Armas Lendárias da China

'Legendary Weapons Of China (1982)' is a little bit confusing at first, with a variety of gang factions all searching for a supposed traitor without actually knowing what he looks like. Because we also don't know who he is, it can be a bit difficult to discern who's who and who's lying about who they really are. It doesn't help that the true intentions of the various searchers aren't made clear until later on in the picture. After a while, though, everything sort of coalesces when the flick gives us some much-needed exposition as to what it's actually about. From then on, it's much easier to follow. Besides, the story itself isn't the main reason that anyone's watching this. That would be the immense fight sequences, of course, and none of them disappoint. The flick puts a lot of focus on three types of supernatural martial arts: magic, spiritual boxing and Maoshan. The first allows the user to conjure up a variety of secret weapons, teleport in balls of smoke and create decoys of themselves at a moment's notice; at its highest levels, it can be used to command others to do one's bidding. The second allows the user to withstand blows from bladed weaponry without so much as a scratch. The third makes use of voodoo-esque techniques to control other people, binding them to dolls which can be manipulated with twisting motions and pressure point manipulations. It's these three techniques that really marks the picture as something distinct from a lot of its peers, and it allows for some distinct choreography that constantly keeps the audience as on their toes as those involved in the battles themselves. Furthermore, the flick makes use of some confined spaces that necessitate further invention in terms of designing the bouts that take place within them. It's really fun to see people fighting in a cramped attic or tight alleyway, making use of their environment to avoid attacks both physical and otherworldly. It's a nice change from the genre's tendency to have its bouts take place in wide open arenas. Having said that, there are plenty of action scenes that take place in said spaces. They aren't any worse off for this, even if they are more traditional, mostly because their choreography is consistently phenomenal and their formal execution is consistently accomplished. That's what you'd expect from director Chia-Liang Liu, of course, but he cements his position as one of the greatest action directors of all time with each new film of his I see. Plus, he gets to really shine in front of the camera this time. Although he has cameos in a lot of his films, he's arguably the protagonist of this one and a lot of the set-pieces are focused almost entirely on him. The final duel is jaw-droppingly good, an intense one-on-one that makes use of 13 of the 18 eponymous legendary weapons (5 are used in an earlier sequence) and is reinvigorated each time the characters adopt a new fighting tool. It's fast-paced, exciting and unbelievably impressive. The same can be said of another stand-out set-piece, a hand-to-hand bout that features Gordon Liu in a rare villainous role and features some choreography I've never seen before (Liu makes use of his shoulder blades to fight facing backwards!). The third notable conflict occurs just after a hugely entertaining sequence of a charlatan conspiring with his gang to convince an entire town he's a famous Kung fu fighter, which sees the same conman unwittingly take on an opponent while he's under the influence of Maoshan folk magic. It's a genuinely funny scene that makes excellent use of slapstick comedy in combination with impressive athleticism, with Alexander Fu Sheng being tossed around like a ragdoll so convincingly you forget it's actually him doing all the flipping. The humour is present in a number of other scenes, too, which keeps things feeling suitably lighthearted even when people are fighting for their lives. Ultimately, although the plot is a little confusing to start with (and takes a while to properly get going), movie is a ton of fun when it's fully underway. The experience is a bit uneven, but - more often than not - it fires on all cylinders and its Kung fu is absolutely spectacular. It's a blast.

I think watching Shaw Brothers movies is a bit like doing martial arts; if you go a while without practice, you lose the progress and skills you built up. I went on a binge of the studio's movies early last year, then went away for a bit, and now I'm back, feeling out of shape and out of breath trying to keep up with Legendary Weapons of China.

It could be partly or wholly on me, but I'm also open to the idea that this one might just be a bit much. It throws many characters and concepts (voodoo, invulnerable warriors, mistaken identities, disguises, magic, etc) at you so quickly; I was confused from the start and just got more confused as I went on.

