La guillotine volante

Slightly underrated, I don't think that the influence of this movie is overlooked, but its IMDb rating certainly is. I think that this movie is overshadowed by its successor, Master of the Flying Guillotine, which indeed contained more fight sequences.

However, The Flying Guillotine is a martial arts movie that concentrates on his plot and is aware of his weaknesses.

Is an exceptionally strong plot for a 1970s Hong Kong movie, can engage the viewer with a wonderful camera angle of rooftop instead of using endless fight sequences, many scenes were shot in a realistic natural environment and some cool transition brought up by important objects.

I also have praise to give to the sound effect of "The Flying Guillotine", it's sound is well used to build tension and fear, because you know that something is happening. Unconsciously, as a viewer, I was always trying to estimate the proximity of the danger, which is fascinating.

I like kung-fu films starring Chen Kuan Tai, but this one is special even for him. In my opinion, this is the baddest kung-fu movie ever made because of the weapon that's used and how its victims dies one after another under its nefarious power. This first and (imo) best of the Flying Guillotine sagas, has actual plot and a story for a change, and good acting and quality cinematography.

The idea is shocking, and the way its ruthlessly used is even more so, but that's what makes this film extra special good. Basically, 12 assassin ninjas who are trained to use the flying guillotine goes out killing unsuspecting victims one by one from a distance they never suspect attacks to come from. And of course all the people standing around them pee in their pants to see the head get sliced off their body.

Along with Executioner from Shaolin, this is one of the best movie Chen Kuan Tai starred in, and one of the best kung-fu action movie made in the '70s.

Watch this along with its equally high quality sequel - Flying Guillotines II (1978) where it picks up where this story left off.

Highly recommended.

It's baffling to me that this film is put within the same circle as The One-Armed Boxer and its sequel, Master of the Flying Guillotine (which ironically came out a year after this film), when this film couldn't be anymore unlike One-Armed Boxer. Worse yet is that the latter film seems to have a higher average rating than The Flying Guillotine, which is befuddling. Why? Because the films are leagues apart in terms of quality.

One-Armed Boxer is a sometimes gory, non-stop action fight-fest with ridiculous over-the-top characters and scenarios, sporting equally ridiculous fight scenes. The Flying Guillotine is actually a far more grounded film with more realized, three-dimensional characters who each have their own motivations. The world they inhabit is fully realized and it's hard not to understand the plight they're in given their situation (and their family's situation).

Because The Flying Guillotine has a more realistic portrayal of soldiers and their place in the hierarchy of an imperial monarchy, they aren't larger-than-life heroes, but rather average guys with specialized training in mastering the custom-made flying guillotine, which is really quite the device.

The film follows various characters, most of whom are part of the 12 selected soldiers hand-picked to train using the flying guillotine. A decent portion of the film is dedicated to the complexity and learning curve surrounding mastering the weapon. It's not like Kung Lao's razor-bladed hat from Mortal Kombat that just slices through everything, bounces off of objects like Captain America's shield and then magically returns to the thrower. No, instead the device is controlled by a chain. When thrown the device -- which does look like a hat -- lands on its target where a veil drops down; at the bottom of the veil is a chakram, which usually is neck length with the victim. Within the chakram are razor blades. When the chain is pulled the retracted blades then protract, cutting through whatever is inside the chakram's radius, and if it happens to be someone's neck, then their head goes flying in a spectacular decapitation.

There aren't a whole lot of fights in the film, and the ones that do take place aren't very long, because... well, the flying guillotine usually makes quick work of whoever is unlucky enough to get hit by it. This actually adds a lot of weight to the film. Once you see that guillotine come out, you can be guaranteed someone will lose their head!

With lots of treachery, backstabbing, paranoia, and constant fear running rampant through the people who reside in the land (and especially those closest to the emperor), it gives the film this unnerving tension. The characters all know that they may not be long for the world, and the film reminds you constantly of how dangerous their lives are. It's a film that doesn't shy away from the fact that every action comes with hefty consequences. It also lightly touches on (rather critically) how perilous it is to live under a tyrannical emperor. I was a bit taken aback that the film would portray a Chinese ruler in such a negative light (without making him comically evil or monstrously villainous).

The flying guillotine itself may be something of a sci-fi element to the film, but everything else about the film is extremely grounded. In fact, if it were remade today by a competent writer/director and matched with compelling performances by a dedicated cast, it could easily end up being an award-winning film, and that's no joke nor an exaggeration. Interestingly enough, I doubt most kung-fu (or wuxia, if you want to be pedantic) aficionados will take to this film as much as K-drama enthusiasts. Why? Because it's a lot more moody, morally gray, and light on the actual hand-to-hand technique to appeal to some traditional martial arts fans.

However, if you wanted to see a compelling film about living life under the constant threat of death by a paranoid and power-hungry ruler, and enjoy some devilishly inventive uses of the flying guillotine along the way with gripping action sequences where every move (and counter) means something, then The Flying Guillotine is well worth a watch. Very highly recommended.

Another Shaw brothers classic! I would highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys this genre.

A paranoid emperor has 12 assassins trained in the use of a new weapon - the flying guillotine, which can take a guy's head off at 100 paces. The weapon is pretty cheesy actually, but in a good way if you like these old Shaw Bros flicks.

The main appeal of this film is that it is plot driven with a good story line, touching on concepts of morality and when to question loyalty.

However, the kung fu is a bit sparse and we don't really see much martial arts until probably 40 minutes in.

Worth watching though, better plot than most of these 70's kung fu flicks even if it isn't exactly packed with kung fu action.