Gekisatsu! Jadô ken

Barely released in Japan Chiba film features Chiba, Sue Shiomi, Tadashita Yamashita, and Bolo Yeung in this dull actioner. Chiba is the lead, but only second bill, as Bolo Yeung (who has little to do) top billed. This is the first non-Japanese film Chiba did, and probably casted because of THE STREET FIGHTER craze. The end sucked, and Chiba looks bored in the film. Played wide in America (especially the one week run in Los Angeles), and disappeared for many years, only to resurface up in video (print on video has spanish optics and is really worn. Couldn't they pay to get a legit copy?).

Sonny Chiba has a reputation as the Japanese alternative to Bruce Lee, but he probably didn't built it on films like "Soul of Bruce Lee"! This is a real hack job, with disastrous continuity and a story that's almost incomprehensible though the part that matters (Chiba seeking revenge for the murder of his kung fu master) is quite simple. Sometimes it's hard to even tell who is who (and even harder to care). The new DVD version is pretty poor as well, with a supposedly "widescreen" print that's still clearly missing a lot of picture information on the sides. Chiba does get the chance to show his skills on several occasions, and also undergoes one of the weirdest training methods ever (receiving electric shocks from a machine to increase the speed of his movements!). Regrettably, Etsuko Shiomi and Bolo Yeung get only ONE fight each. A hard-to-sit-through film, and the presentation takes away even from the fights. (*1/2)

this is my favorite kung fu movie of all time! and i have seen more than a few. it is totally absurd, implausible, and incoherant, but that's what i look for in a great kung fu movie!!! watch for the following scenes: 1.the old woman ramblin on for about 5 straight minutes about "this man is my son" 2.sonny chibas girlfriend taking out two guys with her hair as a weapon 3.ridiculously stupid stunts, too numerous to mention 4.sonny and his sidekick managing to elude several dozen men with automatic weapons, who are running maybe 20 ft behind them! this included the impossible act of making a bow and arrow, using his arm,a piece of string, and a twig! 5.the highlight of the movie, however, is the slow motion fight between sonny chiba, and 5 men who are possesed by monkeys! the matrix stole this fight scene, i swear to god! it is so cool looking, and i keep my copy cued up to this scene! if you love kung fu, MST3K, and monkeys, then seek out this classicly stupid movie! its fun!!

just some lines from the dialogue

the dying master "it was...someone"

chiba asking why did the killer kill his master - "he wasnt holy, he was evil...he dealed drugs...he made drugs"

this movie is hilarious, funnier than 99% of existing comedies. i wonder if they made it on purpose, i cant imagine that this kind of brilliant parody could rise from the 70s. but the actors look and sound so serious when doing all kind of ridicilous and mindless things. this movie makes you think WHAT THE F*** JUST HAPPENED many many times.

i want this on dvd or some format.