Cecilia Wong
Shaolin Mantis
Liu Chia-liang is arguably the best martial arts film director of traditional style kung-fu action and was a pioneer in focusing on authentic martial arts techniques and training procedures in his films. This is why stars in his movies looked more like kung-fu experts rather than actors simply going through the motions.
Shaolin Mantis
Liu Chia-liang is arguably the best martial arts film director of traditional style kung-fu action and was a pioneer in focusing on authentic martial arts techniques and training procedures in his films. This is why stars in his movies looked more like kung-fu experts rather than actors simply going through the motions. So although David Chiang had starred in over 40 films as a martial arts hero, in Shaolin Mantis, where he plays a man who learns martial arts from a praying mantis, then seeks revenge for his wife's death, the movie contains some of Chiang's best fight scenes ever. By casting his brothers Liu Chia-yung and Gordon Liu Chia-hui into the mix, Liu further ensures that the pugilistic mayhem will be even more outstanding.
The Shadow Boxing
When reputable fight choreographer Liu Chia-Liang debuted as a director with The Spiritual Boxer, it not only established him as a superb director, but it also encouraged other martial arts instructors to turn to directing. Plus, it was the first film to introduce comedy into kung-fu so it made sense for Liu to return to that foundation with the same bumbling idiot Wang Yu still not quite getting it when it comes to the affair of ghost control in The Shadow Boxing. Liu also brings in both of his brothers Liu Chia-Yung and Liu Chia-Hui, which guaranteed that the fights would be an extra notch above magnificent, further ensuring that the audience had never seen anything like it before. The Shadow Boxing was twice as successful as The Spiritual Boxer.