龍虎小英雄 - 龍虎少爺 - Treasure Hunters

龍虎小英雄/龍虎少爺 (Treasure Hunters) is an 1982 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Alexander Fu Sheng and Gordon Liu. The movie is action slap stick that would eventually birth Stephen Chow's type in the 1990s.

There a treasure linked to a Monk. The mystery has spread across the martial arts world and many people want their hands on it. Enter a clueless monk, a couple of street thugs, and a sinister mastermind. Death and misunderstandings ensue until the end for the final super long battle.

This movie was towards the end of the Shaw Bros era and where people were sick of kung fu flicks. You'll see the rise of modern flicks from other major studies of the time like Golden Harvest that incorporate kung fu a la Jackie Chan. In comparison, the formula they incorporated here was more the old style super long fight scenes. Which does get tedious and the blood looks real fake.

However, it was still fun to watch while I was washing my dishes. I caught this via Amazon Prime.

The Jade Tiger - 白玉老虎

The Jade Tiger (白玉老虎) is an 1977 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Ti Lung. The supporting cast are all other regulars during the 1970s Shaw Bros dominance.

Two warring clans, Zhao and Tang, go at each other. Ti Lung as Wuji, is part of the Zhao clan. On his wedding day, the Tang clan send a gift of 100,000 golds taels for the head of the Zhao clan. That night, the head is missing from the head of the Zhao clan. Wuji is now forced to take revenge. Wuji must infiltrate and take the head of the person that took his father's head and destroy an old rival in the Tang Clan.

Classic Shaw Bros. film with Ti Lung in an hero role. The hero must not only perform his duty, but live with the dire consequences of them. The classic who is there all this killing flick. Not the first time you'll see a wuxia movie present, nor the last. There's a similar vain with Hk triad movies every once in awhile. A must watch for Shaw Bros. movie buffs.

The Five Venoms - Five Deadly Venoms - 五毒

The Five Venoms/Five Deadly Venoms (五毒) is a 1978 Shaw Bros. film. The film stars Kuo Chui (Phillip Kwok), Chiang Sheng, Lu Feng, Lo Mang, Sun Chien, and Wei Pei. These men would form a troupe known as the Venom Mob.

The master of the Five Venoms clan is sitting in a pot of steaming water, he yells for his student to add medicine to the pot. After the medicine is added, it is than that he realizes that death is right around the corner. At this time, the master tells the student the history of the Five Venoms clan and his previous 5 students, Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Gecko, and Toad. But the master now has regrets to the bad things the clan has done and gives the student an assignment to dissolve the clan. But how do you find them since the students change their name and do not reveal their skillz? Well, there's an hidden treasure that the other 5 students would love to get their hands on. The student goes to the last place the master can recall about the person whom has the map. There the other students are already on the prowl to find the man with the map. They all eventually show themselves.

This is thee classic venom's movie. In many people's eyes, this could be considered the quintessential Shaw Bros. film. I think this film deserves the cult following and any positive distinctions. It has a great story. The fighting still feels fresh and cheesy. The actors did a good job. What's not to like? If you are a fan of old skool kung fu flicks. I would rate this in the top 10.

The version I watched was a version I picked up on a biz trip to Singapore a few years back. I threw it in while washing dishes the other night. I do want to check out the Dragon Dynasty version one of these for the extras.

Eight-Diagram Pole Fighter --五郎八卦棍

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.

Clan of the White Lotus - Fist of the White Lotus - 洪文定三破白蓮教

Clan of the White Lotus (洪文定三破白蓮教) is a 1980 Shaw Bros. martial arts film. The film stars Lo Lieu and Gordon Liu. Supporting cast include Kara Hui and Yeung Jing-Jing. This movie is a sequel to "Executioners From Shaolin".

Gordon Liu plays Hung Wei Ting. The government says that shaolin disciples can go back to normal life. However, its just a ploy to shake them out so they can be eliminated. Hung saves Mei from death, but vows revenge on another Lotus Clan master. However, Hung's kung fu isn't good enough and he is defeated. But Hung doesn't give up, he spends time researching other styles in an effort to defeat the Lotus Clan master. Will he have success?

This movie is one of the late classics. You can see that the kung fu is still old skool, but with some wire work. But in general, its straight up fighting for fighting sake. You have to create a story so they can fight. What better reason than revenge?

Not great and just average.

Shaw Bros Movie Action Figures

Shaw Bros Movie Action Figures are available for purchase! It really sucks to be an adult these days. When I was a kid, what toys did I have? Transformers, G.I. Joes, and Star Wars. Nowadays, everything has a toy. Including these iconic Shaw Bros movie action figures.



I wish I could have had a chance to play with these when I was a kid watching all those dubbed "Kung Fu Theatre" movies. Which included many Shaw Bros.

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan - 愛奴

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (愛奴) is 1972 Shaw Bros. film. The movie stars Lily Ho and Betty Pei. Both actresses originated from Taiwan.

In context to the year and era this film was released, the subject matter is quite daring. The movie as a whole is a revenge movie. Ainu, played by Lily Ho, is kidnapped from a distant land and sold to a brothel. Ainu is initially very rebellious and causes a lot of trouble. But Ainu eventually forced into the brothel business and her spirit is broken. Betty Pei plays the brothels madam who has no appetite for men. Because this madam is a jiang hu lesbian. The madam and Ainu begin a 2 year relationship. The madam spoils Ainu and eventually teaches her some world class martial arts.

Ainu is in a class of her own in terms of status. Ainu gets to pick whom she takes company with. Ainu eventually starts her revenge process. One at a time, the people that forced her into the brothel business will feel her wrath.

The movie felt very dated to me. Both in subject matter and the fighting. Unfortunately, a lesbian revenge movie is no longer a shocking storyline as compared the year 1972, when it was release. However, the sets were beautiful and the 2 lead actresses kept me engaged. This is considered a classic Shaw movie for its subject matter and beauty.

I have a problem with the English title of the movie. The Chinese title is 愛奴. 愛 is love and 奴 means slave. Put together, it means a love slave. And Lily Ho's character was named 愛奴. How the English title came about is beyond me. Slave and Courtesan hold very different meanings.

Heroes of the East - 中華丈夫

Originally posted on xanga.



Chinese vs. Japanese martial arts at its best.

I really enjoyed this Dragon Dynasty release with its nice special features.  Bey Logan has a segment where he gives a nice context of the film and where it stood in history at the time.

As for the action, it was great.  The story was also a plus, it kept me interested and it provided a reason for the martial art demonstrations.

You can read the synopsis from Dragon and watch the trailer to get a better feel for what its about.

I recommend this film as one of the better Shaw Bros. (SB) films I've seen. There are hundreds of SB films, and amoung them, 100s of action/kung fu/martial arts one. Not wasting your time on the crappy ones is an art form.