Bruce Lee Stardom: The Way of the Dragon

Hiya gang and welcome back for Day 3 of Bruce Lee Stardom. You know, regardless what you may think about, feel opinionated on or just outright dislike, you have to admire vision. Take this movie for example: Where else are you going to find Chinese Boxing, Karate and a massive all out match in the Roman Colosseum? That's right, a flurry of kicks, punches and punishment in Rome of all places. Sounds crazy? To me, it was ambition to bring a series of people together from multiple nations so they could all watch this film. This is The Way of the Dragon a.k.a. Return of the Dragon.

Come over here and show us on the doll where they touched you.

Once again Bruce is playing a decent egg by the name of Tang Lung. Who has traveled to Italy, sent by his uncle to assist a family friend "Uncle" Wang (Chung-Hsin Huang of The One-Armed Swordsmen, The 14 Amazons, The Chinese Connection, Chinese Hercules, Dragons of Death, The Mandarian Magician and The Eternal Obsession) as his restaurant is being harassed. He is informed that the Mafia wants the restaurant for God knows what. Maybe launder money. Maybe they love egg drop soup. Who can say? At first not everyone is on board having Tang here to help until they see him beat the crap out of some of the gangsters. After they witness this otherwise amiable fella kick ass and take names they are all with him.

Not sure about this Village People tribute band.

What is so unusual about this role is Tang is a fish out of water if you will, a stranger in a strange land trying his best to get along with others but once again life finds a way to ruin anyone's plans and good times. Annoyed how his men have lost to Tang, da boss (No not Springsteen) acquired two bad ass martial artists to deal with Tang and they will fix his little red wagon. Probably paint it and oil the wheels too. Sadly the real life hapkido grandmaster Ing-Sik Whang (The Way of the Dragon, Hapkido, Bruce Lee and I, The Skyhawk. Stoner, Hwangbi, The Association, Black Leopard and Tomb for a Strongman) is only known as Japanese Fighter. His fellow fighter, 8^th degree black belt of American Tang Soo Do Robert Wall (Robert Wall of The Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, Black Belt Jones, Game of Death, Enter the Ninja, Code of Silence, Invasion U.S.A., Firewalker, Hero and the Terror and Walker, Texas Ranger) is known as...Bob. Meh, no biggie. Once again Nora Miao (of The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Devil's Treasure, Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok and Naughty! Naughty!) appears. She and Bruce have great chemistry together whether she plays the love interest or could be playing a sister or cousin.

Bruce Lee pimp slap of DOooOoOoOOmm!!!!

Both men find that Tang is insanely fast, disciplined and hard to get a hold of.   Da Boss feels he has no other choice then to call in for reinforcements. Spending a small fortune to get him there in time, he calls in the merciless Colt (Chuck Norris of The Octagon, An Eye for an Eye, Silent Rage, Lone Wolf McQuade, The Delta Force, Firewalker, The Hitman, Walker, Texas Ranger and The Expendables 2) to dispatch his pain in his ass. Has Tang met his match? Will Colt stomp a mudhole in Tang? Will Colt make Tang part of his complete breakfast?

The billing Return of the Dragon was U.S. distribution's way to cash in on the success of Enter the Dragon as a sequel and was Bruce Lee's directorial debut as well. Apparently Bruce was insistent that Chuck bulk up to look more menacing. Now because of the dubbing, the dialogue in this film is a bit painful. Get the sub-tilted version instead and you will enjoy the story more. I was told that Bruce Lee couldn't act his way out of a paper bag and then I remember his shady strong arm character from Marlowe.  While unfortunately named Winslow Wong, he came off smooth, a bit arrogant and drunk with his own strength and power. A complete 180 from the actual man and I was hoping it was a larger part but then I remember reading, "The Little Sister" and what happened to the gunsel so alas. That being said, even playing Kato he stood out.

Is this a brilliant film? No. Is this a film about heart, family and the willingness to stand up for what you believe to be true and honest? Yes very much so. Frankly folks, the fight scenes between Chuck and Bruce will blow your minds. If you don't care for the story at all, at least see this awesome smack down.

Gonna pinch you so good!

