Eastern Condors (1987)

[Ministry88]

http://i23.ebayimg.com/05/i/06/6c/5a/72_1_b.JPG

How is the MegaStar release of this film? All I really care about is if it's uncut, properly ltbx, and has the ORIGINAL soundtrack (we all know how bad remixed soundtracks are!). Thanks!

[The Running Man]

It is uncut, and lbx, and the sound doesn't have poorly placed new sound fx.

[limubai2000]

I've got a copy and the previous is correct, I might be willing to part with it... PM me.

[Liu chung liang]

Eastern Condors is a favorite of mine. Again, thanks to the great Sammo. The film is just packed with everyone, just like Shanghai Express. What I really like about the movie is that they have Haing S. Ngor in it. :eek I think it was a creative idea using him in the film because we see our heroes go on a mission to Vietnam. If you've seen a title called The Killing Fields, which is based on a true story :| . Ngor is the only main Asian Cambodian star in that film. :) I like how EC is about. It reminds me of war, vietnam, betrayers, spys, espionage, etc. The movie sometimes have this Rambo-ish feel to it too. Very cool. :lol
What's really cool is seeing YWP and CY. :rollin I was going to show that scene of their last moments on youtube and call it The Death of Yuen Woo Ping & Corey Yuen. :rollin

[Beat TG]

'Eastern Condors' is a great movie, I agree. I think it's one of few films in Sammo's filmography which didn't need so much action yet works fine as a whole.

[Markgway]

Surely worth waiting for Joy Sales upcoming release?

[Man from WAZ]

Mega Star DVDs are worth getting only for their awesome art work. That EC dvd cover looks the best of all available versions. And the Knockabout cover...Love it!!!

[Ministry88]

Thanks for the heads up Markgway about the Joy Sales DVD. Do you know when it will be released? Also, will it be remastered with the original audio intact? Thanks!

[sevenhooks]

I've been trying to find this for about 15 years ever since I lost it.
Now if only someone will post the whole show...


www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMpn3XxR7N0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMpn3XxR7N0)

[sevenhooks]

Another clip. This time with Yuen Wah...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mrkSGbSvI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mrkSGbSvI)

[David G Rees]

you can buy the vcd from yesasia......global.yesasia.com/en/Prd...004061046/ (http://global.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/code-c/section-videos/pid-1004061046/)

[andy338]

How long is the full footage from the eastern condors demo? Don't know whether its worth getting the disk or not.

You'd think somebody like HKL would do a platinum edition with the footage as an extra.

[David G Rees]

Apparently the new HK dvd did try and get the footage for there dvd release but the tv company wanted too much money.
The Condors pat of the show lasts around 15 minutes i think, its worth getting as the vcd is very cheap.

[theportlykicker]

Someone must have taken notice cos the whole thing's just been posted on Youtube. :D

Eastern Condors Show Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lCME24FePk)

Eastern Condors Show Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HkeQoDH_Uc&NR)

Slightly disppointing finale but incredible nonetheless, and, unlike the film, Hou Hsiao actually gets to bust a move or two. :eek

Imagine how awesome it would have been to watch live.

[kungfusamurai]

Now that it's on youtube, maybe some big producer will turn it into a legitimate stage play? Hello Andrew Lloyd Webber?! :rollin

KFS

[sevenhooks]

Yeah, I know it was in the middle of a pageant and all, but I think Mina Godenzi f--ked up by dressing up all glam for the part.
She shouldve kept it gutter and went the guerilla route like she did in the film.

[Asmo]

I'd heard that Sammo wanted this movie to be as serious as possible. Why then (if anyone knows/has an idea) was Corey Yuen's character named 'Judy' (at least in the subtitles)? Unless it was for something other than humour.

Great film either way (sure many of you know that though :o)
Thanks.

[SlothStyleKungFu]

Maybe he just couldn't help himself?

[lightning hopkins]

As much as I like the film, I agree that there's something slightly off kilter about "Eastern Condors."

After having repeatedly heard and read that Sammo was directly inspired by "Full Metal Jacket" to make his own dark war story, I came to the movie expecting something similarly grim and gritty and visually brilliant. Sammo is at his physical peak in the film, the trio of guerilla girls are a great touch, and Yuen Wah's giggling villain makes for one of the better movie antagonists in recent memory -- yet for all its qualities, "Eastern Condors" is ultimately closer in tone and execution to something like John Wayne's comic book vision of Vietnam in "The Green Berets" than Stanley Kubrik's in "Full Metal Jacket." While I admire Sammo's willingness as a director to take risks and make films that look beyond Hong Kong for inspiration, "Eastern Condors" still finally looks and feels like a '80s Hong Kong action film, albeit an extremely well made one.

[Asmo]

Maybe he just couldn't help himself?
Maybe, but it's odd that there's no more comedic nature about the character.


As much as I like the film, I agree that there's something slightly off kilter about "Eastern Condors."

