Shaolin Rescuers (1979) Review

Directed by: Chang Cheh

Choreographers: Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Robert Tai Chi-Hsien

Starring: Jason Pai Piao and the Venoms

I chose this movie for 3 reasons:  The fight sequences are awesome, I like the storyline  and Lu Feng won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor at the 25th Asian Film Festival in 1979.  

Synopsis: Three friends who practice different styles of martial arts long to be famed heroes instead of working in their dead end jobs. One day the famous Hong Xiquan, badly injured and being pursued by Priest White Brow’s ruthless student Gao Jinzhong and his minions, passes out at the bean curd shop. The three friends nurse the hero back to health and aid him and Han Qi in ridding the world of part of the Wu Tang Clan.

My 3 Favorite Fights
Gao Jinzhong(Lu Feng) vs. Wang(Wong Li):  Gao bare handily takes on Wang’s double swords after his minions cannot handle the Shaolin student. The choreography of this scene is very well executed by both men. Gao basically manhandles Wang not allowing him to land any strikes with his swords.  Eventually, the stronger Gao reveals 2 hidden small trident/pitchfork type weapons from his boots and disarms the lesser man, and stabbing him with his own weapon.  Gao uses the small pitchforks to slice and dice Wang’s chest open before allowing the minions to inflict more pain.  When Gao tires of the shenanigans, he tosses the pitchforks into the air at a precise angle so that they land in Wang’s wounded abdomen, killing the man.

The Friends “Fight” in the Restaurant: I like the fight scenes that occur in the restaurant as Chen Jin, Yang Dabao, and Zhu Cai(Lo Meng, Kuo Chui and Sun Chien respectively) each get to showcase their styles of fighting.  Lo Meng’s Mantis style is strong and powerful with rock-solid punches.  Kuo Chui’s Black Tiger is fun to watch as he is able to take anything and use it as a weapon.  I enjoyed Kuo Choi vs. Lo Meng as Kuo used his bowl and chopsticks to fend off Lo Meng’s Mantis. Sun Chien’s effortless movements on the poles and strong accurate kicks are always a treat to watch. The chemistry and playfulness of the three also make their scenes together fun to watch.

The Final Fight: The final fight is well-choreographed mayhem with a bit of comedy thrown in that is pure joy to watch as Jason Pai Piao and Chiang Sheng are also part of the foray.  It’s almost a weaponry feast with the different weapons being employed. Lo Meng uses a giant pitchfork against one of the minions. Chiang Sheng uses a pole, a spear and two hooked swords against Lu Feng and a Guan Dao(personally this is my favorite weapon to see Lu Feng use).  The way Lu Feng twirls the Guan Dao around is mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. Even Kuo Chui picks up a pair of swords to help Chiang Sheng battle Lu Feng. Ultimately it takes 4 members of Shaolin and all their weapons to bring down White Brow’s best student.

Although the fight sequences lack the typical acrobatics we see in later films, these are solid, well-grounded fight sequences. The movements are smooth, precise and well executed by all the actors.

The Storyline: This is not your typical revenge or overthrow the Qings story.  This story is more about the friendship of three men who want to be more than what they what they are: poor citizens working every day in boring jobs.  When the opportunity arises to do what is right, these men of character step forth and are willing to give up their lives for someone more important to the cause. This movie has heart, a sense of purpose and is entertaining with the right blend of comedy, seriousness and martial arts.

Award Winner: Lu Feng plays Gao Jinzhong with not only the icy calmness need for a ruthless man such as this but also with a bit of charisma only he can.  One minute he is ferocious as he’s killing an enemy and the next moment, he is oozing charm as he tries to gather information on the whereabouts of Hong Xiquan.  Coupled with his smooth acting is his awe-inspiring weaponry skills.  Master Lu Feng should receive an award for the way he handles the weapons his characters use.  He is graceful in his motions and he makes it look so easy. This is why he’s my favorite.      

Shaolin Rescuers is available on Amazon Prime and iTunes.

All rights to pictures belong to Celestial Pictures.

