Zhui ma lao

After watching Drunken Monkey the first time, I wasn't all that impressed, and rated the movie a 6.

But in hindsight, I have to say the action was really good, the kung fu was superb, and the story almost epic - not so much in its content, but in the way it was presented. The movie looked really good in a graphic and cinematic sense, and many scenes are quite memorable. While the plot structure and most of the characterization weren't fantastic, the comedy was after all fairly effective most of the time, and the movie also managed to maintain the serious story quite well.

I have now amended my rating of Drunken Monkey from 6 to 7 - if it wasn't for some very silly things (like, why is the "young uncle" suddenly considered head of the family??), it could have gone as high as 8 (edit: which in fact it now has). The production values were consistently great.

Edit (may 10, '05): Having seen the movie again, I am now up to an 8 rating. Man, these guys take kung fu seriously! The silly things no longer strike me as all that sillly, and I'm growing much more fond of the characters. What a crime that the fabulous Jacky Wu has only done three movies. All three are great; the two others (Tai Chi Boxer from '96 and Legend of Zu from '01) have both earned a 9 rating from me.

It is true many movies from Hong Kong are strange if not awkward in the humor department. But holy crap man, this one takes the cake. I have seen hundreds of martial arts movies, and this one is among the worst.

There are many reasons not to watch this. However, because Lau Kar Leung(Legend of Drunken Master),Gordon Liu(Kill Bill 1&2), and Jacky Wu(The Legend of Zu) are in it, some will watch anyway. But understand before watching that the plot was ridiculously stupid at best, and despite the martial arts talent in the movie, the fights aren't anything to brag about.

And for you martial arts enthusiasts out there, who heard this movie is the first movie made by the re-opened old Shaw Bros studio- you're right. And to all those who heard this movie was a throwback to traditional Kung Fu in movies- you will be sorely disappointed; while they do fight in a traditional style they use wires so much, it seemed like it was caught in limbo between a Shaw Bros movie and a Tsui Hark movie.

Damn this was a disappointing movie...........seriously, go rent Legend of Drunken Master instead.

It's great to see Liu Chia Liang still making movies. He has real integrity to his kung fu choreography. This film moves at a good pace, has a few great scenes and ends without us feeling cheated. The cast is energetic and It comes off in spirit like one of Liu's lesser Shaw films. Like his lesser Shaw films, the plot is lumpy and the tone veers from goofy comedy to seriousness abruptly. And like many of his lesser films, the legendary Liu Chia Hui shows up in a supporting role. It would be great to have Liu Chia Liang direct Liu Chia Hui in a starring role again.

What is clear is, however Liu makes his films these days, the Shaw style is gone. The camera work is very competent but doesn't compliment the fight scenes. There is an overuse of extreme wide angles. The actors are very well trained but only Liu Chia Liang has the physical snap that you saw nearly everyone have in the heyday of the Shaw studio. The fight scenes rely too much on editing, probably to cover for the fact that the actors don't have the time to train like at the Shaw studios. Too much Hidden Dragon style wire work.

Enough complaints, we don't get enough of this style of kung-fu film anymore. Watch it, have fun.

When I discovered that Liu Chia Liang did again a movie a few years ago, as a big fan of many of his movies, I was glad...

Unfortunately, this is a melting-pot which is on my opinion (even I had pleasure to see it), a rather very weak one.

Even with my greatest respect to LCL, not very excellent, even not very good nor funny !

Basically traditional Kung Fu and/or comedy, I can appreciate...

An LCL did so fantastic ones, that frankly I'm disappointed...

It's not because the weakness of the plot (almost never mind that, it's alike in many KF stories)...

In the beginning, the movie looks like a dark "cowboy KF movie." OK... hum... why not ?

The first fighting scene between LCL and his son Gordon Liu, as usual in LCL movies is... just perfect ! Fast, imaginative, concise, a good short fight sequence. Super, OK.

A little further, with the next scenes, suddenly I wondered if I had not a strange Alice in Wonderland copy ! Did they make a surprising mistake ? Like if they had burned a part of a complete different film together after the first sequence ?!

It looked to me like if I was in a complete other movie... So I checked out, and no, it seems the movie was a whole one... Incredible !!!

To put it down bluntly, it follows with a stupid comedy part... and then some fighting again... Wow ! What incoherent parts put together...

And so it went on... Some parts are good... and some belong to the low silly comedy.

Still with my respect to LCL, I like him a lot, and Gordon Liu too, but unfortunately, this strange mixture is a big mess...

In fact the only goods things in this movie are their faces and the fights.

Fights like LCL used us, very creative, even if he, LCL, for instance, survives to everything, to remain in the story... (that doesn't bother me!)

But the rest in just a bag of no interest...

Mr Yaguy Tajima's comment put perfectly the finger on the holes of that Drunken Monkey 2002. I agree completely with what he wrote, and advise you to read it (dated 29 November 2005).

But, as I said, I had pleasure to see again LCL and Gordon Liu together, but true, for KF buffs only, and even not sure...

If you like the classical type, like me, please search for Return of the Master Killer (LCL 1980, KF comedy type), or one of my obviously preferred Shaolin Master Killer LCL 1978, more deep.

Not knowing these two, if you liked Drunken Monkey 2002, you just will be enchanted of an incomparable higher level... those two, among many others, show what LCL is able to...

I beg you, Mr LCL, please offer us another one, but not a silly one !!!

Well, let's hope...

8 to 9*** for the fights, say 4 or 5*** for the rest ... 6*** all in all... and definitively not more !

The last traditional kung fu movie i remember is Tai-Chi Boxer from 1996 with Jacky Wu again in that movie. I've been looking forward to seeing more from the bad sighted wushu expert, and here it is a comeback from shaw brothers of all people.

The name was promising for a start drunken monkey. So you immediately think that its gonna be a sort of mix between Lau Kar-Leung's Drunken Master 2 and Mad Monkey Kung fu, although its more the monkey though than the Drunk. Its great to see that Lau can still hold a kung fu fight sequence after around 40 years in the business. Jacky Wu also shows how he has progressed since Tai-Chi Boxer.

The story keeps with the traditional kung fu themes, its great fun to watch and reminds one of what the Hong Kong film industry earned its name from. I really hope Shaw Brothers releases more.

Its the most enjoyable Hong Kong movie i have seen for along time. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys kung fu movies and martial arts in general. If you don't it may not be your cup of tea but you could give it a chance anyway.