This is considered by most aficionados to be the first great Kung Fu genre film to come out of Hong Kong in the 1960′s and is most certainly a great film by any standard. Produced by the inimitable Shaw Brothers and written and directed by King Hu, this film is an absolute technical masterpiece that defied the stereotypical films of Hong Kong at that time. The script, plot, performances, fight choreography, cinematography (compliments of master Tadashi Nishimoto) as well as direction and production values far surpassed the Hong Kong films of the era. One can make a very strong argument that the golden age of Hong Kong film making began with “Come Drink With Me” and ended with Bruce Lee’s passing.

At the time of this film’s release in 1966, it was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.

There are many remarkable and notable things about the film: Jackie Chan claims to be one of the choir children in the opening scenes. Pei Pei Chang plays Golden Swallow, at a time when female action stars were unheard of. Hua Yueh turns in a masterful performance as “Drunk Cat” (Fan Tai Pei).

The plot revolves around a general’s son who is taken hostage and used as leverage to free a bandit leader. The general’s other offspring, a girl named Golden Swallow, is sent to rescue the son. When the bandit gang encounter the Golden Swallow in a local inn, the prisoner negotiation escalates to bloodshed and the kidnappers are beaten to a pulp.

A local drunk beggar named Fan Tai Pei acts as Golden Swallow’s guardian angel, secretly helping her avoid being ambushed at night. That morning Fan Tai Pei, whom we now know only as “Drunken Cat” tips off Golden Swallow to the bandits whereabouts. They have occupied a Buddhist monastery.

Under the guise of an acolyte, Golden Swallow penetrates the temple and confronts the man who’s taken her brother hostage. During the brawl she is injured by a deadly, poisoned dart. She escapes and is rescued in the woods by Fan Tai Pei who nurses her back to health. While she’s convalescing, Golden Swallow learns that Fan is actually a martial arts master and a leader of a Kung Fu society, which he otherwise keeps a secret.

The monastery is led by an evil abbot, Liao Kung, who is also a kung fu master and has allied himself with the bandits. He finds out that the beggar carries a bamboo staff and then realises that the beggar is the former student of the same master. The abbot has in fact killed their master in order to get his bamboo staff, which was rescued by Fan Tai Pei. Now abbot Liao Kung sees the opportunity to gain control of the staff.

Fan Tai Pei is hesitant to confront Liao Kung for two reasons. First, Liao Kung’s Kung Fu skills are unparalleled, and he thinks he has no chances against him, or at the very least, one of them would not survive a confrontation. Second, despite his evil ways, Liao Kung has actually done a good deed to Fan Tai Pei: he persuaded the master to accept Fan Tai Pei into the Green Wand Kung-Fu school when he was a mere homeless orphan, thus giving him a chance in life. For this reason, Fan is reluctant to fight the abbot even though Fan knows about the abbot’s criminal deeds.

In order to release the General’s son, Fan stages a prisoner exchange. During the exchange, the government soldiers receive the General’s son, but Fan prevents the bandits from releasing their leader. As the government soldiers march the bandit leader back to prison, the bandits attack the procession. Golden Swallow, leading her female warriors, fights off the bandits. The evil abbot forces a showdown with Fan Tai Pei.

And the rest, as they say, is history…

This is one seriously bad ass Shaw Brother’s classic that will totally blow you away. This film easily ranks as one of the top 10 Kung Fu Movie classics, and has influenced many of the films that came after. The venerable Chang Cheh directs this unintentional masterpiece and stars Kuan Tai Chen, Feng Lu and Philip Kwok light up the screen.

The plot revolves around a wealthy Kung Fu expert, who is turned bitter and evil by the slaying of his wife and the loss of his son’s hands. He lashes out with rage, bullying the local township with terror and brutality, crushing any perceived slight. The father along with his iron-handed  son (the father has a local blacksmith make his son spring-loaded iron hands) find sadistic pleasure and satisfaction by crippling anyone who gets in their way. Four of those who are crippled, a hawker who is blinded, a blacksmith made mute and deaf, a drifter who loses his legs, and a fighter who loses his sanity, band together to use their disabilities to the best of their advantage.

