03-06-2024, 09:31 AM
This is a classic - immoratlized by the Wu-Tang Clan, who took the title as one of its songs, and Ghostface Killah takes his name from the main villain.
It's in the wake of Jackie Chan's success with comedy Kung Fu a few years earlier, totally ripping off the style and concept. Based on the most common plot of the genre - Hero is a poor punk that must take revenge > he trains in obscure Kung Fu techniques with a quirky master > That master is linked to his revengee, who eventually discovers them > cue fight to the death - adding thata Jackie accent with the hero Ah Pao with that odd long hair cut and costume mirroring Jackie's style in the mid 70s, and even having Simon Yuen as a cook master (although it's more of a cameo).
Where this film shines is the choreo. The choreo takes Jackie's opera style Kung Fu to new absurd heights. It's not nearly as clean as Jackie's hundreds of takes to get the perfect shot, but the acrobatics and gymnastics are over the top. They throw fight logic out the window to do more flips and splits. In fact, a deadly drinking game could be made with this film if a shot is taken every time someond drops into front splits. The main heroes Lee Yi Min and Jack Long are amazing athletes, and Ghost-Faced Killer (Mark Long) is a true superkicker.
In a nutshell, you've seen this plot a thousand times, but the fights are incredibly outrageous. And honestly, why else do we watch Kung Fu flicks? D00M recommended.
Seen on Kanopy
It's in the wake of Jackie Chan's success with comedy Kung Fu a few years earlier, totally ripping off the style and concept. Based on the most common plot of the genre - Hero is a poor punk that must take revenge > he trains in obscure Kung Fu techniques with a quirky master > That master is linked to his revengee, who eventually discovers them > cue fight to the death - adding thata Jackie accent with the hero Ah Pao with that odd long hair cut and costume mirroring Jackie's style in the mid 70s, and even having Simon Yuen as a cook master (although it's more of a cameo).
Where this film shines is the choreo. The choreo takes Jackie's opera style Kung Fu to new absurd heights. It's not nearly as clean as Jackie's hundreds of takes to get the perfect shot, but the acrobatics and gymnastics are over the top. They throw fight logic out the window to do more flips and splits. In fact, a deadly drinking game could be made with this film if a shot is taken every time someond drops into front splits. The main heroes Lee Yi Min and Jack Long are amazing athletes, and Ghost-Faced Killer (Mark Long) is a true superkicker.
In a nutshell, you've seen this plot a thousand times, but the fights are incredibly outrageous. And honestly, why else do we watch Kung Fu flicks? D00M recommended.
Seen on Kanopy
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