Kung Fu Espresso!!

[Jimbo]

293 - Stoner (1974)

(End fight; Angela Mao vs. Hwang In-Shik; George Lazenby vs. Sammo Hung, Chin Chi-Chu, & company)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQXGphf0TWQ

George Lazenby, of course, is best known for his one-time 007 role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), considered by many to be one of the best James Bond films.

After appearing as allies in Hapkido, Angela Mao and Hwang In-Shik played onscreen opponents in a few movies, including When Tae Kwon Do Strikes, The Tournament, etc.

[mickey]

294- Jason and The Argonauts. Skeleton Fight. Developed by Ray Harryhausen

A very creative and fascinating use of stop motion animation that still holds up. I think it is because it was not over done. This was probably the inspiration for the Marvel Comics Team Up story, "Knightmare" that paired Iron Man and Dr Doom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9c55SoI3aY

I can't believe I overlooked this one.


mickey

[mickey]

295- Village of the ****ed (1960) George Sanders. This is one of those non martial entries that has a place here. A group of unusual children are born in a community. They have incredible abilities with mental perception and mental control. This last scene is one of a test of will between the character played by George sanders and the children, one of which is his own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF5N0...feature=relmfu


mickey

[Jimbo]

296 - A Force of One (1979)

(end fight, edited; Chuck Norris vs. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDNG2WWXiLk

This was Bill Wallace's first movie appearance, and IMO still probably his best, esp. his scenes in the ring. He was allowed to move in his natural way, in a semi-freestyle manner. In some of his later film appearances (most notably, Jackie Chan's The Protector), Wallace was far less fluid due to the choreography style seeming to be an ill fit for him (check entry #176).

I also liked Chuck Norris's style more in these earlier films, as he performed fluid combinations, and combined hands/feet, right-left sides nicely. Not many years later, he tended to overemphasize the "John Wayne-style" movie punch, with only a kick here or there.

[mickey]

297- The Tenth Victim (1965) Ursula Andress Marcello Mastroanni, Opening Scene:

The premise is to kill ten people for one million dollars. It is ground breaking because the film suggests a reality television format. The film was the forerunner to "Death Race 2000" and the 2001 movie "Series 7, The Contenders". The scene takes place in lower Manhattan. One can see the beginnings of what appears to be preliminary clearing for the World Trade Center construction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axGE8...eature=related


298- "Series Seven, the Contenders" (2001) This was inspired by entry 297 and should be a cult favorite by now. It is full of dark humor and I remember people trying to figure out if this flick was real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_331XrCm87c


mickey

[Jimbo]

How's it going, Mickey.

That Tenth Victim clip was very interesting. You're right; it does look a lot like a modern 'reality TV' show.

[mickey]

Greetings Jimbo,

I am still at the crossroads of life. And I am surviving.

You haven't seen this movie? Whoa! You HAVE to. It is a lot of fun and it is definitely a keeper. The opening scene was really attention getting for the time. And its undercurrent premise that death is more important than life is a recurring theme. You even get that in Prince's "Sign of the Times". Series Seven is also very good, much more realistic--which is why people were wondering about it. And it is a keeper as well.


mickey

[Jimbo]

299 - My Young Auntie (full movie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poeSRSiFKw4

(pre-end fight begins @ 1:22:00; End fight begins @ about 1:37:00)

Starring:
Kara Hui, Lau Kar-Leung, Hsiao Hou, Wang Lung-Wei, Yuen Tak, Gordon Liu, Mai Te-Lao, Ching Chu, Kwan Young-Moon, Wilson Tong, Lin Hui-Huang, Walter Tso, Lin Ke-Ming, etc.

This is one of Lau Kar-Leung's best films, although, IMO, a good portion of the middle of it, which consists of long stretches of overdone comedy situations, tends to drag. But YMMV. The action, however, is among the best, esp. the large-scale and highly complex end fights. I've said it before, but the combination of this very difficult choreography and the cinematography are a lost art today. FYI, in this film, Gordon Liu's character is not much of a fighter, and is not a part of the end fight scene. Everyone, esp. Lau Kar-Leung himself and Wang Lung-Wei, is outstanding in the end fight. Of course, with the quality and slickness of a top Shaw Brothers film during its golden era.

[Jimbo]

300 - Killer Constable (a.k.a., Lightning Kung Fu)

(End fight; Chen Kuan-Tai vs. Yuen Wah & company. With Walter Tso).

*end fight begins @ about 1:20*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw1P4...e_gdata_player

The MA choreography of this Shaw film was shared by Shikamura Yasuyoshi and Huang Pei-Chi.

[Jimbo]

301 - Fists and Guts

(End fight: Gordon Liu vs. Lo Lieh; also featuring Lau Kar-Wing and Lee Hoi-San)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9MGG...e_gdata_player

Although the late Lo Lieh was never actually a martial artist outside of the movies, with the right choreography, he was able to look good in film fights. Even though he lacked the physical talents of, say, Leung Kar-Yan, another screen fighter who was never a MAist offscreen, Lo was still able to perform in some complex, difficult sequences. And with his characteristic scowl and smirk, he remains one of the classic villains of Kung fu cinema.

