Yong chuang jiang wu

An action packed comedy so drenched in Hong Kong humour that new fans of the genre will find it absolutely ridiculous for the most of it.

Yuen Cheung Yan leads (ironically) a film 'fight and stunt' group that get hired by a local Triad boss to protect him and his granddaughter from other triads and a rebelling son.

It's a no-brainer that relies more on gadget fighting than kung fu. That said, it does have its moments, from fantastic fight scenes to clever comedy and will entertain (even for the wrong reasons).

The very talented Lin Hsiao Lan is amazing as always, and the super bad Dick Wei dons the white suit once more to kick some butt!

Enjoy!

A HEROIC FIGHT (1990) is a rather unusual vehicle for Lin Hsiao Lan, the cute young female action star of Taiwan-produced costume fantasies (MAGIC OF SPELL, MAGIC WARRIORS, KUNG FU WONDER CHILD, all also reviewed on this site). Set amidst Hong Kong's then-hyperactive film industry, it features Lin in modern dress and gives her stunt work far more prosaic than the flying, wire fu and sorcery she engaged in in her other films. The actress always played male parts and this one is no exception, although, curiously, here she plays an actor who does female roles(!). The character also does stunts and special effects work as part of a "family" led by actor/fight choreographer Yuen Cheung-Yan (of the famed Yuen Clan) as HK's leading special effects genius. So basically, the magical settings and effects of Lin's other films are transformed into movie special effects and gadgets here. And her fighting uses weaponry and elaborate stunt work rather than magical powers. In one scene she thwarts the kidnapping of a triad leader's granddaughter by using her gadget-rigged bicycle against the kidnappers and their cars.

There's a rather tiresome plot about triad shenanigans grafted on to all of this. An aging triad leader, "Grandpa Duh," wants to retire and go straight and turn over his enterprises to a successor whom he must choose. One of his lieutenants (Dick Wei) feels slighted and joins Grandpa Duh's rivals and all hell breaks loose. Since Lin had rescued his granddaughter early in the film, Grandpa turns to her and her family to help out. The bike-vs.-kidnappers confrontation is the action highlight of the first half of the movie. Later, Lin launches an impressive solo commando raid on the bad guys' headquarters and uses kung fu and an assortment of different weapons and gadgets. In the final section, a big fight is staged at a movie studio in which Yuen and his team use special effects against the gangsters.

Dick Wei makes a good kung fu fighting villain as always and he is joined by two other kung fu regulars, Chen Shan (SHAOLIN VS. LAMA) and Yeung Hung (who's in all of Lin's movies, as well as numerous Shaw Bros. films, e.g. SUPER NINJAS). It's all a lot of fun, but something's missing. There really isn't a lot we haven't seen before--and better--in other Hong Kong films. It's just not as inspired as Lin's other films. Worse, since Lin plays a boy in short hair and modern dress (jackets and jeans), the cuteness factor (evident even in her male costume roles) is severely diminished. She does play an attractive lady singer--all too briefly--in a movie-within-the-movie that parodies John Woo's A BETTER TOMORROW.

The precocious little girl who plays Duh's granddaughter is amusing, although we really didn't need to see her dress like Madonna and go to McDonald's while "Material Girl" blasts on the soundtrack. Other American pop songs are used in the film, which may make it difficult for this film to get distributed properly in the United States, given the rights issues. If you've seen Lin Hsiao Lan's other films, then you've probably seen this one as well. It's worth seeing, but to really get a sampling of this performer's considerable martial arts and acrobatic skills you need to see her first starring vehicle, MAGIC OF SPELL (1986).

April 2021

I don't know where Yuen Cheung Yuan keeps coming up with such wonderful and inventive ideas.

If you don't know the name he is one of the Yuen clan , who also made the amazing films like Miracle Fighters and Drunken Tai chi.

This is a kung fu film, with plenty of action and plenty of gadgets, and of course comedy to be had too.

