The shogun of Japan sends a diplomatic envoy to China to meet with the country’s top military leader in order to gain influence in advance of an invasion. In order to halt Japan’s growing influence, a senior Chinese official sends his niece and a retinue of guards on a top secret mission. With the aid of Jimmy Wang Yu as a nameless mercenary, the group fight their way through Japan’s top killers and even a trio of zombies in order to save China.

One time superstar, Jimmy Wang Yu directs and stars in this highly entertaining and fantastic tale of Chinese vs. Japanese martial arts mayhem.

Give in to your high brow notions of cinema as art and indulge in the too-cool personification of every martial arts wannabe’s dream. Or that’s what the over-the-top, opening training scene to “Return of the Chinese Boxer” implies. As a famed guitarist once sang, “Move over rover and let Jimmy take over.” This film is vintage Jimmy Wang Yu in all his gratuitous glory. Jimmy plays the character that you know can’t lose. He’s faster, smarter and always at the right place at the right time. In other hands, this would make for dull viewing.

The evenly paced plot keeps up the momentum, despite the fact that it stretches itself way beyond the realm of reality. The Japanese are once again stereotyped as the evil-minded villains intent on subjugating China to its rule. This and a subplot about a Japanese martial arts contest and the winner’s desire to take each other’s prize pearls provides the pretext for a great series of fights involving numerous martial arts styles from Mui Thai to jujitsu. Of course, its Chinese boxing that beats all comers, even when they’re sporting primitive, multi-barreled guns.

The story gets increasingly improbable as Wang goes goes to-to-toe with an assortment of villains, from a knife throwing expert to a goofy trio of zombies that refuse to stay down. Wirework is everywhere in this film as Wang walks up walls or balances on the end of a staff. Much like the Shaw Brothers’ “Kid with the Golden Arm,” most of the action revolves around a caravan of people, in this case the Chinese official’s niece traveling from point A to point B with an odd assortment of fighters popping up left and right. This all leads up the the finale with a Japanese killer who has no reservations about blowing our hero away with a gun. Sharing an eerie resemblance to scenes from the James bond film, “The Man with the Golden Gun,” Wang conveniently lures his opponent into a house filled with mannequins all looking like Wang himself. Taking advice from the villain’s book of tactics, Wang gets hold of the gun and blasts the baddie at close range. Disappointing ending for a kung fu movie? Yes, but there’s still plenty of martial arts action throughout with the Japanese contest and Wang’s fight with the knife thrower as highlights.

The costumes and sets are better than average, especially the Japanese details. The stock music is pretty corny with James Bond-like horns blasting whenever Wang pops from out of a bush. Yet, this is definitely one of Jimmy’s more enjoyable films. It’s worth noting that he was already in decline at this point with his greatest films, such as “The One-Armed Swordsman” behind him. Luckily, “Return of the Chinese Boxer” doesn’t take itself too seriously and manages to keep the best of Wang’s trademark action front and center. Perhaps the best moment in the film comes after Wang first appears. Having chased away a band of Japanese thugs, he looks knowingly at the camera and with just a hint of a smirk, dashes off in pursuit. You’ll forgive his arrogance once you realize just how much you’re grinning like a little kid throughout the film.

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