This is one of writer/director Shen Chiang's last films, but it's an incredible action-packed adventure of a female Lone Ranger, decades before Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon made feminist-empowerment kung-fu films an international phenomenon. The wonderful Shih Szu is the title character, with Shaw Brothers' first international star, Lo Lieh, joining her as an adoring associate. Together they track down the dirty deeds and duplicity of a raping and robbing masked bandit, before, literally, riding off toward their next adventure!
Based on “Water Margin”, one of China’s enduring epic novels, this film continues the patriotic story of righteous warriors battling despotic leaders, featuring mythic characters familiar to every Chinese.
Betty Chung Ling-ling, Ti Lung, David Chiang, Chen Kuan-tai
The 18th century reign of Emperor Chien Lung has proven to be a treasure trove for Hong Kong filmmakers, and director Li Han-Hsiang, the acknowledged master of the costume drama, made a series of four blockbusters about the dashing young swashbuckler's exploits. The scenario won the Best Adapted Screenplay Award at the 1979 Golden Horse Awards, and told of the monarch's incognito journey from Beijing to southern China... and imperial mayhem that ensues!
Acclaimed director Chu Yuan was credited for bringing mystery and detective thriller ingredients into his atmospheric and character-rich martial arts epics, and this is one of the most impressive examples. The title refers to the nickname of a notorious rapist-murderer who swoops down to destroy one swordsman's fiance and frame another. Or does he? The two tragic men team with a beautiful swordswoman searching for her missing father to find the truth — only to discover incredible traps, ambushes, duplicity, avarice, and betrayal between them and the mystery's solution. They survive blades, bombs, and even poison gas to reveal priceless treasure and coveted kung-fu manuals before the Bat is beaten at his own insidious game.
Ching Li , Derek Yee , Ouyang Pei-shan , Wang Jung
Smash-hit sequel to COME DRINK WITH ME combines the talents of Chang Cheh, Lau Kar Leung and stars Cheng Pei Pei, Lo Lieh & Jimmy Wang Yu for an action-packed kung-fu romance.
In 1975, Ho Meng-hua, master of the "esoteric weapon" kung-fu thriller, started an international sensation with The Flying Guillotine. But while he went on to direct such further "crazy cutlery" hits as The Dragon Missile, popular demand insisted upon a sequel to the original decapitator-on-a-chain. So, first, they got a script by a trio of writers, featuring a new, improved "Ring-Chain Flying Guillotine" and the only weapon that can stop it, the "Toothed Wheel". Next they matched Cheng Kang, the director of their popular true crime thriller The Criminals, with Hua Shan, the director of their superheroes Super Inframan, to double-team the project. Then they cast some of the best martial arts actors in their repertory - all ably choreographed by the often unsung, but universally respected Tang Chia. Finally they filmed Ti Lung as a fugitive from the emperor’s cruelty, against the whole F.G. gang in a blade-on-blade battle to the headless death!
In attempting to rescue some innocent people, swordsman Chiang Tzu-chao (Fang Mien) slays the son of Tsao Kang (Wang Hsia), leader of the ruthless Crimson Charm gang.The enraged father promises vengeance on the day of Chiang's 60th birthday...
Ivy Ling Po, Chang I, Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Wang Ching-ho
Wishing to achieve the same level of biting social satire as its humorous predecessor, The 82 Tenants boasts a cast that nearly rivals the whopping numbers on display in House of 72 Tenants. The film includes big name actors as Kara Hui Ying Hung (My Young Auntie and The Lady is the Boss), Nat Chan Pak Chung (The Conmen In Vegas and Hong Kong Playboys), Gordon Lau (Dirty Ho and Kill Bill), Law, Betty Ding Pei, Guk Fung and many more! Based on the casting alone, The 82 Tenants is definitely worth watching, and if you liked House of 72 Tenants, you won't want to miss out on this humorous, fun-filled sequel!
This is the acting debut of Yuan Te, Jackie Chan's kung-fu classmate. He plays the downtrodden kung-fu student Ko Chien, who saves the life of a kung-fu master played by Chen Kuan-tai.
Chen Kuan-tai, Wang Lung-wei, Wen Hsueh-erh, Yuan Te
Here he directs a top-notch cast in this tale about a master of disguise, Ko Liang (Chiang, Have Sword, Will Travel, New One Armed Swordsman) who uses the tricks of his trade to come to the aid of two young army corps (Lee and Wang) who have been framed for murder by their despotic, mad-cap captain (Chen). The real fun in this film is in watching the dashing Chiang having a ball with his role multiple rolls and charming his way in and out of a number of tricky situations... what a charmer!
Master of the "brotherhood" films, award winning director Chang Cheh has always had a good eye for martial art talent and in INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN he re-introduces what was to become known as the THE FIVE VENOMS to the world of heroic bloodshed. Chang intelligently weaves a mythical tale of treachery centered around the historic attempts of the Ching Dynasty trying to destroy the Shaolin Monasteries. It's a story of misunderstanding, revenge and doomed heroes who finally realize their error in judgment through the sanctity of their martial arts. The various fighting styles used are choreographed with such amazing precision and insanity, that it's hard to believe that all this psychotic stylish action was shot and made up as they went along. It's marvelous to behold.
Stephen Chow's special brand of very modern, very Hong Kong screwball comedy entered a new phase with JUSTICE, MY FOOT!, a costume farce set in imperial China. Chow is a shyster with an equally eccentric kung-fu ace of a wife, hilariously played by Anita Mui Yim-fong. Accompanied by Chow's number one screen sidekick, Ng Man-tat, he manages to bring justice to the court and laughter to the viewer. A resounding success, JUSTICE, MY FOOT! broke box office records to become the number hit of 1992. And it's no wonder, what with skillful direction by Johnnie To and a visual sheen provided by Peter Pao, who a few years later would become the first Chinese to win a Best Cinematography Oscar for CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
Stephen Chow, Anita Mui, Zhu MiMi, Ng Man-tat, Carrie Ng
In one of their last films, Wang Ping helped veteran Yueh Feng to finish this saga of a murdered brother, a determined sister, and the suspects and swordsmen who both hinder and help in a search for a killer. Shu Pei-pei lends her exceptional talent to the production alongside hero Yueh Hua, who is her stalwart companion in a pitched battle to rid the town of all killers, gangsters, and thieves.
Filled with amazing sword-fighting and martial arts movements, David Chiang plays the 13th Prince, a powerful young fighter whose prestigious status provokes jealousy, leading to a gruesome family feud.
David Chiang, Ti Lung, Chin Han, Lily Li, Nan Kung-hsun
