Martial Arts Clothing

Review by Annie Van Auken:

Some of the titles in MARTIAL ARTS 50 MOVIE PACK are so obscure, very little information could be gotten about them. A couple of selections here are from a long-forgotten American TV series. There’s even a few spaghetti-karate films thrown into the mix. The majority however originate in the Far East: Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Lots of choreography went into the making of these movies; undoubtedly, there were a few unintentional injuries along the way, too. The action and pratfalls are non-stop and the plots mere window dressing for the foot-to-head combat scenes. For all martial arts fans these cinematic slugfests are sure-to-please.

Overall rating was achieved by averaging out viewer polling on 42 of these titles. Based on a film resource website’s 1 to 10 scoring system, the current rating for MARTIAL ARTS is: 4.8.

The following alphabetized program list includes individual poll scores, original theatrical names (where indicated), country of origin, years of release and primary performers.

(5.0) The Big Fight (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1972) – Roc Tien/Cheung Chin Chin

(4.0) Black Cobra (Italy-1987) – Fred Williamson/Eva Grimaldi

(5.1) Black Cobra 2 (Italy-1988) – Fred Williamson/Nicholas Hammond

(4.5) Black Cobra 3 (Italy-1988) – Fred Williamson/Forry Smith

(4.8) Black Fist (1975) – Richard Lawson/Dabney Coleman/Philip Michael Thomas

(2.7) The Black Godfather (1974) – Rod Perry/Damu King

(4.4) The Brave Lion (1977) – Wei Tzi Yung

(3.9) Breakout From Oppression (1978) – Fonda Lynn/Alan Tam

(2.7) Chase Step By Step (China-1982) – Chee Fung/Wong Gwan Sheong

(???) City Ninja (1986) – Wai-Man Chan/Chia Che Fu

(6.6) The Deadly Duo (Hong Kong-1971) – David Chiang/Chuen Chan

(2.2) Death Machines (1976) – Ronald L. Marchini/Michael Chong

(5.6) Death Of A Ninja (“Black Magic Wars”) (Japan-1982) – Hiroyuki Sanada/Sonny Chiba (in support)

(4.0) Fighting Mad (“Death Force”) (USA/Philippines-1978) – Jayne Kennedy/Leon Isaac Kenndey (both minor roles)

(6.1) Four Robbers (Hong Kong-1987) – Charlie Cho/Feng Ku

(5.1) Four Shaolin Challengers (Homg Kong-1977) – Charlie Chan/Phillip Ko

(3.7) The Guy With The Secret Kung Fu (Hong Kong-1981) – Sally Chen/Fei Meng

(3.9) Hands Of Death (Hong Kong-1987) – Richard Harrison/Roc Tien

(3.6) The Head Hunter (Hong Kong-1982) – Rosamund Kwan

(4.6) Heroes of Shaolin Part 1 (Hong Kong-1979) – Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang

(4.6) Heroes of Shaolin Part 2 (Hong Kong-1979) – Sing Chen/Jang Lee Hwang

(4.3) Image Of Bruce Lee (1978) – Bruce Li/Chang Leih

(8.1) The Impossible Kid (Philippines-1982) – Weng Weng

(5.5) Infernal Street (Taiwan/Hong Kong-1973) – Feng Chang/Wan Hsi Chin

(4.7) Karate Kids USA (“The Little Dragons”) (1980) – Charles Lane/Ann Sothern

(6.6) Kung Fu Arts (Taiwan-1980) – Carter Wong/Sing Chen

(7.8) Kung Fu Kids Break Away (Hong Kong-1980) – Au Dai/Cheung Hoi Fan

(???) The Master (series): “Max” (TV-1984) – Lee Van Cleef/Timothy Van Patten/Sho Kosogi/Demi Moore (bit part)

(???) The Master (series): “Out-Of-Time Step” (TV-1984) – Charles Collins/Dick Durock

