The Film Masters have moved on from examining vintage horror pieces to martial arts! In The Crippled Masters, what’s presented is a film many fans of this genre may well overlook; This movie features two genuinely handicapped martial artists: Shun Chung-Chuen (Two Crippled Heroes) and Thomas Hong Chiu-Ming (Fighting Life) who prove that two people working together as one can kick a lot of asses!
In the story, Lin Chang Cao (Mu Chuan Chen) is a cruel crime lord who ordered the dismemberment of Tang and Lee Ho’s limbs. The former lost his legs and the other their arms. It’s a good way to explain why these two became the way they are, and although Ho is not willing to let this loss let him down, he’s determined to live on. Tang, on the other hand, feels ready to face an untimely death. At first, they are hostile to each other at the shelter they find, but when they realise it’s a home to another cripple, the three better be friends! By sheer luck, The Old Man (Jackie Conn) they meet is a master of a distinct style of martial art, and he’s willing to teach these youths how to harmonise.
To release this video during Disability Pride Month is appropriate because it shows what these special needs people can do when allowed to be creative. Although the cinematic presentation may have faced challenges because of the era it debuted in, acceptance depends on how open audiences are to reading what director Chi Lo wanted to convey. Was he really exploiting the possibilities or was it something else?
This film isn’t necessarily hard to watch. It all depends on accepting these talents for what they’re able to do together rather than apart. And the audio commentary provides a convincing argument to explain why these exploitation films have its place in cinema history. The 70s was ripe with them and what’s presented isn’t necessarily niche.
Also, the restoration looks relatively astounding when compared to the original. The featurette that shows what the before and after is amazing, and it makes me wonder what new fangled software exists to work this magic? There’s still a lot of film grain which can’t be softened, but as for everything else, kudos to AI!
With this film, I believe it shows that there’s no difference between a blind monk who uses his other senses to engage in a fight over one who lost a limb in battle. Sometimes the phantom limb syndrome can also cause an opponent to feel pain! It’s a trope that isn’t found in classic wuxia, but in other genres, that can be regarded as magic or in manipulating The Force!
And to see Ho and Tang pull off some impressive moves is probably enough to even get Bruce Lee’s seal of approval.
Bonus Features on The Crippled Masters Blu-ray Collection
- Audio Commentary by Will Sloan and Justin Decloux of The Important Cinema Club podcast.
- Kings of Kung Fu: Releasing the Legends featurette
- Before / after examples of the restoration
- An original raw scan of the film pre-restoration
- Trailers