Another attempt at a Shaw Brothers thread

[Brian B.]

Thanks, Wostry (I guess ) and Marshall. HUMAN GODDESS sounds like a winner. Just about anything with Li Ching is enticing to me.

[Marshall Crist]

Indeed. Although have you seen SEXY PLAYGIRLS? Yikes.

[Brian B.]

Originally Posted by Marshall Crist

Indeed. Although have you seen SEXY PLAYGIRLS? Yikes.

No, I never got that one. Is that a recommendation? I was curious about THE SEXY GIRLS OF DENMARK, though.

[Marshall Crist]

SEXY GIRLS OF DENMARK I generally liked, although it was a little slow. SEXY PLAYGIRLS is VCD only and was a chore to sit though, despite having Li Ching and Chen Ping. Some WTF weirdness with Ching's boss' disgusting eye ailment, but otherwise boring.

[Ian F]

Originally Posted by Wostry Ferenc

BOXER REBELLION **

Two stars for ambition and a halfway decent screenplay - the rest is the usual Chang Cheh lameness. Constantly awful direction - he was a great genre inventor and idea man, but a bad fucking director... Shitty choreography + irritating Fu Sheng + embarrassing storytelling = Chang Cheh fans rejoice! Only he could make a big budget film to look like one of those no budget taiwanese productions.

Bullshit Bullshit Bullshit!

Actually I'm a huge fan of Boxer Rebellion, as a Chinese history dork and a Chang Cheh fan. It's probably the one film he cared about out, he discusses it a lot in his biography and in contemporary interviews. I can see why some might not like it, but I enjoy it a lot (Leung Kar Yan in a starring role is always a plus). In terms of the Cheng Cheh epic I like Seven Man Army more (for the megastar cast) and the super manliness nature of the story. Seven Man Army is like Mandom the Movie.

[Ian F]

Originally Posted by Richard C

Anyone seen this title - 7 MAN ARMY?:

http://www12.cd-wow.com/detail_resul...uct_code=23075

Looks interesting.

Seven Man Army is a blood-soaked epic set during the invasion of China by the Japanese in the 1930s. It actually has a great deal in common at a passing glance with the story of the defense of the Alamo. It deals with Chinese soldiers trying to remain in control of a Japanese fortification that they have recently captured while suffering severe losses that means they must hold out against impossible odds. The story is told by contrasting the current situation with flashbacks that explain how the men came to be in the Chinese Army.

It is also a chance to see one of the most star-studded Shaw films ever made. Seven Man Army stars no less than Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, David Chaing, Chen Kwan Tai, and features as villains Gordon Liu, Leung Kar Yan, and of course Johnny Wang.

The fights in this film are amazing and make good use of both weapons and empty- handed combat. An explosive ending and last stand by Ti Lung anticipates Chow Yun Fat's ending in The Killer. It should be noted that this film was directed by John Woo's mentor, Cheng Cheh.

My only minor issues with the film are the historical error,s such as the Japanese flag used on the tanks and other small things. However, this should not hinder anyone's enjoyment of this ultimate Shaw spectacle.

*****/*****

Hell I loved the movie so much I even recorded an audio review of 7MA if people are really bored. Luckily for you I can't seem to find it at the moment.

[Wostry Ferenc]

Ian, if you liked BOXER REBELLION, I won't bother with SEVEN MAN ARMY, I'm afraid. :P

[Ian F]

Originally Posted by Wostry Ferenc

Ian, if you liked BOXER REBELLION, I won't bother with SEVEN MAN ARMY, I'm afraid. :P

Kidding aside you really should give it a try.

Some more reviews
Mercenaries From Hong Kong

The Shaw Brothers studio is not well known for its modern day action films with the exception of this film and certain others such as Police Force and the Chinatown Kid among others.

This film tells the tale of group of former soldiers who are hired to kill a rebel leader in revenge for the leaders murder of a prominent HK tycoon. However, all is not as it seems in this twisted tale. It would be a shame to spoil this film so I wont discuss the plot any further.

The cast however is amazing this film contains Ti Lung, Johnny Wang, Wong Yue, Chan Wei Man and Lo Leih (sporting an Afro if I remeber correctly). This and some very exciting action scenes and fiights (more like a basher than shapes) contribute to an excellent and a time dark predecessor to the Heroic Bloodshed genre.

