Heroes of the East (1978)

[Drunk Monk]

I always preferred the alternate U.S. title, Challenge of the Ninja. I just caught this again on EL REY, even though it wasn't Thursday. It was delightful to see an uncut version, as many of the version short-sheet the early fights between Gordon Liu and his wife Koda (Yuka Mizuno, who is really only remembered for her role in this film). I know the Japanese challenger fights really well as I've seen them so many times over the years, but the early husband and wife fights are familiar. This is a Shaw Brothers classic - Japanese versus Chinese martial arts in a clever, whimsical love story. I can never get over Gordon with hair, or that the Kendo master incorrectly tries to pass over his sword to Gordon (which he rejects as a cultural faux pas). The way he hands it to Gordon would have been insulting to another samurai. But that's just being picky. This film is all about the fight scenes which are all kinds of fun. Just brilliant on every level. Lau Kar Leung makes a brilliant cameo as the drunken master (what great leg skills!) which is ironic as it's the same character immortalized by Sam Seed, who is also in this film as Gordon's sifu. Kang-Yeh Cheng is the annoying sidekick once again. Gordon rocks. After 36 Chambers, this is one of my fav roles for him. In both films, he engages in all sorts of creative fight scenes that really showcase his versatility. I came so close to meeting Gordon - went all the way to Florida to meet him - but he suffered a stroke just before and has been an invalid ever since. But still, that was the trip I met Chen Kuan Tai. Imagine if I met them both. Wow, I would have been so starstruck, I wouldn't have been able to talk.

HotE could be remade if it wasn't so NPC. I often find myself conflicted with this one, just like with Fist of Fury, being both Japanese and Chinese.