Collection of action films starring martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. In 'The Big Boss' (1971) Lee stars as immigrant worker Cheng Chao-an who takes a job with his cousins in an ice factory and discovers all manner of suspicious activities. When he begins to investigate a series of disappearances - the latest of which has seen his own cousin go missing - he can't help but display his formidable martial arts skills. Taking on one opponent after another, Cheng will not stop until he has fought his way to the truth and the inevitable confrontation with the man known only as The Big Boss (Han Ying Chieh). In 'Fist of Fury' (1972) Lee stars as martial arts student Chen Zhen whose mentor dies in suspicious circumstances. Whilst he is mourning his old friend, members of a rival school arrive and taunt Chen and his friends, who do not react at first. Chen later humiliates his adversaries by beating every single one of them, but this causes bloody repercussions and begins to uncover the real reasons behind his master's death. In 'The Way of the Dragon' (1973) Lee stars as martial arts expert Tang Lung who travels to Rome to protect a family friend's restaurant from a powerful Mafia man. A violent altercation between Tang and the mobster's heavies persuades the gang boss to call for reinforcements, an American martial arts assassin (Chuck Norris), who challenges Tang to a fight to the death within the walls of the Colosseum. In 'Enter the Dragon' (1973) Lee plays the role of a secret agent who is sent to infiltrate a martial arts tournament presided over by a one-handed supervillain. His mission: to destroy the villain's opium-smuggling racket. Finally, in 'Game of Death' (1978) a successful martial artist who refuses to join a crime syndicate has a contract to kill put out with his name on it. The assassination attempt fails but his death is broadcast to the world to throw the criminals off his trail. Unfortunately, the hoods do not believe the stories and make him face a series of adversaries in one-to-one fights to save the life of his girlfriend (Colleen Camp).
Seriously weird as only the best, completely-barking-mad kung fu flicks can be, The Thundering Mantis is the story of Ah Chi, a martial artist who hooks up with a kid sidekick. However, an old grudge resurfaces, with the result that the boy's uncle is murdered and the boy himself kidnapped. So far so Arnie-in-Commando, but it's at this point we're reminded that indigenous martial arts movies are something else again, as Ah Chi's rescue attempt goes disastrously wrong and the boy is tortured to death before his eyes. Apparently driven to insanity by this experience, Ah Chi goes berserk, breaking free and systematically trashing everything and everyone in sight. End of movie. Devotees will absolutely want this in their collections, but those who have yet to progress beyond the Jackie Chan/Jet Li school of Americanised martial arts films will need to leave their preconceptions at the door. There's a nice touch to the dubbed English soundtrack, where the voiceover artists seem to have taken it upon themselves to imitate various British character actors: listen out for Wilfred Brambell, Kenneth Connor and so on. On the DVD: The Thundering Mantis has no extras on the widescreen DVD other than a one-screen guide to other titles in the Kung Fu Connection series. --Roger Thomas
Hong Kong 1941 is a film from the former Crown Colony uniquely focusing on the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, shortly before A Better Tomorrow (1986) made him a superstar, this is a war drama far removed from the usual action fare expected from Hong Kong cinema. The English title deliberately evokes Spielberg's 1941, though the content anticipates the same director's Empire of the Sun, even to the extent that the hymn "Suo Gan" is used in both movies. The story of two friends in love with the same woman may call to mind Pearl Harbor, though this comparatively low-budget feature offers an infinitely more convincing account of the horrors of war than Michael Bay's glossy big-budget epic, with some of the most harrowing sequences since The Deer Hunter. The film does not shy away from the moral complexities of collaboration with the enemy, and likewise presents the main characters as fully three-dimensional. Chow Yun-Fat inevitably dominates (he won a Golden Horse award for his performance), yet Cecilia Yip Tong makes a strong impression as the heroine whose terminal illness does not result in the expected sentimental clichés. Alex Man is memorable as the third corner of the triangle, but what makes Hong Kong 1941 genuinely notable is its emotionally charged evocation of WWII from a rarely seen perspective. On the DVD: Hong Kong 1941 is presented in an anamorphically enhanced transfer at 1.77:1, cropping just a little of the original Hong Kong Critics Award-winning cinematography. The picture is excellent, with no blemishes, fine detail, rich colours and barely a hint of grain. The sound is offered in stereo in the original Cantonese, with optional English subtitles, or in a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix and dubbed into English. Both tracks have occasional distortion on the music. The original version preserves the performances much better, though some of the subtitles are wildly inaccurate--references to living in the 21st century and to Japanese jet planes--while the dubbed track offers better than average voice acting but with many of the cultural references Westernised. The multi-channel remix adds only discrete ambient effects and is barely noticeable. The main special features are an information-packed commentary by Hong Kong movie expert Bay Logan, and two interviews. Chow Yun-Fat speaks rather nervously in English for 12 minutes on a variety of topics, concentrating on his work with John Woo. The interview with Cecilia Yip Tong, specific to Hong Kong 1941, is in Cantonese with English subtitles, runs 27 minutes and is anamorphically enhanced with excellent image quality. Also included is a routine photo gallery, the original theatrical trailer and 12 Hong Kong Legends DVD trailers. --Gary S Dalkin
In a remote mountain village, the teacher must leave for a month, and the mayor can find only a 13-year old girl, Wei Minzhi, to substitute.
