Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bruce Lee The Invincible (1978, HK)

Starring: Bruce Li (as Ho Chung Dao), Chen Sing, Chan Wai-Man, Nick Cheung. Directed by: Law Kei

This is a movie for the hardcore Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao) fans! While by no means a superb kung fu movie, it's a very good, entertaining kung fu movie and something fun to watch when you're bored and stuck at home on the weekends.

In "Bruce Lee....", Chan Lee Kung (Chan, in a sinister role), a Shaolin student in China, betrays his school and vows to do penance by going into exile in Malaysia. Three years later, Chan has become the feared, ruthless leader of a criminal empire which has set up its base of operations in a small Malaysian village. Since Chan is well-trained in Shaolin kung fu and he has an army of men at his disposal, there's nothing the local authorities can do to stop him.

Meanwhile back in China, one of Shaolin's students named Shu San (Cheung) is going to Malaysia to visit his family and quietly scout around for any info about Chan to report back to Shaolin. When he arrives at his family's village, it doesn't take long for him to discover that this is also Chan's base of operations. To make matters even more complicated, both Chan and Shu San are both in love with Wai Sin, Shu San's cousin.

One day Chan and his men take Wai Sin by force after she rejects him and when Shu San comes to her rescue, they give him a very bad beating. Fortunately he managed to send a telegram back to Shaolin and help soon comes when Master Fok Yuen Gap (Chen) and his best student Yu Fong (Li) come to town to take down Chan.

Can they overcome Chan and his men and accomplish their mission? Watch and find out!

"Bruce Lee...." does have a few holes in its storyline and the kung fu gorilla scene might be a little on the cheesy side, but this is actually a very good kung fu movie. The vast bulk of the storyline is well-written and easy to figure out, the kung fu (which was choreographed by Nick Cheung) scenes are very good, and there is also a very interesting reenactment of the story of the Indian monk Da Mo, who discovered the Eighteen Lohan Fists and taught them to Shaolin monks in the 6th century AD.

For those of you who are curious, Bruce Li does a good job in his role with only a bare minimum of Bruce Lee mannerisms toward the end!

Also in this movie are cameos by Bolo Yeung as the master with long hair and Mars as the teacher wearing as mask.

If you're looking for some good kung fu escapism or are a fan of Bruce Li, look no further than this movie! It's sure to fit the bill for you!

Also known as: Nan yang tang ren jie (original Mandarin title-HK), Bruce Li the Invincible (original English title-HK), Bruce Lee the Invincible (English video title-HK), Bruce Li the Invincible Chinatown Connection (international English title), The Invincible (alternate HK English title), Wei zhen tian nan (Mandarin video title-HK), Die gelben Augen des Gorillas (West Germany), Sygrousi giganton tou karate (Greece), Game of the Dragon (unknown English title)

2 comments:

  1. It is so sad that Bruce Lee died young. He was a good actor. I found a cool site that has some up and coming female martial artist fight videos.

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