Bruce Lee Stardom: Fist of Fury

Hey all we are back again for Day 2 of Bruce Lee Stardom. I had no other title that seemed suiting. This film is Bruce's second lead starring role giving again not just well deserved ass-whippings a plenty but trying to tell a story of a young man paying respects to the mentor that molded him from a young lad into the man he is today. The journey is a man happy in his life's decisions but must put his plans on hold in order to get the justice that is due. This is Fist of Fury a.k.a. The Chinese Connection.

Hope that dojo has a lot of ice...for these punks.

Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee) arrives in Shanghai returns to his martial arts school during the time of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai. He wishes to be engaged to Yuan Le-erh (Nora Miao of The Big Boss, The Story of Daisy, Jin xuan feng, The Way of the Dragon, The Devil's Treasure, Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok and The Skyhawk) and wishes to tell his sifu (mentor or master) the good news when he finds his master has died and the funeral is proceeding as he arrives. A man in such robust health suddenly passes away seems strange.

A shrine of memory.

No sooner have 2 days past in their mourning, a couple of students plus the dojo's intrepreter Wu (Ping Ou Wei of Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Fists of Bruce Lee, Kung-Fu Commandos, Fist of Fury III, The Art of War by Sun Tzu) of (Clan Tang) brings a rude message to the school calling them, "The Sick Men of Asia" and referencing the students lower than dogs, tipping their hands to the students that now suspect the dojo of doing in their master. Regardless of the teachings of his master preaching defense not offense, Chen must satisfy his own lust for revenge and tromp these men that would make a mockery of his teachings. Granted doing so does also mock what his master stood for but you try to rationalize with a pissed off man of his skill and temper.

Sorry. Holding in a sneeze.

As a former student of martial arts what I find most offensive the rivalry between two different schools of thought. Martial arts disciplines mind, body and spirit and both schools are guilty of insulting those very beliefs. That being said though, kick some ass, Bruce! Omg the fight scenes in this flick are sick! Yeah I know the theme offended me but damn Lee was on fire beating the monkey crap out of the rooms. With that however, Chen only exasperates the situation causing more violence towards Japanese on Chinese and vice versa.

Will this bring shame on their collective houses? Can the conflict be resolved? Can't we all just get along?

A quick observation from a Westerner. The depictions of Japanese versus Chinese in this film is very profound and both viewed each other as inferior beings. This staple making the Japanese thugs and with their heirs on end makes them come off as arrogant and heartless but at the same time I cannot speak for how each people viewed one another at this time in life. The Chinese are being shown stout of heart but suffering from the same pig headed stubborn streak as well.

Now this was to take place at this timeline early 19^th century during the occupation but a few goofs happened such as: Extras wearing 1970s clothing and haircut styles, cars in the background parked in the distance and an old school phonograph player playing which didn't exist until latter 19^th century. The only reason I knew it was the timeline portrayed was due to a narration of this struggle. Most of this was shot in studio and a few exterior scenes so clearly it was a larger budget than The Big Boss and nowhere near as violent but the message showed two cultures not fully aware why they must hate one another.

Whoops, got to close to Bruce.

Kung Fu Theater: Shaolin Temple

Welcome back to Kung Fu Theater Week: Double Feature Day and we finish off the week with the first starring role of Jet Li (Born to Defense, The Master, Once Upon a Time in China, The Legend of the Swordsman, Black Mask, Hero and The Expendables) from the director Hsin-yan Chang (Treasure Island, Hong ying dao, Tong tian lin ji, Yellow River Fighter and Tai Chi II) brings a tale of honor, love, loss and redemption. 

Monks performing the poopy dance.

Shaolin must uphold the principles that all spoilers believe in.

We open in wide angle shots around the Temple seeing these beautiful wall paintings, these gorgeous trees, well-maintained gardens, shrines, immense gates and statues of Buddha and the Gods to be held.

All the monks have knelt before the Abbot of the Shaolin and in the middle is a young shaven-headed man in a blue robe awaiting to be accepted to the temple.  The Abbot explains he’s expected to adhere to a life of ceremony, self respect and respect of others and a purification of body and soul.  The Abbot asks him for his name to which he says Jue Yuan and the Abbot tells him to be allowed into the temple he must never commit murder.   Can he obey this and the film fades to a flashback of a warlord Wang Shichongkilling an old man and tossing him off a high wall and down in the dregs of a muddy river and then just whip his head back at the slaves to get back to work; these poor slaves are literally being worked to death, toiling in the mud among corpses of their fellow comrades while soldiers whip them.

