Classic KungFu Collection VOL. 1 (DVD Review)
Rated: UR/Region O/1:33/Number of Discs 3
Available from World Video and Supply Co.
Adventure For Imperial Treasures (1981)
Directed By: Xie Yu Chen
Starring: Lung Fei, Don Wong Tao, Chan Wai Lau
Many imperial treasures were stolen in the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and an investigation to recover these treasures has been underway ever since. This mission fell into the hands of Prince Feng Ko in the late Qing. He traced Li Lin, a suspect, to his secret cave in Mt. Chilien, where he was hiding from the officials. Li Lin escaped from Feng Ko’s search and got away with the treasure map. Feng’s troops caught up and killed both Li and his wife. Li’s daughter was saved by a kung fu man, and his son was saved by a beggar. Li’s son, Hsiao Ching, was taught kung fu by a monk with unmatchable skills. Hsiao Ching learned from the monk and was ready to avenge his parents’ deaths. While Hsiao Ching was out for searching Prince Feng, Feng came and wounded the monk. Hsiao Ching came back with Yun Lan, a girl he met while searching for Feng. After fierce fighting, Hsiao Ching finally kills Feng. And the monk, at his last breath, gives Hsiao Ching some surprising information!
Kicking things off in this set we have perhaps a blue-print for his type of stuff with, Adventure For Imperial Treasures. It should also be noted that in this film we have the typical warrior plot that comes with these types of films, but we also have some of the best action sequences you will see. They aren’t just fighting for fight sake here, the movie has well choreographed and planned out action scene that really give the movie a boost along with the look of the film. The movie manages to spice its self up enough that if feels like a much bigger deal than it probably was. If you have a Kung Fu grindhouse around you, rest a sure something like this would be what would be playing most the time.
Fatal Flying Guillotine (1977)
Directed By: Raymond Lui
Starring: Siu-Pang Chan
When a fellow officer, Wong Yue, is exeecuted for refusing to carry out orders, the leader of the death Squad, Ma (Chen Kuan Tai), decides to make a run for it and settles down in the country where he starts a family. However, his past soon catches up with him so Ma has to invent a new weapon to deal with the might of the guillotine-lobbing skills of the King’s loyal warriors. A true classic in every sense, delivered in true Shaw Brothers style.
Here’s a Kung Fu movie that doesn’t let a plot get in the way of a good fight scene! Don’t get me wrong, the plot is good enough and it moves along accordingly. The flick just makes sure we get a fight scene at every corner we turn on. We won’t even get into some scenes and how ape crap crazy they are. People are tossed off cliffs and live to tell about it without much of a scratch. There is also enough plot twists to make M. Night Shyamalan blush. Look, I don’t know about you, but when I got into something like this I just want blood and violence. That is pretty much what we get here in full effect. Plus, you can never go wrong with some form of guillotine being on display and it gets used pretty neatly here if nothing else.
Instant Kung Fu Man (1977)
Directed By: Tung Chin Hu & Yuen Woo Ping
Starring: Hwang Jang Lee, John Liu, Yeh Fei Yang
Once outside, Hsia Hu soon discovers that people, mistaking him as his twin brother Hsiao Fu, (a hardened criminal and Kung-Fu expert), treat him with both fear and respect. He has been too lazy to learn Kung-Fu and he soon begins to relish his Instant Kung Fu Man image and impersonates his brother at every chance. Amusing events take a sinister turn, however, when Yi Lan, Hsia Hu’s former accomplice and now sworn enemy, returns to settle a score with Hsia Hu. A duel between Hsia Hu and yi Lan becomes inevitable, at which point, Hsia Hu must decide whether he can afford his new identity or not. His decision leads to an entertaining and unexpectable outcome.
While I’m not sure if I’d call the title brilliant or horrible, Instant Kung Fu Man, does indeed pack some of the very same fight lay outs that made Adventure For Imperial Treasures enjoyable. Of course, this actually came first. While I’m sure most of these movies all wanted to follow in the footsteps of Bruce Lee in one way or another, this movie manages to capture some of that feel very well by mixing in humor with cool fighting scenes. It also helps that our leading hero is a very good actor and plays his role very well to make the movie even better. There is also some small signs of the 36 Chambers here as well, which is always a good thing. Than again, this movie came out before that one as well. Makes you wonder who influenced who at the end of the day huh?
