Yong chuang jiang wu

A HEROIC FIGHT is a madcap, anything-goes kind of Taiwanese martial arts flick with a bizarre, self-referencing plot line: the film is set in and around a film studio, where a director and his special effects team are busy trying to make a historical fantasy movie before some local gangsters get involved and proceed to wreak havoc.

This movie noticeably features the talents of Lin Hsiao-Lao (CHILD OF PEACH), an actress well known for playing young boy heroes in the movies. The twist here is that she's playing a male actor who plays a woman at one point! If that wasn't head-scratching enough, the film is packed full of special effects, some of them portrayed as effects and some of them taking place in the 'real' world so to speak, so you get a mixture of film-within-a-film action and real-life fights, and there's little to distinguish them at times, so over the top they become.

It's really not as confusing as it sounds, but it does offer a whole slew of crazed, madcap fight scenes which delight in the best Hong Kong tradition. The fights are fast, furious, and make full use of props and scenery to offer the ultimate destruction. When Hsiao-Lao goes on a rampage of revenge against the bad guys, she uses all kinds of gadgets to blow them up and kill them, which makes for a great viewing experience.

A HEROIC FIGHT is full of familiar faces (look out for Yuen Cheung-Yan) but of particular note is Dick Wei who plays the chief antagonist. Wei is on top form here playing one of those unstoppable villains that the good guys have to team up for; he's a powerhouse of hard-punching, hard-kicking energy and gets far more screen time than in a film like, say, PEDICAB DRIVER. A HEROIC FIGHT might be a special effects film at the end of the day, but Wei helps move it towards greatness.

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!

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.

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.

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!