Even having just
watched these four films, I have to make an effort to remember their individual
characteristics. Though the plot varies from film to film, there are so many
repeatedly used narrative devices in kung-fu films that it becomes easy for
them to blend together. This is particularly true of the four Golden Harvest
films in this Martial Arts Movie Marathon, mostly due to the fact that they
were all made in a two year period and many share cast members. Despite their
occasionally uninspired plot twists, each of these four films is entertaining
in its own way.
There are two
films to a disc in this 2-disc set, with the first including the strongest of
the four films in the set. The second disc is still entertaining, though the
sexploitation elements of the story can distract some from the martial arts.
The first two films, on the other hand, take a more conservative approach to
the action. These films include The
Manchu Boxer (1974) and The Skyhawk
(1974).
The Manchu Boxer was shot in South Korea United States
The Skyhawk features a martial arts
character that would be reincarnated decades later with Jet Li cast in the
role. Wong Fei Hung is played by Kwan Tak Hing in The Skyhawk, though the real protagonist of the film is Hsiao
Shih-tzu, played by Carter Wong (Huang), who is a student to The Skyhawk
alongside Sammo Hung as the unfortunate best friend. If there is one certainty
in kung-fu films, as sure as the bad guy will fall at the end of the film,
there is usually an instigating death or rape that causes this justice to be
avenged, and the best friend rarely makes it out unscathed.
The second disc
includes two films that amp up the exploitation levels of the film, with
increased nudity and sex scenes coming at the cost of action and plot
coherence. They are a bit trashier than the more traditional kung-fu films in
the first disc, but no less entertaining for one reason or another. One of the
films is also notable for being the second feature from famed director John
Woo. The second disc includes The Association (1975) and The Dragon Tamers (1974).
The Association is the weak link in the
collection, mostly because of the preoccupation with female nudity over action
sequences. Many kung fu films use rape as a reason for the otherwise peaceful
protagonist to go on a rampage at the end of the film, as was the case with The Manchu Boxer, but The Association seems to revel in the
exploitation of these sequences. The film is peppered with women abused
sexually, stripped and raped in nearly every other scene. Some of this is just
indulgent camp, while the storyline involves an international prostitution ring
to help justify the abundance of flesh.
The Dragon Tamers (a.k.a. The Young Dragons) also has somewhat of
a campy storyline that features rivals in a group of female kung-fu students
who often end up in a state of undress mid-battle with each other. The opening
sequence has them rolling in the mud until breasts inevitably flop out of loose
garments. Fortunately, these exploitation sequences are minimized when the
kung-fu action comes into play. It is difficult to see any of John Woo’s style
in this early feature, but it is an entertaining addition to this low-quality
collection of lost and forgotten classics.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 6.5/10
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