[Jimbo]

302 - Monkey Kung Fu (a.k.a., Stroke of Death)*

(End fight; Ching Siu-Tung & Hau Chiu-Sing vs. Kuan Feng)

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

*Not to be confused with the Taiwanese independent production, also titled Monkey Kung Fu, which starred Chen Mu-Chuan (Chen Kuan-Tai's younger brother) and Chang Yi.

This film has long been a favorite of mine, and IMO was director Johnny Lo Mar's best effort. Not a "great film" per se, but the choreography and execution are outstanding, especially for a movie likely classed as a "lesser" Shaw Bros production.

As in The Master Strikes, we see a young Ching Siu-Tung, who also shared choreography duties. This is before he became known mainly as a MA choreographer known for extreme wire work. He displays some impressive screen fighting skill.

Hau Chiu-Sing does a good job as the monkey master. At times his style of movement appeared awkward, but he always seemed to be on point and able to handle difficult choreography.

Most impressive is Kuan Feng as the staff-wielding villain. I rate his fighting performance up there with the all-time best; the cinematic staff fighting is impeccable. As mentioned before, Kuan Feng was surely one of, if not the most, underrated/underused of the Shaw Bros performers. Johnny Lo Mar was the only director who actually allowed him to showcase his talents, and this was probably his best performance; IMO it tops his performance in The Five Superfighters.

[Jimbo]

303 - The Coward B@stard

(End fight; Yuen Wah & Meng Yuan-Wen vs. Wang Lung-Wei & Kuan Feng)

*end fight begins @ 14:25*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxnvbQn0C4

While this isn't a very good movie, it's unique in that Yuen Wah has a co-leading role. Although the bulk of the movie focused on Meng Yuan-Wen's character, Yuen Wah played the straight man to Meng's childish but shrewd character. While most Westerners would mostly know him from his role in Kung Fu Hustle, Yuen Wah has been appearing in films since the 1960s as a child actor, long before his brief appearances in Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon. The kung fu comedy era allowed many beginning and veteran performers to show off more of their athletic and screen-fighting prowess. Yuen Wah usually played supporting heavies and rarely good guys, much less co-leads. Perhaps the closest he would ever approach to such a role again would be as the kung fu teacher in Jet Li's The Master (1989), Kung Fu Hustle (of course), and Fight the Fight (a.k.a., Choy Lee Fut).

Meng Yuan-Wen also appeared in movies as a child actor in the 1960s. Here he plays his usual rubbery-faced kid, but unlike in many of his other films, he never really gets to show off his full physical potential here.

The same can be said for the villains, Wang Lung-Wei and Kuan Feng, who didn't seem particularly challenged by these fight scenes.

[mickey]

304- The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974): The Fight with Kali. John Phillip Law and others.

This is one epic scene using the stop motion animation developed and used by Ray Harryhausen. While the audience saw Kali dance in a previous scene this scene caught viewers completely unawares (unless they saw the trailer). While the choreography is nowhere close to advanced the novelty and excitement of this scene stands tall. It makes one wonder how exciting this would be if a remake was done given knowledge of bladed weapons. The scenes featuring the character Gokor in Mortal Combat never came close to this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROssbvtE41U



mickey

[mickey]

305- Walking Tall (1973) Full Movie. Joe Don Baker.

This movie was the talk of the time. What makes this movie relevant today is that the corruption that was depicted in that movie did not die. It went corporate/big business, with government support. Joe Don Baker offers a fictional portrayal of the late Buford Pusser, a real life Tennessee based sheriff who tried to clean up his town.

What makes this an important entry to the pantheon of Kung Fu Expresso is that the character does not give up. He is the true personification of a WARRIOR. And it may take that necessary level of commitment shown here to bring this country back to its people.

Of interest to brothers like sanjuro ronin is the entrance made by the late Brenda Benet at @ 14:01. It is the most amazing entrance I have ever seen. Just the thought reminds me I need something to drink. It is unfortunate she committed suicide at the age of 36.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epIr2nQhSxc


mickey

[sanjuro_ronin]

305- Walking Tall (1973) Full Movie. Joe Don Baker.

This movie was the talk of the time. What makes this movie relevant today is that the corruption that was depicted in that movie did not die. It went corporate/big business, with government support. Joe Don Baker offers a fictional portrayal of the late Buford Pusser, a real life Tennessee based sheriff who tried to clean up his town.

What makes this an important entry to the pantheon of Kung Fu Expresso is that the character does not give up. He is the true personification of a WARRIOR. And it may take that necessary level of commitment shown here to bring this country back to its people.

Of interest to brothers like sanjuro ronin is the entrance made by the late Brenda Benet at @ 14:01. It is the most amazing entrance I have ever seen. Just the thought reminds me I need something to drink. It is unfortunate she committed suicide at the age of 36.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epIr2nQhSxc


mickey

An amazing social commentary movie, what Billy Jack tried to be.
As for Brenda: oh my, oh my, get me some of that pie