SAN is a pimp-story starred by Kang Kai aka Hong Hoi (TOUGH DUEL, WANG YU KING OF THE BOXERS) as a street-guy. 3) THE INFORMER is a gambler-story starred by Shut Chung Tien (TRIANGULAR DUEL; THE TONGFATHER) in the role of the police-inspector. Old character actor Fung Ging Man (who acted in more than 500 HK movies!!!) is a gambler. Actor Wang Hsie plays the prosecutor in the court segments. The best episode is the first one. This anthology was directed by Hua Shan (KUNG-FU ZOMBIE), Horror helmer Kuei Chi Hung (BOXER'S OMEN, PAYMENT IN BLOOD) and Sun Chung (THE AVENGING EAGLE). Even if as not as good as the first CRIMINALS, this sequel is a slightly above-average result for local Crime genre .

The Criminals (1976)

To live and die in Hong Kong.

[7/10 · 16 January 2021]

An interesting thriller from the legendary Shaw Brothers, based on three real-life murder cases. HIDDEN TORSOS tells the story of a young woman (the surprisingly good Shih Szu from LEGEND OF 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES and several others) and her daughter pursued in their home by the cruel woman's fiancee (GHOST EYES actor Si Wai), who kills them both, tears apart their bodies and hides them inside the walls... This episode has an eerie photography that owes a lot to Mario Bava's scary movies. Old character-actor Wong Ching Ho (THE NEW ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN and many others) plays the doorman who unknowingly returns the escaped little daughter to her assassin. 2) VALLEY OF THE HANGE has an adulterous man (actor Tin Ching from Chang Cheh's BLOOD BROTHERS) murdering his lover's husband. 3) THE STUNTSMEN sees a stuntman (played by Lo Lieh of FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH fame) meeting an out-of-luck actress (played by the gorgeous Tian Ni) and making money on her as a pimp until she falls in love with a young guy the pimp enlisted in his organization... Easily the first episode is the best one, the third is the one with Kung-Fu action, but the whole movie is well made by directors Chen Kang (THE 14 AMAZONS), Hua Shan (THE SUPER INFRAMAN) and Ho Meng Hua (MIGHTY PEKING MAN). Bruce Lee's stunt-double Yuen Wah (KUNG FU HUSTLE), Corey Yuen, Tino Wong (DRUNKEN MASTER), are among the several Triad thugs played by the usual Kung-Fu stuntmen in the third episode. Released in Hong Kong 1/16/76 this film spawned two sequels: HOMICIDE-THE CRIMINALS PART 2 and ARSON-THE CRIMINALS PART 3.

Tian wang (1974)

Great Noir about human meanness!

[8/10 · 16 January 2021]

A very interesting entry for director Chang Keng (THE 14 AMAZONS) and the usual Kung-Fu squad from the heydays of Shaw Brothers. Almost no Kung-Fu in this story inspired by a real fact about a gang of unprofessionals kidnappers headed by Lo Lieh (FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH), surrounded by a rich ensemble of supporting actors like Fan Mei Sheng, Tung Lin, Hu Chin and many others. Crime and Horror specialist Kuei Chi Hung would have been a better director for a dark story like this, anyway Chen Kang (who also plays the prison priest) does a good job and his stars shows thay can act well. Beauty actress Liu Wu Chi met a real-life murder mystery when she suddenly disappeared from Hong Kong in 1978 during the filming of FLYING GUILLOTINE 2, and nobody saw her since.

The Quadrals of the Lost (1968)

Superstar Peter Yang strikes again!

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

Even if his name isn't famous outside Asian cinema, Peter Yang Kwan (or Yang Chun) was a distinguished personality in Hong Kong and Taiwan, playing a variety of roles in 120 films, mostly Martial Arts, but also Dramas (THE DAWN) and Horror (BLOOD REINCARNATION). He also launched the career of actress Chia Ling (THE AVENGER/QUEEN BOXER). This THE QUADRALS OF THE LOS aka FOUR TIGERS FROM LAW GATE is not an unforgettable Epic in Shaw Bros' style, under many ways it's just another Swordsplay-adventure from Taiwan, but it's filled with well-staged combats and filled by a good supporting cast of veterans like Lui Ming (THE BAMBOO BROTHERHOOD), fatguy Ko Shiao Pao (DRAGON INN) and his real-life father Ko Hsiung Ting (A GIRL FIGHTER), regular evil Ou Yau Man (THE ONE-ARMED BOXER), Shaw's star Tung Lin (FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH, RAINING ON THE MOUNTAIN) and beauty Li Hsuan (DUEL WITH SAMURAI).

