Starring: Jimmy Wang Yu, Jackie Chan, Lan Liu-li. Directed by: Lo Wei
"The Killer Meteors" is a movie that has, in the various Western video and DVD releases, been marketed as a movie with Jackie Chan as the main star. This is not exactly true. Jimmy Wang Yu is actually the star of this movie and Jackie was given a secondary role since Wang Yu was one of the big martial arts movie stars in Hong Kong at the time and "Jacky" (as he was known at the time) was still struggling to get his career going.
In "The Killer Meteors", Wang Yu plays the Killer Meteor Mei Sin Her, who is a master of both kung fu and the Killer Meteor, which is a weapon well-known and feared all over China. Master Mei is so feared that men get down on their knees, cut their fingers off, and beg for mercy just so he will spare their lives!
Jackie (in a rare villainous role) plays the Immortal Meteor Wa Wu-bin who believes his wife has poisoned him. He needs the antidote which, unfortunately for him, is in the hands of his scheming wife. Getting the antidote from his wife is going to be no easy matter because she has four kung fu masters serving as her bodyguards and the Immortal Meteor is in no condition to take them on. Therefore, he must get a little help from the Killer Meteor......
This movie is the big-screen adaptation of a novel from famed wuxia novelist Ku Feng, who is also credited for writing the screenplay for the movie. As is the case for the novel, there are many plot twists and turns and get ready for those before watching this movie! In fact you'll want to pay very close attention, especially at the end.
Also in a supporting role in this movie are Phillip Ko as Go Yuen So and Sit Hon as the Lightning Swordsman Wan Fong.
All in all this is an excellent old school kung fu/wuxia movie....as long as you keep in mind that it's a Wang Yu movie and not (quite) one starring Jackie Chan. As a matter of fact, Jackie only has one fight scene in the whole movie! Apart from this, the cast pulls the movie off very well and Wang Yu is in his prime as the Killer Meteor, who can kill his opponents (and "friends") with no mercy and do a bit of womanizing afterwards! This is a must-see if you are a fan of Wang Yu or Jackie Chan!
Also known as:風雨雙流星/Feng yu shuang liu xing (original Mandarin title-HK), Fung yu seung lau sing (original Cantonese title-HK), Wind, Rain, Two Meteors (literal English title-HK), Jackie Chan Versus Wang Wu (VCD title-Thailand), Tiger der Todesarena (West Germany), Anikitos aetos tou karate/Oi ongolithoi tou kung fu (Greek VHS and DVD titles respectively), Meteoro inmortal (Spain), Karate Death Squad (bootleg title-US)
Showing posts with label wuxia movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wuxia movies. Show all posts
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Face Behind the Mask (1974, Taiwan)
Starring: Lo Lieh, Yueh Hua, Hsu Feng. Directed by: Chen Chi-hua
Until it was released in 2006 or so by Rarescope, this wuxia movie was a movie that was extremely hard to find and seemed to be forgotten. Now that it's available on the market again, we can enjoy this awesome wuxia movie/costume epic, which was directed by Chen Chi-hua (who directed several of Jackie Chan's early movies).
In this movie, a famous martial artist and swordsman named Chi Tien-Wei has been elected "Chief of the Martial World" after the other challengers were eliminated by some of his fighters.
However, a group of martial artists and wizards are not happy with the outcome of the elections. So much so that they try to kill Chi Tien-Wei by sending various fighters and wizards after him and setting some very interesting booby traps both in his household and at various ambush sites.
The most lethal of the whole group is known as the "Mystical Fighter" who wears a mask and is skilled in both kung fu and the art of poison and he uses both skills to his advantage. Also, there is a deadly traitor in the Chi household who is helping Szu Tu-Ming and the Mystical Fighter. The identity of this traitor is something Tien-Wei must find out before it's too late.
According to the Rarescope DVD cover and some Internet forums, the face behind the mask is widely speculated to be none other than Jackie Chan in an early cameo role! While the role has never officially been listed as a Jackie cameo, the moves of the Mystical Fighter are pure Jackie. Also, at the time this movie came out, Jackie was doing a lot of stunt work and making minor movie appearances and he and Chen Chi-hua were friends in the mid-1970s when his career was just starting. So it's quite possible that this is indeed an early Jackie Chan cameo!
The English subtitles are horrible and can make the storyline confusing, but all in all this is a very good wuxia movie with fast-paced swordplay and kung fu as well as lavish, high-quality production. In fact, some of the sets they used in this movie were beautiful and gave a unique backdrop to some of the fight scenes! If you're looking for a good wuxia flick, be sure to check this one out!