The Dogs of War are very cross!

China is divided into factions once again at the end of Siu Dynasty and this wretched monster of a man calls himself Emperor Chang now and he enslaved captured warriors to complete his defenses.

Jue pledges that one day he will end the life of this cruel Emperor after he kills Jue’s father and thus free China from this reign of terror and bring about a new age of prosperity and order.  Thoroughly beaten by the Emperor, Jue still manages to escape and is saved by the Shaolin Temple.   Through this his teacher Sifu and his existing Kung Fu training he proves to be an exceptional fighter but damn near kills a sparring partner focusing his rage on a vision of the Emperor.  With this he flees the temple and attempts to kill the Emperor yet again.  Forgiven of his impulses of youth the temple allows him back and he spends the next year honing his skills to become adept in the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. 

A refugee Li Shimin flees to the temple being chased by the sadistic Emperor and his men and with the help of the feint the Abbot and fellow monks Jue and Li attempt to escape the countryside only to be surrounded by the Emperor’s vicious soldiers but Sifu and several of the monks aid Jue in his time of need.

Similar to The 36^th Chambers of Shaolin this story covers depictions of honor against the unjust, a need for protectors to become more than they were and a time when killing is a necessity.   The fight sequences are amazing and the training courses look grueling to say the least but the story progresses beyond just the next fight and with a guanine tale of triumph, tragedy and tempered discipline.

BOOT TO THE HEAD!

Kung Fu Theater Week: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

Howdy all you Kung Fu Fans and welcome back to the last day of Kung Fu Theater Week.  Due to some cumbersome objects I lifted Wednesday I was quite sore and unable to sit in a chair for film viewing.  Today is another matter all together as I will be doing a double feature to make up for lost days.  Our first film of the roster tells the tale of a student and his hometown being torn apart by two warring generals and the village getting caught in the middle of this conflict.  Our young fellow must rise to meet the challenge of righting the wrongs, preserving the peace and bringing about order.  Can such a task be performed by only one man?  This is The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin.

Jefferson Junior High Presents: The Boxer Rebellion!

We must rise up against the tyranny of General Spoiler, for the good of all!

Our story begins in the occupation of the Manchus in the Qing Dynasty (that would be roughly 1645 to 1910) the Shaolin monasteries were forbidden at the time to offer the peasants Kung Fu and the weapons training to fend off invaders as they themselves were viewed as outsiders and these practices were sacred above all else…even the cost of their fellow man.  Yeah it is that screwy.  Of course from a different point of view you can be amused that Hong Kong (a then colony of the former British Empire) is producing movies that incite rebellion and England does not even bat an eye.

Aren't you glad you used Dial? Don't you wish your opponent did?

Okay enough of the history lesson and on with the violence!!!  General Inspector Tien Ta (Lieh Lo of Five Fingers of Death, Shaolin Deadly Kicks, Super Dragon, The Enchantress, Shanghai 13 and Police Pool of Blood) is a ruthless tyrannical monster watching over the villages like a hawk gathering the sparrows.  Only General Yin feels he can stand up to him and only to be humiliated and cut down.  A young man name of Liu Yude (Chia-Hui Liu of Shaolin Martial Arts, Five Shaolin Masters, 7 Man Army, Shaolin Mantis, Godfather of Canton and Kill Bill: Vol. 2) is wounded during the riots and retreats to the Shaolin Monastery for his own life.  With the strict practices he is almost turned away when the abbot insists on allowing him to be cared for and tended to.  

A year has passed and Liu Yude has taken on a Monk’s title of San Te and vows to avenge those slain in this horrible act of greed and wanton destruction but also as a manner of honor to right that which has been done to those around him.   San Te throws himself into his training with vigor that none of the masters have ever seen.  He vows to complete the 35 Chambers of the Shaolin in order to save those under General Tien’s villainy.

