Whether it's known as HEROES OF THE EAST or SHAOLIN CHALLENGES NINJA, this ranks as a special favorite among even the most avid fans of legendary director Liu Chia-liang. Ric Meyers, author of Great Martial Arts Movies, the premiere, groundbreaking book on the genre, dubbed it the "Kramer VS. Kramer of kung-fu films" -- only instead of drama, there's action galore as a Chinese groom and Japanese bride create a loving "kung-fu family feud". Watch, in appreciative awe, as one Nipponese expert after other tests the skills of Gordon Liu Chia-hui in one maginificent bout after another -- with swords, spears, pikes, karate, and even Sai Seui. The result is a dazzling delight featuring the great "Shoji" Kurata (Fist Of Legend).
Co-director Lo Chen wrote this often dazzling tale of mistaken identities caused by monogrammed handkerchiefs. Pat Ting Hung, Carrie Ku Mei, and Li Hsiang-chun are just three of the lovelies on view in this "alls well that ends well" marital mixup.
Pat Ting Hung, Li Hsiang-chun, Carrie Ku Mei, King Feng, Fung Chiang
One of the most respected, long-lived and powerful emperors in Chinese history, Chien Lung, travels to one of the most scholarly cities in China incognito, and there he indulges his interest in gambling and a certain courtesan.
In swordplay movies, females played a more central role in the plots and the swordswomen created in the genre are some of the most charismatic figures in Hong Kong cinema thanks in great part to Cheng Pei-pei. In The Jade Raksha, Cheng Pei-pei becomes a human combine harvester as she hacks and whacks a path through life avenging the death of her family under the moniker "The Jade Raksha." Cheng Pei-pei gained international recognition in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The Liu Chia-liang trained Hui Ying-hung was considered the top action martial arts female star in the 1980s. It is her martial arts abilities that Michelle Yeoh tries to emulate. In The Tiger and the Widow, Hui Ying-hung is somehow mixed up in a salt smuggling ring that stinks of missing persons and rotten dilemmas. The film gathered two Golden Horse Awards in 1981; Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.
The "Venoms" are back in action in this thriller of Shaolin versus corrupt Ching soldiers... with the help of the Lama, Black Tiger, and Mantis clans... headquartered at a pugilism school, a dyeing mill, and a beancurd shop. The five men director Chang Cheh made famous in more than a dozen similar high-flying, blood-splattered adventures (starting with The Five Venoms) are all here. There’s the Taiwanese Opera artist Kuo Chue, his fellow light-skill acrobat Chiang Sheng, the evil Lu Feng, the Chinese muscleman Lo Meng, and Korean kicker Sun Chien, whose skills are specially spotlighted in this production. Together they create another wonderfully fun kung-fu showcase, filled with show-stopping sequences of martial arts expertise.
A love triangle of the first order by one of Shaw's top directors Chin Chien. A psychiatrist falls for one of his patients at the same time another girl proclaims her love for him. An explosive mix of passion and misunderstanding...
In the mid-1980's Chu Yuan became internationally famous for starring as the nasty villain in Jackie Chan's groundbreaking worldwide hit, POLICE STORY. But for more than twenty-five years, he was famous as one of Hong Kong’s most respected directors of "Martial-art World" epics — often conceived by his remarkable collaborator, novelist Ku Lung. This was one of their last together for the Shaw Brothers Studio, but it's another revenge and mystery-tinged winner. Liu Yung and Sun Chien (the Korean kicking THE FIVE VENOM from Chang Cheh's internationally popular series) team to investigate the martial-art murders of a supposedly mortally wounded swordsman, only to find deception, double-dealings, imposters, and one deadly duel after another. No less than three choreographers are on hand to handle the multitude of martial arts, making this one of Chu Yuan's most involving and exciting efforts ever.
A benevolent and kind Emperor, Chien Lung (Anthony Lau) sometimes goes incognito to mix with the common folk to understand the wants and needs of his followers. To achieve that goal, Chien Lung turns to gambling and meets high-kicking Li Pao (Wai Ying-hung), who tears her way through casino goons like a true kung-fu princess! The Emperor gets arrested and is nearly beheaded… but there is the fact that he is the Emperor!
Toward the end of the Ching Dynasty, the South China Sea was swarming with pirates looking to plunder treasure-rich Portuguese merchant ships. This titanic tale of a daring and heroic "Robin Hood" of the seas took no less than three directors: the "godfather of the kung-fu film," Chang Cheh, his trusted co-director Pao Hsueh-li, and soon-to-be pioneer filmmaker Wu Ma. Adding to its importance is the fact that it is a starring showcase for Ti Lung, who came to prominence just a few years before, teamed with the charismatic David Chiang. Although Chiang guest stars as a suspicious but noble government officer, this is clearly Ti’s show as he swashes and buckles with the best of them - not just to save his pirate pals, but to aid persecuted fisher-folk against a corrupt and evil local ruler. It all adds up to epic entertainment which ranks with the finest seafaring adventures.
Based on a novel by the great Eileen Chang and directed by the equally acclaimed Ann Hui, this sad but beautiful romance story sets during the World War II, where dreams of riches and love are shattered by reality.
Director Chu Yuan reunited with novelist Ku Lung and superstar Ti Lung in this exciting sequel to Clans of Intrigue. Ti returns to our favourite costume drama role and plays the hero, sexy swordsman Chu Liu-hsiang, whose exploits on the battlefield are rivaled by those in the boudoir. This time he travels to the mysterious Island of the Bats, where he encounters treacherous monks, beautiful women, and a strange Prince of the Bats. Filled with non-stop action and erotic romances, the film is definitely an exhilarating feast for the eyes.
When the husband of a doctor, Tung, (Anita Yuen), is fatally wounded in an accident, he reveals to her about his affair with Blackie (Josie Ho), who is impregnated with his baby. Despite the devastation of the betrayal and the eventual death of her husband, Tung is pressured by her mother-in-law into putting up with Blackie and offer $1M for her baby...
Anita Yuen, Cheung Chi-lam, Deanie Yip, Ho Chiu-yee