Also known as: Long she xia ying (original Mandarin title-Taiwan)
Until it was released in 2006 or so by Rarescope, this wuxia movie was a movie that was extremely hard to find and seemed to be forgotten. Now that it's available on the market again, we can enjoy this awesome wuxia movie/costume epic, which was directed by Chen Chi-hua (who directed several of Jackie Chan's early movies).
In this movie, a famous martial artist and swordsman named Chi Tien-Wei has been elected "Chief of the Martial World" after the other challengers were eliminated by some of his fighters.
However, a group of martial artists and wizards are not happy with the outcome of the elections. So much so that they try to kill Chi Tien-Wei by sending various fighters and wizards after him and setting some very interesting booby traps both in his household and at various ambush sites.
The most lethal of the whole group is known as the "Mystical Fighter" who wears a mask and is skilled in both kung fu and the art of poison and he uses both skills to his advantage. Also, there is a deadly traitor in the Chi household who is helping Szu Tu-Ming and the Mystical Fighter. The identity of this traitor is something Tien-Wei must find out before it's too late.
According to the Rarescope DVD cover and some Internet forums, the face behind the mask is widely speculated to be none other than Jackie Chan in an early cameo role! While the role has never officially been listed as a Jackie cameo, the moves of the Mystical Fighter are pure Jackie. Also, at the time this movie came out, Jackie was doing a lot of stunt work and making minor movie appearances and he and Chen Chi-hua were friends in the mid-1970s when his career was just starting. So it's quite possible that this is indeed an early Jackie Chan cameo!
The English subtitles are horrible and can make the storyline confusing, but all in all this is a very good wuxia movie with fast-paced swordplay and kung fu as well as lavish, high-quality production. In fact, some of the sets they used in this movie were beautiful and gave a unique backdrop to some of the fight scenes! If you're looking for a good wuxia flick, be sure to check this one out!
Also known as: Long she xia ying (original Mandarin title-Taiwan)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Lost Swordship (1977, Taiwan)
Starring: Tien Peng (Roc Tien), Tang Bao-yun, Bai Ying, Wang Ping. Directed by: Chia Li
"The Lost Swordship" is the movie version of a novel by famous wuxia novelist Ku Lung and was adapted for the big screen by Shaw Bros. screenwriter Kuang Ni and director Chia Li.
In this movie, a mysterious martial arts clan known as Tien Cheng Chiao is headed by an even more mysterious masked figure known simply as The Bishop. The organization has some of the best fighters in the land among its ranks and is out for full-fledged supremacy. Roc Tien plays Lu Nan-jen, a swordfighter who opposes Tien Cheng Chiao. His wife Hsueh Jo-pi (Tang) is kidnapped by Tien Cheng Chiao and his best friend and fellow swordfighter Ling Pei-hsiu (Bai) defects to them.
In the midst of fighting with some of their fighters, Nan-jen is badly wounded by one of the fighter's Iron Palm technique.
In order to defeat The Bishop. Nan-jen will have to go to a secret location known only by his family, heal up from his Iron Palm injuries, spend five years learning his family's famous Fragrant Sword technique, and become master of the Fragrant Sword. However, The Bishop is also interested in learning the Fragrant Sword technique.....
Can Lu Nan-jen defeat The Bishop and rescue his beloved Jo-pi?
Also in this movie is a mysterious female fighter known as Lady Hsiao aka the Flaming Beauty who is also opposed to Tien Cheng Chiao. She gives Nan-jen some much-needed assistance in bringing down the organization. However, she is also in love with Nan-jen and makes it clear she wants to be the object of his affections and not Jo-pi.
This is a very good swordplay movie, except for a few flaws. The subtitles are horrible and make the storyline a little confusing. In addition, there are a few small gaps in the storyline, particularly when Nan-jen is shown teaching at a school after his Iron Palm injury. Is it safe to assume that he disguised himself as a village schoolteacher? Also, the romantic drama in the movie might be annoying for some, but at least Lady Hsiao more than makes up for it by becoming a kick-butt heroine in the movie!
If you're a fan of swordplay movies, wuxia, or costume epics, you'll probably like this movie. So much so you might want to watch it one or two more times!
Also known as: Yu jian piao xiang (original Mandarin title-Taiwan), Lost Samurai Sword (international English VHS title), The Lost Swordship (subtitled English version-HK)
"The Lost Swordship" is the movie version of a novel by famous wuxia novelist Ku Lung and was adapted for the big screen by Shaw Bros. screenwriter Kuang Ni and director Chia Li.