Cat vs. Rat (1982) Review

Director:  Lau Kar-Leung

Starring:  Fu Sheng, Adam Cheng, Kara Hui, Gordon Liu and Wang, Lung-Wei

Action Directors: Lau Kar-Leung, King Lee King-Chu, and Hsiao Ho

Plot: Cat and Rat, two students of the same Sifu, are always fighting to determine who is the best Each student battles the Sifu and learns new techniques, hoping to best the other.  One day the incognito Emperor is saved by Rat. The Emperor wants to make Rat an official but the Rat doesn’t believe the man is the real deal.  The Cat saves the Emperor on another occasion and receives the position, much to the chagrin of the Rat.  The Rat tries to get revenge with the assistance of his sworn Rat Brothers.

The movie was good for the most part.  I would watch it again.  I enjoyed Adam Cheng’s performance in the movie as Jien Chiu, the Royal Cat. I think he played the part of the serious, straight man well to Alexander Fu Sheng’s silly arrogant and annoying Bai Yu Tong, the Brocaded Rat. I also enjoyed Lydia Shum Tin-Ha as Bai Yu Tong’s pushy and over the top mother.  You can see why Bai Yu Tong turned out the way they did.

Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, and Johnny Wang Lung-Wei were also good in their roles but were unable to showcase their fine fighting skills.  I would have liked the movie more if these fine actors were given more fight sequences.  The fighting was choreographed well in this film, so it is a shame Gordon, Kara and Johnny’s superb fight skills were underutilized.

My favorite fight sequences were between the Sifu and his two students.  So many different weapons were used as he tried to teach each student that they were equal. Even though these were my favorite sequences, I do think the movie spent too much time, in the beginning, focusing on the rivalry between the two students.  If there had been less of the students fighting maybe there could have been more of Kara and Gordon showing off their skills.  

Another waste was Lung Tien-Hsiang as Shui Shueng Pui who announced himself as the River Rat in one scene.  Then he wasn’t the River Rat at the end. Hsiao Ho plays River Rat at the end but I thought he was just a servant throughout the movie.  That was a bit confusing to me.  Maybe the subtitles got it wrong but Lung Tien Hsiang should have been the River Rat at the end.

Overall, Cat vs. Rat is an ok movie and should be viewed once by all Alexander Fu Sheng fans.  The storyline is good as are the fighting sequences.  The actors are excellent in their roles and I also enjoyed the comedy.  The Bai Yu Tong character, however, was very annoying in this story and I wanted to slap him a few times.  

Final rating:  3 out of 5 Rats

Cat Vs. Rat is available on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play Store.

Iron Flag Princess meets Iron Tiger Cao Feng in NYC November 11-12, 2017

I have been watching and loving Shaw Brothers martial arts films since I was a young girl in the early 1980s.  These amazing and awe-inspiring films fed my curiosity of the Chinese culture and her people that I continue to foster to this day so much so that I am researching and saving for a trip to Asia.  So when the announcement was made that a famous Hong Kong actor was coming to NYC, a mere 2.5 hours away from my house, I began saving and planning for this journey.

On Saturday, November 11th, My cousin Linda and I had the honor and pleasure of meeting and spending time with Lu Feng, my favorite Hong Kong actor from the late 1970s and 1980s in the town that never sleeps. It was an exciting and mesmerizing one in a lifetime experience. As I write this post, I am still filled with joy, love, honor, respect for this man who has given so much happiness to millions of fans for over 40 years.

When I arrived at the AMC Empire 25 theater for the Urban Action Showcase and Expo, I never in my wildest dreams would have expected what lies ahead of me on this cold, crisp morning in NYC. The excitement was building as the escalator slowly carried me toward my dream of meeting the Centipede, the deadliest of Venoms.  Arriving at the table, I see my Fu Sister, Ariel Jade, who was instrumental in making this girl’s dreams come true. I jumped in immediately to help her have a successful day.

After I finished the tasks I was assigned upstairs, I headed downstairs with my other Fu Sister, Renee Taylor, to continue handing out prepaid packages to registered guests.  As we are rushing to the elevators we notice the one and only Lu Feng taking pictures with his numerous and grateful fans. I was trembling with excitement on the inside as I handed my phone to James Santi to capture the momentous occasion.  I nervously asked Master Cao Feng to take a picture with me and to my surprise, he recognized me from Facebook and embraced me in a tight hug that melted away all the anxiety I had for the day.  My heart exploded even more with love for this wonderfully gracious and humble man. The smile on our faces is of that pure joy. Who would have thought that I would have had this personal of an encounter with greatness?

