Title:
The Buddhist Fist
Synopsis:
The Buddhist Fist
AKA : The Secret Of The Buddhist Fist
Year : 1979 Reviewer : Tony Ryan
The most consistently good action director in Hong Kong’s history - whatever the genre - has arguably been Yuen Woo Ping, and this old-school classic is just another typical example of why he is perceived as such.
Woo Ping’s younger brother Yuen Shun Yi gets a rare leading role as an orphan, brought up and trained by a Buddhist monk alongside his friend Chui Siu Ming. As he gets older, he decides to move to the city and ends up working with Chan Lung in a barber’s shop before they are both fired for fighting a customer. As a result, Shun Yi goes back home to look for his godfather, who unbeknownst to him, has been kidnapped after uncovering a conspiracy. The plot follows a formulaic seek and revenge storyline with a few plot-twists thrown in to keep it relatively fresh. However, what we all want to see from a film like this is intricate kung-fu choreography, and for the most part, it delivers.
From start to finish there is barely a scene without action, with most of it being the typical hand-to-hand variety, but now and then a few weapons and wires are thrown in to spice things up. Yuen Shun Yi lacks the fluidity in his execution when compared to genre favourites like Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan, so is not convincing as a character with almost perfect skills. On the other hand, Chui Siu Ming gives a flawless display but has appeared in very few films since, choosing to use his skills as a choreographer often working with the Yuen Clan and occasionally with my personal favourite, Sammo Hung.
Unfortunately, for veterans of old-school flicks, the choreography on display here is nothing new, and a lot of it takes place in the dark, which makes it less than easy to follow. A couple of old favourites like Lee Hoi San turn up to add extra quality to the execution, and the finale itself is a very good example of Woo Ping’s early work. But all in all it’s a merely solid flick without being anything special.
AKA : The Secret Of The Buddhist Fist
Year : 1979 Reviewer : Tony Ryan
The most consistently good action director in Hong Kong’s history - whatever the genre - has arguably been Yuen Woo Ping, and this old-school classic is just another typical example of why he is perceived as such.
Woo Ping’s younger brother Yuen Shun Yi gets a rare leading role as an orphan, brought up and trained by a Buddhist monk alongside his friend Chui Siu Ming. As he gets older, he decides to move to the city and ends up working with Chan Lung in a barber’s shop before they are both fired for fighting a customer. As a result, Shun Yi goes back home to look for his godfather, who unbeknownst to him, has been kidnapped after uncovering a conspiracy. The plot follows a formulaic seek and revenge storyline with a few plot-twists thrown in to keep it relatively fresh. However, what we all want to see from a film like this is intricate kung-fu choreography, and for the most part, it delivers.
From start to finish there is barely a scene without action, with most of it being the typical hand-to-hand variety, but now and then a few weapons and wires are thrown in to spice things up. Yuen Shun Yi lacks the fluidity in his execution when compared to genre favourites like Yuen Biao and Jackie Chan, so is not convincing as a character with almost perfect skills. On the other hand, Chui Siu Ming gives a flawless display but has appeared in very few films since, choosing to use his skills as a choreographer often working with the Yuen Clan and occasionally with my personal favourite, Sammo Hung.
Unfortunately, for veterans of old-school flicks, the choreography on display here is nothing new, and a lot of it takes place in the dark, which makes it less than easy to follow. A couple of old favourites like Lee Hoi San turn up to add extra quality to the execution, and the finale itself is a very good example of Woo Ping’s early work. But all in all it’s a merely solid flick without being anything special.
Format:
DVD
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Genre:
Action
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Show Type:
Movie
Date Added:
2018-02-07 21:32:54
Date Added:
2018-02-07 21:32:54
