Drunken Monk
11-07-2007, 07:33 PM
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Director: Hoh Mung Wa (Ho Meng Hwa)
Released: 1979
Starring: Cliff Lok, Lee Hoi Sang and Yuen Siu Tien
Synopsis: This is your fairly standard kung fu affair. Riding on the coat tails of "Drunken Master" Yuen Siu Tien plays "Bamboo Stick" who is basically an old beggar with kung fu skills. His student is robbed of his jade artifact by "Iron Head" played by the well known Lee Hoi Sang. The student goes undercover as a simple beggar and befriends Cliff Lok's character. Cliff Lok is then played off as being "Bamboo Stick" in an effort to retrieve the jade back from "Iron Head."
Review: While obviously trying to recreate the comic elements of recent Jackie Chan efforts, "Ol' Dirty Kung Fu" falls short of being anywhere near a kung fu classic. The plot is simple, the comedy is light and the characters are likable for the most part but for all the slapstick antics there is a distinct lack of solid action.
The kung fu is largely awkward with Cliff Lok being oh-so-subtly (Read: Not) helped out in his bouts by "Bamboo King's" student. It's clunky and eventually becomes very, very tiresome. Even after the movie takes a turn for the revenge orientated, Lok fails to really learn any good kung fu skills. This leaves Yuen Siu Tien (who is scene at the beginning of the movie and then at the end) to combat the enemies as well as he can. Did I say Yuen Siu Tien? I meant a series of badly made up stunt doubles.
While I'd like to comment on the lavish sets, excellent costumes and rip roaring laughs, I simply can't because they don't exist. The setting, atmosphere and characterization all feels very dull. "Ol' Dirty Kung Fu" simply feels...well...hollow. It's packed with character but due to the lack of originality you cannot help but feel you could be watching a vastly superior movie in the same vain.
With an ending that's sadly a terrible anti-climax it turns out to be a sad waste of talent. Lee Hoi Sang excels but when let down by a cast of weakly skilled choreographers and poor martial artists, what exactly can you do?
I won't comment on the picture quality of the DVD as I don't often concern myself with such unless it's really, really bad. This is a below average but watchable version of the movie with a delightfully camp and somewhat stupid audio track. Still, this didn't deter from the film and, instead, contributed to its overall tackiness and poor execution.
A let down all in all.
1.5/5
Director: Hoh Mung Wa (Ho Meng Hwa)
Released: 1979
Starring: Cliff Lok, Lee Hoi Sang and Yuen Siu Tien
Synopsis: This is your fairly standard kung fu affair. Riding on the coat tails of "Drunken Master" Yuen Siu Tien plays "Bamboo Stick" who is basically an old beggar with kung fu skills. His student is robbed of his jade artifact by "Iron Head" played by the well known Lee Hoi Sang. The student goes undercover as a simple beggar and befriends Cliff Lok's character. Cliff Lok is then played off as being "Bamboo Stick" in an effort to retrieve the jade back from "Iron Head."
Review: While obviously trying to recreate the comic elements of recent Jackie Chan efforts, "Ol' Dirty Kung Fu" falls short of being anywhere near a kung fu classic. The plot is simple, the comedy is light and the characters are likable for the most part but for all the slapstick antics there is a distinct lack of solid action.
The kung fu is largely awkward with Cliff Lok being oh-so-subtly (Read: Not) helped out in his bouts by "Bamboo King's" student. It's clunky and eventually becomes very, very tiresome. Even after the movie takes a turn for the revenge orientated, Lok fails to really learn any good kung fu skills. This leaves Yuen Siu Tien (who is scene at the beginning of the movie and then at the end) to combat the enemies as well as he can. Did I say Yuen Siu Tien? I meant a series of badly made up stunt doubles.
While I'd like to comment on the lavish sets, excellent costumes and rip roaring laughs, I simply can't because they don't exist. The setting, atmosphere and characterization all feels very dull. "Ol' Dirty Kung Fu" simply feels...well...hollow. It's packed with character but due to the lack of originality you cannot help but feel you could be watching a vastly superior movie in the same vain.
With an ending that's sadly a terrible anti-climax it turns out to be a sad waste of talent. Lee Hoi Sang excels but when let down by a cast of weakly skilled choreographers and poor martial artists, what exactly can you do?
I won't comment on the picture quality of the DVD as I don't often concern myself with such unless it's really, really bad. This is a below average but watchable version of the movie with a delightfully camp and somewhat stupid audio track. Still, this didn't deter from the film and, instead, contributed to its overall tackiness and poor execution.
A let down all in all.
1.5/5