Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Martial Club (1981)
#1
Man, do I luv this movie. It's a classic Shaw Bro, with Gordon Liu as Wong Fei Hung, my Kung Fu heartthrob Kara Hui, the ever suave Wang Lung-wei, Mak Tak-Law delivers an impressive high kicking performance, and directed by the master himself, Lau Kar Leung. This is one of Lau's masterpieces. 

I needed a dose of Kara and forgot just how amazing she is in this film. Luv to watch her move. 

It begins with Lau explaining some Lion Dance etiquette and then launches into one of the greatest lion dance battles ever filmed (the only one that comes close is Jackie Chan's The Young Master). After that, it's fight after brilliant fight, with Gordon, Kara and Wang at the top of their games, delivering the outrageous and complicated Kung Fu choreo that built Shaw. Barely 10 minutes go by before they launch into another fight scene and each one is a joy to watch. The finale fight in zig zag alley is so clever and witty, except for the fact that brick walls break like drywall - but we won't dwell on that. 

A wonderful blend of campy comedy, wuxia honor, and long take complex ultravi. This is what I watch Shaw Bros for. 

Chock full of Hung Gar references, this is a retelling of a popular legend of how Wong Fei Hung was ambushed in a theater. I remember talking to Sifu Lam about this. He was telling me stories about Wong Fei Hung and he retold this and I was like 'wait...did you get that from this movie?' He said the movie was a retelling, but with so much of martial legend nowadays, it's really hard to distinguish anymore. I still don't know which came first, the myth or the movie. It doesn't matter. 

The Chinese title is Mo Kwoon, or 'martial hall'. 

Sword fights. spear fights, herb sorting pan fights, but it's the hand-to-hand that really shines here. Highest DOOM recommendations.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Reply
#2
My turn to ask where ypu saw this?
I'm nobody's pony.
Reply
#3
Amazon Prime. They have a decent collection of Shaw Bros. They also have a crappy search engine for finding titles because it'll kick you into the Amazon store and then you have to crawl your way back to the movies and TV shows. But the next season of The Expanse is coming, so we'll keep it for the rest of the year.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Reply
#4
Watched it last night. That was good fun. Odd to see Gordon Liu’s dad playing a good guy. This movie was just what I needed to relax.
In the Tudor Period, Fencing Masters were classified in the Vagrancy Laws along with Actors, Gypsys, Vagabonds, Sturdy Rogues, and the owners of performing bears.
Reply
#5
(11-10-2020, 12:16 PM)Dr. Ivor Yeti Wrote: This movie was just what I needed to relax.

You and me too, brother. 

The opening lion dance scene with the human pyramid is mind blowing when you consider that they actually staged that. There might have been some safety wires, but knowing SB, probably not. That was some crazy choreo.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)