Besides being humble, gracious and kind, Lu Feng is generous and loving beyond compare.  After completing my tasks downstairs I returned to Lu Feng’s booth where he was signing autographs and taking pictures with his adoring fans.  When the crowd thinned and Lu Feng was catching his breath, I took the opportunity to present him with a gift I brought to thank him for the many years of joy and inspiration he has provided me.  I am thankful that the Master liked my gift and was honored to receive my small token of love.To my surprise, he presented me with a gift of his appreciation.  He told me he would autograph it later if I wanted.  I was shocked that he would give me anything.  I was amazed to see a beautiful fan when I opened the gift later.  I love seeing Lu Feng in a movie with a cape, Guan Dao or Spear and a fan!

I was able to see some of my favorite movies on the big screen. Invincible Shaolin, Flag of Iron, Masked Avengers, and Rebel Intruders were amazing larger than life.  I enjoyed seeing the movies with other fans and hearing their reactions to critical moments.  The audible gasps when Bao Shanxiong chest was to be expected. Even though I knew it was coming, it was still painful to watch and brought tears to my eyes. The final fight in Flag of Iron was absolutely GORGEOUS on the big screen.  I was mesmerized by Lu Feng and Kuo Chui as the gracefully wielded the large instruments of death!  The movies are fantastic on the small screen but if you ever get the chance to see them on the big screen, you have to do it!

On Sunday, November 12th, a few of us at dinner with the living legend at Old Sichuan Restaurant in Chinatown, NYC.  My girlfriends, Linda, Bambi, Renee and I met him at his hotel to escort him to the dinner.  Lu Feng was so sweet, gracious, humble and charming.  He took more pictures, talked with us and autographed more items.  He gave a short speech in English thanking everyone for coming to the event and dinner. I was very surprised that he thanked me by name!  He said my name correctly which most people can’t do and he spelled it correctly on the fan.  

A week after this wonderful weekend I am still smiling and pinching myself!  I am so impressed with Lu Feng.  This living legend is a real gentleman, a down to earth star to which no one else can compare in my eyes.  I am grateful to everyone who put this event together and happy I was able to make memories with so many wonderful people.

Iron Neck Li (1981) Review

Starring: Chi Kuan Chun, Wong Hon, Hsiao Hou-Tao, Wang Shui

Director:  Cheung Yan-Git

Action Directors:  So Kwok-Leung, Lin Kuang-Yung

Summary:  ‘Iron Neck’ Li Yung(Chi Kuan Chun) earned his nickname by using his fists to stand up for the weak and persecuted.  LI Yung becomes the bodyguard of young Emperor Chien Lung after His Majesty stands up for him when he was wrongly accused of killing a man.  The pair set out on an adventure across Taiwan with Wang Fa(Wang Shui), the Emperor’s eunuch.  The trio run into some interesting circumstances, love and nefarious characters on their adventure.

This is one of my non-Shaw Brothers films starring one of my top 3 favorites Chi Kuan Chun.  I liked this movie because Chi Kuan Chun doesn’t play his normal stoic and wise character as he was stereotyped during his Shaw Brothers days.  Iron Neck Li allows him to show his range as an actor.  Li Yung is brave and strong but also shy around women and has a fight now and ask questions later kind of attitude.  He is a martial force to be reckoned with as he takes on many enemies throughout their travels.

One of my favorite scenes is where Li picks up a pair of wedding shoes and lucky red envelope of money.  The father comes out of the house and greets Li Yung as his son-in-law.  Li runs for his life back to where the Emperor and Wang Fa are waiting.  The sheer look of terror, which is not a normal look, on Chi Kuan Chun’s face made me giggle a little.  In this movie, we are able to see many different expressions/emotions from Chi Kuan Chun that we are not used to seeing in his Shaw Brothers films.

The other actors also did a great job in this film, especially Wang Shui as the eunuch, Wang Fa.  He provided some funny moments in the movie.  Wang seems to get them in a bit of trouble in a brothel and serenades a young lady while she is picking tea.  

