Kung Fu Espresso!!

[Jimbo]

195 - Disciples of the 36th Chamber

(Opening scenes; Hsiao Hou vs. Lee Hoi-San, Yuen Qiu, & ?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OUbJHNOoCc


(End fight; featuring Hsiao Hou, Gordon Liu, Lily Li, Pai Piao, Lau Kar-Leung, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do92I...eature=related

This is possibly the last film in which Hsiao Hou got star billing. The end fight is another great example of the large-scale choreography of Lau Kar-Leung; and this was one of the last kung fu epics he made for Shaw Brothers Studios.

[Jimbo]

196 - Shaolin Drunkards

(End fight; Yuen Yat-Chor & Yuen Cheung-Yan vs. Yuen Shun-Yee)

*End fight begins @ approx. 4:50*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTOPBIOdfAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxL34...eature=related

Yuen Woo-Ping directed this film, which is basically a Yuen Family project. It followed on the success of Yuen's The Miracle Fighters (#155). It's a great example of the creativity of the Yuen Family, esp. at a time when new and unique ideas were really flowing for them.

[Jimbo]

197 - The Boxer's Omen

(Kickboxing match; Bolo Yeung vs. Wang Lung-Wei)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANmHr_8fqTk

(Kickboxing match, short clip of fight; Phillip Ko vs. Bolo Yeung)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKUL6J2nSPw

(White magic vs. black magic finale. Phillip Ko vs. sorcerer. **Not recommended for those who are easily grossed out)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Cxwm99Hnk

The Boxer's Omen was one of those strange Shaw Brothers horror films that dealt with the supernatural and black magic. It was possibly the best of its sub-genre. Although it contains kickboxing scenes, the main thrust of the film were the graphic rituals and pre-CGI "magical" effects. Starring Phillip Ko in one of his few leading roles. He was better known as one of the best kung fu villains of the golden era, as is evident by how many clips he's appeared in, in this thread.

Wang Lung-Wei, another prolific, top-notch movie villain, here departs from his usual roles and becomes the "victim." And Bolo Yeung's role seems reminiscent of his role in Van Damme's Bloodsport, which was made a few years later.

[Jimbo]

198 - Millionaire's Express (a.k.a., Shanghai Express)

(End fight; featuring Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, D!ck Wei, Meng Hai, Hsiao Hou, Wang Lung-Wei, Hwang Jang-Lee, Yasuaki Kurata, Yukari Oshima, Richard Norton, Cynthia Rothrock, Chung Fa, Phillip Ko, Lau Kar-Wing, Fan Mei-Sheng, Corey Yuen, etc., etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbpylD1PsUs

This movie contained some pretty good fights and some great, nasty stunts, but the fights may have suffered from director Sammo Hung trying to fit too many stars into one movie...then again, it was clearly intended to be an epic ensemble film. An example of 1980s excess, perhaps? Although beautifully shot, none of the fight scenes really stood out too much, for that era (1986). Most of the talent couldn't show off to their full potential. However, the choreography is still better than probably 98% of American or current Chinese MA movie fight scenes. Still, it's a bit of a shame; the one time that Hwang Jang-Lee and Wang Lung-Wei appeared in the same film, they weren't matched against each other.

There were a number of stars (MA and non-MA) in the film who either were not in the end fight scene, or weren't apparent in this clip, including Jimmy Wang Yu, Shek Kin, Chin Siu-Ho, Yuen Wah, Wu Ma, Richard Ng, Bolo Yeung, Yuen Tak, Kenny Bee, Chin Kar-Lok, Rosamund Kwan, Emily Chu, Eric Tsang, Lam Ching-Ying, James Tien, etc., etc.

[mickey]

Hi Jimbo,

The Millionaire's Express borrowed a page from what the Shaw Brothers used to do. They would have these nonsensical movies where the real plot was to show off their stable of stars. Non martial and martial actors would do walk ons, utter a few lines and then walk off-- never to return (I am sure you have seen one of those). Sammo Hung achieved that with a fighting movie. The eighties were a darkening time for the kung fu film industry and it was movies like this one as well as Shaolin Plot, Hand of Death where we saw MA actors from different studios banding together to keep their vocation alive. It appeared to be a desperate time; yet, it showed what brotherhood is really about-- putting aside differences and working toward a common goal.

The fight scene from Boxer's Omen is still pretty contemporary. The hilarious thing about the scene is the guy who rings the bell. His body posture and facial expression does not change one bit.

mickey

[Jimbo]

Greetings, mickey.

Agreed about the Millionaire's Express being an extension of earlier Shaw (and Golden Harvest) ensemble films. That type of film really took off in HK following the Aces Go Places movies, and Sammo's own Winners and Sinners and the Lucky Stars series. During the early period that I lived in Taiwan, they were releasing tons of HK films with a lot of comedic non-MA actors, teaming with one or two MA actors (usually Sammo and a co-star). There was always one attractive woman (usually a detective) in the group, and they'd all play creepy but harmless frat-house pranks to try to spy her boobs or something. Not much plot if any, but there would usually be a decent to good end fight scene with the villain(s). I actually don't consider these 'MA' movies, but comedies with a little MA in them.