Jiang hu ban ba dao (1971)

Intentional spoof of Swordsplay movies.

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

I always appreciates movies that spoofs of a serious genre in the very same period that genre rules. It's the case of this averaged BROKEN SWORD, starred by Ko Shiao Pao (a fatty-character in almost 300 movies, mostly Wushapian and Gongfupian), in a typical story of swordsmen and swordswomen. I saw Pao in almost everything, but I never saw him as a leading star, so that's why I rated this a broken 6, moreover the opening credits in cartoon style are a welcome change in a so abused genre like Wusha. Among the others in this intentional parody, Taiwan's superstar Ko Chun Hsiung and Lui Ming (THE BAMBOO BROTHERHOOD). The nice Ko Shiao Pao/Got Siu Bo died in 2000, age 71, survived by his father Ko Hsiang Ting, a famous actor too (A GIRL FIGHTER and others 256 movies) who died in 2010 at 94.

Yuan shan han xiao (1967)

A sentimental story among mountains for Kung-Fu actors.

[6/10 · 16 January 2021]

A melodrama with sentiments and no fights, with a no large cast where Martial Arts characters-actors Tien Yeh (THE ONE ARMED BOXER), Tian Ching (BLOOD BROTHERS) and Kang Kai (GECKO KUNG-FU), stand up in roles different from their usual in a story of tears and good feelings and mountains under a blue sky.

Zhong Guo quan (1972)

Another tournament film.

[5/10 · 16 January 2021]

ENTER THE DRAGON still remain the most famous tournament movie in the Martial Arts cinema history, but they made a lote of tournament-based movies in Hong Kong and Taiwan. This ZHONG GUO QUAN ("Zhong Guo" means China and "quan" is fist), is definitively the most forgettable, even if enlists a rich cast including fatty character-actor and director Li Kuan Chang, Taiwan's regular tough guys and stuntmen Tien Peng, Tien Yeh, Yi Yuan, Shan Mao, Tsai Hung, Su Chen Ping, John Liu, Wong Fei Lung and even a pair of western martialists (mostly in brief tournament beatings). And that's all. Camerawork and screenplay are unworthy. I rate this a broken 5 just because the many familiar faces in the cast.

Chun huo (1970)

Jimmy Wang Yu in love... plus a very little Kung-Fu!

[6/10 · 15 January 2021]

This MY SON, shot by Wang Yu soon before his Kung-Fu status and soon after his fame as swordsman in the Chang Cheh's classics, is an overdone melodrama with all the kind of ingredients you can expect in a love-story: the generation gap between a by-the-book father (a solid Tien Feng, the Bruce Lee's senior in FIST OF FURY) and a rebel son; the poor girl in distress; youngsters in a vicious night-club and so on. Lo Chen was a Drama's director for Shaw Brothers and here he's very careful in not-avoiding any stereotype, including an almost laughable scene with the girl's little sister singing as she works flowers while Wang Yu swings his head going in time with her. The sad ending recalls in some way REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, but the best thing is to see the Night Club filled by people like Wu Ma, Chan Chuen, Ku Feng, Tong Tin Hei, Huang Pei Chia and many others stuntmen-actors that worked in every Wushapian the Shaws had made until that moment and would have fill countless Kung-Fu movies in the 70's. Camerawork and photography are adequate. For Wang Yu's completists (expecially female completists, if there are any!).

Fei yan zi da zhan du yan xia (1968)

Wen Chiang Long's film-debut in Martial Arts cinema

[5/10 · 15 January 2021]

One of the too many Wushapian movies made in Hong Kong and Taiwan during the 60's, this has not the quality you could find in the Shaw Bros' productions, of course. Anyway the debuting Wen Chiang Lung is a curiosity for fans of this good-looking actor (if there are any!). He became a well-known name in the Taiwanese industry few yars later thanks the Kung-Fu craze, and he was often directed by local film-director Joseph Kuo Nan Hong in funny actioners like THE IRON MAN and TRIANGULAR DUEL, but here he plays just another one in the line of wandering swordsmen that filled the jade screen in that age. The main stars is Wong Chun (DUEL OF KARATE) and nothing else is noteworthy in this cheaply made blade-V-blade Fantasy adventure made on a blatantly shoestring budget and coreographed by character actor Yueh Feng (EVIL KARATE). I rated it a broken 5 just for Wen Chiang Long, but you can miss it.