The action wasn’t anything spectacular as most of it was hand to hand combat.  The sequences are basic and not flashy which fits in with the story of the movie.  Don’t get me wrong, the action is good but you shouldn't expect flipping and many different types of weapons being used. The fighting is true to life in my opinion.

All in all, this is a good film if you are looking to discover a different side of Chi Kuan Chun.  I liked everything about the movie except the ending.  I wish it had a different ending.

Iron Neck Li is available on Youtube and Amazon Prime


Legalese: All images copyright Three Virtues Film Co. (H.K.) Ltd. and their respective owners. No infringement is intended or presumed.

Who Wore It Better? Second Edition

In this edition of Who Wore It Better, the same costume is worn in 2 Venom Mob movies, one by a supporting actor and one by a first tier Venom.  The costume in my opinion is not the best color scheme for either actor as yellow and brown are not flattering on anyone.  

The first image is from the 1979 film Magnificent Ruffians a.k.a. The Destroyers.  The actor is #1 Venom Lu Feng as the villain Yuan Ying Fei, The Golden Sword.  I understand the meaning of the yellow in this costume is to remind us that he is the Golden Sword and his techniques match rotations of the sun.  Also, Yuan Ying Fei is the center of the universe in the small town he controls and the townspeople cannot do anything without his approval and/or knowledge.

Wan Seung-Lam sears the same costume in the 1981 film Sword Stained with Royal Blood as the supporting character Sha.  Sha is second in command to Master Rong, the chief of Lung Yau School.  Even though Sha is a supporting character, his costume also shows his rank in relation to the men he has brought with him to retrieve the stolen taels.

I am a Lu Feng fan so I believe he wears it better even though it is not a flattering costume for either gentlemen.  Your turn to decide who wore it better.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Sword Stained with Royal Blood can be viewed digitally at iTunes,*Amazon Video,*Google Play,*YouTube.

Magnificent Ruffians can be purchased on DVD at Amazon.

Legalese: All images copyright Celestial Pictures and their respective owners. No infringement is intended or presumed. We encourage you to seek out these films through official channels. *

Crazy Horse, Intelligent Monkey (1982) Review

Starring: Chi Kuan Chun, Hon Kwok-Choi, Candy Wen Xue-Erh

Directed by: Tony Liu Chun-Ku and Chan Hei

Action Directors: Chin Yuet-Sang, Alan Chui Chung-San and Max Lee Chiu-Chun

Summary:  Hou Hsiao Shan(Hon Kwok-Choi) is a conman who is saved by Ma Ta(Chi Kuan Chun), a kung fu expert after he is beaten in a casino.  The pair travel to find Ma’s mother who went to visit his uncle but never returned.  On their way, the men meet a mysterious Mr.(Miss) Lee(Candy Wen Xue-Erh).  When they arrive at the uncle’s house, Ma Ta discovers his mother has been murdered and his “uncle” is being blackmailed.  Unfortunately, Hou and Ma are no match for the murderers and are trained by Miss Lee and her teacher in order to take revenge.

I enjoy watching this movie because the story is excellent and told very well.  Even though the theme is the typical revenge movie, there is a bit of mystery. There are several plot twists that are not expected as the movie progresses.  The characters are well developed through their interactions with one another.  Hon and Chi are fun to watch as they change from acquaintances to friends and almost brothers.  Hon Kwok-Choi fills the mischievous little brother role which was usually played by Alexander Fu Sheng. Chi Kuan Chun plays the responsible older brother, looking out for his friend.

Candy Wen Xue-Erh plays to type in this movie.  She dresses as a man for the first part of the movie but when her true character is revealed she becomes at moments the bratty girl in previous Shaw Brothers films.  Her training scenes as a girl opposite of Hon Kwok-Choi provide comic relief. This pairing has a great chemistry.

I usually think the training scenes in some movies go on far too long but they were perfect in this one.  They served the purpose of watching our heroes progress and develop the titular styles in order to take their revenge.  My favorite part of the movie is watching Chi Kuan Chun develop the Crazy Horse technique.  His movements are so graceful and beautiful in every film.  He is mesmerizing to watch. His muscular physique and graceful movements make him the perfect Crazy Horse.