[Ian F]

I did find an audio review for this one!
Hong Kong Godfathers
This movie is amazing and that is simply the only way to put it. It is a potential look into what the Shaw Brothers would have been like had they continued to make movies past the mid-1980s. This was one of the last remaining films. Director Johnny Wang (who also has a nice little cameo that allows the audience to see that the Mayor is still tops) takes Beardy and Norman Tsui and creates one of the bloodiest non-horror films ever made at the Shaws. This statement comes even from only viewing a cut copy! I can't imagine some of carnage that is missing. The story is an excellent example (with great acting by Beardy, Big Nose, and even good ole Han Sek Kin appears) of the still somewhat embryonic Heroic Bloodshed genre. Its just a shame Johnny Wang didn't get the chance to led the way with the Shaw Brothers in this new and exciting genre. Pure Classic, that you will never forget.

Audio Review Link
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KY8XY1ED

Ten Tigers of Kwantung
What happens when you mix all the Venoms (even Wei Pai), Ti Lung, Fu Sheng, Ku Feng, Johnny Wang? Well, you get an amazing asskicking experience. Ten Tigers of Kwantung is as much a tribute to the career of Cheng Cheh as Shanghai 13 and perhaps even more because it was a Shaws film, whilst Shanghai 13 was an independent production. This film contains actors from the early period of Cheng Cheh’s Shaw career, the Venoms, and even the so-called Baby Venom’s. Ten Tigers of Kwantung is a portrait of Cheng Cheh’s work in a broad brush stroke.

The film is certainly uneven to an extent similar to Heaven and Hell and the fact that this project like Heaven and Hell was clearly two different pictures merged into one. The film has often been criticized for a use of flashbacks to help connect the two separate projects, but I feel that it is fairly easy to understand in the version I saw (which was the re-mastered Region 3 version put out by IVL) and if you go in knowing this its not really that bad. The films features some great fights, both in terms of how they are choreographed and the match of the combatants. Its very interesting getting to see Ti Lung fighting along with the Venoms. A wide variety of weapons are on display in this film including a giant mermaid statue (which is deadly as hell)! The plot deals with the attempts of the Qing (headed up by Johnny Wang) to catch a Ming rebel (played by the always great Ku Feng) and the consequences of their attempts. The film has one of the two most crazy lead villain deaths ever. They may not be the goriest or bloodiest, but they are ones that will make you jaw drop and really will catch you by surprise. The story is quite brisk and enjoyable and you won’t find yourself fast forward or bored. While there is a lack of character development, one should treat this as a pure action film as opposed to a more character based work by Cheng Cheh. Still that doesn’t mean either film type isn’t great! The final two ending images of the cast really are a testament to the legacy and greatness of what Cheng Cheh achieved at the Shaws. Ten Tigers of Kwantung is highly recommend for its star and action power.

Avenging Eagle
Note: When ever I say Eagle Clan I should be saying Iron Boat Clan.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4X5QQ712

[Brian B.]

Received some more Hong Kong related memorabilia the other day. Here's some stuff that will be of interest to fans most especially a proposed movie starring Charles Bronson, Chuck Norris, Carter Wong and Jim Kelly! It never happened for whatever reason. Anyway, there's some nice bits here for Shaw Brothers fans...

http://www.coolasscinema.com/2010/01...hong-kong.html

[Brian B.]

I was going through some of my Shaw magazines last night and found these pics in a couple of Hong Kong Movie News magazines from August of 1972 and August of 1973. The first pic is several pics of Bruce Lee visiting the sets of both IRON BODYGUARD and THE LIZARD.

The bottom sets of pics are for the rare, unreleased to DVD Shaw films, IMPERIAL TOMB RAIDERS and THE WELL OF DOOM.

http://www.coolasscinema.com/2010/02...bruce-lee.html

[Steve Barr]

The Pearl Phoenix (1967) Huangmei opera with a lot of female to male crossdressing. Mainly of interest to Li Ching fans.

[Brian B.]

Here's some more rare Shaw pics. These are from the unfinished production, THE DRINKING KNIGHT which went through two sets of directors and actors before it was shelved permanently for whatever reason. Then it's a look at SHADOW GIRL from 1971 starring Lily Li as an invisible swordswoman. It didn't get a DVD release from IVL, but DVD-R's are available sourced from the King video VHS. Finally, there's some pics and poster art for the oddball Shaw-Italy co-pro from 1975 SUPER STOOGES VS. THE WONDER WOMEN aka SUPERMEN AGAINST THE AMAZONS.

http://www.coolasscinema.com/2010/02...nfinished.html

[Wostry Ferenc]

Great stuff Brian!

[Brian B.]

Thanks, Wostry. There were some other interesting bits and pieces in that same September issue, but I figured I'd save them for a later post.