MovieChat Forums > Zhong hua zhang fu (1978) Discussion > what is wrong with the ending?

what is wrong with the ending?

posted 11 years ago by vandwedge
5 replies | jump to latest

People seem to complain about the ending, and I'm not sure why. It seemed to me like a perfectly reasonable and perhaps even necessary way to end the film. It's foreshadowed like 40 minutes earlier when his wife explains the proper samurai etiquette to him.

So in the ending, the Chinese martial artist proves his superiority (makes sense plotwise) but learns to also respect the various Japanese martial arts (a mature addition to an otherwise extremely... nationalistic film).

Is his respect of the enemy what bothers people? Is it the breathing technique thing? What are people's specific complaints?

Oh yes it's Laaarry Holmes/and the feeelin's right/Oh yes it's Laaarry Holmes/what a fight

[–] Slaterson420 11 years ago

Probably because of the lack of any real resolution with his wife.

Now let's see who this ghost REALLY is.

JINKIES! IT'S MR. WILLIS!

[–] masterchief-jhanver 11 years ago

I think there's nothing wrong with the ending, just like what you said. The Chinese guy learned how to respect Japanese from his Japanese wife. So when that Japanese Samurai gave his katana to the Chinese guy, he did what his wife told him to do, he take the katana with his two hands with respect, and after that, they all become friends.

[–] FilmKoala 10 years ago

I have no complaints. This was a film based on competition and pure martial arts skill. No one died. The grudge between Gordon Liu's character and the Japanese was superficial. Not to mention that the Japanese weren't villains. It makes sense to wrap it up in a way that works out for everyone.

[–] BrickNash 8 years ago

The ending is a bit abrupt but it's the same for all these types of films. I'd have liked it to be about 3-4 minutes longer and saw a scene with him and his wife make up and everyone maybe sit round a table and acknowledge each others styles as friends.

They were obviously all friends at the end but as I say, it could have solidified it a bit more as it was really just "Fight is over, film is finished"

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 8 years ago

I agree. I didn't think the ending was bad perse but it was abrupt and it would've been nice to have seen a few minutes of resolution for the couple.

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