will91XingYu
12-06-2007, 04:26 AM
Hi it's Will91 here, i have not done a review for a while so i though i'd review one of my all time faviroute movies ever! I'd reviewed modersn like Invisible Target (2007) with Nicolas Tse and Wu Jing and some shaws like Legendary Weapons of China so i though i'd do a seasonal film. This is my review of the 1982 classic Ninja in the Dragon's den the hong kong title is Long zhi ren zhe.
This was Corey Yuens first film as director. Corey Yuen or Yuen Kwai was part of the 7 fortunes from Jim Yuens opera school, the other fortunes included Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Tak, Yuen Wah and Meng Yuen. Corey Yuen had worked a bit at shaws as an extra (see him in Magic Blade) also in Fist of Fury with Bruce Lee. He was never really an action star his biggest fighting role is probably in films like Secret Rivals 2 or where he and Yuen Biao are obviousley doubling people like John Liu and Yip Fei Yang in Snuff Bottle Connection.
Corey Yuen is famous for his work in hollywood, where his work with Jet Li on films like War (2007) which starred Jet Li, Jason Statham and Kan Kosugi. Back to NITDD (i'll call it that because it's long to write Ninja in the dragons den all the time!)the film stars japanese martial artist and Sonny Chiba student Hiroyuki Sanada and a half american, half korean Loyd Hutchison or Conan Lee as he was marketed. Conan Lee looks a lot like Jackie Chan but more muscely. The film also stars Tai Bo (Spooky Encounter, Dragon's Forever), Chin Lung (Leg Fighters, Attack of the Joyfull Godess) and superkicker Kwan Young Moon (My Young Auntie, Dead and the Deadly).
I think it'd be worth talking about the two main stars, both are great in this film. Hiroyuki Sanada can be seen in a few Sonny Chiba films such as Shogun's Samurai and Ninja Wars. Sonny Chiba had starred in the Street Fighter series. Hiroyuki is a great kicker and gymnast and comes across as really likeable. He is a huge star now starring in films like the Ring(1998), Last Samurai(2003), Sunshine(2007) and Rush Hour 3(2007) with Jackie Chan. Conan Lee wasn't a martial artist but a basketball player, but was trained for the role. He was spotted by Ng See Yuen who gave Jackie his chance in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. He had also made films like Call me Dragon with Bruce Leung in 1973 (apparently Ng was after Bruce Leung's wife).
Conan should have been a star because he is great and really likeable in this. I think he just had a big ego, thinking himself too good for Ng See Yuen, he did Tiger on Beat in 1988 with Chow Yun Fat(Hard Boiled, Postman Fights Back) and Gordon Liu(36th Chamber of Shaolin, Young Vagabond), he also did the sequel with Danny Lee(the Killer) and Robert Mak (Martial Club, Thunderclap)but got seriousley injured doing his own stunt, after that he fell away into the distance, he is Jet Li's brother in Lethal Weapon 4.
Conan Lee's fights are really good espeacilly his one on stilts against Robert Tai stuntman Ma Chin Ku (Shaolin vs Tai Chi, Thundering Mantis) this fight is great, he is only doubled for the bits where he does a butterfly kick on stilts. Conan does a few flips as well! For someone who didn't know kung fu before this really shines.
The story is simple but great fun, a japanese ninja (Hiroyuki Sanada) goes to china to kill the man he deems responsible for killing his dad (played in one shot by Corey Yuen), but the retired ninja (Hiroshi Tanaka) is like an uncle to local kung fu lad Jay (Conan Lee), the two have a series of battles until they realise that they have a coman enemy in spiritual boxer Leong Kit (Hwang Jang Lee- Drunken Master, Hellz Windstaff).
The film is full of great comedy, even better fights and good and likeable charecters. Tai Bo who actually went to an opera school usually plays a less annyoing Dean Shek charecter, here he is really funny and likeable. Hiroyuki and Conan make a great double team. While in the martial arts department Hiroyuki outclasses everyone in the film! Yes even Hwang Jang Lee whos exteneded cameo at the end is cool, Conan Lee's best fight is at the end and with Hiroyuki as they scale a pagoda. Special mention should go to opera student and gymnast Chin Lung, you can see this guy in Secret Rivals 3 alongside John Liu and Lo Rei, he is also in Chang Cheh's Attack of the Joyfull Goddess with Ricky Tien Chi Cheng, Lu Feng and Chris Lee. This guy is a true gymnast and has a cool cameo here, the fight is great.
There are some great stunts here to, that is because Robert Tai lent a few of his stuntmen to Corey Yuen and Meng Hoi. You can see Lucifer Lee (Final Duel, Ninja Kids) and Wo Hu (Shaolin vs Ninja, Of Cooks and kung fu), Wo Hu doubles Conan Lee for his somersault on the table, Wo Hu tragically is now paralyzed from the neck down after a stunt went wrong, i don't know if he has recovered i heard it in an interview with Toby Russel, he also doubled Jacky Chen for his double somersault of a table in Of Cooks and kung fu.
There are 3 great kickers on show as well, Conan Lee is a great kicker but is dwarfed when Hiroyuki Sanada goes into action, his fight with leg fighting god Kwan Young Moon on the boat is so cool! With no wires Hiroyuki is like a monkey doing splits in the walls of the boat (hard to explain but looks cool!)The fight should be perhaps a bit longer but it's too cool to miss. When the Conan and Hiroyuki team up against Hwang Jang Lee at the end the end fight is amazing! Loads of awesome kicks thrown here. Also the ending had me laughing so hard!