Now let us examine this film overall.  This is not merely a revenge title but a challenge of ethics and morals of the highest order.  If San Te trained merely to get his hands coated in blood for his own end he would have been banished from the temple and forced to find another path altogether.  San Te would have then been no better than the monster he has dedicated himself to stop but just a different horrible creature.  

The choreography is amazing, between the training levels to the fights in the street.  Wire work, months of sword, staff and halberd training just captures the quintessence of the story and gives it greater presence than even the dialogue.     The bottom line is this is a visual film rather than dialogue driven and were it altered in any way would diminish what our director Chia-Liang Liu (The Spiritual Boxer, Executioners from Shaolin, Legendary Weapons of China, Heroic Family and The Legend of Drunken Master)set out to create.

Jeez Gary, you almost nailed me.

Kung Fu Theater Week: The Chinese Connection

Greetings readers to Kung Fu Theater Week and I thought I would start us off with a Bruce Lee film that received a lot of love not unlike that of Enter of the Dragon.   America took notice of this leading man with his look, style and mastery of Wing Chun with incredible speed.  Our feature is Lee’s second starring role after Fists of Fury a.k.a. The Big Boss and provided excellent action and impressive story.

So grab your gi, claim your Gong and Qiang and ready yourself for battle.  This is The Chinese Connection a.k.a. Fist of Fury.

You see I shan't be turning Japanese. I really think so.

Chen: Tell me the spoiler. No more lies. If I turn myself over to you, will you leave the Ching Wu School alone? The truth!

Inspector: You have my word on it. Don’t worry, on my word of honor.

Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee of The Green Hornet, The Big Boss, Longstreet, The Way of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon), a young master of Wing Chun returns to Jingwu School before marrying his fiancée.  Tragic news informs in him that his master Huo Yuanjia has passed away due to illness.  As the funeral progresses as a rival school based in a Japanese dojo shows up to hurl insults and taunt the students.

Alone, Chen proceeds to the dojo to throw down and throw down he did wiping the walls with the entire school.  After flogging the bejesus out of the less than disciplined dojo Chen went for a walk in the park when angered by a Japanese man and his buddies giving him a load of crap so Chen threw them a beating as well. 

This is gonna hurt..for the other guy.

Master Hiroshi Suzuki (Not the automobile producer) demands the Jingwu School after their embarrassing beating be destroyed.  After trashing the school and fighting yet again with the students they tell them to hand over Chen so they can deal with him.  Chen arrives back at the school to see that his impulse control has gotten the better of him in the need to defend his honor and the honor of the school.  That evening Chen discovered the cook that prepared his master’s meals had actually poisoned him and Chen wails on him and left his body from a lamp post. 

Inspector Lo (Wei Lo of The Pistol, Land of the Brave, The Big Boss, The Golden Sword, Vengeance of a Snowgirl and New Fists of Fury) a local officer trying to keep the peace must capture Chen and bring him in due to several of his beatings on others has taken lives and he must be made to answer to the law, and still Lo feels conflicting emotions. 

I have a few interesting facts about this particular movie.  A young actor as an extra as a Jing Wu student is none other than Jackie Chan at age 17.  Bruce Lee choreographed his own street fight scenes but due to the incredibly racist content of this film Bruce didn’t work with director Lo Wei again after this movie.  This was based on a true story but the actual Chen managed to flee Shanghai without anyone the wiser.

Whirlwind Leg!!!

Kung Fu Theater Week!

Welcome boys and girls to Kung Fu Theater Week!  This week I will tackle the genre of Martial Arts Movies or affectionately referred as Kung Fu and Ninja movies.  This particular craze starts in the 1960’s up the 1980’s and the Americans got to experience these splendid films from the lazy bijous, the drive-in theater  to cable television, we saw these films with either English subtitles or voice dubbing which does take away a lot of the dialogue but the essence of the film is still there.

Hikibah!!!

Western civilization got to appreciate Eastern philosophy, discipline and ways of life but brings everything that we already have to our own story lines.  Warriors combating barbarians, wizards against sorcerers and good versus evil these films cover the current timeline and fantasy based with monsters and men aplenty.   Admittedly there are more than a few very violent films or having disturbing content to them and frankly they are considered Grind house movies but most are gems that get overlooked so this week I shall comprise a collection of favorites and cult beloved.