This film was made during the “Venom’s” era films and features many of the same actors that starred in the “Five Deadly Venom’s” series. While the production values of this film are quite good for their day, Chang Cheh does not seem to be intent on making a classic here. He merely wants to make a movie suggestive of Chinese folk legends, allowing the stable of Shaw Brothers talent to show off their athletic talents.

For added measure, at the center of the film Kuan Tai Chen, a classically trained martial artist who had also developed considerable skill as an actor. His presence adds much credibility to the film.

What is truly impressive is Chang Cheh’s ability to weave a film that doesn’t seem to take itself to seriously, remaining slightly abstract, yet is so rich in detail. This film is a bit of a caricature in some ways and despite itself, turns out to be one of the Shaw Brother’s most memorable classics.

When people say “they don’t make them like they used to”, this is the kind of film they’re talking about. A genre-defining moment in the history of “old-school” Kung Fu films, this film was frequently imitated but it’s charm and artistry could never be duplicated. Enjoy!

A sequel to the International smash hit “Ip Man”, Wilson Yip takes another turn in the directors chair and Donnie Yen reprises his role as the title character, Ip Man. Picking up right where the first film left off, the sequel centers on Ip’s life in Hong Kong, which is under British colonial rule. Newly arrived in Hong Kong, martial arts master Ip Man (Donnie Yen) encounters stiff opposition when he begins teaching the Wing Chun fighting style. This action packed sequel is a worthy heir apparent to the original film and Donnie Yen delights with another stunning performance.

Edmond Wong’s screenplay is tightly paced and focused like a laser, contemplating the deeper quest of one’s life, one’s heritage, integrity and morality. Life is a series of compromises and in the case of Ip Man, it’s also about getting serious about kicking some ass.

This is a great juxtaposition against the corrupt environment of Hong Kong at this time. Ultimately, Ip Man and his rivals unite to face their oppressors. Thankfully, this time out, Ip Man is matched against an opponent who is equally skilled and sparks fly as they duke it out.

Sammo Hung does an awesome job as the action choreographer, and the film is chock full of some of the best action sequences the genre has ever known. Sammo’s presence is strongly felt throughout the film.

The air of invincibility surrounding Ip Man dissipates a little, as other Wing Chun practitioners rise up and we discover the limits of Ip Man’s abilities. This only serves to rally us to cheer him on as he stands up for his ideals. This film is a worthy, must-see movie! Enjoy!

This wonderful film serves as a loose sequel to 1977′s Executioners from Shaolin, but the film is technically more of a remake. I know what you’re thinking: How can they re-make a film 1 year after it’s release? Let me assure you: With Shaw Brothers Studios producing, Liu Chia Hiu (otherwise known as Gordon Liu ) starring, and Lo Lieh directing as well as portraying Pai Mei’s evil twin “Bai Mei” (the White Lotus), you can’t go wrong. This is one FANTASTIC Kung Fu Movie! We even get an incredible new entry into the pantheon of Kung Fu styles with the advent of the all new the “Acupuncture Kung Fu”.

If you watch this film back to back with “Executioners from Shaolin”, you may get a little confused as the opening sequence is at odds with the ending of the “prequel. It begins with two Shaolin warriors fighting against the vicious “White brows” aka Pai Mei, in some burnt out ruins. By combining their respective tiger and crane styles, the two heroes defeat Pai Mei in an acrobatic display of martial arts prowess.

After Pai Mei is killed, his evil twin Bai Mai seeks revenge, managing to kill one of his brothers assailants. Gordon Liu’s character manages to escape with the sister of his comrade. From here we get into the traditional revenge plot, where Liu goes away to learn to combine the Tiger and Crane styles in preparation for another show down with evil Bai Mei. Liu fights his way into the White Lotus palace using his new Kung Fu combo, but Bai Mei has mastered the art of chi power and he’s able to use his Chi force to avoid blows.

