Fearless Fighters (1971)
When To Pa, a member of the prestigious Eagle Claw Clan, commands his followers to carry out a mutinous robbery against the Almighty Imperial Lightning Whip, the victim's children are shaken by his disloyalty. With the help of one of To Pa's former minions, who's grown disillusioned with his leader's unconscionable actions, they organize a battle to avenge their father.
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People are voting emotionally.
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All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
No, it is not the incredible beauty of House of Flying Daggers or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, as it is the early years of Hong Kong chop socky, but it is an incredible experience.Trading on the success of Bruce Lee, many films like this were released. The actors in this film, with the exception of the villain Hung Lieh Chen, only made one or two movies besides this one.The action is almost non-stop. As soon as one bunch is dispatched, another takes their place. We see an incredible variety of weapons used in martial arts - some that I have never seen before. There is the typical kung fu with magnificent leaps to rooftops and even flying at times -actions we are used to seeing in the current films.A satisfying chop socky treat.
Maybe this flick in this style didn't get it's just do in the distribution network back in the day. If it had I am sure the above headline would not be written as it was ... this movie may have saved the genre! Today the style is revered by all who see and understand that 'fun-in-flick' no seriousness allowed kinda movie. Maybe a headline in Variety back in '72 would have stated: 'Flying Kung Fu With Women As Masters Too!' I didn't see any mistakes worth mentioning as the whole movie was a 'not-mistake' a phrase my high school students, who taught it to me will understand. The story was well spent on the screen in a currency rare indeed, the action was so massively overdone it seemed like the people who made it must have influenced the modern 'flying masters' of this era.
A famous hero is guarding the transportation of a supply of gold and jewels. Attacked by bandits, he successfully fights them off. The Bandits vow - revenge! The chief of the bandits goes to ask help from a brother member of his martial arts clan, but the brother won't commit crime - so the bandit chief vows - revenge! Instead he hires a group of archers, and they kill the great hero. When his son and daughter here of it, they vow - revenge! Measnwhile, the bandit chief kills the whole family of the clan brother who wouldn't join his clan so the brother vows - revenge! Meanwhile, the bandit chief hires a super-swordsman to fight against the clan brother; since this is an insult to his previous super-swordsman, the latter vows -revenge! Meanewhile, a group of bandits dressed as zombies, who were previously defeated by the clan brother, show up to take their - revenge! After which the new super-swordsman shows up and disposes of the clan-brother's left arm and right leg; the clan brother learns how to fight using only prosthetic limbs - just so he can take his - revenge!Obviously, this is a film about world peace and how we can all learn how to get along together.Actually, a nonsensical but enjoyable Hong Kong swordplay film from the mid-'70s.My copy is on a bargain-cost DVD with a second feature, "Fury at Shaolin Temple" - a Lai bros.- Godfrey Ho chop job that almost stars Gordon Liu - almost because he obviously quit in mid-production, and in half "his" scenes his character can only be photographed from the rear to hide the fact that he isn't Gordon Liu; since the stand-in is about a foot taller than Liu, this doesn't quite work. Personally, I think Liu should go hunt down the Lai bros. and get his - revenge!
Wow this movie was a total head scratcher.Firstly I'd like to point out the cast is a bit off.Not only in who is in it but who the star is!And after watching this and checking all the names in the credits and checking here and yes googling it.You know what I have no idea at all!But it's not Carter Wong or Lau Ka Wen aka Chia Yung Liu aka Lau Kar Wing.It's the cop in Turkey yes Turkey who's a karate expert but no names in the credit fit?Anybody see this and have clue who he is?Anyhow the director of this movie is probably the worst part of it.The action is decent in fact some fight scenes are pretty good.However the story is choppy,the acting weak and the speedup of the final fight scene didn't help at all.Although I give it 9 out of 10 for location shoots!The director was intent on spicing this one up with romance and fun in the sun.And hey watch Bolo run run run!Actually there's too much running in this movie entirely.This really could have been a good movie if not for the director I think lol.Oh and don't miss Carter Wong's extended cameo in the lead role!Oh here's the spoiler there is no Ninja Killer at all!