"Eight Diagram Pole Fighter" was very good, but very bloody sometimes.

wackiechan · 11-05-2008, 10:19 PM

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW

I saw "Eight Diagram Pole Fighter" for the first time, which was at The 2008 L.A. Film Festival at around last June. The fight scenes were very good, but the movie became very bloody near the end. It didn't seem necessary for "EDPF" to be so bloody near the end of the movie.

Other than that, I thought that "EDPF" was a very good HK kung fu movie. It seems like Shaw Brothers movies aren't shown that often in the theatres nowadays, for some reason. Maybe The 4 Star Movie Theatre, in San Francisco, or The Nuart or Beverly Cinema Theatres in L.A. should show some Shaw movies.

That kind of looked like Wong Yue, of "Executioners of Shaolin", in the beginning of "EDPF".

Iron Boat · 11-05-2008, 10:38 PM

I liked the blood, it illustrated the rage inside the character, also you may not know the history attached to the film, (The tragic death of Fu Sheng), It's indirectly conveyed through the intensity of the choreography

Delirious · 11-05-2008, 10:43 PM

well said iron boat. EDPF is one of a few Shaw brothers that I feel emotionally satisfying after watching the whole movie.

Morgoth · 11-05-2008, 11:33 PM

Most movies Lau Kar Leung makes aren't that bloody, but in this movie it was needed.

Joe Pineapples · 11-06-2008, 12:16 AM

I always thought they could of cut the intro off when fu sheng goes crazy. he didnt really
pull of going mad well and looked zany. I understand why they used it in the end
since those were his last scenes caught on film. r.i.p big guy.

Yakuza954 · 11-06-2008, 02:05 AM

the bloodier the better

shaolin drunkard · 11-06-2008, 02:28 AM

^what he said.There is no question about quality of LKLs filmmaking but lack of gore or thing there are truckload of movies nobody is killed or badly injured is reason his movies often do not meet my demands fully.8 diagram(invincible pole fighters) is masterpieceXD

falkor · 11-06-2008, 08:52 AM

I think 8 Diagram is a 5 star film, but what stops it being the best of the best is that its a very slow film that didn't appeal too much to my gathering of friends at a late night event (they got bored during the middle). It's better to watch it on your own. However, the more action-packed Shaolin Intruders was a major success.

Karlos · 11-06-2008, 10:09 AM

Like Iron Boat said, when you know the troubled path the film was put on after Fu Sheng's tragically early death, you soon realise that what Pops eventually brought us wasn't "just" a KF film, but a truly bleak and heartbroken masterpiece, with an almost supernatural atmosphere at times.

I've shown this film to people who don't care for KF films and they've all been impressed by it.

Just thinking of that final shot, with Fu Sheng's face appearing in the sky as Gordon walks away, gives me goose bumps!!!

Tosh · 11-06-2008, 12:51 PM

I think the historical significance has something to do with this also, but no doubt Fu Sheng's death brought out some serious emotion, just look at the intensity in their faces at the end.

11-05-2008, 10:19 PM	#1
wackiechan Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 41	"Eight Diagram Pole Fighter" was very good, but very bloody sometimes. POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW I saw "Eight Diagram Pole Fighter" for the first time, which was at The 2008 L.A. Film Festival at around last June. The fight scenes were very good, but the movie became very bloody near the end. It didn't seem necessary for "EDPF" to be so bloody near the end of the movie. Other than that, I thought that "EDPF" was a very good HK kung fu movie. It seems like Shaw Brothers movies aren't shown that often in the theatres nowadays, for some reason. Maybe The 4 Star Movie Theatre, in San Francisco, or The Nuart or Beverly Cinema Theatres in L.A. should show some Shaw movies. That kind of looked like Wong Yue, of "Executioners of Shaolin", in the beginning of "EDPF".

11-05-2008, 11:33 PM	#4
Morgoth Master Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,798	Most movies Lau Kar Leung makes aren't that bloody, but in this movie it was needed. __________________ . "When all this is over, Tan Hai Chi, I will kick your head off and put it on my brother's grave!"

11-06-2008, 12:51 PM	#10
Tosh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,149	I think the historical significance has something to do with this also, but no doubt Fu Sheng's death brought out some serious emotion, just look at the intensity in their faces at the end. __________________ My blood is not for your sword to drink...

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11-05-2008, 10:38 PM	#2
Iron Boat Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 302	I liked the blood, it illustrated the rage inside the character, also you may not know the history attached to the film, (The tragic death of Fu Sheng), It's indirectly conveyed through the intensity of the choreography

11-05-2008, 10:43 PM	#3
Delirious Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The United States Posts: 172	well said iron boat. EDPF is one of a few Shaw brothers that I feel emotionally satisfying after watching the whole movie.

11-06-2008, 12:16 AM	#5
Joe Pineapples Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 51	I always thought they could of cut the intro off when fu sheng goes crazy. he didnt really pull of going mad well and looked zany. I understand why they used it in the end since those were his last scenes caught on film. r.i.p big guy.

11-06-2008, 02:05 AM	#6
Yakuza954 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 277	the bloodier the better

11-06-2008, 02:28 AM	#7
shaolin drunkard Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 232	^what he said.There is no question about quality of LKLs filmmaking but lack of gore or thing there are truckload of movies nobody is killed or badly injured is reason his movies often do not meet my demands fully.8 diagram(invincible pole fighters) is masterpieceXD

11-06-2008, 08:52 AM	#8
falkor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,236	I think 8 Diagram is a 5 star film, but what stops it being the best of the best is that its a very slow film that didn't appeal too much to my gathering of friends at a late night event (they got bored during the middle). It's better to watch it on your own. However, the more action-packed Shaolin Intruders was a major success.

11-06-2008, 10:09 AM	#9
Karlos Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The Martial World Posts: 618	Like Iron Boat said, when you know the troubled path the film was put on after Fu Sheng's tragically early death, you soon realise that what Pops eventually brought us wasn't "just" a KF film, but a truly bleak and heartbroken masterpiece, with an almost supernatural atmosphere at times. I've shown this film to people who don't care for KF films and they've all been impressed by it. Just thinking of that final shot, with Fu Sheng's face appearing in the sky as Gordon walks away, gives me goose bumps!!!