Hon Kwok-Choi makes the perfect Intelligent Monkey for the movie as his conman is very smart and able to outwit his adversaries.  His short and wiry body type is perfect to learn the monkey fighting style.

This is a great non-Shaw Brothers film if you are a Chi Kuan Chun fan like me.  The story is great and they chose the best actors for each part.  I couldn’t see anyone else in these roles. The training and fighting sequences are excellent, especially if you want to see shapes being performed by a master.  I watch this over and over again.


Crazy Horse, Intelligent Monkey is available on Youtube

Legalese: All images copyright Ka Wah Film(H.K.) Ltd.and their respective owners. No infringement is intended or presumed.

Flag of Iron Review-A Fight/Weapons Retrospective Part 2

This was a long Review so I decided to break it down into parts.  I Hope you enjoy it. Please leave a comment below.

Much Love,
~Lady Cao Feng

“Yeah. Our people being so competent and all.”

Upon his return, Leopard wins big (money and a house) at the new Iron Flag gambling house. Trapped in a soaked cow ligament net, Leopard gets a rest from all the action. For a change of pace, Tiger and Fierce Eagle battle to the death. Tiger begins the fight by using his flag with the fabric rolled tightly and wields it like a spear. Before Fierce Eagle can even grab his Kwan do, Tiger is cagy and thrust his flag at the “disobedient” Eagle. Once both men are armed, the delicate dance begins with Tiger on the attack and Fierce Eagle furiously trying to deflect each stab. Despite all of his dodging and a flip, Tiger manages to hit Fierce Eagle quite hard 3 times with the pole portion of the flag. Eventually Tiger has had enough of this and unfurls his flag. This is his signal that it is time for the nonsense to end and your death is eminent. Tiger quickly wraps Fierce Eagle up in the fabric, guides him toward Flying Eagle and unwraps him as if he is a gift. Tiger then swipes at Fierce Eagle’s feet causing him to jump and land perfectly on his back in front of Flying Eagle, who unceremoniously stabs his “friend” in the back (I meant sliced open his stomach.

“Chief had great foresight and knew you would rebel…”

After saving Leopard from a horrific death, Flying Eagle tangles briefly with 3 of the 4 senior flag bearers. Using his suddenly clean double swords, the lone Eagle puts up a very short fight. The first flag bearer guides the Eagle into the path of his awaiting brothers. The other two use their unfurled flags to trap the Eagle so the first can stab him.

The two who side with Tiger dispatch Leopard’s loyal brothers so they can complete their mission. However, Monkey and The WRR intervene. You can tell these flag bearers are not in the same league as Tiger, Leopard, and Monkey as their flag skill is noticeably weaker. Not only is the use of the flag as a weapon more awkward for them, their defense against them is pretty much nonexistent. The flag bearer who fights the WRR is able to counter his spear for a few moments until he he is forced to bump into his partner. Lui Bao (the other flag bearer) is able to keep the Monkey on the move, allowing Monkey to show off his flipping skills which we have not seen so far in the film. After the flag bearers collide they unfurl their flags in a display to suggest they have had enough. The one FB swipes at the WRR who throws his mini spear under the flag, catches it on the other side and kills his youthful opponent. I thought this was a pretty cool move that showed how inexperienced these men are. Lui Bao’s flag waving is the catalyst for Monkey to showcase how he earned his nickname. He effortlessly jumps and flips out of the way of the furiously waving flag bearer. Monkey effortlessly disarms the young man and turns his own flag against him. Again his experience defending against the flag is his downfall. Monkey trips him, sweeps him up into the air and nails him to a column with his own flag.

“Not reliable, isn’t it?”

Tiger sends the remaining 2 flag bearers to fetch Leopard, Monkey and the WRR. The 5 men exit the brothel and walk into another trap. Archers and swordsmen are waiting but Leopard’s loyal followers use very basic flag waving skills to save their friends from the arrows while wiping out the archers. The pair jump up to the balcony to attack the swordsmen, who barely use their swords, and kill a few more archers. The flag bearers fall from the balcony followed by the leaping swordsmen who are impaled before the loyal flag brothers take their last breath.