Interesting how, as the '80s progressed after the Shaw era, that some former lead MA stars (like Hsiao Hou, Meng Hai, Yuen Tak, etc.) were demoted onscreen to non-MA support players, or back to being stunt extras. Yes, although the '80s was a good time for HK action films, it marked a deterioration in the careers of many veterans of old-school period KF films. People wanted to see contemporary stories and comedies, and some couldn't make the adjustment very well.

In the Boxer's Omen kickboxing scenes, I dare say that Bolo Yeung looks way better there than in his most famous roles (in the West); Enter the Dragon and Bloodsport.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I agree with you about Bolo. He is known for his no look kung fu. It is refreshing to see him do something different.

199- Water Margin (1990's) : Choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x79289SL9gU

I have never seen this version; but, from the clips shown in the above link, it appears that Yuen Woo Ping still has a lot of wonderful ideas in his head. The period pieces tend serve his talents well.

I took time to look at this thread and, you know what? It is pretty darn good.

200- Kung Fu (Pilot) Temple training sequence. Ark Wong, Kam Yuen Philip Ahn, Keye Luke + others. This happens to be my favorite part of the pilot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmQNBSQmXCE


mickey

[Jimbo]

I think that training scene was the best part of the Kung Fu pilot and series. It was a surprisingly good scene for American TV at that time.

201 - Incredible Kung Fu Master

(Sammo Hung vs. Austin Wai @ approx. 5:10. End fight begins @ approx. 11:20. Meng Hai, Chan Lung, Wong Ha, Huang Hsing-Hsiu & Tung Wai vs. Phillip Ko. Tung Wai and Sammo Hung vs. Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrOfm...eature=related

Tung Wai had only a few starring roles; he's most familiar to Western audiences as Bruce Lee's student at the beginning of Enter the Dragon, and for a supporting role in Hard Boiled. Although he appeared in a number of old-school KF movies, playing both good guys and villains. He still works behind the scenes as an action choreographer.

Austin Wai still appears in movies, most recently in small, non-fighting roles in Donnie Yen's Kill Zone (a.k.a., SPL) and Flash Point.

[Jimbo]

If anyone tried the links to #'s 133, 134, and 140, (Lucky Stars Go Places, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, and Legendary Weapons of China) and found they had been removed, I found them up again on youtube and restored them today. If you want to see them, best to do so ASAP, before they are removed again. And they will be. A lot of clips, esp. from Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers movies, get taken off of youtube on a regular basis.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Links #'s 133, 134, and 140 are sooo 1980.

[Jimbo]

lol! Yeah, the fashions, the music, the hair, the...everything. One thing that still impresses me a lot is the clarity of the cinematography of the '80s-era HK movies (and many from the '70s as well). Much clearer than a lot of the stuff today.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Oh that's a gem, how come I've never heard of this one??? Truly terrible yet entertaining at the same time. I wonder why there aren't more bucked tooth, pot bellied, drunken hero's in our action films?

[Jimbo]

Restored # 10 (Wheels on Meals).

202 - The Men From the Monastery

(End fight; featuring Chen Kuan-Tai, Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan-Chun, Tang Yen-Tsan, Chiang Tao, etc.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io7YTOVDCe4

Although the movie itself was uneven, the end fight was very well-done. These types of fight scenes are now a lost art. In addition, this was one of director Chang Cheh's Shaolin series of movies in which the screen, during part(s) of the end fight, would switch to black-and-white, with flashes of blood-red, to symbolize imminent death for characters. Of course, this technique was copied by Quentin Tarantino for parts of the end fight in Kill Bill vol. 1. Though the effect might look a bit dated, it does enhance the mood of certain scenes a bit more than full-color throughout might have done.

[Jimbo]

203 - The Daredevils (a.k.a., The Magnificent Acrobats)

(Some training and end fight; Kuo Chui, Lu Feng, & Chiang Sheng vs. Wang Li; Sun Chien vs. Chan Shen)

*End fight begins @ approximately 6:45*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnI-xFid5W8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7-r...eature=related

This was one of the more rarely seen of the "Venoms" films. Kuo, Lu, Chiang, and Wang all trained in the same Peking/Beijing Opera school in Taiwan. The Daredevils is unusual in that Lu Feng teams with Kuo Chui and Chiang Sheng as a good guy. Also, Wang Li was normally cast in supporting roles as a good guy or a villain...usually a villain...and this may have been his only time playing the arch-villain. The action is somewhat less refined than in many other "Venoms" films, yet it still has its moments.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I remember Wang Li as the guy who could handle weapons very well, sort of in the tradition of Ku Feng. He looks out of place bare handed.

204- "Killing of the Villains" Shek Kin, Kwan, Tak Hing, others. Though unseen by me, this clip recently popped up on youtube. It is interesting to see how the Northern styles are represented; especially with regard to the kicks. The principles looked relieved to be doing something different from a Wong Fei hung movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7VnQXF19xM

mickey