Lau Kar-Wing
The Knockabout
Brødrene og småkjeltringene Yipao og Taipao overtaler en kampsportmester til å trene dem, i håp om å bli byens fremste slåsskjemper. Men etter hvert finner Yipao ut at deres mester er en morder, og brødreparet tvinges til å velge side.
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Cat vs Rat
One of Liu Chia-liang’s classics, 'Cat vs Rat' is almost a full-scale slapstick comedy, as well as a tailor-made showcase for the "odd couple" of Alexander Fu Sheng and Cheng Shao-chiu. Their wushu squabbling for supremacy ultimately imperils an incognito emperor, resulting in a sparkling and unexpected family affair, from the king of kung-fu filmmaking.
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Legendary Weapons of China
On a continent which reveres its martial arts, the director’s nickname is “Kung-fu Liang” – holder of a filmography unprecedented in its innovation of theme, ingeniousness of plot, and imagination of its astonishingly designed kung-fu. This production is clearly the culmination of his initial Shaw Brothers work – the film which he used as a showcase for his and his brothers’ – Chia-yung and Gordon Lui – skills. In the premiere, groundbreaking book on the genre, Martial Arts Movies, author Ric Meyers called it “the quintessential martial arts movie” and perhaps the greatest kung-fu movie ever made. Showing prescience customary with this visionary, the plot revolved around early 20th century pugilists vainly attempting to find a kung-fu which could defeat the bullet … years before the same theme would be used in Once Upon A Time In China. It also features the rarely dramatized magician-spies of China, who would ultimately inspire the Japanese ninja. But most importantly, it is a beautifully made action comedy featuring international fan favorite Alexander Fu Sheng and supremely brilliant kung-fu.
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The Treasure Hunters
Fans of the international star Alexander Fu Sheng were aghast. Their idol had broken both his legs and was recuperating. Everyone wondered: would he be able to return to the action comedies for which he was so famous? This movie was the answer, and it left no doubt that he had made a full recovery. Liu Chia-yung, brother of preeminent martial arts moviemaker Liu Chia-liang, was famous in his own right for kung-fu comedies, and he out-did himself with this one. Imagine Bob Hope and Bing Crosby with the skills of Jet Li and Jackie Chan, and you’ve got an idea of the fun and fury inherent in this delightful tale of two con men vying for a horde of hidden gold. Add to the mix a Shaolin monk (played by “Master Killer” Gordon Liu Chia-hui), a powerfully brutal villain (Wang Lung-wei), and his equally dangerous mute sister (future director Yang Tsing-tsing), and you’ve got one of the most internationally loved kung-fu capers ever made.
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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.
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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
There have been many kung-fu movies set in the famed Shaolin Temple, but none have captured the monastery’s martial arts world quite like "The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin". Liu Chia-liang, a legendary director of the genre, made a star of his brother Gordon Liu Chia-hui in this look at anti-Ching Dynasty rebels and their revolt against the Manchus. Gordon Liu Chia-hui attains the ultimate knowledge of kung-fu by arduously mastering one chamber after another, eventually reaching the fabled 36th chamber. Armed with this knowledge, the monks engage in some of the most exciting battles ever staged in the history of martial arts movies. The film was Shaw Brothers’ number one hit of 1978, and won the Best Martial Arts Award at the 24th Asian Film Festival.
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Four Riders 四騎士
Chang Cheh had established himself as the “godfather of kung-fu films” with such historical, costumed classics as "One-Armed Swordsman", "Golden Swallow", "The Deadly Duo", "Blood Brothers", and many others. But his fans also revered him for his superlative modern day martial arts thrillers, such as "Vengeance" and "Chinatown Kid". This prime example takes place in Seoul right after the Korean War, as a kung-fu master, combat instructor, explosives expert, and missile specialist must forgo the city’s pleasures to take on a venal, murderous drug smuggling gang. Representing the Book of Revelation’s four riders of war, famine, disease, and death as heroes against murder, corruption, jealousy, and greed, it’s a brutal battle where the one true winner is the audience. Featuring an international kung-fu cast guided by master choreographers Liu Chia-liang and Tang Chia, it remains a special production in Chang Cheh’s filmography.
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