Das Todeslied des Shaolin

Contrarily what another user review said here, this is NOT a Shaw Brothers movie, it was produced by the independent company Cheng Ming, since actor-director Jimmy Wang Yu divorced in a very traumatic way from the Shaws in 1970, so he was forced to relocate in Taiwan where he made his subsequent movies, including this really funny Wuxiapian plenty of action (with an encreasing use of a stunt-double for a little overweight Wang Yu). If you like MARTIAN arts cinema filled with high jumps and almost supernatural Kung-fu, you can't miss this one: not totally weird as Wang Yu's previous extravaganzas The One Armed Boxer or Master of flying guillotine..., and not as good as them, but still enjoyable. You must forget to be an adult and back to see this with a childish eye. Moreover if you, like me, are familiar with those actors, the presence of Kung-Fu cinema vets like Lung Fei (with no moustache, this time), Kam Kong (the blind Lama in Master of the flying guillotine...), Lei Chun (a regular in those matters), Wang Yueng Sheng (Okinawan karateman in One Armed boxer), the moustached bulky Sit Hon, Ma Kei (also in One Armed Boxer as Wang Yu's master) and many others, adds fun. Released 11/12/1977 in Hong Kong, also titled Revenge of the Samurai, and written by famous Martial Arts novelist Gu Long, author of the script in many Shaw Bros' classics like The Magic Blade, The Sentimental Sworsdman, Full Moon Scimitar and others fantasty-adventures directed by legendary Chu Yuen.

This Shaw Brothers production packs a lot of neat stunts and fast action. Director-star Jimmy Wang Yu does a really good job and is a really cool kung fu hero. A lot of his stunts are incredible and the action scenes are all shot magnificently. Fans of Hong Kong action shouldn't miss this one. This is the Shaw Brothers at their best.

While the world was transfixed with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and their countless clones, "Jimmy" Wang Yu was creating several minor masterpieces that have been overlooked by many fans, but still remain as an enormous influence upon today's martial arts films. Along with Jimmy's now classic "One Armed Boxer" series is another under-rated Shaw Brothers epic, "The Return of the Chinese Boxer."

Jimmy has a style all his own. He is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a clone of Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan (Indeed, he was a star before either of these actors were well-known). Jimmy excelled in playing a kung-fun Everyman of sorts -humble, resourceful, and wearing a bemused smirk that acknowledged the ludicrous situations that he found himself in. He has been described as "the Cary Grant of Kung Fu," and for good reason.

In "Return of the Chinese Boxer," Wang Yu is a one-man wrecking crew who finds himself the only man up to the task of stopping the Japanese invasion of Qing China. His enemies are formidable - batallions of riflemen, ninjas, and other assorted assassins who all want to kill the Chinese Boxer. Jimmy's enemies are hilarious, colorful, and well-armed...a signature of Wang Yu's films. The Chinese Boxer has to deal with a host of exotic weaponry, including a dozen-barrel shotgun! Of course, Jimmy is able to outfight and outwit them all.

The ending scene is similar in nature to Wang Yu's other masterpiece of 1975, "Master of the Flying Guillotine." Like "MFG," Jimmy the Hero uses his wits as well as his fists to overcome his enemies. The last scene is superbly shot and you can sense Jimmy the Director laughing his head off as this scene was shot.

If you're an Old School Fu fan, then "Return of the Chinese Boxer" is a must-see. Enjoy!

This is the most brilliant piece of kung-fu rubbish I've ever seen. Horrible dubbing, such as how the japanese refer to the country of "Chiner" and the 5 sound effects used in the movie all add up to a delightful movie experience. It is without a doubt the most stirring actor-driven emotional drama I have ever seen. Plus, the more people you have, the more fun it gets! I totally recommend it!

I found this to be a confusing at times martial arts period piece. The story has to do with Japanese and Chinese rivals, a pair of swords, and some pearls. Star Jimmy Wang Yu as the title character shows up only sporadically and doesn't get any real screen time til the end of the flick. There are still plenty of fight scenes without him though. And that's what this movie is all about. The fight scenes. Fans of his MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE will find much to enjoy and much in common with this film. Outlandish villians with equally outlandish weapons. Unique fighting styles and interesting arenas of combat. Highlights include the trio of long-haired kung fu zombies as well as the showdown at the end in the barn of many Wang Yus.

Crash Cinema's DVD is ok. Picture while wide-screen is a little scratchy and washed out at times. This english dub though is probably the only place to see this bit of 70's martial arts action.