Shen shan hu (1976)

Kung-Fu Jungle!

[5/10 · 14 January 2021]

Taiwanese marrtial actor George Wen Chiang Lung (Man Koon loong) made about 70 Martial Arts pics from 1970 to 1981, then he left the industry because of Chinese Mafia invasion, went in US and opened a restaurant in Tempe (Arizona). He was a good performer. This TIGER JUNGLE (aka BLACK BELT FURY) was directed by Tin Chung, who made a real cult-item like KUNG FU OF SEVEN STEPS in 1979. Wen Chiang Lung plays a warrior from a tribe that the ruthless business-man Hon Ying Kit (Bruce Lee's co-star and co-Martial Arts director in THE BIG BOSS, FIST OF FURY) wants to take over. Tons of fightings and some good acting from Su Chen Ping (the old Lama in THE ONE-ARMED BOXER), the untimely late Cindy Tang (also from THE ONE-ARMED BOXER), the beauty Tang Mei Fong (THE BAMBOO BROTHERHOOD), the always reliables Shao Lo Hui and Liu Li Tsu (both from another Wen Chiang Lung-'s vehicle, Joseph Kuo's THE IRON MAN). Camerawork and photography are below the average and the action is standard fare, even if Hon Yong Kit helped actor-stuntman He Ming Hsiao (THE IRON MAN) in directing the combats, so the wilderness setting is the main attractive here, but being not a National Geographic opus, it's not strong enough. I rated it 5 just because of the cast and the presence of good stuntmen like Hsiao Min Hsiung (BOXER REBELLION). For Wen Chiang Lung's completists only, if there are any.

Huo xing ren (1976)

Before COWBOYS & ALIENS, there was KUNG-FU & ALIENS: a riot!

[8/10 · 13 January 2021]

This movie is a gem... at least if you love the campy, trashy cinematic Encounters of the Third Kind. As far as I know, this milestone was made by re-editing some scenes from a Japanese kids-oriented SCI-FI TV series JUMBORG ACE with newly made scenes shot in Taiwan. Local Kung-Fu director Chen Hung Min was in charge for the additional scenes made with Martial Arts actor George Wen Chiang Lung (THE IRON MAN, TRIANGULAR DUEL, THE DEATH DUEL). He plays the commander of a Space-defense organization. His girlfriend's little brother (kid actor Yeh Shao Yee, who played Bruce Lee as a kid in Bruce Li's CHINESE CHIEH CHUAN KUNG-FU) accidentally finds an ancient statuette of a demonic warrios who is radioactive. Both the kid and his father (actor Fang Mien, the good master in FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH and CHINESE BOXER/HAMMER OF GOD) fall sick. In the meanwhile a Martian king who looks like a KISS rock band's member, appears on TV declaring war to Earth, then a flying saucer attacks and the Martians stomps on skycrapers (yeas, they're taller than Godzilla!). They're looking for a magic stone in order to conquer the Universe (well, what do you expect from Martians? An invitation to a birthday party?). In the second part of this silly, funny, unbelievable joke of a movie, the Thai demonic statuette takes life and grows to Godzilla's proportions and goes on Mars to stop the Martians and their death-ray weapon. The Thai giant warrior is helped by a gigantic American robot who knows Karate and the dark, arid martian landscape becomes the theatre of an epic battle (even if all of a sudden you see a fighting against two rubber dinosaurs on a landscape that's all but Martian, with green mountains and forest under a clowded sky, cuz this part was blatantly taken from the above-mentioned TV series). Not even Cameron or Ridley Scott have such genius!!! They're too educated!!! But if it's all too simple taunt a thing like MARS MEN today, please remember we were in the pre-STAR WARS Sci-Fi, in a low-budget cinematic industry (Formosa, now Taiwan). So, back to 1976, the FX department was not so bad for an Asian B-movie. The fact that the screenwriter was the same of DUEL OF KARATE (and the production company was the same too), says it all. Released in Taiwan 7/3/76 and in Italy 1977. Dont' miss the scene where the Martian tramples the skycrapers with accelerated movements in Charlot-style: PACIFIC RIM or TRANSFORMERS can't do it! Probably the best Kung-Fu-Vs-Aliens-and-rubber dinosaurs-on-Mars epic ever made.