Dragon (Jackie) and his buddy Cowboy get mixed up in a plot to swipe some valuable Chinese antiques and are forced to kick butt. However the real attraction here is a number of showstopping set pieces that involve Jackie and Cowboy playing some pretty demented versions of Badminton and Football all while trying to win the heart of a local beauty. Also known as 'Young Master In Love' and 'Dragon Strike'.
Meet the grim reaper of kung fu... Previously unreleased kung fu classic.
When a Manchu conspiracy to overthrow the Ming dynasty is thwarted by a group of Shaolin disciples and patriots a fierce battle to defend the life of the King ensues with deadly results.
Before heading out to the Bronx Jackie Chan left his mark on the gang infested streets of Hong Kong. In this rare classic Jackie is actually a villain who will stop at nothing to protect his boss the kingpin of Hong Kong. The action mounts as a hard boiled policewoman sets her sights on destroying the syndicate - and only our man Chan stands in her way. Stunts and action a plenty in this rare look at Jackie Chan on the other side of the badge.
One of a collection of films recently discovered in the Hong Kong film archives and now available for the first time in the UK. One of the most popular stars in the martial arts world Dragon Lee performs in this epic account of an attempt to overthrow the Ching government. The fighting is fast furious and brutal as you would expect from this master of Kung Fu. Dragon Lee was considered by many to have taken over the crown worn by the true master Bruce Lee and in 'The Angry Dragon'
A triple DVD box set brimming with marvellous martial arts movie action! Legend Of The Drunken Tiger: Cheong San is opposed to the Ching Dynasty and the film begins with him and his betrothed battling government officials in a war of attrition. Unfortunately for Cheong just as they force the officials to flee the occupation forces of Europe and the US turn up. Now a far greater challenge than before now stands in the way of freedom... (Dir. Robert Tai 1992) Martial Art
A small time thief, Sing, aspires to be part of the ruthless gang in this martial arts comedy.
Fast and furious old skool martial arts action from the Far East featuring Carter Wong! In 17th century China the country is divided by the Ming and Ching dynasties. Ming loyalists are charged with a dangerous mission to spirit King Tang the surviving brother of the late Ming emperor who died in a Ching prison through Ching territory to a safe haven in southern China. When the local Ching prince and his cadre of Kung Fu fighters capture and imprison the incognito King Tang without discovering his real identity the Ming fighters enlist the help of the Abbot of Shaolin Temple in freeing him...
Cheng Pei-Pei stars as Golden Swallow in this influential 1966 martial-arts saga from pioneering director King Hu one of the first to feature a woman fighter in the lead role. Set in 19th-century China (and featuring a cameo from a very young Jackie Chan) Come Drink With Me has it's heroine battling to rescue her brother from a band of kidnappers in a role that helped pave the way for subsequent hits like Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. This fun adventurous movie also features the excellent Yueh Hua in the obligatory kung-fu-master-disguised-as-beggar role.
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