Os Sete Grandes Mestres

First of, there are better quality versions on YouTube than what this Eastern Heroes DVD release offers, which is ridiculous. If there was any respect, they would have delivered a much cleaner version rather than this ripped-from-video copy!

The fantastic Joseph Kuo, of who I am a huge fan, directs this incredible kung-fu comedy filled with outstanding fights choreographed by the legendary Corey Yuen Kwai and Yuen Cheung Yan. Of course, this is only made better by the crème-de-la-creme of kung-fu cinema, led by the incredible talent of the Long brothers, who rarely fail to impress.

Having been sent a plaque from the Emperor claiming him the title of World Kung-Fu Champion, master Jack Long embarks on a journey across China to challenge the finest fighters, just to make sure he is worthy of such a title before he retires. There's nothing nasty in what he's doing - he's a modest guy, but when you've got to confirm some thing's, you just have to do whatever it takes...

On his travels with his posse, a young Lee Yi Min latches on hoping that Long will take him as his student so that he may learn kung-fu and take revenge for his fathers murder, leading to a master versus student showdown that became the storyline to Yuen Woo Ping's epic, Legend Of A Fighter, a few years later. Of course, Long's students aren't going to make it easy for Min and tease the life out of him as he tags along regardless. Director Kuo delivers another classic, with 7 Grandmasters offering a decent plot excelled by fantastic fight scenes. While it still carries some humour, mainly when Lee Yi Min is around, 7 Grandmasters doesn't get too silly and sticks to its plotline without losing itself.

Jack Long is just one of the most amazing martial artists ever committed to film. His moves, on-screen presence, and acting are always in top form, as is his brother. Although Jack leads the way, both siblings get to show their stuff many, many times in some greatly choreographed action that comes from two of Hong Kong's finest action directors, with Corey Yuen Kwai himself getting to face off against Jack in one of the films highlight fights.

With minimal training sequences, which is rare for a kung-fu film of this era, the classic 7 Grandmasters is packed with one-to-one battles, leading to an incredible finalebetween Jack Long, Lee Yi Min and Alan Chui, that shines as one of kung-fu cinema's best!

Overall: A well made, kung-fu classic and one of Joseph Kuo's best films...

7 Grandmasters deserves to be a legend of martial arts cinema. Nowhere else, either from this period of cinema or the modern era, have I seen so much variety in fighting styles and such a huge number of quality fight sequences. While the fights may adhere to a '70s fight choreography feel to some extent, they're very fast and fluid, with each fight displaying a unique tone. Monkey style, mantis style, weapon fights, fights between the same styles, an unorthodox fight that will be at home to Jackie Chan fans, and several others. Each style is carefully considered and utilized authentically, not just as a gimmick to add superficial differences to samey choreography. And fortunately the fights are filmed at steady, wide angles with long continuous shots whenever possible to allow the viewer to fully appreciate the action.

The story may seem unusually briskly paced, but this ends up being refreshing after experiencing countless martial arts films with convoluted melodrama, where good martial artists try and fail to act. What story there is explains the motivation for each of the fights without ever holding back the real goal of the movie.

Visually, the film is quite gorgeous, with varied locations and bright, vast environments. The sound effects on the original mandarin audio track utilize wonderful whooshing effects for the fights, as you'd expect.

This is a must-see classic for any fan of martial arts film.

This really defines a blueprint for this kind of movie: 1) Guy with ridiculous facial hair and/or silly hat wonders through the wilderness,happens upon another guy practicing Kung Fu 2) Brief conversation involving a) a particular technique of one of the silly-haired-guys, b) the number of provinces in which the other silly-haired guy is undefeated 3) Fight, preferably involving some kind of animal-style Kung Fu. 4) Repeat as many times as you can squeeze into a couple of hours.

Throw in a grueling training sequence (though this maybe isn't quite grueling enough in this movie), a bit of betrayal (ideally involving someone killing someone else's master), some slapstick comedy, some bad dubbing (this genre is really the only one where dubbing should be allowed) and there you have it - the perfect Kung Fu movie. I defy anyone not to enjoy it.

This movie is so excellent. It has the best kung fu action, and the fights are good and long. The story is actually okay, and the dialogue, while dubbed, is still good. The actors do not speak the typical stupid kung fu movies lines. Watch this.

Joseph Kuo - you may not have heard the name or be as familiar with it or you may be a fan already. Though I would be surprised why you would need to read a review if that were the case. I have to admit, I have my problems with names. As most martial arts fans, I am more than aware of the big names (Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan to mention just a few) and also the Shaw Brothers, who made some crazy movies in their time.

That being said, there were others who made really good movies too and Kuo is one of them. He may be copying a lot of things or you may feel that you have seen certain tropes in other movies, but that is just the way it is. Thankful that certain companies do release the movies I grew up with on Blu Ray - so I was able to watch this one too. It has plenty of action - and while some stunts may feel outdated or aged (especially compared to some recent stuff like what you may have seen from Tony Jaa or Donnie Yen), it still is nice to look at. Especially when it seems that (almost) everyone involved in the fights here, does it for honor and not to kill the opponent.

You have to have a heart for old school kung fu movies - because this is what this is. The pacing and the style may seem uneven at times, but it does work out in the end - no pun intended.