Chinese Heroes (2001)

Yuen Wo-ping acts as executive producer on CHINESE HEROES, a low-budget throwback to the early ’80s when kung fu heroes battled ninjas in countless actioners like NINJA IN THE DRAGON’S DEN and NINJA HUNTER. Even though the movie is thoroughly unoriginal and has a certain made-for-television quality to it, CHINESE HEROES is still a lot of fun thanks to dynamic camera work and slick action choreography.

Sik Siu-lung, that kung fu-fighting kid from SHAOLIN POPEY and THE DRAGON FROM SHAOLIN gets top billing although he is only one member of what is actually an ensemble cast. Chin Kar-lok is likely the most recognizable face for his many roles in Hong Kong action films in the last twenty years.

The film kicks off with some great action as ninjas battle a husband and wife in a forest. With the help of a martial artist named Chow Hau-yien, their daughter Sakura (Leila Tong) escapes with a letter that the ninjas are after. This plot gets shelved for the next hour as the young duo settle into a small town where Chow ends up being suckered into joining one side of a fight between two competing martial arts clubs. He’s forced to duel with club champion Tung Lo and chooses to lose which turns most of the betting townsfolk against him. Luckily, he finds a friend and kung fu master in Shen (Chin Kar-lok), a vagabond who leads a small troupe of adolescent street performers.

The ninjas eventually return after a spy (Ken Wong) working for a casino owner (Lee San-san) identifies Sakura. After Tung Lo and his mother are ambushed by the ninjas, Chow and his new friends prepare for their next attack.

The story in CHINESE HEROES is so miserably rehashed from previous films that it’s almost indistinguishable from any number of kung fu B-movies. Yet, the action has a fair amount of polish and creativity to it. There is a good mix of quality weapons combat, acrobatics, group fighting, and both leg and arm work. Limited CGI effects and speed-changing pans and zooms are used to enhance a few scenes, but the fighting itself is mostly old school. Sik Siu-lung and Chin Kar-lok both deliver some good moves, but neither leaves much of an impression.

The actor who plays Chow is essentially the film’s kung fu star. He seems a little too thin to convey much power in his movements, but he’s clearly performing most of his own stunts and they’re quite impressive. There is an excellent shot where he performs nine individual attacks on multiple ninjas in a single take. Each move is unique and flows naturally into the next. His final match with the ninja leader is equally impressive for the heavy use of props mixed with elaborate moves. Bodies go crashing through crumbling walls and training equipment, shurikens fly and swords clash. Here and in other places there are also small explosions, overhead flips and what looks like a hard fall onto a staircase. It’s all good stuff by Hong Kong standards.

CHINESE HEROES is solid martial arts entertainment, despite its lack of big budgets and big-name talent. There’s nothing new to see and the story drags in places, yet the action is tight all around. It’s definitely recommended for ninja movie lovers.