I swear I have seen rotten old logs in the forest act with more energy than Jet Li did in this one. But perhaps Jet Li had realised the truth:
He played in a throughoutly hideous picture.
Lame story, low-class fighting scenes, weird humour. Usually I don´t mind seeing bad movies because of the laughstock, but this one is tragic.
definetly... this movie is a piece of crap. the "story" had me falling asleep, the villains "robot-car" or whatever the hell that is, those kung-fu brats... there´s too muc crap to just name one thing...
"Fortuna audaces javat"
It sounds like you're unfamiliar or unaccepting of this genre of film. This was directed by Wong Jing, back when he actually directed his films (I heard these days he directs films from his trailer and doesn't bother coming out much). Kung fu fantasy fans in Asia are not so confused. This is a (fantasy) story of a historical figure Hung Xiguan, survivor of the burning of the Shaolin Temple, and founder of Hung-gar, the style of Wong Fei-hung and the Lau Brothers.
This film and The Legend of the Kung Fu Colt (sic) Master, are both Wong Jing/ Jet Li films that awed audiences and changed the Kung Fu fantasy genre forever (some would say for the worse). These two films helped keep Jet on the top in the mid 90's. (In the late 90's he made some gun pictures that sucked and his HK film career looked as if it would die a second death, especially after the dud Dr. Wai and the Scripture w/o Words, when fortunately for him H'wood came a-knockin', which he responded by turning down The Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon because of his lame-ass wife Nina Li).
This film is simply one of the the BEST fantasy kung fu films of the 1990's. It was a major trendsetting, expectation exploding film to come out at the time. Too bad you didn't really get it and couldn't appreciate it because of some of your biases and apparent unfamiliarity of this genre. Too bad, but ultimatley your loss since millions of other people enjoyed it.
As for me, when I saw this in the theater, as Jet was becoming the most popular HK martial arts star in the U.S., I stayed for a couple more showings because I was so blown away by it. Mad special efx, great choreagraphy, some humor and a kid who nearly steals the show! With all this, it's no wonder that it was so popular, acclaimed, and influential. Too bad you can't see why, but it may be due to cultural differences, this film exemplifies styles, themes, and images that are culturally bound, and you may not be able to get past it. But if you can, a whole world of movies can open up to you, like all the Kung fu fantasy novel-inspired movies of the 70s, such as Sentimental Swordsman, The Magic Blade, Clans of Intrigue, Killer Clans, etc, etc.
it was not really a good movie, but it was fun and good action.
so please stop whining about "Its Horrible"
Cause it's not, it was not a good+ movie but atleast I enjoyed it.
ktnxbye
I have to second pretty much everything you said. I think its a great example of Chinese kung fu movies that western audiences dont get. I've seen it about a dozen times at the late UC theatre in Berkeley, back when the ditribuion for HK films was all messed up in the mid 90's because Jackie chan was coming to Hollywood. So whatever was in circulation in 93, was still playing in 96.
I think American audiences can't handle a film unless it fits neatly into horror, comedy, drama, action or scifi. If it crosses the boundaries than people are confused or worse, call it a bad film. Ithink the makers of these kind of films back in China and HK(pre 1999), were trying to appeal to the widest possible audiences by including action, comedy, and even horror elements in the same films.
And yes the wire scenes blew me away when I frist saw it. The wall of sheilds? East is Red is another good movie similar to this.
I thought it was an awesome film, despite the wires being in view, the americanisms, and the tacky baddy (and his chromed/armoured Sinclair C5).
shareI enjoyed this movie up until the end. They ended this movie sooooooo terribly
Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica
DoucheChill
No power in the Verse can stop me
Completely disagree.
Jet Li was supposed to be the anti-thesis to all of the humorous characters that surround him.
The story was perfect for the period piece that it is, the fighting scenes are on par with any equal chinese b-movie, and the humor is perfect(although maybe a little cultural specific but that's a shortcoming of the viewer and not the film itself IMHO). Can't believe I missed this gem of Jet Li's action comedy stint in chinese cinema.
Also, is it just me or does it seem like Li is 'handing over the reigns' for this kind of film off to his child actor co-stars?
Adding 'solved' to your post is a RECOMMENDATION not a rule. Get a life, board nazis.
That's kind of what I enjoyed about this film. Li doesn't have a problem sharing the screen and action with his talented co-stars. I'd like to see Jackie Chan do more of that. He's getting a bit long in the tooth and he could still keep his movies exciting and profitable if he allowed his co-stars and young discoveries to be the center of attention more often. He could make a more successful transition to teacher and producer and still keep himself a brand name.
shareI thought it was great! The fight sequences were cool and the humour was weird, but funny (that underwear scene had me in stitches). The film as a whole does have a 'so bad it's good' vibe about it, especially with the dub job (I'd love to see New Legend of Shaolin, which I believe is the same movie re-edited, with subtitles rather than the dubbing) but it's really entertaining and that's what matters.
I know this is a really old post, but you hated enough to post it twice so fair do's man each to their own!
not the worst movie ever made..
there were some funny scenes... the underwear...
some interesting action...
the son and his skills were the best part of the movie for me.
I thought the bat gonna pop out
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