Heroes of the East

Most Shaw-Brothers films are pretty lacking kung-fu-wise, the fight scenes are usually pretty low quality simply not fun to watch. There is one exception however, and that exception is Shaolin Challenges Ninja. This film isn't a classic because of its plot or acting (both are merely "ok"), but because of the high quality of its _many_ kung-fu fights. Right from the start all the way to the bizarre final fight the film offers great "my style is better than yours" -type fight scenes one after another. If you like old-school kung-fu don't miss this one!

I read somewhere that the producers tried hard to come up with a story that viewers outside Hong Kong would enjoy because Gordon Liu had fans in China and Japan thanks to his Shaolin monk movies. "Heroes of the East" was the result. Gordon Liu was in Montreal for the Fantasia Film Festival so local organizers and sponsors got him to come to Toronto to say hello after the show.

I noticed something watching the Chinese version that slipped by me when I watched the English dub years ago - only the Ninja Master and Ah To's wife could speak Chinese! I guess that was necessary for the sake of the story so our hero couldn't tell the other Japanese masters that everything was a big misunderstanding and there was no reason for them to fight.

I have good feelings about this movie because the story held together so well. Nobody was portrayed as a villain and everything was resolved happily with our hero accepting the friendship of the Kendo Master.

Let's begin by saying that I consider Chia Hui Liu (Gordon Liu, to you KILL BILL fans) to be, pound-for-pound, the greatest movie martial artist of all. Before the Bruce Lee and Jet Li fans start baying for my blood, just read that phrase again. I said "movie martial artist" ... not "star" or "actor". But martial artist.

That's because Liu Chia-Hui (in China, you put your family name first) really is a martial artist. Bruce Lee was many things - actor, star and fighter - but never a martial artist in the traditional sense. And Jet Li is a wushu player, and wushu is a system of acrobatics, much like western gymnastics, never intended for combat.

And I consider ZHONG HUA ZHANG FU the best sustained martial arts performance in Liu's filmography, as much as I admire WU LANG BA GUA GUN (1983, aka EIGHT FIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER).

I won't elaborate on the plot of ZHONG HUA ZHANG FU here as many other commenters have already done that (but what *about* that wig, eh?), but simply observe that although, as many have stated, director Lui Chia-Liang appears to show Japanese martial arts in a sympathetic light, he does still take the position that Chinese martial arts are better, and that still amounts to a pretty damning criticism, no matter how polite he is about it.

Clearly the message of this film is that Japanese styles are direct, bombastic and chest-beating and Chinese styles are subtle, layered and adaptable. I'm not entirely disagreeing with that. I'm a 20-year student of Chinese kung fu myself. So perhaps my eye is better attuned to discern what's going on in the first battle between the Japanese Katana and the Chinese straight sword.

The katana is a weapon that is used for hacking and chopping and as such needs to have a hugely strong blade. Indeed, the manufacture of the Japanese katana is a long and arduous process in which the metal is folded and beaten many times to produce a blade that is made up of dozens of wafer-like layers of steel. This means that the weapon can take no end of punishment, even at the hands of the clumsiest or strongest swordsman.

In contrast, the Chinese sword is a far more delicate weapon and must be wielded with care and accuracy in order to be at its most effective. No hacking and chopping with a Chinese sword, then, as the blade would simply break.

So, the fight with Liu using a Chinese sword against a katana should have ended with the Chinese sword broken and Liu helpless. It's a testament to both Lius' understanding of martial arts and the limitations and advantages of both weapons that the fight is as realistic and believable as it is.

And each battle in ZHONG HUA ZHANG FU is treated with equal care (though I won't try everyone's patience by analysing each in detail)

It's well worth seeking out the Celestrial Pictures release of HEROES OF THE EAST which offers a Chinese soundtrack and English subtitles, rather than the awful Ground Zero release which is dubbed and looks like it was transferred from a full-screen VHS.

Definitely one of the best depictions of Chinese martial arts on film - ever!

Challenge of the Ninja is essentially a story of cultures. From the initial opening credits when Gordon Liu a young Chinese man marries a Japanese girl you can see that they and everything around them will clash as the newlyweds try to find common ground. Their varying attitudes about martial arts to the way they train pits the two lovers on a collision course that ultimately has the proud, stubborn and spoiled bride running back to her family. An ill advised note pits a rival suitor against the young man and his Japanese entourage of fighters who feel slighted by its contents that derides their skill and culture as fighters. When Gordon meets with them head on he not only wins back his wayward wife but gains the respect and admiration of those who would challenge him. This movie is a must see for those who like to see the various styles of martial arts represented by Chinese Kung Fu by one of its finest proponents.

This movie is awesome!

don't let the old year scare you away! This movie truly has it all, nice scenery and exciting fights.

Shaw Brothers did have a nose for great martial arts flicks and this one is one of them (one of the better they have released I would say)

the film centers around man named Liu that marries a Japanese girl. They early in their marriage argue about which martial arts styles that are the best; Chinese or Japanese. He of course speaks for the Chinese arts and she for the Japanese. He insults here that hard that she leaves him and goes back to China. In an attempt to win her back he writes a letter and sends off to her, but are misunderstood and so he insults HER family so they seeks him up to have a duel.

Now here is where this film becomes really interesting; Every Japanese that he fights has different styles and weapons so this movie really shows off various styles in Martial Arts.

And it shows it off well. the actors really knows their stuff; they all move and fight AMASING!

don't hesitate to wait, rent/buy it know!

I shall also add: IVL (Intercontinental Video Limited) has re-released this film on DVD with re-mastered video and sound quality! and it truly looks good! so I recommend looking this version up.

9/10