Tag: Wuxia

All Shaw Brothers All The Time! Volume 5 Quick Thoughts

Fans of the works from Shaw Brothers Studios will be happy to learn volume 5 is out now, and there’s a sixth too!

Shaw Brothers Classics Volume FiveShout! Studios

Just when fans thought they couldn’t get enough of the movies from The Shaw Brothers, one of two new collections is here! Volume Six is slated for, and I’ll have a separate article outlining what’s coming in that set. I really appreciate the fact Shout! Studios is keeping the love for wuxia alive.

Volume 5 is now available for purchase on their website (or on Amazon). While I have yet to process this volume myself (I’m still working through the last two volumes before committing to this year’s offerings), this release continues to offer titles from the 60s and 70s.

There’s a bit of a sword theme going on in this release and when I can pick up this set, I’m looking forward to seeing Mission Impossible over all others! You’ll have to visit this entry to see the reason why. Another work is Rape of the Sword, that’s based on the novel of the same name. This book supposedly inspired Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Also, when this studio rarely does sequels, A Taste of Cold Steel is one of those rare titles I have to check out. And when this collection includes all new content to go with each title, it’s a must have for any committed nostalgia enthusiast. Also included are some personal thoughts on a few films.

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Where’s “The” Instead of “A Legend” Hiding in Stanley Tong’s Latest Action-Comedy-Adventure?

When there’s “A Legend” in the making, maybe the word “Chinese” needs to be added, in order to be recognized.

Box Art - A Legend Starring Jackie Chan
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA

Well GO USA
Minor Spoiler Alert

Chinese filmmaker Stanley Tong may well be running on fumes when it comes to coming up with fresh ideas. While there are minor elements to like in A Legend, which has been out for a while now and is finally available in North America, the people on the Internet have already spoken–this director relied on too much CGI tomfoolery to finish this movie. He really should have done a casting call to find a young-looking person who almost looks like Jackie Chan instead of relying on computers to de-age the actor.

Not only is most of the digital set design apparent in higher resolutions, but also pixels covered most of Jackie Chan’s screen time! As General Zhao Zihan in the flashbacks, he is 30 something years old rather than 70. We see this younger incarnation enjoying a moment in the grassy foothills of Central China, with Huajun (Lay Zhang) before a lady in distress arrives!

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Recognising The Film Master’s The Crippled Masters During Disability Pride Month

Hint: Lawrence Carter-Long’s essay on The Crippled Masters is required reading to truly appreciate why this film exists. The booklet provides a proper backdrop on how this project came about.

The Crippled Masters by Film Masters
Now availiable for purchase on Amazon USA

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.

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Ninjago Dragons Rising. The Magic is Back in Season Two!

A lot of repeat watches of Ninjago Dragons Rising were required to figure out where the series is going.

Ninjago Dragons Rising PosterWhen the lives of many winged reptiles are in constant danger in Ninjago Dragons Rising, just who can save them will require new and old heroes of the realms uniting. That premise defined season one, and it made for a decent continuation. It wasn’t all that memorable or standalone very well since it had to deal with establishing why old fans should care about Arin, Sora, and Wyldfyre. When I wanted to see the old team and only learn they’ve been individually sent across the multiverse, I got worried!

Thankfully half the team manage to find their way home. They’ve reunited in The Merged Realm and are the new masters to teach the new team some tricks. While I didn’t get much from the first season, I still appreciated the fact there is some continuity between the various series. What’s presented isn’t trying to recon. But in order for the series two to excel, it had to delve into why Dragons are suddenly very important. What fans get to learn is that these dragons are the embodiment of ideas Greek theologians would speak of–had they been aware of the big bang. 

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A Word to the Wise, Kung Fu Panda 4 Marks Po’s Passing of the Torch

The big question I have concerning Kung Fu Panda 4 is whether another streaming series will get developed to fill in the gap while waitiong for the fifth instalment?

Kung Fu Panda 4 PosterSpoiler Alert

Although the story about Po (Jack Black) is not quite at an end in Kung Fu Panda 4, I’m sure the showrunners have something planned as this six-part saga is coming close to ending. While the first film is partially about enlightenment and seeing a Panda as the reluctant hero, this one is ready to put him on the path of becoming like Oogway. It’s unfortunate all the character and world development from the televised series are not canon. I really want to see Nu Hai, Jing, Bao, and Fan Tong from Paws of Destiny again. Although not everyone will know these series are non canonical, it’s easy to spot the discrepancies.

For example, in Dragon Knight, Mr. Ping’s (James Hong) well-developed backstory is all for naught. Had he gone full on pirate, I’m sure he’d ruffle other feathers! Had he been determined, it would’ve surprised Po’s biological father, Pang (Bryan Cranston) and make for hilarious moments. These two stick around to provide the My Two Dads style comic relief.

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Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny Should’ve Been Canon!

Not everyone will be aware of this spinoff series that is exclusive on Amazon Prime. Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is designed for a youth audience, and it’s just as fun!

Kung Fu Panda The Paws of DestinyAvailable to Stream on Amazon USA Prime

Out of all the televised spinoffs set in the Kung Fu Panda universe, The Paws of Destiny is a non-canonical spinoff that sees four kids–Nu Hai, Jing, Bao, and Fan Tong–take on the title. It’s deserves to be part of the cinematic universe for other reasons I’ll explain later. This instalment takes place after the events of the third film, where this team has to continue protect their Panda village. After Jindaio, there’ll be other invaders.

Although this review is many years late, it seems what I posted back when it was fresh disappeared; I’ve dug up my draft and updated it with a few new thoughts after a rewatch, and editing this document for flow. As full disclosure: what’s written predates knowing anything regarding part four.

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