The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe (1975)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

1973's film 'Shanghai Joe' is no, 2000's 'Shanghai Noon'. It's not even in the league of 1975's TV Show 'Kung Fu' with actor, David Carradine; in my opinion, this Italian Wuxia Western movie was below average. Don't get me wrong, "Shanghai Joe' is no average Joe Schmoe. It's entertaining, but it's just, wasn't that good. Directed by Mario Caiano, 'The Fighting Fist of Shanghai Joe', also known as 'My Name Is Shanghai Joe', 'The Dragon Strikes Back', 'To Kill or to Die' and 'Karate Jack' tells the story of a Chinese immigrant, Shanghai Joe/Karate Jack/Chin Hau (Chen Lee) seeking a new and peaceful life in America, only to find out that he's not exactly welcomed with open arms, by cattle ranchers led by owner, Stanley Spencer (Piero Lulli), who using Mexican slaves as cattle. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, Chen Lee isn't a good actor. A 'deer in the headlights' boring performance. His acting is so mundane by his emotionless delivery. Yes, I guess, he supposed to be rather calm, cool, and collected, but he doesn't show, any range to anything that is happening on screen like people dying. What happen!? Did he went to the Tommy Wiseau's school of acting!? Not only that, but his character is such a Gary Stu! He seems seemingly perfect in every task, he does. It doesn't make sense. Like how, in the world, did he get so good in playing cards, while training in martial arts!? Also, how did Shanghai Joe able to walk after getting shot in the legs, after a few days of healing!? It doesn't add up! Also, Chen Lee's badly made choreography fight scenes were just as bizarre and silly with his unrealistic slow-motion flips, mediocre hits/kicks and awkward cries. I was laughing my head off, when action scenes like the bull-chopping, fancy jumping a horse and bullet catching scene were on screen. It was so over-the-top! However, the gore and visual effects were alright for the time, even if they didn't film it that well. I was really confusing on how Shanghai Joe went to eye gouge and heart pull, his enemies, because of that. Despite that, I have to say, the music score by composer Bruno Nicolai is a notable asset that really help set the tone of the film, even if it's recycle from 1970's western film, 'Have a Good Funeral, My Friend... Sartana Will Pay'. While, the picture quality is decent, some speckling and the colors are indeed washed out. Also the sound is sometimes rather indistinct but all of the English dialogue is understandable, no gaps in the Italian translates. Yet, by far, the best thing in this movie are the supporting cast that plays the series of villains that Spencer hires to take down Shanghai Joe. Actors like Gordon Mitchell and Klaus Kinski really made their characters, Burying Sam & Scalper Jack really stood out, by their cunning action. Even, the over the top gory, unrealistic fight sequences with Japanese fighter, Mikuja (Katsutoshi Mikuriya) & Tricky the Gambler (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) were memorable. Yet, I wish, they could had done more with Pedro the Cannibal (Claudio Undari). His scene was a bit disappointing. Talking about disappointing. I really don't like how Carla Romanelli's Cristina was just there to be the force love interest and damsel in distress. Her character really didn't add anything to the film, at all! Another problem with this film is the pacing. Honestly, did we really need to see, his journey from California to Texas, or his scenes with previous ranchers!? It takes forever for the main plot to start. Also, for a few dollars more, they really could had, work on the production value, a little more. First off, the Almerian locations look so small and ugly-looking. San Francisco is a good example. It doesn't look or feel like San Francisco at the time. Also, the subtitles really got it wrong with St. Francisco. It wasn't never call that!? Another problem is the costumes; some of the characters look like, they're wearing clothes from a 1940's gangster movie rather than more western-looking costumes! It was very jarring. Anyways, while this film gives us a rather bleak view of the United States as an intolerant country, uneducated, racist and violent which still traffics humans that might offend some viewers. As an American, I kinda like this movie, despite its flaws. After all, the film was enough of a success to boast a sequel, 1975's 'The Return of Shanghai Joe'. Overall: Enjoyable east-meets-west fare that is a little bit awkward. Still, highly recommended.