“I suppose you 2 big fellas won’t let her risk her life.”

Lan Xin, the WRR’s favorite lady, is being used to pit him against Leopard. The WRR doesn’t fall for this like the chivalrous Leopard but request she be set free then he will fight. Leopard furls his flag as the WRR prepares to duel. The 2 are evenly matched as the WRR’s mini spears are able to block the long range of the flag. Both men use quick jabbing motions to try and gain the upper hand. However, their opponent is just as fast in blocking the other’s deadly moves. Eventually, Leopard releases the fabric of his flag so that he can get his frenemy off balance. The fabric causes the WRR to duck, jump and roll out of the way to no avail as Leopard is able to pin WRR to the ground with the spear tip pointed at his throat.

The unimpressed Tiger watches the joust and believing the WRR is about to die, removes his cape and reaches for his own flag to take on the victor. Leopard allows the WRR to get up and their duel continues as the angry and in total disbelief Tiger watches. After some more evenly matched sparring, the WRR is able to catch Leopard off guard. As Leopard tumbles away, the WRR is close behind and when he stands, the Leopard has a mini spear pointed at his throat.

As the WRR is lowering his mini spear, a furious Tiger hurls a flag straight through WRR with such force, the flag stick into the tree! Luckily, Leopard is able to escape, thwarting Tiger’s plan to kill two with one spear yet again. WRR turns and weakly throws one of his spear at Tiger who easily deflects it by swirling his flag.

 

Leopard and Tiger finally begin their death duel with the fabric rolled around their poles. Both men are fervently slashing, jabbing and slicing at each other as they spin away from blows that come dangerously close to ripping open flesh. At one point, they catch the others flag in one hand and release so that they have exchanged weapons. Tiger is able to keep up with Leopard’s jumping and tumbling to avoid being hurt. Finally, Tiger unleashes his anger and flag when he throws it into the air causing the fabric to unrolled. This is our que that the chief has had enough and is ready to put an end to this situation. One of my favorite moves is when Tiger jumps into the air and becomes perpendicular to the ground. The tip of his flag catches the fabric of Leopard’s flag tearing it into two pieces. When the Tiger has the leopard on the run, Monkey jumps into the action. Monkey deploys the tip of the spear the now deceased WRR had given him for the critical moment. Tiger uses a bamboo basket to catch the projectile. The brothers continue their battle until Monkey is able to unleash the last secret of the spear, thin flying needles. Tiger’s basket is able to catch the needles which become lodged in his chest. Amazed he was struck, an unfocused Tiger becomes careless and is swept up by his brothers’ flags. Tiger is pierced by both tips and succumbs to his injuries.

“You are such a genius.”

The ultimate weapon of the film in my opinion is the mind. The use of strategy by both Tiger and the WRR is impressive. The combatants were playing chess with living pawns. Tiger was willing to sacrifice all his pieces in order to be victorious and discounted the hidden strength of his opponents. The WRR knew the value of keeping a closely guarded secret and he knew the strength of his pieces. Tiger’s dismissal of Monkey as an asset was what ultimately brought his death.

Chang Cheh’s choice of flags as the feature weapon was brilliant. The flags afforded Chiang, Kuo and Lu the opportunity to demonstrate through their choreography their opera strengths. From the looks on the Venoms’ faces, guys wielded their flags with ease and power unlike their younger counterparts who seemed to struggle. In some shots, Lu’s expression is pure fury. Also, Kuo and Chiang were able to showcase their flipping and jumping as Lu feverishly waved his flag. The spinning these guys could do was absolutely amazing. Slow motion enhanced the beauty of the flags swirling around them as they maneuvered around each other was gorgeous. Their flag scenes are well choreographed dances. Another reason I enjoy this movie is I can tell Lu Feng is having a great time with this character. There are few scenes where he smirks but you think he could go into a full on laugh but it would be inappropriate. This movie was tailor made for my 3 favorite Venoms!

Flag of Iron is available at iTunes * Amazon Prime

Legalese: All images copyright Celestial Pictures and their respective owners. No infringement is intended or presumed. We encourage you to seek out these films through official channels. *