Les 8 maîtres du kung fu contre les 18 hommes de bronze

Sometimes known as the third entry to famed director, Joseph Kuo's fun 'Bronzemen' films, this little classic is one I got very early on in my collection (I mean, like 30 years ago) as the video artwork really had won me over!

Even in its 4:3 presentation, cropped with bad picture, I still enjoyed it. Thankfully, many years later, Hollywood East had released it here in the UK on DVD and I thought - why not..?

And yes, its still a lot of fun!

Even with a run-of-the-mill story line, there is still plenty to enjoy here as Carter Wong takes on the Bronzemen of Shaolin in his final days of training, before heading out to find his mother and pay a debt in the form of a challenge by the wicked 8 Masters.

I really like Joseph Kuo's films. They always entertain, have a real classic feel to them, and usually a great cast. The 8 Masters does not disappoint!

With a constant stream of fun kung fu battles, you really can't get bored watching it. The acting is pretty decent, and handheld camera work adds a little something different to it all. At the time, studios like Shaw Brothers and the new Golden Harvest were delivering very polished work - wide, still shots, with the aid of tripods, cranes and dollies. This was somewhat fresh in its approach...

A classic in to many, I wouldn't imagine its in a lot of top tens - but its still worth a watch if you are a fan of old school chop socky!

EIGHT MASTERS (aka 18 BRONZEMEN 3) is something of a follow-up, rather than a sequel, to THE 18 BRONZEMEN (listed on IMDb as EIGHTEEN BRONZEMEN) and THE RETURN OF THE 18 BRONZEMEN (aka 18 BRONZEMEN 2), both of which were also directed by Joseph Kuo. It is a far better film than the first two, with a stronger story, more intense fight scenes, engaging characters, and a gripping emotional undertone.

Carter Wong returns in a starring role and stars as Chu Sao Chieh, the son of a now-dead fighter who had run afoul of the notorious Eight Masters. As a boy, Sao Chieh is rescued by his father's comrade and taken to Shaolin Temple where he learns all the skills of the Shaolin Masters and grows up to be Carter Wong, who then 'graduates' from Shaolin by fighting and beating the assembled Bronze Men.

Back in the outside world, Carter reunites with his mother and Ming Chu, the daughter of the comrade who rescued him. The Eight Masters come looking for him and challenge him to a battle, but he refuses, recalling the maxims of the Shaolin monks, 'keep the peace, have patience and forgive offense.' He flees to the country with his mom and Ming Chu and, after the masters track him down, the three flee again, this time to a cave. It turns out that not all of the main characters are exactly who they claim to be and there are enough twists and turns to keep viewers hooked until Sao Chieh finally relents and agrees to fight each of the Eight Masters in bouts that take up the last 20 minutes of the film.

The fighting is fast and furious and expertly photographed in a series of outdoor Taiwan locations and beautifully appointed sets. Carter is as good here as he's ever been and fights primarily with his hands, even when his opponents use exotic weapons. The action is balanced by an emphasis on family obligations, with Carter's attention to his mother and fiancé providing a poignant subtext that strengthens and deepens the story.

The acting is quite good and is matched by above-average voice dubbing. Lung Chun Erh is the beautiful actress who plays Ming Chu and has some moving dramatic scenes with Carter. The great fighting femme Chia Ling (Judy Lee) is on hand in a small but important role as one of the Eight Masters, with a surprising secret in her past, and she has one particularly ferocious fight with Carter. The ending is quite satisfying and provides a fitting, if bittersweet, resolution to the entire Bronzemen series.

Release dates for the film are alternately given as 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1982, with 1976 being the most likely year. The film features an original Chinese music score rather than the patchwork soundtrack of ripped-off music cues that most English-dubbed kung fu films are saddled with. This unsung kung fu masterpiece marks a real discovery that will delight and surprise the genre's many fans.

After "The 18 Bronzemen" and "Return of the 18 Bronzemen", Joseph Kuo and Carter Wong worked on another movie with similar setting, but even though the movies in their longer versions borrowed some footage from each other, it's not exactly a trilogy as Carter Wong plays a different character again. Raised by monks, he wants to stay with them, but they send him away. Soon he is attacked by 8 Kungfu masters who were involved in the killing of his father. They suspect he came back for vengeance, and even though he wants peace, he doesn't have a choice and gets into one fight after another. It's less original and not a classic of the genre as much as the two above mentioned movies, besides the Bronzemen appear but briefly in footage partly taken from "Return...", but quite good nonetheless with an action-packed last half hour.

Shiao Chieh is left to a monastery when his family is killed, and grows up to be an incredible martial artist. He passes a gruelling and weird series of tests, most of which consist of being whacked by bronzemen, and goes out into the material world. He returns to live with his blind mother and his cousin, Ming Chu, who keeps being visited by an older dark stranger. Shiao Chien soon discovers Ming Chu is not really his cousin, but the niece of a man whose earnest wish is to see him die.

Carter Wong stars in this decent Kung fu film, which has a competent mix of drama, Shaolin philosophy, conflict and action - it can be a bit confusing, but it's well-paced and the story is engaging enough. Plus you have a gracious hero who resists giving into fight the 8 masters. When tragedy strikes he decides to take on the challenge- the last minutes is full of fights, some bordering on the fantastical side like walking on a chain held by the opponent and facing screaming ultra pale-faced looking banshees who look like rejects of a local Goth band.