[quote=“Chris_Casey, post:500, topic:368”]As for the THE BIG HEAT, I am curious to know if the new-ish Fortune Star DVD will be cut, or not. The original film had some wild violent moments. I would tell you all about them, but I want to wait until you have seen it, if you know what I mean! ;)[/quote]I will watch that one pretty soon then
[quote=“Chris_Casey, post:500, topic:368”]I have seen LIFELINE and it was OK.[/quote]I thought the first part was so-so but i found the last 40 minutes or so to be breathtaking.
I watched THE BIG HEAT last night with Waise Lee and Venom Philip Kwok Chung Fung directed by Andrew Kam and Johnnie To (according to hkcinemagic Tsui Hark was also one of the directors).
Well, what can i say, i thoroughly enjoyed it.
[quote=“Yodlaf Peterson, post:503, topic:368”]I watched THE BIG HEAT last night with Waise Lee and Venom Philip Kwok Chung Fung directed by Andrew Kam and Johnnie To (according to hkcinemagic Tsui Hark was also one of the directors).
Well, what can i say, i thoroughly enjoyed it.
[/quote]
Was the bit where the guy gets shot, falls back and decapitates himself on the sharp edge of tin roof intact?
I have heard that bit has been cut in some versions.
THE BIG HEAT was one of my faves back when all I watched was Hong Kong stuff!
I don’t think Tsui Hark directed anything on this one, by the way. I know some of his money went into the project, but I don’t think he was behind the cameras at any time.
Watched THE YOUNG DRAGONS directed by John Woo, i had good fun watching this, some great fights in this one and they come thick and fast.
[quote=“Chris_Casey, post:504, topic:368”]Was the bit where the guy gets shot, falls back and decapitates himself on the sharp edge of tin roof intact?
I have heard that bit has been cut in some versions.[/quote]Yeah that was in it, in a warehouse, Waise Lee fires up at him, there was also quite a graphic scene of someone getting run over.
Right! And the drill through the hand…
Sounds like the Fortune Star disc might be uncut, after all.
Cheers for the info., brother!
[quote=“Chris_Casey, post:507, topic:368”]Right! And the drill through the hand…[/quote]Yes indeed
Watched THE ODD COUPLE, not seen it for a few years, i watched the English dub (who i was watching it with someone who doesn’t like subtitles), it turns out to be a new dub of the film because when Beardy’s henchmen are introduced they are called Ginger, Scary, Baby and Sporty!
I still think it could have done without the Dean Shek character though.
Saw the other day Police Story with Jackie Chan, which had some great kung fu in it… Chan had a real knack for outstanding stuntwork, here it shows more than any of his other films… Especially in a world where stunts are unimpressive, because to the average moviegoer they are obviously CGI , even if theyre not…
I watched THE CHEEKY CHAP this afternoon, a good solid kung fu comedy, the end fight was surprisingly brutal for this sort of film.
Seeing as though my Shaw Bros chronological journey has reached 1971-72 I thought it might be an idea to revisit some Bruce Lee in order to judge his impact as well as to remind myself why I used to like him back when I was just a young spam. So popped The Big Boss into the player and am glad to say it was just as much fun as I remember.
The Thai setting gives it a very different feel straight off but the contrast in the styles of fight scenes between this and the Shaws I’ve seen is the most notable. Lee is much more powerful and although Chang Cheh liked to dish out the claret with the best of them, the violence here feels much more brutal. Lee also has a charisma that no one ever matched for my money.
Good stuff.
EXECUTIONERS FROM SHANTUNG (1977, Lau Kar-leung)
I read this is regarded by some as a groundbreaking film, so if somebody here is shocked by my not liking this film, just think I’m not an expert on these movies.
The first ten, fifteen minutes are great, but then it goes dowhill with not enough action and too much comic relief that isn’t funny. It’s not really dull, nor is it particularly awful, but I had expected more of a movie with the great Kuan Tai Chen, the hero of one of my absolute favs, The Boxer from Shantung.
[quote=“scherpschutter, post:513, topic:368”]EXECUTIONERS FROM SHANTUNG (1977, Lau Kar-leung)
I read this is regarded by some as a groundbreaking film, so if somebody here is shocked by my not liking this film, just think I’m not an expert on these movies.
