Sorry Chris, i’m stoned, i was looking at a post from Michael at lovelockandload just before :o
No problem. The weird thing is my brother is Michael…and people used to always get us mixed up. So, I was a bit wigged out there…ha ha!
Inspired by Brother Yodlaf’s recent viewing I decided to pull The Magnificent Trio out of the ‘to watch’ pile today. And very glad I did too. Excellent story and beautifully shot it was an enjoyable ride. One of the pleasures for me I suspect was the striking similarity of the plot to a plethora of Spaghetti Westerns. LOne fighter enters town and becomes embroiled in local’s struggle with corrupt town Boss. Boss has hired fighter of his own who inevitably turns against his employer after the hero suffers a sadistic lashing at the hands of the bad guys. Sound familiar?
This, I think, is the earliest Shaw Brothers film I have watched and the fighting style was noticeably less well choreographed. Lots of sword swishing that seemed to miss the target by a foot and a half but still instantly kill four adversaries at a time. Never mind, who cares. The film was good fun all round.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. It also featured an actress with one of the best names I ever heard. Fanny Fan. Magnificent ;D
And today it was Return to the 36th Chamber.
More of a comedy than I was expecting which made me a bit nervous at first but it turned out well. From my experience Chinese comedy is often similar to Italian comedy in that it tends towards to slapstick buffoonery but this one wasn’t too bad and once Gordon Liu took over it was actually very entertaining.
The roof scaffolding technique was pretty cool but the thing which will stick in my memory longest I suspect is the outrageous comic teeth sported by Hsiao Ho. Who thought they were a good idea ???
Enter the Dragon
Watched the first half hour last night. Pretty good, and Lee is excellent. It’s a shame that the screenplay is dialbolical.
Probably the same person who thought up comedy moles and cross eyed characters 
Watched Magnificent Bodyguards today, an early Jackie Chan film from Lo Wei.
Not bad but nothing outstanding, culled music from Star Wars in certain parts ;D
I can watch the following Kung-Fu movies:
1 The Street Fighter’s Last Revenge (1974)
2 The Street Fighter (1974)
3 Return of the Kung Fu Dragon (1976)
4 Death Machines (1976)
5 Deadly Duo (1962)
6 Chase Step By Step (1974)
Does anyone know anything about them? And which are the best ones? Thanks.
[quote=“John Welles, post:468, topic:368”]I can watch the following Kung-Fu movies:
1 The Street Fighter’s Last Revenge (1974)
2 The Street Fighter (1974)
3 Return of the Kung Fu Dragon (1976)
4 Death Machines (1976)
5 Deadly Duo (1962)
6 Chase Step By Step (1974)
Does anyone know anything about them? And which are the best ones? Thanks.[/quote]
Well, I would recommend THE DEADLY DUO if it had the proper 1971 date after it. THE DEADLY DUO from 1962 is an entirely non-Kung Fu, American crime drama starring Craig Hill. The only thing interesting about that '62 film is the fact that it stars Hill! It is truly a boring film. However, the Kung Fu film that goes by the same name was made in 1971 and is a solid little Shaw Bros. film featuring David Chiang and Ti Lung. It is directed by the master, Chang Cheh, whose films are always worth at least one viewing.
I noticed not too long ago that even IMDB has these two films mixed up! If you look up DEADLY DUO (1962) they have the details from the American film…but, they show a picture of the old Rainbow VHS release for the Chang Cheh film!
I also recommend the Sonny Chiba film THE STREETFIGHTER. That is a classic of Japanese action cinema. Some Kung Fu fans would be irked that you have those two Japanese Karate movies listed as Kung Fu films, by the way. I am not one of those fans, though!
THE STREETFIGHTER’S LAST REVENGE is the weakest of the Streetfighter films, but I, personally, enjoyed it.
CHASE STEP BY STEP is an OK time passer.
DEATH MACHINES is terrible.
To my knowledge, I have not seen RETURN OF THE KUNG FU DRAGON, thus I can’t comment on it.
The reason I say “to my knowledge” is that many of these Kung Fu films have been released under different titles in various markets (similar to SW’s!); so, I might have seen it…but, not under this title.
I agree 100% with Chris on the awesomeness of Deadly Duo. It was my first foray into the world of Ti Lung and David Chiang together. I love it.
Thanks Chris. Sorry if I got any infomation wrong, but I don’t know anything about these films.
You are welcome, amigo. No need to apologize, at all…you were undoubtedly not the one responsible for any wrong information.
Coming out on Blu ray on January 19th 8)
[glow=red,2,300]The Five Venoms[/glow]
SB Classic that everyone knows, I suppose…
I just looked, and the dates were indeed wrong. This one starts with a sword fight between what look like Kung-Fu masters, and not a American in sight!
Deadly Duo is awesome & brutal. Phil, those fights with the wicker/rattan strips in Return To The 36th Chamber are some the most amazing sequences I’ve ever seen.
Black Cat I enjoyed this although it ended a bit abruptly, looking forward to watching the sequel.
(although not a kung fu film i thought this was the best place to mention it)
[quote=“Yodlaf Peterson, post:477, topic:368”]Black Cat I enjoyed this although it ended a bit abruptly, looking forward to watching the sequel.
(although not a kung fu film i thought this was the best place to mention it)
[/quote]
Great movie!
The sequel is pretty lame, though; so, beware!
And it’s got such a great title.
Has anyone seen Killer’s Nocturne? It arrived today.
[quote=“Yodlaf Peterson, post:479, topic:368”]And it’s got such a great title.
Has anyone seen Killer’s Nocturne? It arrived today.[/quote]
My oh my—but you are bringing back some memories, brother!!
I have seen KILLER’S NOCTURNE. I saw it for the first time at a Chinese movie theater in Oklahoma City way back in the late 1980’s.
I picked up the Joy Sales/Golden Harvest DVD of this one about a year ago and am ashamed to say that I haven’t watched it, yet.
I am not sure what I should say about this film, though. It is definitely an uneven and somewhat different film. But, frankly, I really, really like it. I like Alex Law, Chin Siu Ho, and Pat Ha Man Jing—and I love the time period it is set in. So, it works for me.
I just don’t always feel comfortable recommending it! ha ha!
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the Kangaroo fight has to be seen to be disbelieved! ;D
