Mona Fong
My Young Auntie
With his fight choreography, Liu Chia-liang was a central figure in Hong Kong martial arts film, first establishing a new-style of Mandarin kung-fu hero film in the 1960's. Then as a successful director, his films usually had a strong traditional sense and emphasis on martial virtue and the importance of family. This is no more evident than in the kung-fu comedy My Young Auntie, the film that rocketed actress Hui Ying-hung to the top. Hui plays a young heiress to an esteemed kung-fu family embroiled in internal strife. Her gutsy and dauntless performance opposite Liu's starring role as her calm to psychotic elderly nephew-by-marriage, earned Hui the Best Actress Award at the 1981 HK Film Awards. The film's final 20 minutes is ultra-guaranteed to blow your mind away.
The Lady is the Boss
The pre-eminent martial arts moviemaker Liu Chia-liang came up with the novel idea for this exciting and hilarious kung-fu clash between an old-fashioned kung-fu master and a hip and beautiful marketing wiz.
The Master Strikes Back
In 'The Master Strikes Back', Ti Lung returns to play a famous weapons instructor in this unofficial sequel to 'The Kung-fu Instructor'. After a famous weapon master's son is kidnapped and castrated, he embarks on a chaotic, whirlwind killing spree of slicing and dicing.
The Supreme Swordsman
Three cinematographers, four martial arts choreographers, a separate action director, and a superlative cast brings to life the thrilling story of a malicious swordsman lying, cheating and stealing to get to the top, and the noble man who finally defeats him.
Soul of the Sword
Famed actor Ti Lung plays a lone swordsman trying to defeat the "Number One Swordsman” as part of his vengeance package in life in 'Soul of the Sword'. He quickly learns however, that sometimes wanting is better than having.
Hero
Like any Wong Fei-hung movies, the story of Ma Wing-jing, a pugilist from Shantung who rises to the top of the Shanghai triad ladder, is worth telling over and over. Corey Yuen’s remake of Chang Cheh’s Boxer From Shantung sees Taiwanese Japanese heart-throb Takeshi Kaneshiro in the role made famous by Chang’s favourite Chen Kuan-tai. Although better known for his dramas than action, Kaneshiro rises powerfully to the occasion, backed by the stellar martial arts talents of Yuen Biao, Yuen Hua and Yuan Te. Corey Yuen – who has worked with Jet Li on all his Hollywood movies and directed such hits as Fong Sai-yuk – brings the hero to life with his trademark of explosive action and comic relief. Less bloody than Boxer From Shantung and definitely just as riveting.
Justice, My Foot!
Stephen Chow’s special brand of very modern, very Hong Kong screwball comedy entered a new phase with "Justice, My Foot!", a costume farce set in imperial China. Chow is a shyster with an equally eccentric kung-fu ace of a wife, hilariously played by Anita Mui Yim-fong. Accompanied by Chow’s number one screen sidekick, Ng Man-tat, he manages to bring justice to the court and laughter to the viewer. A resounding success, "Justice, My Foot!" broke box office records to become the number hit of 1992. And it’s no wonder, what with skillful direction by Johnnie To and a visual sheen provided by Peter Pao, who a few years later would become the first Chinese to win a Best Cinematography Oscar for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Disciples of the 36th Chamber
Whenever acclaimed martial arts film director Liu Chia-liang directs his half-brother Gordon Liu Chia-hui as a Shaolin monk hero, it's guaranteed that the film will not only become a classic but that it will rock the very foundation of martial arts cinematic culture. "Disciples Of The 36th Chamber" is no exception to the rule. Gordon Liu Chia-hui reprises his famed role as Shaolin Monk San Te, the real life Shaolin hero that created the "36th Chamber of Shaolin". In this film, San Te protects other real life Shaolin hero Fang Shih-yu (Hsiao Hou), who seems to enjoy stepping on the wrong Manchu foot at the right time. As always with director Liu Chia-liang, the final fight scene leaves you gawking in wild-eyed wonderment.
The Young Vagabond
It's a fact: the greatest martial arts movie character is Huang Fei-hung. But it's quite possible the second greatest character is "Beggar Su," one of the famous Ten Kwangtung Tigers, and a legendary Ching Dynasty figure. Little known director Liu Shih-yu decided to fill his telling of the character's life story with the best kung-fu actors Shaw Studios had to offer. He reunited the stars of Liu Chia-liang's landmark Dirty Ho - Gordon Liu Chia-hui, Wang Yu, and Wang Lung-wei - and added such other greats as multi-award-winning Ku Feng and Pai Piao, then gave workhorse Lo Chiang his shot as choreographer. Together they made a rare, colorful, action-packed adventure as Beggar Su and his brother train incessantly to defeat the brutally powerful thief called Centipede. Finally, after much death and destruction, Gordon Liu Chia-hui and Wang Lung-wei get a memorable rematch to follow their classic masterpieces in Dirty Ho and Martial Club. The result is not only reminiscent of preeminent director Liu Chia-liang's work, but essentially an homage to him as well!
The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter
What started as masterful kung-fu filmmaker Liu Chia-liang’s homage to the heroic Sung Dynasty Yang family became an angry, even savage, rumination on heroic sacrifice when international idol Alexander Fu Sheng died in a car accident midway through production. Fu’s death was not only tragic because he was such a close friend, but because the role he was playing was one of only two survivors of an ignominious betrayal by a jealous General. Knowing that he had to immortalize Fu’s final, unfinished performance, Liu carried on, having co-star Hui Ying-hung step into the action. The finished film is unique in the director’s extraordinary filmography for the intensity and power of its emotions and kung-fu. There are heartbreaking references to the tragedy throughout, but the climax is truly unforgettable as the other family survivor, now a Shaolin-trained warrior faces his betrayers amid a pyramid of coffins. What he, and his Shaolin masters, do then has to be seen to be believed….
Long Road to Gallantry
Newly crowned queen of kung-fu films Hui Ying-hung, teams up with actress Lily Li and one time kung-fu wonder boy Chen Kuan-Tai in a quest to find a missing martial arts manual.
Little Dragon Maiden
With Hong Kong cinema's new wave, high flying, martial arts action of the 1980's, came a new wave of actors; teeny-bopper, canto-pop singer/stars with little or no martial arts background. However, when a film like Little Dragon Maiden intelligently mixes the old with the new, the results are pure golden magic. This costume-action, drama and love story features relative newcomer Leslie Cheung, who falls in love with the Dragon Maiden while learning the art of swordplay. The recipe is complete when veteran kung-fu stars Chen Kuan-Tai and Lo Lieh add just enough weapon-wielding spice to make this film really cook.
Bastard Swordsman
Actor Lu Chin Ku really hit his stride as a director of mystical kung-fu epics, like “Holy Flame of the Martial World”, and this – truly one of the best of its kind. Hsu Shao-chiang (aka Norman Chu Siu-Keung) stars as a put-upon illegitimate son of a “Martial Arts World” master, who nearly sacrifices all to learn the “Silkworm Style” - making him a veritable “Spider-Swordsman”! That’s just the pay-off to this eye-filling, mind-bending kung-fu phantasmagorical which elicited cries of joyous disbelief in virtually all the cinemas where it was shown. Featuring a top notch cast including “Venoms” Lo Meng, Sun Chien, and Wang Li, this extravaganza truly warrants the description: “unforgettable”.