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This is a sequel to director Yu Wang's 1971 film One-Armed Boxer (Dop bey kuan wan). Fung Sheng Wu Chi (Kang Kam), as the master of the flying guillotine, is a blind Ching Dynasty assassin, with a directive to quell potential rebels. After his two disciples were killed by Tien Lung (Yu Wang), the one-armed boxer (in the prequel), Fung has sworn revenge.

Although many rightfully consider this film a masterpiece, if you're not much of a fan of martial arts fight sequences in films, you probably shouldn't bother with Master of the Flying Guillotine. That's because there isn't much screen time taken up by anything else. Beside the fights, there is very little action or dialogue. Every fight in Master of the Flying Guillotine is engaging, but the last two are probably the best. These are two of the best fight scenes I've seen in any film.

We know right out of the gate that Master of the Flying Guillotine is going to be something special. The opening cinematography is beautiful, the introduction to Fung captivating, and we're quickly introduced to an ingeniously odd and sinister "growling/grinding" musical leitmotif for Fung, which is achieved by slowing down a musical recording (it's actually a song by the German band Neu!) As a leitmotif, the music reappears whenever Fung reappears, with all the impact and then some of Darth Vader's leitmotif music in the Star Wars films.

There are two factors that make this film so remarkable overall. The first is the fantastic and brutal nature of the martial arts. In a lesser film, the fantasy aspects could easily be unintentionally funny. Here, they're just enthralling. Every fighter has some unique style and/or skill, and the extended "kung fu gladiator" tournament focuses on these, to our benefit. The second, less obvious factor, is the depth of characterization and implied, complex plot and backstory achieved by Yu Wang solely through the fight sequences. Even though 90-something percent of the film is just fight sequences, nothing is lacking.

A 10 out of 10 from me.

Master of the Flying Guillotine aka One Armed Boxer 2 is one of the greatest old school kung fu movies ever made, it is an absolute classic of the genre. Jimmy Wang Yu's sequel to "The One Armed Boxer" aka "The Chineese Professionals" is perhaps better than the original and is a strong enough film to stand on its own.

A blind assassin, a one armed martial arts master and a Yoga instructor with stretching limbs are just a few of the elements that make this film one of the most creative and memorable martial arts films ever! One of the most interesting aspects of this movie is all of the many different martial arts styles that are displayed. There is a great tournament sequence were martial arts experts from all over the world compete in a fight to the death. You see various styles of Kung Fu, Muy Thi kick boxing, Karate and more. There are also many different weapons used in the film, from the three section staff to the outrageous flying guillotine.

The fights in the film are a bit slower and "looser" than some big studio movies (Shaw Bros, Golden Harvest) but they are still well choreographed and executed. The special effects and fight sequences still hold up well after 30+ years. This movie has been called Quentin Tarantino's favorite kung fu film, and when you see it you'll know why. You are no movie buff until you have seen this true cult masterpiece!

One Armed Boxer 2 aka "Master of the Flying Gullitine" is one of the most unique stories ever told on film. The characters and visuals are truly unbelievable. Jimmy Wang Yu's "One Armed Boxer 2" is perhaps his finest work and one of the greatest independently produced films in the martial arts genre. With great action and characters, Master of the Flying Gullitine is definitely a top 10 film of the kung fu genre and is a definite must see (or buy) for any martial arts junkie.

Martial Arts Genre Rating: 10/10 (classic)

Overall Movie Rating: 7/10

This one has to be seen to be believed! Jimmy Wang Yu, star of the Aussie cult classic 'The Man From Hong Kong', writes, directs and stars in this movie, which is one of the most entertaining martial arts movies ever made! The movie opens with wily old blind man Fung Shen Wu Chi (Kang Kam) receiving a message via carrier pigeon from his favourite nephews Tiger and Dragon telling him that they have been killed by the one armed boxer (Wang Yu). Now how they could write this message AFTER they had been killed is still a mystery to me, but this is the kinda movie where you just don't ask questions! So the old man goes off to avenge their deaths, armed with his secret weapon, a flying guillotine. This is a kinda hat box on a rope which he swings. It lands on people's heads and he decapitates them! He also likes to throw explosives at his enemies just to keep them on their toes. Anyway, he travels to a fighting tournament hoping that they one armed boxer will show. Of course he does and we eventually get an exciting climactic battle between the Master Of The Flying Guillotine and the One Armed Boxer. But before that we see a lot of the competitors having individual fights, the most memorable being the "swami master" from India. He's played by a Hong Kong actor in black face, and every time he comes on screen there's sitar music playing just so we know who he is I suppose. The swami has a special talent - he can make his arms extend. This makes for some supremely silly moments which are just hilarious. In fact the whole movie is hilarious. I loved every minute of it! If you like Kung Fu you MUST see this! Highly recommended fun!

