Heróis do Oriente

If you've ever enjoyed the classic Kung-fu films of the 70's, I'm sure you remember The 5 Deadly Venoms, Master Killer, 10 Dragons from Canton, etc, etc... But this classic is almost always overlooked for the simple reason that it wasn't aired too many times in the states. And this title is impossible to find on VHS, DVD, LD or any other medium. But if you ever have the chance, see this movie!!! This movie is as good as it gets when it comes to showing off the difference between Chinese Kung-fu and various Japanese techniques. And this movie is very humorous at the same time.

You see, as the Japanese challenger comes one by one to duel, the wife of our star tells him of the exact style of fighting that the challenger will use (i.e. sword, spear, throwing stars, Ninjitsu etc...) . It is upto our hero (Gordon Liu of Master Killer) to counter each particular Japanese style with a similar Chinese technique. Chinese sword vs Japanese sword, Chinese spear vs Japanese spear. You get the idea. Now bearing in mind that this movie is Chinese made, of course the Chinese techniques prove to be superior. But really the best part of the movie is seeing how each weapon and techniques match up against each other.

And look at the ratings the people who have seen this movie gave. Check it out.

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!

Heroes Of The East aka Shaolin Challenges Ninja is one of many collaborations between actor Gordon Liu and director Lau Kar Leung brought to us by the legendary Shaw Bros. Studios. Gordon Liu has an arranged marriage with a woman from Japan. His wife is an expert of various Japanese fighting styles and each party is of the viewpoint that their style is better than the other. Their various sparring matches cause serious tension in their marriage as well as destroy much of the house. Gordon Liu is, of course an awesome exponent of Chinese kung fu. His wife takes off to Japan and in an effort to get his wife back, slams the Japanese martial arts and challenges her to a competition. His wife's martial arts instructor/love interest grabs the letter from her and does not appreciate the letter's content. Next thing you know Yasuaki Karata and a bunch of Japanese dudes show up at Gordon Liu's pad and challenge him to a tournament. Gordon Liu accepts and fights each representative of various Japanese fighting styles. What separates Heroes Of The East from various other Chinese vs Japanese productions is that it respects both cultures and their fighting styles as well. There are lots of great fights to be had here and both Gordon Liu and Yasuaki Kurata are in top form. Heroes Of The East is indeed a solid martial arts film but it is nowhere near as essential as Lau Kar Leung/Gordon Liu's kung fu masterwork The 36 Chambers Of Shaolin aka Master Killer. Heroes Of The East still resonates and is an enjoyable, fast paced and cohesive martial arts film that is memorable and far above average.

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