The Obsessed (1976)

Bruce Lee's girlfriend Nora Miao vs. Amityville Horror!

[5/10 · 13 January 2021]

Released also as FURY OF THE SOUL, this HK-Korean chiller has the only distinction to be starred by Nora Miao Ke-Hsiu, who worked with Bruce. Aside this, it's a mediocre Horror but you can see it as a curious anticipator of stuff like AMITYVILLE HORROR and POLTERGEIST. FX are laughable as the camerawork and the screenplay. It was produced by Star Sea, the same company that made the terrible but funny FIST OF UNICORN. In his own way, this Soya-Paranormal Activity is fun too. A guilty pleasure for Nora's completists only, if there are any.

Shi hou (1972)

An average BIG BOSS rip-off with ENTER THE DRAGON Villain

[6/10 · 13 January 2021]

Cliff Lock (aka Kin Tung) came from the same Opera School Jackie Chan came too, and had several degrees in Kung-fu and Karate. He was hired as a stuntman by Shaw Brothers in the late 60's and debuted as main star in this "indie" production. The predictable plot about is blatantly stolen from THE BIG BOSS, including the Thai setting and a couple of actors. The good cast shows the moustached evil Shih Kien (ENTER THE DRAGON), his on-screen son Pai Ying (DRAGON GATE INN), the henchman with a whip Thompson Kao Kang (STRANGER FROM CANTON), Eddy Ko (LETHAL WEAPON 4) and others. Shih Kien also helped the Kung-Fu coreography, since he was fluent in Northern China Kung-Fu, but overall the action level is outdated (expecially if compared to Bruce Lee). There's some unintentional laugh caused by the unlikely main hero: as zealous as it was, Cliff had a very childish face that fit better to Kung-Fu Comedy, as proved by his brilliant performance in Wilson Tong's KUNG-FU GENIUS, 1979. ROARING LION was released in Hong Kong 12/21/72 and April '73 in Italy as KUNG-FU: FURIA, VIOLENZA E TERRORE (Kung-Fu: fury, violence). It doesn't deserve highly recommendation, you can find better Kung-Fu than this, but even worse.

Shuang mian nu sha xing (1973)

For Polly's completists!

[5/10 · 12 January 2021]

A typical low-budgeted female-chop socky with the always sexy Polly Shangkuan Lingfung, who has to trust the bulky Kam Kong in order to find her lost sister and defeat Kurata as the local mobster. These kind of movies were made in two weeks or so, there's nothing you can expect aside tons of Kung-Fu, but if you like this actress, you'll be delighted. Camerawork and screenplay are not required, good stuntmen are: so the film delivers in this department thanks Blakie Ko, Gam Ming, Shan Mao and many others familiar Martial Masochists who loved to be kicked in the ass in just every single movie they made.

The Escape (1972)

Kung-Fu Mata Hari!

[6/10 · 12 January 2021]

On the wake of the 70's Kung-Fu craze, Taiwanese Opera-school graduated Chia Ling/Judy Lee (THE AVENGER) played almost 60 movies in few years. She was scouted by superstar Peter Yang Kwun. In THE ESCAPE she plays a sort of Mata Hari: a geisha-disguised Japanese spy who falls in love with the Chinese enemy during the Sino-Japanese war, and pay with her life for it. Co-directed by Peter Yang Kwun himself, his wife Florence Yu and Wu Min Hsiung (TOUGH GUY) and also produced by Peter and Florence for their HK Fong Ming Mo.Pic., this was a slightly better-budgeted (and overlong) movie than usual for the genre, and you can appreciate Chia Ling's sex-appeal (she has some love-scenes) as well as her Kung-Fu. The ubiquitous Ou Li Bao plays an henchman, the terrific Ko Fei is Chia Ling's servant. The love-affair is melodramatic and predictable. I rate this a mere 6 just for Chia Ling's attempt at a more complex acting. But you can find worse Kung-Fu films than this.