(2.9) Ninja Champion (Hong Kong-1985) – Bruce Baron/Pierre Tremblay

(5.1) Ninja Death I (1987) – Alexander Lou/Fei Meng

(???) Ninja Death II (1987) – Lo Yiu/Fei Ming

(???) Ninja Death III (1987) – Lo Yui/Fei Ming

(2.3) Ninja Empire (Hong Kong-1990) – Mike Abbott/Marko Ritchie

(???) Ninja Heat (1988) – Chan Sheng/Chan Wai Mang

(3.2) Ninja The Protector (Canada/Hong Kong-1986) – Richard Harrison/Jackie Chan

(6.0) The Real Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) – Bruce Lee/Bruce Li/Dragon Lee

(4.9) Return Of The Kung Fu Dragon (Hong Kong-1976) – Sing Chen/Tao Chen

(6.1) Return Of The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) – Sonny Chiba/Yôko Ichiji

(6.7) Shadow Ninja (Hong Kong-1983) – Roy Chiao/Wei Tung

(5.7) Shaolin Deadly Kicks (“Flash Legs”) (Hong Kong-1977) – Tao-liang Tan/Lieh Lo

(7.3) Shaolin Temple (Hong Kong-1976) – Sheng Fu/Kuan-Chun Chi

(5.7) Sister Street Fighter (Japan-1974) – Hiroshi Miyauchi/Sanae Ohba

(3.4) Snake Fist Dynamo (Homg Kong-1984) – Erik Yee/Dick Lee

(???) The Snake, The Tiger, The Crane (Hong Kong-1975) – Carter Wong/Nan Hsi Yen

(5.2) Spirits Of Bruce Lee (Hong Kong-1973) – Michael Chan/Poon Lok

(6.9) The Street Fighter (Japan-1974) – Sonny Chiba/Waichi Yamada

(???) Tiger Love (1977) – Hu Chin/Lieh Lo/Ya Wang

(4.0) T.N.T. Jackson (Philippines/USA-1975) – Jeannie Bell/Stan Shaw

(3.3) The Weapons Of Death (1982) – Eric Lee/Bob Ramos

Review by Lo Wang:

This collection is well worth every penny you’ll spend on it, as long you enjoy this film genre. Personally, these movies evoke more laughter for me than most of the comedies being currently released. Some of the movies don’t really qualify as martial arts movies – in particular, I’m referring to Black Cobra 1, 2, and 3 – three of the worst movies ever made. These movies, starring former NFL player Fred “The Hammer” Williamson would more appropriately be categorized as action movies, although there isn’t a Hell of a lot of action in them. I digress. The point is that there are maybe 3 punches thrown in the entire first movie. It’s definitely not a martial arts movie. Most of the movies in this collection, however, are exactly what you would expect. In particular, there are three movies, Ninja Death 1, 2, and 3 that are so awful that they border on greatness. I’m not a film student, so I couldn’t tell you what the filming technique is called wherein the “actors” fight in slow-motion, and then the film is sped up to make the fights look like they are taking place at a normal speed. The director of these Ninja Death movies sped the fights up too much, and the result is that every battle looks like an episode of the Benny Hill show. I put these kind of crappy movies on at night to fall asleep to (spaghetti westerns and cheesy horror flicks work well also), but Ninja Death kept me awake and laughing. None of the movies in this collection are big budget – they are all old, and the sound and picture quality is poor, but that adds, not detracts, to the experience of watching them. If you “get” these kinds of films, you absolutely can’t go wrong spending the money on this collection.

Review by D. Wilson:

