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IMDbPro

Les 18 armes légendaires du Kung Fu

Original title: Shi ba ban wu yi
  • 1982
  • R
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Sheng Fu, Hou Hsiao, Kara Ying Hung Wai, Chia-Hui Liu, Liu Chia-Yung, and Chia-Liang Liu in Les 18 armes légendaires du Kung Fu (1982)
Official Clip
Play clip2:16
Watch Legendary Weapons of China
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78 Photos
ActionComedyDramaFantasyHorror

A band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.A band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.A band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.

  • Director
    • Chia-Liang Liu
  • Writers
    • Tai-Heng Li
    • Chia-Liang Liu
  • Stars
    • Chia-Liang Liu
    • Liu Chia-Yung
    • Kara Ying Hung Wai
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chia-Liang Liu
    • Writers
      • Tai-Heng Li
      • Chia-Liang Liu
    • Stars
      • Chia-Liang Liu
      • Liu Chia-Yung
      • Kara Ying Hung Wai
    • 23User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Legendary Weapons of China
    Clip 2:16
    Legendary Weapons of China

    Photos78

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    Top cast33

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    Chia-Liang Liu
    Chia-Liang Liu
    • Lei Kung
    Liu Chia-Yung
    Liu Chia-Yung
    • Lei Ying
    • (as Chia-Yung Liu)
    Kara Ying Hung Wai
    Kara Ying Hung Wai
    • Fang Shao-Ching
    • (as Kara Hui)
    Hou Hsiao
    • Tieh A-hou
    Sheng Fu
    Sheng Fu
    • Charlatan Wu (Guest star)
    Tiet Wo Chu
    Tiet Wo Chu
    Kwok-Keung Chan
    Yung Chan
    Kuo Hua Chang
    Kuo Hua Chang
    Ming-Wei Chen
    Chok-Chow Cheung
    Chok-Chow Cheung
    Tien-Chu Chin
    Tien-Chu Chin
    Ming Fung
    Ming Fung
    Chi-Chang Ho
    King-Chu Lee
    King-Chu Lee
    Ta Lei
    Ta Lei
    Hsin Liang
    Hsueh-Ming Liao
    • Director
      • Chia-Liang Liu
    • Writers
      • Tai-Heng Li
      • Chia-Liang Liu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    6.81.9K
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    Featured reviews

    8Pjtaylor-96-138044

    Magic vs metal.

    '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.
    10bickeler

    Classic Must see

    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!
    6BA_Harrison

    More weapons than you can shake a staff at.

    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.
    $TEVE McD

    Thank God Bruce Lee brought kung fu flicks down to earth!

    A fairly ridiculous martial arts movie.I don't know if you would even call it martial arts as the fighting consists of a lot of special effects eg-leaping up and clinging to a ceiling,but most of the fight scenes are just preposterous,like blades being shot out of someone's back,limbs being cut off and blades coming out of them and guys that can make explosions by just pointing at things.The dialogue is laughable,with lines like"You're really crappy!!"which sounds like a funny thing to say in ancient Japan.It is clearly meant to be a comedy with lots of Monkey Magic-esque gags,which fall completely flat.

    This could have been a great movie if it was treated more seriously,as the filmakers had some great costumes,sets and especially actors,but the end result is complete boredom
    avarus-1

    A good kungfu movie if you can get past some details...

    This is a great kung fu movie once you get the opening done with. The storyline is fairly confusing in the beginning, but that passes with time. The fight scenes are neat to watch, but they get exponentially better as time goes on. The fight with Gordon Liu (36th Chamber) is good and the final fight WAS FANTASTIC! This isn't a movie to sit down and watch for the stimulation. The character development isn't as good as FIVE VENOMS, or SWORDSMAN II, but it's fair. The weapons fighting is just unbelievable in the last fight scene. All in all, if you are a fan of kung-fu movies, get around to checking this one out. The three-section-staff work is even better than in 36th Chamber.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Chia-Liang Liu: [martial arts demonstration] Opening credits show a demonstration of martial arts against an empty backdrop.
    • Alternate versions
      The 1987 UK video suffered extensive cuts of over 5 minutes and lost all footage of Japanese throwing stars and nunchaku used in the fight scenes.
    • Connections
      Featured in Les hommes de main (2001)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 21, 1982 (Hong Kong)
    • Country of origin
      • Hong Kong
    • Languages
      • Cantonese
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Legendary Weapons of China
    • Production company
      • Shaw Brothers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 49m(109 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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