Liu retreats to train some more to defeat Bai Mei. It is his slain companions sister that shows him her special technique of how to attack paper dummies without disturbing the air around them. “It’s a special woman’s style,” she tells him. She also forces him to babysit and learn to knit. Yet again, he sets off to do battle with the White Lotus Clan.

Will his crazy-quilt Kung Fu work, or will danger loom over his every move? Only Time (and acupuncture) will tell!

This is one amazing Kung Fu classic, compliments of Shaw Brothers Studios circa 1977. Even more incredible is that this film is directed by none other than the venerable Lar Kar-Leung, the same director who brought you the “36th Chamber of Shaolin”. This is a very unusual entry into Shaw Brother’s Shaolin Temple series, introduced by the great Chang Cheh, marked by the inclusion of a strong, complex female role played by Lily Li.

Lily Li’s character “Fang Yung” proves to be a formidable match for her future husband from her very first scenes as a traveling street entertainer who defends her turf in a duel with the famous Shaolin fighter ‘Hung Sze Kuan’ (played by Kuan Tai Chen). She marries him, but keeps him at bay in an entertaining wedding night sequence showcasing her martial arts prowess.

“Hung Sze Kuan” is a vengeance obsessed Shaolin monk who has survived a temple massacre orchestrated by evil Abbot Pai Mei (“White Brows” played by the awesome Lieh Lo). Kuan and his men only manage to escape the ambush because one of his friends, Brother Tong, sacrifices himself to give them all time to escape.

Unfortunately, history is destined to repeat itself when Kuan decides to challenges Pai Mei a second time; even though he is clearly no match for him. Sadly, he has rejected the wise advice of his wife who tries to convince him to learn her crane-style Kung Fu, which would have at least given him a chance against the seemingly invincible Pai Mei.

When Hong returns to fight White Brows a second time, there is a sense of inevitability. The son fights to stop his father, who dissuades him with empty rhetoric and then goes to his death. Thankfully, Kuan’s son has mastered the crane-style taught to him by his mother and need only become proficient in the Tiger style to challenge Pai Mei.

This movie casts a strong message and is unusual in the sense that it is rooted in s strong family unit that is torn apart by a paternal figure who is bound by honor and unable to change his ways.

This is an incredible entry into the golden years at Shaw Studios, which encapsulates a wonderful mix of combat and training sequences, a touch of romance, a pinch of humor and well structured plot to weave all of these great ingredients together. You will love this film.

Master of the Flying Guillotine’ is a sequel to the film the One Armed Boxer. It is very rare that a sequel exceeds it’s counterpart, but ‘Flying Guillotine’ is a clear exception as this is one of the greatest martial arts movies from the post-Bruce Lee era 1970′s Hong Kong.

This is the story of a murder crazed maniac who is obsessed with vengeance for the loss of a loved one at the hands of a one-armed man. His plan is simple: kill every one-armed man in China by use of a guillotine attached to the end of a rope.

He meets his match at the hands of the movie’s director and star Jimmy Wang Yu who reprises his role from the “One Armed Boxer’. Before these two screaming, screeching antagonists meet at the climax in a fight that lasts about 45 minutes we are treated to an amazing tournament sequence where each contestant is more bizarre than the one before and includes a Hindu who can stretch his arms out yards like Plastic Man from the Fantastic Four.

This is one violent, blood and guts kung fu movie. If you are any sort of self respecting martial arts fan, you need to see this great classic!

The Five Deadly Venoms is a cult classic and one of the best Kung Fu Movies ever made. This film represents the absolute pinnacle of Shaw Brothers Studios film making with a unique and creative plot line, excellent production values and phenomenal martial arts technique. The story revolves around the aging martial arts master of the “Poison Clan” who instructs his final student to check on the activities of five former pupils, each of whom he has taught a unique and special style of Kung Fu: The Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, and Toad.

The Master’s final student, who knows a little of each Kung Fu style, must attempt to team up with one of the other “Venoms” to destroy the evil Venoms if there are any. Avarice and betrayal ensue as the student discovers that some of the former pupils have indeed turned to the dark side. The question becomes: Which one of the Venoms can he trust enough to team up with?