This is one of my all time faviroutes ever! Superb martial arts, great comedy and great music! I nearlly forgot the theme for this song is awesome! You will love it, i can watch this film so many times and i still laugh at the same places and the action still gets me going! Great filma must see for a fan of the genre! Thank you for reading!
This is a definate 5/5 film! Classic!
This was Corey Yuens first film as director. Corey Yuen or Yuen Kwai was part of the 7 fortunes from Jim Yuens opera school, the other fortunes included Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Tak, Yuen Wah and Meng Yuen. Corey Yuen had worked a bit at shaws as an extra (see him in Magic Blade) also in Fist of Fury with Bruce Lee. He was never really an action star his biggest fighting role is probably in films like Secret Rivals 2 or where he and Yuen Biao are obviousley doubling people like John Liu and Yip Fei Yang in Snuff Bottle Connection.
Corey Yuen is famous for his work in hollywood, where his work with Jet Li on films like War (2007) which starred Jet Li, Jason Statham and Kan Kosugi. Back to NITDD (i'll call it that because it's long to write Ninja in the dragons den all the time!)the film stars japanese martial artist and Sonny Chiba student Hiroyuki Sanada and a half american, half korean Loyd Hutchison or Conan Lee as he was marketed. Conan Lee looks a lot like Jackie Chan but more muscely. The film also stars Tai Bo (Spooky Encounter, Dragon's Forever), Chin Lung (Leg Fighters, Attack of the Joyfull Godess) and superkicker Kwan Young Moon (My Young Auntie, Dead and the Deadly).
I think it'd be worth talking about the two main stars, both are great in this film. Hiroyuki Sanada can be seen in a few Sonny Chiba films such as Shogun's Samurai and Ninja Wars. Sonny Chiba had starred in the Street Fighter series. Hiroyuki is a great kicker and gymnast and comes across as really likeable. He is a huge star now starring in films like the Ring(1998), Last Samurai(2003), Sunshine(2007) and Rush Hour 3(2007) with Jackie Chan. Conan Lee wasn't a martial artist but a basketball player, but was trained for the role. He was spotted by Ng See Yuen who gave Jackie his chance in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. He had also made films like Call me Dragon with Bruce Leung in 1973 (apparently Ng was after Bruce Leung's wife).
Conan should have been a star because he is great and really likeable in this. I think he just had a big ego, thinking himself too good for Ng See Yuen, he did Tiger on Beat in 1988 with Chow Yun Fat(Hard Boiled, Postman Fights Back) and Gordon Liu(36th Chamber of Shaolin, Young Vagabond), he also did the sequel with Danny Lee(the Killer) and Robert Mak (Martial Club, Thunderclap)but got seriousley injured doing his own stunt, after that he fell away into the distance, he is Jet Li's brother in Lethal Weapon 4.
Conan Lee's fights are really good espeacilly his one on stilts against Robert Tai stuntman Ma Chin Ku (Shaolin vs Tai Chi, Thundering Mantis) this fight is great, he is only doubled for the bits where he does a butterfly kick on stilts. Conan does a few flips as well! For someone who didn't know kung fu before this really shines.
The story is simple but great fun, a japanese ninja (Hiroyuki Sanada) goes to china to kill the man he deems responsible for killing his dad (played in one shot by Corey Yuen), but the retired ninja (Hiroshi Tanaka) is like an uncle to local kung fu lad Jay (Conan Lee), the two have a series of battles until they realise that they have a coman enemy in spiritual boxer Leong Kit (Hwang Jang Lee- Drunken Master, Hellz Windstaff).
The film is full of great comedy, even better fights and good and likeable charecters. Tai Bo who actually went to an opera school usually plays a less annyoing Dean Shek charecter, here he is really funny and likeable. Hiroyuki and Conan make a great double team. While in the martial arts department Hiroyuki outclasses everyone in the film! Yes even Hwang Jang Lee whos exteneded cameo at the end is cool, Conan Lee's best fight is at the end and with Hiroyuki as they scale a pagoda. Special mention should go to opera student and gymnast Chin Lung, you can see this guy in Secret Rivals 3 alongside John Liu and Lo Rei, he is also in Chang Cheh's Attack of the Joyfull Goddess with Ricky Tien Chi Cheng, Lu Feng and Chris Lee. This guy is a true gymnast and has a cool cameo here, the fight is great.
There are some great stunts here to, that is because Robert Tai lent a few of his stuntmen to Corey Yuen and Meng Hoi. You can see Lucifer Lee (Final Duel, Ninja Kids) and Wo Hu (Shaolin vs Ninja, Of Cooks and kung fu), Wo Hu doubles Conan Lee for his somersault on the table, Wo Hu tragically is now paralyzed from the neck down after a stunt went wrong, i don't know if he has recovered i heard it in an interview with Toby Russel, he also doubled Jacky Chen for his double somersault of a table in Of Cooks and kung fu.
There are 3 great kickers on show as well, Conan Lee is a great kicker but is dwarfed when Hiroyuki Sanada goes into action, his fight with leg fighting god Kwan Young Moon on the boat is so cool! With no wires Hiroyuki is like a monkey doing splits in the walls of the boat (hard to explain but looks cool!)The fight should be perhaps a bit longer but it's too cool to miss. When the Conan and Hiroyuki team up against Hwang Jang Lee at the end the end fight is amazing! Loads of awesome kicks thrown here. Also the ending had me laughing so hard!
This is one of my all time faviroutes ever! Superb martial arts, great comedy and great music! I nearlly forgot the theme for this song is awesome! You will love it, i can watch this film so many times and i still laugh at the same places and the action still gets me going! Great filma must see for a fan of the genre! Thank you for reading!
This is a definate 5/5 film! Classic!