Item #: 3153DVD Category: MARTIAL ARTS Format: DVD MPAA Rating: PG

Woolly Rating: 5/10 (92 votes)

MEMBER COMMENTS ON THIS VIDEO

Matt	Mar 20, 2002 @ 14:12:56

Gordon Liu & Alexander Fu Sheng
This is an early 80's epic, directed by Liu Chia Liang. Where to begin?! I shouldn't try really, as there are many reviews available for this title on the Internet. I will say that it is an UNRELENTING movie: fights, anguish, fights, madness, fights, revenge, fights, grief, and more fights! The basic plot involves a very loyal martial family, the Yangs, who are betrayed by a long-term family retainer, while on the battlefield. The betrayal entails making the YAngs look like traitors, which they aren't. An ambush is set up and the family's patriarch, along with five of seven sons, all great warriors, are killed. Two survive (Gordon Liu and Fu Sheng). Fu Sheng makes it back home (fierce and lovely Lily Li plays the mother), while Gordon finds a monastaryt (how odd); both sons are altered by what they had witnessed. The film has many poignant moments. Alexander Fu Sheng, known for his love of cars, died in an auto-wreck during the making of this movie. Without a doubt, Fu Sheng, who was considered by many to be the light in the Hong Kong industry's darkness, left a 'grave' mark by his passing (he, along with Jackie Chan, was seen as a possible replacement for the Master, Bruce Lee). The mood of the movie was already dark and tragic, but Fu Sheng's death seemed to seal any hope of any other alternative. It is difficult not to be moved by this movie, esp. when one knows some of the history behind it. Its not a fav. of mine, but it is excellent and very worth viewing. I'd give it 8.5 out of 10 stars. Matt

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after seeing the mind blowing fight scene under the train in "drunken master ii," learning liu chia-liang was the second combatant (with jackie chan), and then reading of liu's impressive martial arts heritage, i became very interested in liu's work. "mad monkey kung fu" is my sort of thing: great bare hand fighting and incredible unassisted acrobatics. "invincible pole fighter" worked for me just from overload of action and general cruelty, especially later in the movie. much of what i DON'T like about shaw bros. films has too much play here: "peter pan" harness flying tricks and overly busy choreography that doesn't have any combat credibility. the opening seemed pretty much like a lot of sticks being waved around, albeit in a very artistic way. it didn't stop me from enjoying the film, and it certainly won't stop me from seeing all the other films liu worked in or on that w&w stocks.

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