This martial arts masterpiece was directed by Cheh Chang: Chang was not your run of the mill Kung Fu director and his films always had a unique edge to them. Five Deadly Venoms is a seminal and great Kung Fu film that combines the best of what Hong Kong cinema had to offer at the time. Often imitated, but never duplicated, this is a must see classic and stands the test of time today. Starring: Sheng Chiang, Phillip Kwok (Lizard), Feng Lu (Centipede), Pai Wei (Snake), Chien Sun (Scorpion), Meng Lo (Toad) and Lung Wei Wang as the “Judge”. Please enjoy this wonderful classic.

This is Jet Li’s first film and one of his best! Treachery is afoot in the Tang dynasty. The emperor is soon betrayed by one of his ambitious generals, who installs himself as potentate of the East Capital. The General is a cruel and viscous man. When he murders an innocent slave worker, he creates a worthy nemesis out of the slave worker’s son who escapes to the Shaolin Temple to learn the secrets of Kung Fu. The story is based on Shaolin folklore and rooted in historical detail.

“The Shaolin Temple” is the first Chinese made martial arts film to use true Kung Fu artists instead of actors. Initially, the film’s creators had hired actors but they weren’t satisfied with the results, so they set out to recruit and hire regional and national Wushu champions. It is safe to say that Jet Li’s Wushu technique is exceptional, and the skill displayed by the supporting cast is nothing short of superb. The film was two years in the making due to injuries the cast received doing their own stunts.  The credits state that the fight choreography was done by Pan Qing Fu, but the cast choreographed much of their own fight scenes and deserve most of the credit. This is an absolutely wonderful film, and Jet Li is fanfreakintastic. Enjoy!

While the rest of the world was transfixed with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Sonny Chiba and their countless clones, “Jimmy” Wang Yu was creating several minor masterpieces that have been overlooked by many hardcore fans, but still remains as an enormous and apparent influence upon today’s martial arts films. Along with Jimmy’s now classic “One Armed Boxer” series is another under-rated Shaw Brothers epic, “The Return of the Chinese Boxer.”

Jimmy has a style all his own. He is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a clone of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan (Indeed, he was a star before either of these actors were well-known). Jimmy excelled in playing a kung-fu Everyman of sorts: humble, resourceful, and wearing a bemused smirk that acknowledged the ludicrous situations that he found himself in. He has been described as “the Cary Grant of Kung Fu,” and for good reason.

In “Return of the Chinese Boxer,” Wang Yu is a one-man wrecking crew who finds himself the only man up to the task of stopping the Japanese invasion of Qing China. His enemies are formidable including battalions of riflemen, ninjas, and other assorted assassins who all want to kill the Chinese Boxer. Jimmy’s enemies are hilarious, colorful, and well-armed…a signature of Wang Yu’s films. The Chinese Boxer has to deal with a host of exotic weaponry, including a dozen-barrel shotgun! Of course, Jimmy is able to outfight and outwit them all.

The ending scene is similar in nature to Wang Yu’s other masterpiece of 1975, “Master of the Flying Guillotine.” Like “MFG,” Jimmy the Hero uses his wits as well as his fists to overcome his enemies. The last scene is superbly shot and you can sense Jimmy the Director laughing his head off…If you’re an Old School Fu fan, then “Return of the Chinese Boxer” is a must-see. I highly recommend this film!

The Emperor is under attack by marauders and he is so depressed with his failure to protect his people, that he sees no other option than to kill himself. In his grief, he also decides to maim his daughter by cutting of her arm (there is a long tradition of one armed fighters in Hong Kong cinema).

After being maimed, the Princess wanders around trying to enlist help from anyone who will listen to her, but no matter whom she meets they either prove too weak to fight off the marauders or they wind up betraying her.

Things take a turn for the surreal when her faithful servant girl cuts off her own arm to impersonate the Princess and dies. The Princess goes crazy until she meets handsome Carter Wong, the gentle brute of a butcher who is caring for his Buddhist nun mother. He promises his mom on her death bed he will marry the now lunatic princess. Serious ass kicking ensues, including sword wielding women, and some high kicking action from Mr. Carter Wong. Enjoy!