Rating:

Stars: Tsui Siu Keung, Damian Lau, Eddy Ko Hung

Director: Ching Siu Tung

1983, Hong Kong, Golden Harvest

 

It all moves around a challenge between Japans best fighter Hashimoto (Tsui Siu Keung) and Chinas (Damian Lau). To the challenge thirty of the best martial artists of the major Chinese schools are invited. It starts with some ninjas trying to steel the secrets of the Shaolin temple fighting techniques.

Arriving in China Hashimoto meets Kenji (Eddy Ko Hung), who’s been sent by the Japanese general to accompany him. Hashimoto and the Chinese fighter, which have become good friends, are later attacked by the same ninjas. Hashimoto later finds Kenji in the bushes with the ninjas and is told the truth.

 

Crazy movie!!! A must buy for new wave kung fu fans.

This movie shows the conflicts between the two countries, but in spite of being a very Chinese movie, it shows the beauty of both countries, and the respect between the fighters.

Tsui Siu Keung is a nice actor here as the Japanese fighter who wants to test his skills no matter what.

Ko Hung is good too, his fight against the monk in the beggining is pretty cool but he doesn't do much than that.

Casanova Wong gets a chance to show his Teakwondo kicks (probably the best part of the movie) when he’s attacked by some flying Ninjas in a cameo.

Wilson Tong cameos also as Japanese but doesn’t fight, or doesn't have time to fight cause he gets killed so fast he doesn't even notise it.

 

The choreography is a little bit to fast and exaggerated, and some scenes are a little gory (heads, arms and fingers are cut off), but if you’re not shocked by that easily you’ll find some scenes a little silly (at least the scene where Hashimoto’s head is cut off and sticks into a twig and he starts talking). There was also a lot of flying, especially the ninjas, and also ninjas who suddenly dissapear. There was also a damn strange and scary huge ninja woman who blows up making several normal-sized ninjas come out of her.

It was very hard to review this without telling to much of the plot, and if it doesn't sound good on this review it's my fault cause the plot was great and well thought-out. It also has some cool scenes but the martial arts gets only real at parts, lesser flying and some more true martial arts wouldn't hurt. But this movie is neat and scary with caves, people whithout legs, ninjas who get cut in the half and lots of other crazy stuff. But It also has some nice temples and landscapes, I love Chinese landscapes they look so damn beatiful.

The bad thing is that the Japanese talk Chinese and not their own languege.

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