Der grösste Schlag der Todeskralle

That's Bruce Li, not Bruce Lee, who died a few years before this was made.

Bruce Li was tapped to replace Lee. One of his early films was even named Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger, and you will see Bruce Lee's name used in many of his films.

He looks like Lee and fights like Lee, but he is not Lee, he is Li. Got that? The film was very good with Li and Angela Mao teaming to fight a drug operation. Lots of good Kung Fu, and an ending fight that was really spectacular. I don't care how much Kung Fu you know, you are going to have a hard time beating a guy three times your size who is solid as a brick wall. I won't tell you how he did it, but it was used against a similar foe in a Bond film.

Bruce Li is a worthy successor to Bruce Lee.

Bruce Li and his plucky sidekick Angela Mao take on two warring cocaine rings in a variation on YOJIMBO set in modern Hong Kong.

I looked at the English-language version, and some interesting choices were made, like having the bands in a couple of scenes playing Motown. The translations were done to better effect than many in the era, so I wasn't left stonkered, but had the brainpower to look at the fight choreography; that is, after all, the main reason to watch this sort of movie. I found it was occasionally clumsily rendered -- as when a plate that Paul L. Smith is standing on has high voltage run through it, and he takes a couple of seconds to react. When done well, the choreography was done with a humorous tinge. People keep striking at Smith, and he ignores them like they are flies. Likewise, Li establishes his credentials as a great fighter by taking on Fu-Hsiung Cheng in an amusing mixture of formal competition, in which Li takes time out to oil his torso while his opponent waits in a distracted manner.

This is one of the better Angela Mao movie from the late '70s. Since she stopped starring in Golden Harvest's movie, her movies weren't as well made or distributed. She seemed to be more focused on her domestic life, which probably was the right move since pure kung fu action movies were starting to be passe around the time this movie was made.

Bruce Li is probably the most type cast actor of all time, but he's a good actor in his own right, holding on screen presence with his handsome good looks, and good martial arts skill.

Making this a one of a kind movie is that both stars are starring together in this movie.

What's amazing about Taiwan producers and directors is the way they fail to capitalize on the on screen talent of their stars. They'd rather stick to their pat formula for making movies, rather than exploiting the often great talent of their stars. This movie is no exception and it just drags on with boring scenes of the bad guys talking to each other, then more talking, and then more, ......and more. Another thing is that the movie has no atmosphere to it at all. The scene goes from a cheap office to a dirty alley, to a worn down warehouse, and the likes. There's not a single beautiful scene in this entire movie.

Anyways, if a movie of this caliber is above average, you can surmise how bad some of the other Taiwan made Angela Mao movies are. Don't expect too much from this movie, as you see little of Bruce Li, and even less of Angela Mao.

There are better movies made of Angela Mao from Golden Harvest in the early '70s. They are recommended far more over this one.

Hello action movie fans!!! This is your Martial Arts movie extrordenair DANIEL KAHN NELSON!!! Here to offer you true martial arts movie fans a real critical view of Hong Kong and Japanese cinema!!! In the next couple of weeks I will be commenting on movies that have been under-rated and not judged carefully enough so be sure to watch where I strike next!!!

This was actually a pretty good film. There was however one cheesy but cool moment, that being when Bruce Li put on oil to make himself smooth and slippery during a fight with the drug lord's body guard. In fact it was quite funny. But the fight seens involving the female assistant were well choreographed and the final fight seen was awesome yet left something to be desired. All in all a well earned 8 out of 10.

At first watch, it may be easy to dismiss this film as just another cheaply made kung fu movie, but if you own it like I do, and watch it multiple times, you start to see it in a brand new light.

This is really a good movie. It has a plot, character development, a good main villain, a good hero, and great action. Of course it's got it's flaws and things that don't make sense, but overall I have no complaints.

It's hard for me to put into words about the plot. There's a lot going on, but it's easy to follow , and what they do makes senses. It all culminates into one major event.

I've always liked actor Bruce Li, he delivers in all his films, one of which is my favorite, THE THREE AVENGERS. Paul L. Smith was a great choice for the main bad guy. He is best known for playing Bluto in POPEYE (1980), but this was before that, so they are irrelevant to one another. He very easily could have just portrayed some grunting brute who was simply a henchman, but they took him very seriously. The voice actor for his dialogue was a good choice as well.

To conclude, as I stated, it may take more than one viewing, but when you take the time to listen and follow the story, you'll find it to be pretty decent after all.