Apples vs. oranges, Chevy vs. Ford, Yankees vs. Red Sox, vanilla vs. chocolate… all great debates to be sure, but they pale in comparison to the best debate of them all, Chinese Martial Arts vs. Japanese Martial Arts! This Lau Kar-Leung(who also appears as a drunken master!) film, that also goes by the far worse title, “Shaolin Challenges Ninja,” delivers this battle in fantastic fashion with tons of style and charm to spare. The plot has Gordon Liu in an arranged marriage to Japanese actress Yuko Mizuno and instantly their cultures and beliefs clash, most importantly when it comes to just who has the best fighting techniques the world over. In typical Kar-Leung film fashion the movie has a light playful tone, however; unlike some of his other attempts it’s never corny and obnoxious and Gordon and Yuko in particular have fun with the situations while still keeping a serious tone about everything. The Japanese masters that are brought in to challenge Gordon are all great and bring personality and flavor with the small amount of screen time each is given (by actual Japanese actors). When these duels occur we get everything you could ever hope for including Kung Fu vs. Karate, Long Sword vs. Kitana, Butterfly Knives vs. Sais, 3 Section Staff vs. Nunchuku (in the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Liu take on Bruce Lee… and this guy is an obvious clone), and more! One knock I do have with the movie is that Chinese master Liu tends to pawn the Japanese masters in exciting but fairly one-sided duels. Still, this is a Chinese film (if it was Japanese I’m sure things would be quite the opposite) and the Japanese masters are all treated respectfully even in defeat. This is a top 10 martial arts movie for myself and many other fans of Kung Fu cinema so if you haven’t seen this yet then do yourself a favor and check it out ASAP! For those that already own the DVD from bootleg hacks Red Sun, I implore you to do the right thing and purchase this version from Dragon Dynasty… not only will there be a nice selection of bonus material included BUT it will also show that martial arts fans are willing to pay for top-notch respectable releases of classic Kung Fu films(especially Shaw Bros movies). Who out there wouldn’t love to see other chop socky masterpieces like Five Deadly Venoms, 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Enter The Fat Dragon, The Kid With The Golden Arm, Shaolin Vs Lama, and so many others get more than just a bootleg treatment? Thank you Dragon Dynasty for taking a chance on this release and hopefully it’s a step towards more quality genre titles in the near future(Come Drink With Me is coming soon too!).

Review by phil_moscowitz_lovable_rogue:

Probably the most entertaining Shaw Bros. film ever! Possibly the most fun Liu and Lau had making a Shaw Bros. film ever!! Positively the most amazing demonstrations of various Chinese and Japanese weapons, styles, philosophies, and attitudes about Martial Arts in any “Kung Fu vs Karate” or “Wuxia vs Ninja” or “China vs Japan” film made at Shaw Bros. or any other studio in Hong Kong, Tokyo, or anywhere else in the world, ever!!! And no one dies, or gets beat to a bloody pulp because it was meant to be entertaining, and fun, and amazing… And it’s all that and a bag of shurikan’s! Also, keep your eyes peeled for the “Sifu” himself showing Jackie Chan how “Drunken Master’s” style can be done righteously in 10 minutes! * Highly recommended “fu flick fare” for females and families! Even the youngest kids in your brood can watch this one and learn some good life lessons about tolerance, respect, and confidence without pride too! Plus, they’ll love it all the way through and have as much of a good time as you! It’s really true!! Just ask “Sifu” Lau or “Master” Liu!!! ~ S->

Review by Epsilon Delta:

To me, this is one of the best Jet Li movies. Or, may as well call it one of the best movies. It has a lot of humor and wisdom in it. However, as someone jokes that dubbing is the eighth sin, the dubbing in this movie, possibly to match the lip movement, has the script modified. The humor was lost, as well as the wisdom. I compared an Asian release with the US release: the script as well as the English subtitle are modified in the US release. I highly recommend this movie to you, except that it may be best to find the Asian release. I also checked that my Asian release has the English subtitle which is very close to what the actors and actresses say in Chinese. Also one thing about the US release is that the song is taken out from the movie. We usually accept a French song or Italian song in a foreign movie. How come we don’t accept a Chinese song in a Chinese movie? The original Chinese song is very suited to the events of the movie. My advice remains: the Asian release of this movie probably can give you more enjoyment than the modified one.

Review by Paris Marco Chavez:

This movie is good. The fights and unrealistic and stylish, and the story is good. But there is no excuse for what happened to this movie. We live in America. We are one of the most diverse nations in the world. The localizers of this movie seem to think that Americans don’t know anything about, and don’t care about, Chinese language and culture. As a result all the original language and music has been cut, and there is only a spoken English version. This is inexcusable, especially for a DVD release. I have no problem with a dub, but on a DVD you MUST include both. It is a good movie, but on principle I will not give it a passing grade on this element alone. I bought a DVD player so I would not have any problems getting the subtitled version of a movie, and then they pull this crap! Please do not support dub only releases. Please go to … the auctions amazon and find a DVD of Tai Chi Master. This is the Chinese version of this film. It will have English subtitles. The image quality is worse, but to have the true language and the real voice of Jet Li, it is worth it.