This is a fun one. Master of the Flying Guillotine sets up the vengeance angle and then, it's pure fights from there on. Besides Flying Guillotine and the One Armed Swordsman, you've got a martial arts tournament to boot! Fights feature armed and unarmed combat and lots of styles; there's a thai boxer who makes concrete blocks cringe in fear. Plus, any gal who can bust out Eagle Claws and shred clothing or skin is awesome in my book! A more amusing fighter is the Indian whose Yoga style earns him the nickname `Extendar'. You've got guys who can fight and the enemies come one after the other and they're no pushovers.

Jimmy Wang playing the One Armed Boxer is the real deal. His movements are fluid and what he lacks in appendage, his kung fu skills more than compensate for (look at him climb those walls!). Despite all obstacles, he never panics and does what he can to survive. Even though the battle in the Hotfoot Hut seemed unfair, I guess it's no hold barred when killers are after you. On a fun note, notice the hidden arm or a hand peeking out behind the guy's back in some fight scenes?

Flying Guillotine is a cut above the rest. He won't stop till he gets his revenge. His finely toned senses make him a deadly opponent especially when his hat goes flying. It also folds up nice and neat. There's a bit of dark humor when FG's search for a one armed man leads to several victims…of which he has NO remorse for killing.

Just watch this!

This film brought a rush of half-forgotten memories...I was seven years old, living in suburban Ventura Country, California, munching on Count Chocula, and glued to the screen for Channel 7's Black Belt Theater. And that was the last time I witnessed the adventures of the One Armed Boxer and his arch-nemesis, the blind Master of the Flying Guillotine for a long, long time...

Fast forward twenty years. I stumbled across a pirated copy of this old school chop sockey classic. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had always reminisced to my friends about this flick...with its weapon that could decapitate from 40 yards, a stretchy armed Indian fakir, and perhaps the first fight between the arch-rivals Eagle Claw and Monkey Style.

I am convinced that this is the Movie that Launched a Thousand Video Games. The resemblance to Streetfighter is obvious, but this movie's whole-setup must have inspired countless button-pushin' fisticuffs that would dominate our leisure time in the following decades.

But if you go beyond the nostalgia factor and the video game inspirations, you'll find a finely-crafted, well-acted, and genuinely exciting film. Jimmy Wang Yu reprises his role as the One Armed Boxer, a thinking man's kung-fu hero. (I believe this film was third in a series of One Armed Boxer flicks). The hated Qing regime has sent the notorious (and blind) Master of the Flying Guillotine to snuff out all those pesky Ming sympathizers, and the One Armed Boxer is on top of the hitlist. (Yeah, yeah, I know I've just described the premise of five million other kung fu flicks, but stay with me). Not only that, but the Boxer had the gall to kill two other assassins who happened to be the blind man's disciples!

The Master of the Flying Guillotine is sheer evil itself. He launches into a killing spree, murdering every poor slob in the province who happens to sport only one arm. (Along with anybody foolish enough to get in his way). After being informed that he didn't kill the One Armed Boxer in his lastest decapitation, the blind assassin utters what is perhaps the coldest line in cinematic history--"I don't care who he was." Yikes.

Of course, the Boxer and the Blind Killer have the Final Throw Down Show Down...in perhaps one of the most beautifully shot fight scenes I've ever witnessed. True to form, Jimmy uses his brain as much as his fists when it comes to taking down his enemies...but I don't want to give anymore of this wonderful lost classic away.

Also of note is the music for the film...the opening titles is a veritable punk/thrash classic, and the the Flying Guillotine's theme music lets you know Evil is Afoot. I love it.

So..if you can find it, check this flick out...and then you'll see where Namco and Jet Li got it all from. It's time to go back to Old School.