In this movie, a mysterious martial arts clan known as Tien Cheng Chiao is headed by an even more mysterious masked figure known simply as The Bishop. The organization has some of the best fighters in the land among its ranks and is out for full-fledged supremacy. Roc Tien plays Lu Nan-jen, a swordfighter who opposes Tien Cheng Chiao. His wife Hsueh Jo-pi (Tang) is kidnapped by Tien Cheng Chiao and his best friend and fellow swordfighter Ling Pei-hsiu (Bai) defects to them.
In the midst of fighting with some of their fighters, Nan-jen is badly wounded by one of the fighter's Iron Palm technique.
In order to defeat The Bishop. Nan-jen will have to go to a secret location known only by his family, heal up from his Iron Palm injuries, spend five years learning his family's famous Fragrant Sword technique, and become master of the Fragrant Sword. However, The Bishop is also interested in learning the Fragrant Sword technique.....
Can Lu Nan-jen defeat The Bishop and rescue his beloved Jo-pi?
Also in this movie is a mysterious female fighter known as Lady Hsiao aka the Flaming Beauty who is also opposed to Tien Cheng Chiao. She gives Nan-jen some much-needed assistance in bringing down the organization. However, she is also in love with Nan-jen and makes it clear she wants to be the object of his affections and not Jo-pi.
This is a very good swordplay movie, except for a few flaws. The subtitles are horrible and make the storyline a little confusing. In addition, there are a few small gaps in the storyline, particularly when Nan-jen is shown teaching at a school after his Iron Palm injury. Is it safe to assume that he disguised himself as a village schoolteacher? Also, the romantic drama in the movie might be annoying for some, but at least Lady Hsiao more than makes up for it by becoming a kick-butt heroine in the movie!
If you're a fan of swordplay movies, wuxia, or costume epics, you'll probably like this movie. So much so you might want to watch it one or two more times!
Also known as: Yu jian piao xiang (original Mandarin title-Taiwan), Lost Samurai Sword (international English VHS title), The Lost Swordship (subtitled English version-HK)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Have Sword, Will Travel (1969, HK)
Starring: Lee Ching, Ti Lung, David Chiang. Directed by: Chang Cheh
This is an excellent very entertaining costume piece/swordplay fu movie from Chang Cheh and Shaw Bros.
In this movie, Ying Ke-Fing, a swordsman, is in charge of an escort business that escorts 200,000 taels of silver to the capital every year. Unfortunately, he has come down with an arm afffliction that will force him to take a little time off. Since he doesn't want to close shop, he finds two knights named Yun Piao-Piao and Hsiang Ting (Lee Ching and David Chiang) who are expert swordsmen/women and who he can trust that can do the job for him. As it so happens, these two knights are male and female, and deeply in love.
Their swordfighting skills will be much needed as a group of bandits known as the Flying Tigers is desperate to get their hands on the silver. Also, a lone swordsman named Le I comes along for the journey. But is he helping the bandits? Furthermore, will he steal Piao-Piao's heart?
HSWT is an excellent swordplay and kung fu movie that doesn't use the romance as an unnecessary plot distraction and is one of those rare martial arts movies where the male and female characters are actually sidekicks. Also, there's plenty of action for everyone and a well-written storyline played well by some of Shaw Bros' biggest stars! A must see if you are a fan of martial arts movies, swordplay movies, or Shaw Bros. movies in general.
Also known as: Bao biao (original Mandarin title-HK), Bo biu (original Cantonese title-HK), and others.
This is an excellent very entertaining costume piece/swordplay fu movie from Chang Cheh and Shaw Bros.
In this movie, Ying Ke-Fing, a swordsman, is in charge of an escort business that escorts 200,000 taels of silver to the capital every year. Unfortunately, he has come down with an arm afffliction that will force him to take a little time off. Since he doesn't want to close shop, he finds two knights named Yun Piao-Piao and Hsiang Ting (Lee Ching and David Chiang) who are expert swordsmen/women and who he can trust that can do the job for him. As it so happens, these two knights are male and female, and deeply in love.
Their swordfighting skills will be much needed as a group of bandits known as the Flying Tigers is desperate to get their hands on the silver. Also, a lone swordsman named Le I comes along for the journey. But is he helping the bandits? Furthermore, will he steal Piao-Piao's heart?
HSWT is an excellent swordplay and kung fu movie that doesn't use the romance as an unnecessary plot distraction and is one of those rare martial arts movies where the male and female characters are actually sidekicks. Also, there's plenty of action for everyone and a well-written storyline played well by some of Shaw Bros' biggest stars! A must see if you are a fan of martial arts movies, swordplay movies, or Shaw Bros. movies in general.
Also known as: Bao biao (original Mandarin title-HK), Bo biu (original Cantonese title-HK), and others.
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