After having repeatedly heard and read that Sammo was directly inspired by "Full Metal Jacket" to make his own dark war story, I came to the movie expecting something similarly grim and gritty and visually brilliant. Sammo is at his physical peak in the film, the trio of guerilla girls are a great touch, and Yuen Wah's giggling villain makes for one of the better movie antagonists in recent memory -- yet for all its qualities, "Eastern Condors" is ultimately closer in tone and execution to something like John Wayne's comic book vision of Vietnam in "The Green Berets" than Stanley Kubrik's in "Full Metal Jacket." While I admire Sammo's willingness as a director to take risks and make films that look beyond Hong Kong for inspiration, "Eastern Condors" still finally looks and feels like a '80s Hong Kong action film, albeit an extremely well made one.

At the end of the day, you're right but it seems to take on its own qualities when one considers the feelings and backstories of the characters when they fight and ultimately sacrifice themselves for a cause that they don't necessarily understand. Being set after the war it's not necessarily going to take on characteristics of a war movie no matter how much Sammo was inspired by one. Sure, it's a great mix but it's closer to an action film. Though a darker look at what makes one. One of my all time favourite films regardless.

[David Rees]

One of my all time favourites also, saw this first as a double bill at the Scala London with Project A Pt 2...Those were the days!
Has anybody seen the stage show Sammo did at the Miss Asia pageant with Yuen Biao and Yuen Wah,, great stuff available on vcd and on the German DVD release i think...

ALL REGION DVD PLAYER ONLY £30!..CLICK HERE (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2884771&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.co.uk%2FDVD-Player-REGION-FREE-5-1-Chan-Dolby-Digital_W0QQitemZ360026047580QQihZ023QQcategoryZ33 16QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l12 62)

[SlothStyleKungFu]

...After having repeatedly heard and read that Sammo was directly inspired by "Full Metal Jacket" to make his own dark war story,...

Really? I've never heard that. For one thing, wasn't Full Metal Jacket released a full year later than Eastern Condors? Maybe Platoon would be more apt? I'd say it was more likely he watched Uncommmon Valor and Rambo 2, maybe even Heroes Shed No Tears, and decided to make a jungle war film.

Regardless, Sammo can say all he wants that he intended to make a more serious film, which he no doubt did. But, what he really meant was- SERIOUS FOR A SAMMO HUNG FILM- serious in terms of what he usually made and what he knew audiences expected from him.

[lightning hopkins]

Really? I've never heard that. For one thing, wasn't Full Metal Jacket released a full year later than Eastern Condors? Maybe Platoon would be more apt? I'd say it was more likely he watched Uncommmon Valor and Rambo 2, maybe even Heroes Shed No Tears, and decided to make a jungle war film.

Regardless, Sammo can say all he wants that he intended to make a more serious film, which he no doubt did. But, what he really meant was- SERIOUS FOR A SAMMO HUNG FILM- serious in terms of what he usually made and what he knew audiences expected from him.

The HKMDB lists Eastern Condors as released in 1987, the same year as Full Metal Jacket. It also says that EC's theatrical run began in early July, though, and FMJ wasn't released in the US until June. I'll concede your point that the time frame is tight there for one to impact the other -- though given the speed that HK filmmakers churn out work, it's not impossible.

After a little further research and some recollection, I located one place that this notion of a Full Metal Jacket influence is mentioned -- while surveying Samo Hung's films in his book Hong Kong Action Cinema, Bey Logan writes that "Hung had been impressed by the scene in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket where a sadistic sniper, who has cut down a group of American infantrymen, turns out to be a pigtailed Vietnamese girl, and he wanted a trio of such women in Eastern Condors." And given the visual similarities between Joyce Godenzi's character in Eastern Condors and the Vietcong girl in Full Metal Jacket ..pigtails and all.... this seemed liked a pretty reasonable assertion.

[As an aside: among the other films that you mention that possibly influenced EC, don't forget the wholesale steal from The Deer Hunter during the Russian roulette bit. I'll even grant that Samo managed to take that scene and make it even grimmer than in the original.]

Agree 120% on your last point though, and couldn't have said it better. Just wondering -- since I still haven't seen Pedicab Driver, which is likewise considered one of Samo's darker films -- does the same evaluation [serious-but-by-HK-audience-and-Samo-standards] hold true?

[thedirtytiger]

Eastern Condors and Pedicab Driver....aaaaaah, the perfect night in.....seriously, these are 2 of my faves ever. These are 2 of the best films I have ever seen and I never ever get bored of them. Condors has a lot more action than Pedicab, though not heavy on action what is on show in Pedicab is really good and it has so much emotional depth which is something sadly lacking from many punch and kick films. Pedicab brought me close to tears and that doesn't happen often. It is all round one of Sammo's best as it has good action but also a great story, great villains ( John Shum and Billy Chow ) and some great comedy too - it is a very pleasing mix. And watch out for the cameo from Lau Kar Leung and Max Mok Siu Chung's starring role ! Both are must haves in my opinion.

[GwaiLoMoFo]

Agree with you on "Pedicab Driver", I absolutely LOVE that film!

[Asmo]

I have not seen Pedicab in years. Waiting for a decent (non-bootleg) dvd.

[Tantheman]

I covet my VHS UK copy of Pedicab Driver, its a good print with remastered subtitles, by the now defunct Made In Hong Kong company. I can't believe that it has'nt been released on DVD yet. I really can't pick between the two movies, they're both great in different ways besides the superb action