Now, a confusing plot hasn't got in the way of me really enjoying martial arts movies before, but I was also confused during various fight scenes in Legendary Weapons of China. It's hard to get a handle on how some of the fantasy elements work, and who has the power to do what, and with the usual fast pacing and feeling that everything is slightly sped up (not just in the fight scenes either, unusually; I think that added to the confusion for me), I couldn't keep up.

Now, if that's on me (and I'm sure at least some of it is), I can't call this terrible. There is at least the ability to admire its ambition and unique qualities, even if those things did make me lose track of the things I'd usually enjoy. And the final fight scene did redeem things in my eyes a little. It downplays the crazy magic stuff to mostly just be a one-on-one fight that goes on for a while and involves many different weapons, and it was easily the most impressive sequence from a stunt/choreography perspective.

This is the kind of film where anyone who can keep up is likely to have a blast, but for whatever reason, tonight, it was just a little too much too fast for me personally. Gotta get back to my Shaw Brothers training regime, maybe...

The earlier comments give an unfair slating to what is an enjoyable film.The gaffes are obvious , (in such films as this the 1st class director Liu Chia Liang, was redefining the kung fu film , after the earlier swordplay flicks, and bruce lee's seminal movies, this film is set in late Ching dynasty China.) This is a film of rare quality , combining humour , a reasonable plot and some displays of great martial artistry, such as are no longer found in but a handful of films. The choreography is excellent, (only Sammo Hung at his best approaches Liu 's ability to film a fight with loving care for displaying technique)This film also benefits from the presence of the charismatic Fu Sheng and the Multi talented Hui Ying Hung. The special effects are cheap , but cheerful.(the previous reviewer seems to have missed that the purpose of all the bladed cloaks etc. was to show that tricks are no substitute for skill, skill no defence against bullets ... A classic of Kung Fu cinema

The Yi Ho Society wrongly think that their magic and pugilism skills will protect them from any weapon, including the guns used by the West. Lei Kung (Chia-Liang Liu) realises that this belief will only result in senseless bloodshed and attempts to dissolve the society to save lives. In doing so, he is branded a traitor and is hunted by several of Yi Ho's best fighters.

I love weapons work in kung fu films and Legendary Weapons of China naturally features lots of it, mostly in the second half; unfortunately, the movie also has rather a lot of comedy (in the first half), something that I always struggle with in kung fu films, making the film as a whole something of a mixed bag for me: desperately unfunny nonsense for the best part of an hour, but ending on a high with plenty of crazy fight action employing the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts: rope dart, double tiger hook swords, double hammers, battle axe, snake halberd, kwan dao, twin broadswords, double-edged sword, Chinese spear, three-section chain whip, double daggers, double crutches, monk's spade, staff, tiger fork, rattan shield, single butterfly sword and three-section staff.

Also adding to the fun are the film's sillier weapons, including booby trapped capes and explosive darts, and some really daft moments, best bits being a bonkers fight in the rain and the unforgettable sight of two warriors mutilating themselves, the first poking his own eyes out and the other ripping his goolies off!

5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb-not the classic of the genre that I had expected, but entertaining enough.

Anyone who has reviewed this movie and stated the plot is stupid has no knowledge of 19th century China. In fact during the Boxer Rebellion these "Boxers" believed through rituals they could make themselves impervious to firearms. No I am not making this up and neither did Chia-Liang Liu and while he exaggerated and had fun with it for comedic values he was making an historical notation. The Martial Arts in this movie are exceptional and so is the outrageous humor instilled in this movie. Not only did he poke fun at the Boxers but also many of the Martial Arts movies of the 1970s that went a little overboard with the magical Kung Fu element. And all in the same breath showed the usage of almost every weapon used in Chinese Martial Arts. The talent in this movie speaks for itself aside from Liu and his brothers there is Fu Sheng, Hou Hsiao and the sweet Kara Hui. They don't make Martial Arts movies this original or good anymore either with all the Ip Man clones and CGI epics not even close. All I can say is Chia-Liang Liu you are sorely missed.... And the point is no amount of skill will help you dodge a bullet!