Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter (五郎八卦棍) is a 1983 Shaw Bros. film. The film stars Gordon Liu and Alexander Fu. The film was also Alexander Fu's last as he dead in a car accident during the filming.
The Yang family of men defend against the Mongols. But only 3 survive, the 4th, 5th, and 6th brothers. The 5th brother played by Gordon Liu decides to become a monk. The 6th brother, played by Alexander Fu, goes crazy and hides out back at home. But the majority of the film focuses on the 5th brother and his development of the Eight-Diagram Yang pole fighting system. 5th brother initially tries to join a monastery, but is rejected due to his reasons. But he refused to leave and eventually learns there. When 5th brother finds out about a kidnapped sister, he goes to her rescue. Will 5th brother be able to exact his revenge.
The movie was pretty standard Shaw Bros. You have a formula that works sometimes and some that work well. In this case, it was one that worked well as the story was very engaging. The Yang family of men and women have had many series based on them in Chinese wuxia circles. So, you know that they will use spears and be very patriotic towards defending their country.
The movie poster is so weird due to its huge Alexander Fu face. Because the movie's real protagonist is Gordon Liu.
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