The first ten, fifteen minutes are great, but then it goes dowhill with not enough action and too much comic relief that isn’t funny. It’s not really dull, nor is it particularly awful, but I had expected more of a movie with the great Kuan Tai Chen, the hero of one of my absolute favs, The Boxer from Shantung.[/quote]
It shouldn’t be a shock at all, Scherp. It’s all down to opinion anyways. But you must have Chen Kuan Tai’s BOXER FROM SHANTUNG on your mind as this film is called EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN. It was a hit in Hong Kong and spurred on a long line of movies that featured a white haired villain. For this one, it was the real traitor, Pai Mei. The follow up to this, CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS features Lo Lieh again as the even more powerful classmate of Pai Mei, the White Lotus Chief. Lo Lieh also directed that one. Chen is a fave of mine, too.
[quote=“Phil H, post:512, topic:368”]Seeing as though my Shaw Bros chronological journey has reached 1971-72 I thought it might be an idea to revisit some Bruce Lee in order to judge his impact as well as to remind myself why I used to like him back when I was just a young spam. So popped The Big Boss into the player and am glad to say it was just as much fun as I remember.
The Thai setting gives it a very different feel straight off but the contrast in the styles of fight scenes between this and the Shaws I’ve seen is the most notable. Lee is much more powerful and although Chang Cheh liked to dish out the claret with the best of them, the violence here feels much more brutal. Lee also has a charisma that no one ever matched for my money.
Good stuff.[/quote]
I’ve never like Bruce Lee’s movies. He was great martial artist, but his movies were quite rudimentary compared with other films at the time in my opinion. I do agree about his charisma, though. If it weren’t for KING BOXER being released in America, Bruce may not have hit it big here. However, there are a number of films that feature fight sequences equally as powerful, or filled with rage as anything seen in Lee’s films. At least to me. BOXER FROM SHANTUNG (1972) comes to mind as does DISCIPLES OF SHAOLIN (1975).
Below are some pics I posted of Bruce Lee visiting Shaw studio one of several times. One of the pics has him visiting his friend, Chen Kuan Tai while shooting Chang Cheh’s IRON BODYGUARD. You can see the pics bigger by clicking them…
[quote=“scherpschutter, post:513, topic:368”]EXECUTIONERS FROM SHANTUNG (1977, Lau Kar-leung)
I read this is regarded by some as a groundbreaking film, so if somebody here is shocked by my not liking this film, just think I’m not an expert on these movies.
The first ten, fifteen minutes are great, but then it goes dowhill with not enough action and too much comic relief that isn’t funny. It’s not really dull, nor is it particularly awful, but I had expected more of a movie with the great Kuan Tai Chen, the hero of one of my absolute favs, The Boxer from Shantung.[/quote]
I love Executioners From Shaolin, not as much as Fist Of The White Lotus but much better than Abbot Of Shaolin. I’ve been on a SB tear lately, re-viewing
Shaolin Mantis
Shaolin Martial Arts
Masked Avengers
Flag Of Iron
Fist Of The White Lotus
No matter what genre I delve into I always come back to the Shaws.
Watched THE MYTH tonight with Jackie Chan, i found it quite enjoyable and was smiling throughout, maybe a little too much cgi though.
I picked up the 2-disc ultimate edition in Sainsbury’s for £3.
The Shaw-fest continues.
Kung Fu Instructor
Shaolin Daredevils
2 Champions Of Shaolin
Chinese Super Ninjas
Maybe a chronological trek like Phil would be a good idea.
Felt like some more Bruce Lee today so Fist of Fury was viewed.
Brucie has some serious anger management problems in this one but instead of seeking counseling he picks up some nunchucks and makes a lot of deranged cat noises while single handedly reducing the Japanese population of Shanghai. The nunchuck action is the best part of this film. he really knew how to twirl those things. 
Another good kung fu movie is Hapkido (aka Lady Kung Fu) from 1972, with Angela Mao Ying
This movie resembles Fist of Fury and was produced by the same company in Hong Kong, Golden Harvest the smaller competitor to Shaw Brothers
Recommended by me
