northern b
11-10-2008, 02:16 AM
Writing Kung Fu
************SPOILERS AHEAD************
Everyone knows who Yang Sze (Bolo) is right?
One of Mr Hans Elite heavies from Enter the Dragon?
A Big Brainless Buffoon in Snake Deadly Act?
Bad guy side kick in Fist Kicks Evils and Master Killers?
Purveyor of the not looking style?
Well Yes the versatile Yang Sze is all these but he also directed a movie called writing Kung Fu
Lets start with the good
Firstly when this was released in 1979 Kung Fu comedy was king yet Yang Sze saw fit to go against the grain and make a film that wasn't a comedy- Have to respect him for that.
The Kung fu is endlessly inventive in this film. If you like shapes this film is a must - its just a pity there wasn't more action.....
Yang Sze's opening fight which is a comparison of styles is a simply brilliant- no spoilers here just watch it! His ability to handle choreography is amazing and his economy of movement belies a man of that size.
John Chang is a deep thinker who links philosophy with Kung Fu in a way I haven't seen before
The bad
John Chang plays a teacher who is down trodden by the local mr big (the reasons are not clear though!). He suddenly decides to stop teaching and becomes alcoholic. Later his luck changes and he wins some money, He then turns up at the mr big kung fu school where his former pupils are and tries to persuade them to return to school!. When did he change his mind about teaching?
Yang Sze seems to kill with impunity - there is no rhyme nor reason!!!
The girl who Johh Chang teaches and her mother are both killed- Why!!!!?
Yang Sze arrives at the town posing as a rep from the north. However 10 years previously he had robbed the red clay village and this is a known fact so why is there a fuss later in the form of a note to advise this?
There were 2 survivors from the red clay killings and Yang Sze kills them both later yet there is nothing to link the 2 events. Later he kills everyone at the mr big's base-why? was it for the treasure?
John Chang Learns Kung Fu but there is no reason for it nor is there a teacher who directly teaches him, he practices with the old man as opposed to learning from him. After learning KF he arrives at Mr Bigs base only
to find his female friend strung up (I guess Bolo killed her???)
John Changs redemption from alcoholism isn't resolved...........
The Conclusion
Perhaps it was naivety but Yang Szes flaws in the directing end up hurting the film. All that was was required was a taut narrative to tell the relatively simple story, the action spoke for itself...
This film is good but with a little more care and attention to detail could have been a top grader. at 78 mins I'm guessing a lot was cut from the version I saw (Vengeance) Maybe some of the unresolved issues lay on the cutting room floor...
Would I recommend this film? Yes it should be seen for the action which is as good as anything out there. The scene where the 2 survivors quote wine sayings whilst practicing Kung Fu will have you hitting the rewind button! Shapes a plenty, it is simply brilliant.
I'd say this is 3/5 due to the plot and direction flaws
The disc is easily available so why not grab it before it goes out of print...
I'd be interested to know other opinions on this film
************SPOILERS AHEAD************
Everyone knows who Yang Sze (Bolo) is right?
One of Mr Hans Elite heavies from Enter the Dragon?
A Big Brainless Buffoon in Snake Deadly Act?
Bad guy side kick in Fist Kicks Evils and Master Killers?
Purveyor of the not looking style?
Well Yes the versatile Yang Sze is all these but he also directed a movie called writing Kung Fu
Lets start with the good
Firstly when this was released in 1979 Kung Fu comedy was king yet Yang Sze saw fit to go against the grain and make a film that wasn't a comedy- Have to respect him for that.
The Kung fu is endlessly inventive in this film. If you like shapes this film is a must - its just a pity there wasn't more action.....
Yang Sze's opening fight which is a comparison of styles is a simply brilliant- no spoilers here just watch it! His ability to handle choreography is amazing and his economy of movement belies a man of that size.
John Chang is a deep thinker who links philosophy with Kung Fu in a way I haven't seen before
The bad
John Chang plays a teacher who is down trodden by the local mr big (the reasons are not clear though!). He suddenly decides to stop teaching and becomes alcoholic. Later his luck changes and he wins some money, He then turns up at the mr big kung fu school where his former pupils are and tries to persuade them to return to school!. When did he change his mind about teaching?
Yang Sze seems to kill with impunity - there is no rhyme nor reason!!!
The girl who Johh Chang teaches and her mother are both killed- Why!!!!?
Yang Sze arrives at the town posing as a rep from the north. However 10 years previously he had robbed the red clay village and this is a known fact so why is there a fuss later in the form of a note to advise this?
There were 2 survivors from the red clay killings and Yang Sze kills them both later yet there is nothing to link the 2 events. Later he kills everyone at the mr big's base-why? was it for the treasure?
John Chang Learns Kung Fu but there is no reason for it nor is there a teacher who directly teaches him, he practices with the old man as opposed to learning from him. After learning KF he arrives at Mr Bigs base only
to find his female friend strung up (I guess Bolo killed her???)
John Changs redemption from alcoholism isn't resolved...........
The Conclusion
Perhaps it was naivety but Yang Szes flaws in the directing end up hurting the film. All that was was required was a taut narrative to tell the relatively simple story, the action spoke for itself...
This film is good but with a little more care and attention to detail could have been a top grader. at 78 mins I'm guessing a lot was cut from the version I saw (Vengeance) Maybe some of the unresolved issues lay on the cutting room floor...
Would I recommend this film? Yes it should be seen for the action which is as good as anything out there. The scene where the 2 survivors quote wine sayings whilst practicing Kung Fu will have you hitting the rewind button! Shapes a plenty, it is simply brilliant.
I'd say this is 3/5 due to the plot and direction flaws
The disc is easily available so why not grab it before it goes out of print...
I'd be interested to know other opinions on this film