northern b
11-15-2008, 01:43 AM
If there is a world record for fights in a move this may well win it! If you thought Secret rivals 2 was just fights wait til you see this one!
****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
The plot revolves around a Constable named Le Yu Wai (whose son Chan San is also his student ) who tries to bring 2 killers to justice 1, the top man (Ling Chu- Yang Sze) is pitted against his former collegue (Tu Shu, who also has a student Shao Lee who is in fact the long lost son of Le Yu Wai)
With me? OK.......
The Good
There are so many fights in this film (more than a dozen!) the fighting is good but I wouldn’t say it was top grade stuff, the choreography is a little loose at times but generally the fights (some a little too cranked) are well put together and certainly worth watching.
Yang Sze- AGAIN! It's not just how he handles choreography and economic not looking fighting style that is top rate. In this film he conveys (without trying) a demeanor that is both calm and menacing at the same time, I mean he is a killer yet he carries a cage with a pet bird that he cares very much for and even talks to, the contrast couldn’t be more stark!
The Bad
Early one of Le Yu Wei's sidekicks is stabbed, he dies but Le Yu Wei allso is stabbed by Shao lee and also needs an antidote- he doesn’t get it yet still lives!
The first few killers die a little too easily!
Ling Chu is underused and dies far too easily in the end fight (presumably of the same type of poison that killed one of the constables but not Lee Yu wei?)
All is revealed at the end however there is no real set up to the finale. When Ling Chu reveeals the truth the about Shao Lees master Shao Lee just takes this as the truth, there is no questioning of his teacher, no struggle to resolve whether he should (or can) kill the man who has raised him for the past 20 years- he just throws a knife and kills him!!! Compare this to legend of a fighter where the conflicts are a powerful part of the film
Chan San and then (his father) constable Lee Yu Wai turn up out of the blue. While Chan San and Shao Lee (who are in fact brothers) are facing up and Shao Lee says Dad your alive!!! Where was the set up to all this??
The Conclusion
As a fan of Kung Fu movies I don't expect (or care for) intricate clever plots and story telling however even a basic story can (and should) be told clearly by a taut narrative. The lack of plot spoils this film and it also appears the director (Fong Yeh who plays Lee Yu Wei) was half attempting a comedy as there are 1 or 2 goofy moments in the film that don’t match the undercurrent of vengeance that should have been simmering to the films apex. fortunately they don’t over shadow the film.
Early in the film it would have been an idea to show a flash back with Shao Lee being 'rescued' by Tu Shu. This would have made Ling Chu's later revelations more meaningful.
Perhaps the director had too much to do and over looked a lot of this but then again thats what the continuity department are there for!
This is a case of what if…
With better direction this could have been a powerful film instead it’s a fight fest with a half baked attempt at comedy, clumsily narrated with the conclusion at the end
Would I recommend the film? Well to die hards yes, but not for newbies
2.5/5 Its worth a watch if only for the (underused) Yang Sze and the multitude of fights.
As ever other opinions or takes on this one are welcome.
****SPOILERS AHEAD*****
The plot revolves around a Constable named Le Yu Wai (whose son Chan San is also his student ) who tries to bring 2 killers to justice 1, the top man (Ling Chu- Yang Sze) is pitted against his former collegue (Tu Shu, who also has a student Shao Lee who is in fact the long lost son of Le Yu Wai)
With me? OK.......
The Good
There are so many fights in this film (more than a dozen!) the fighting is good but I wouldn’t say it was top grade stuff, the choreography is a little loose at times but generally the fights (some a little too cranked) are well put together and certainly worth watching.
Yang Sze- AGAIN! It's not just how he handles choreography and economic not looking fighting style that is top rate. In this film he conveys (without trying) a demeanor that is both calm and menacing at the same time, I mean he is a killer yet he carries a cage with a pet bird that he cares very much for and even talks to, the contrast couldn’t be more stark!
The Bad
Early one of Le Yu Wei's sidekicks is stabbed, he dies but Le Yu Wei allso is stabbed by Shao lee and also needs an antidote- he doesn’t get it yet still lives!
The first few killers die a little too easily!
Ling Chu is underused and dies far too easily in the end fight (presumably of the same type of poison that killed one of the constables but not Lee Yu wei?)
All is revealed at the end however there is no real set up to the finale. When Ling Chu reveeals the truth the about Shao Lees master Shao Lee just takes this as the truth, there is no questioning of his teacher, no struggle to resolve whether he should (or can) kill the man who has raised him for the past 20 years- he just throws a knife and kills him!!! Compare this to legend of a fighter where the conflicts are a powerful part of the film
Chan San and then (his father) constable Lee Yu Wai turn up out of the blue. While Chan San and Shao Lee (who are in fact brothers) are facing up and Shao Lee says Dad your alive!!! Where was the set up to all this??
The Conclusion
As a fan of Kung Fu movies I don't expect (or care for) intricate clever plots and story telling however even a basic story can (and should) be told clearly by a taut narrative. The lack of plot spoils this film and it also appears the director (Fong Yeh who plays Lee Yu Wei) was half attempting a comedy as there are 1 or 2 goofy moments in the film that don’t match the undercurrent of vengeance that should have been simmering to the films apex. fortunately they don’t over shadow the film.
Early in the film it would have been an idea to show a flash back with Shao Lee being 'rescued' by Tu Shu. This would have made Ling Chu's later revelations more meaningful.
Perhaps the director had too much to do and over looked a lot of this but then again thats what the continuity department are there for!
This is a case of what if…
With better direction this could have been a powerful film instead it’s a fight fest with a half baked attempt at comedy, clumsily narrated with the conclusion at the end
Would I recommend the film? Well to die hards yes, but not for newbies
2.5/5 Its worth a watch if only for the (underused) Yang Sze and the multitude of fights.
As ever other opinions or takes on this one are welcome.