Probably one of the oddest sub-genres in cinema is the kung fu spaghetti western. THE FIGHTING FISTS OF SHANGHAI JOE is one of the best and most popular of this genre, which saw Italian producers deciding to combine the then-popular martial arts film with the spaghetti western, which like the peplum ten years previously, was crying out for fresh ideas and imagination. The result was about half-a-dozen productions which mixed chop-socky action with grizzly cowboys and desert town locations to unique effect. THE FIGHTING FISTS OF SHANGHAI JOE is actually a very well-made movie, benefiting from strong direction from Mario Caiano, a rather overlooked genre personality from the period, who could usually be relied upon to deliver a watchable movie. The plot is simple and straightforward and a basis for the never-ending scenes of action which are hard-hitting and often violent.Although the premise is silly and could be played for laughs, this is actually a very dark film in which the hard-edged action is often punctuated by merciless violence and surprising gore effects. The main themes that the film explores are racism and oppression; our hero Shanghai Joe must suffer both of these throughout the film. First come the expected encounters with racist cowboys, whose vocabulary usually seems to contain only racist taunts, before Joe teaches them a lesson in manners. Later, he defeats a gang of slave labourers quite happy using Mexican peasants to do their dirty work, thus invoking the wrath of a criminal boss and setting the latter half of the film in motion.Whereas the first half of the movie spends a fair amount of time developing Joe's character and the new landscape in which he finds himself, also exploring his relationships with other people, the second half loses all exposition in favour of a series of fight sequences against increasingly difficult opponents (thus reminding one of a computer game). The first baddie for Joe to fight is a guy named Cannibal! The second villain is Italian regular Gordon Mitchell in a blond wig. The third villain is all brains and no brawn, as played by Giacomo Rossi-Stuart. The final villain is a scalp-hunter played by the inimitably sleazy Klaus Kinski at his manic best.The final battle of the film is the only one with any memorable choreography, seeing as Shanghai Joe gets to fight a fellow martial artist instead of an unskilled cowboy. Caiano throws in some good use of slow-motion leaping (not as silly as it sounds), some creepy music which comes as a surprise after the rest of the jolly Morricone-style score, and a wonderful 360 sweep around Joe as he searches for his opponent. The film's hero is played by Chen Lee, who is pretty decent in the part and succeeds because he's actually an actor as well as a martial artist, and seems charismatic in his role. Tons of action, arm-lopping gore, memorably deranged characters, and steadfast direction combine to make this one a whole lotta fun.

Shanghai Joe is just a regular Chinese guy who has moved to America to get a good job and live the dream. Sadly for Joe everyone he comes across is a racist moron who don't want Joe to get anywhere. Sadly for them Joe tends to lose his rag and beat everyone who crosses him into submission.This film is a lot of fun. A lot of fun. For the first half of the film Joe just goes from job to job being harassed and doling out justice, but then he crosses the wrong guy (a slave trader) and from then on the heat is on, in the form of ugly Gordon Mitchell and uglier Klaus Kinski! Basically just one action set piece after another, this film does not disappoint. Its a nice merging of spaghetti western and martial arts and Mario Caiano isn't daft, as he gives us loads of both in an overtly violent way.Honestly, for a spaghetti western this one is really high on violence. Wrists are broken and bones protrude, folk are drowned in boiling water, hands are cut off, torsos punctured by fists and Joe even manually removes a guy's eyeball! Entertaining stuff.I had this in my collection for years and now wish I'd watched it sooner. It's on YouTube if you don't own it.Also - Joe screams Eeeeeaaaaeeaagh before braining someone. Watch out for that.

The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe is easily one of the best Spaghetti Western / Kung Fu movies I've ever seen. Wait a minute . . . it's the only Spaghetti Western / Kung Fu movie I've ever seen. It's a strange mix of genres that actually works.Joe is a Chinese immigrant in the Old West. All Joe wants is a job and a chance to make a new life for himself. He faces continual racial prejudices and injustice. Being a peace loving man, he takes it all in stride. But when pushed too far, he turns into a butt-kicking machine. When Joe sets a group of Mexican slaves free, the local "Big Man" hires four killers to get Joe. Can Joe's Kung Fu skills save him from these gun-toting, knife-throwing bounty hunters? The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe has a lot of things working against it. Chen Lee, in the title role, isn't the most engaging sort of actor. He's actually rather bland. Klaus Kinski, who gets top billing, is on screen for less than 10 minutes. Mario Caiano brings nothing inventive of note to the direction. And the score by Bruno Nicolai, while entertaining, is not very original. But none of that really matters. This isn't art - it's about having a good time. And on that level, The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe works. Watching Joe kick the crap out of a bunch of cowboys is a real blast. The fight scene between Lee and Kinski is the highlight. If you've ever wanted to see a Kung Fu master fight after being shot in both legs, this is your movie.