Fantabulous

10 out of 10.

This film is so 1980's it's ridiculous. Wait the film is supposed to be ridiculous. Taking a page out of the incredible "Shaolin Drunkard" manual, this movie is a non-stop barrage of visual gags and comedy that could have come from a Mack Sennett silent.

Virtually every facet of HK action film making from the 80's is parodied here. The movie also bends the audience's brain as the plot involves stunt people who work in the HK movie industry using their tricks to defeat a crime gang. So the tricks that the real HK stunt people use are used here as fake stunts in some scenes however in other scenes we see similar stunts but they are supposed to be "real"! And the lead actress is playing a man who plays female roles. Add the wacky mechanical gags that the Yuen clan are so fond of, plus the typical hyper- kinetic under-cranked HK movie action from that time and you've got a very silly film.

Unfortunately the cheaper Drunkard series from a few years earlier are better directed and photographed. Much of the fighting action, while making fun of the HK action style of the time, is so similar to that action that it's not as fun as it could be. The lead actress is a very good martial artist but she spend much of her time on wires, oh well. The plot is very tired even as a parody. The comedy that works in an ancient China setting doesn't work as well transported to the "present" day.

All said, there a number of real laughs in the film and I recommend it if you're feeling like a goofy film.

Produced in the mid 80's at the height of the best Hong Kong action films, this crazy Taiwanese comedy is completely off-the-wall like Aces Go Places meets A Book Of Heroes meets Miracle Fighters!

Presented by Lo Wei, A Heroic Fight is big on cast and big on action. Starring the fantastic and tiny Lin Hsiao Lao who went on to star as the Child Of Peach for director Chiu Chung Hing. The action is handled by Hing also, along with the genius of Yuen Cheung Yan and the Yuen Clan who bring to the screen, some over the top and insane moments. The action stars are of course, some of the best from Hong Kong's golden years, and certainly don't disappoint.

This was only Lin Hsiao Lao's second film after the fantastic Kung Fu Wonder Child (with Yukari Oshima), but she certainly impresses both with her acting and action skills...

The comedy is just mental - with a big focus on gadgets and inventions that may seem out-dated now, but do offer plenty of laughs. I swear, you'll not believe half of the nonsense that goes on, which will leave you both shaking your head and laughing out loud. A lot of this is created by the great Yuen Cheung Yan who plays the father figure to Lin and her team. His character is a special effects and stunt director for the film industry, along with Lin and company. I must note, it was nice to see the posters for Jackie Chan movies in their house!

The attempted kidnapping (and introduction) of a little girl just screams the 80's and looks like a deleted scene from the brilliant Lucky Seven movie. Lin (playing a male role - of a character who plays female roles in kung fu movies) witnesses the kidnapping and gives chase in style, on a BMX nonetheless, complete with gadgets and weapons which is just total madness, although leads to some nice action, and of course, the rescue.

Director Hing also plays the big boss in A Heroic Fight - a character who has heart problems and likes to squeeze his dogs cheek in ways that can only make any animal lover wince. He is also grandpa to the little girl who was almost kidnapped, leading to Lin and her family getting involved having been invited to a big party that just also happens to include a bevy of gangsters. His right-hand man is the formidable Dick Wei; one of Hong Kong cinemas greatest bad-guys, who is easily swayed into double-crossing his boss once a million dollars is offered by the enemy...

As per usual, he shines in the action department and gets plenty of chances to show off his great kicking skills!

There are a few parodies of famed Hong Kong films here and there, which is fun for fans, and a host of recognisable faces from 80's Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema...

While totally tongue-in-cheek and far from perfect, the film is a great example of why Hong Kong/Taiwan film fans fell in love with the genre in the first place. It's mad, over-the-top, funny, action packed, and features and hard-hitting, stunt filled second half with some great martial arts and finale! Overall: Packed with madcap comedy and great action, A Heroic Fight is just plain crazy, but a lot of fun!