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After falling out with director Chang Cheh as his exclusive action choreographer for many years at Shaw Brothers Studio, Lau Kar Leung switched to directing films. In 1978, he directed three films for Shaw, “The 36th Chamber of Shaolin” and “Heroes of the East” , both starring Gordon Liu. “Shaolin Mantis” starring David Chiang in the lead was his third, with a welcoming cameo by Liu.

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Set during the Qing Dynasty, a gifted young scholar and martial arts expert, Wai Fung (David Chiang) works as a spy for the Emperor. The Court suspects that members of the Tien family are collaborating with the Ming rebels to overthrow the Qing. Therefore Wai has to infiltrate the Tien family to study their movements and report back within a year. Also, the Emperor will execute his whole family if he fails to return.

Upon arriving at the Tien mansion,...

Considering the iconic status of Enter the Dragon, it's not easy to find a suitable follow-up that doesn't involve Bruce Lee, but Heroes of the East is one film that can fill that void. Easily the most famous of the five movies that Bruce Lee starred in, Enter the Dragon is credited with helping shape the martial arts genre into what it is today. Its decision to follow three fighters of different backgrounds helped provide the setup for one of the greatest martial arts tournament movies ever made, if not the best kung fu film of all time.

Another film that explores that particular martial arts subgenre is Heroes of the East, a lesser-known release from 1978. Heroes of the East was made by Shaw Brothers, the biggest kung fu movie studio in Hong Kong as well as the main rival of Golden Harvest, the company behind all of Bruce Lee's movies.

Mubi has unveiled their December 2023 lineup, featuring notable new releases such as Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents, Argentina’s Oscar this year; the Lily Gladstone-led drama The Unknown Country; Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts; and the José González documentary A Tiger in Paradise. Additional highlights include films from Olivier Assayas, Takeshi Kitano, Jean-Luc Godard, Kelly Reichardt, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, the Shaw Browers, Lars von Trier, Arnaud Desplechin, and more.

Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.

December 1st

The House that Jack Built, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier

Breaking the Waves, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier

The Element of Crime, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier

Europa, directed by Lars von Trier | Chaos Reigns: The Films of Lars von Trier

Epidemic, directed...

This Saturday, 36 Cinema is relaunching with a screening of the 1978 martial arts masterpiece “Heroes of the East”, with live commentary by the RZA! This poster was specially made to honor the film and our one-of-a-kind live event. Artwork by Robert P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien

Heroes of the East (aka Shaolin Challenges Ninja) (1978) Gordon Liu stars as a Chinese kung fu student who weds a Japanese woman (Yuka Mizuno) who turns out to be a martial artist as well. When he accidentally insults her family, he’s forced to duel seven Japanese martial arts masters, who each specialize in a different style, to prove how good his kung fu really is. Directed by the great Lau Kar Leung (36th Chamber of Shaolin), this Shaw Brothers classic is one of the greatest kung fu movies of all time!

Live commentary provided by RZA and Dan Halsted. Viewers will be able...

RZA dusts off his Bobby Digital persona for the first time in 13 years for his new song “Pugilism,” the first single from the producer/rapper’s upcoming new album Bobby Digital: Digital Potions.

“Pugilism” — which according to previous RZA interviews dates back to his long-shelved (and reportedly still-in-the-works) album The Cure — continues the Wu-Tang mastermind’s long history of fusing samples from kung-fu movies into his music, and the lyrics are similarly inspired by his beloved martial arts films.

“All that poison in the air/I’m immune to it,...

There is a certain irony in how modern day productions can date faster than those set in an earlier period. Fashions and styles change like the seasons so that which was once deemed the height of sophistication looks quaint in retrospect. “The Angry Guest” (A title that does sound like a reality TV show) is a classic example. With shirts so loud you practically need to wear sunglasses, it is very much a product of its time. Whilst time may have dated its style, the question is, does it still entertain?

The sequel to “Duel of Fists” opens with a prologue catching up with the events of the first film. After the villain of the original escapes, Wen Lieh (Ti Lung) and Fang Ko (David Chiang) find themselves involved in a conflict with a Japanese criminal outfit that seek to recruit their talents. After rescuing Wen Lieh...

Craig Lines Feb 9, 2017

Cynthia Rothrock, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and more feature, as we salute the female stars of martial arts movies...

It’s arguably a rare sight when female characters lead a major genre film, and last year’s online Ghostbusters drama proves it’s still, depressingly, a controversial choice if they do. Too often, female characters are reduced to sidekicks, damsels, sex objects and caricatures. It sometimes feels like every day there’s a new statistic about women being under-represented in Hollywood and while, to some extent, things are looking brighter and more diverse by the day, it’s an uphill struggle. Still, as we wait for Hollywood to get its act together, I thought I’d celebrate a genre where awesome, strong, multi-faceted female characters have led casts as a regular occurrence for decades - martial arts!

See related Netflix's Stranger Things: Shawn Levy interview Netflix's...

When it comes to making features like this one, i love the idea of coming up with my own personal “100 Great Kung Fu Movies” of all time. It is tough choosing just 100 because you know there are many more great Kung Fu movies that are not on the list.

I understand everyone will have their own personal favorites and some may not agree with my list and that’s fine because it’s nice to have different opinions on this genre which keeps it fresh and alive when having good debates.

Anyway, thank you for taking time to have a look at my 100 Great Kung Fu movie list and feel free to add any movies in the comment box if they don’t make my list (I have probably forgotten many movies).

Number 1 is based on the choreography and overall movie which to me is a prime example of of...

Hey, New York! You lot are in for a treat this coming weekend with Subway Cinema's Old School Kung Fu Fest hitting the Anthology Film Archives April 18 - 20! Pedicab Driver! 36th Chamber of Shaolin! Canton Viper! Challenge Of The Masters! Dirty Ho! Heroes Of The East! Legendary Weapons Of China! Master of The Flying Guillotine! And an as-yet-unnamed secret screening, all up on the big screen! Check the official website for all the details and to order tickets and check out the official trailer below!...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Like millions of you around the world, i love Kung Fu movies. It is the only real genre that keeps me going back for more and that is why i will always love Kung Fu movies.

I know many of you have probably seen many of the movies i will post about, but this is also for anyone new to the genre of Kung Fu and even Swordplay and looking for other movies to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the movies i have listed and please feel free to comment about any of the movies.

Crippled Avengers (1978)

Studio: Shaw Brothers

Director: Chang Cheh

Cast: The Vemons, Chen Kuan Tai, Johnny Wang, Dick Wei

Action Director(s): Lu Feng, Robert Tai, Chiang Sheng

Five Elements Ninjas (1982)

Studio: Shaw Brothers

Director: Chang Cheh

Cast: Ricky Cheng, Lo Meng, Chan Wai Man, Wong Wai Tong

Action Director(s): Ricky Cheng Tien Chi,...

There was indeed a movie planned for this week’s Shaw Brothers column, but in light of the recent sad news regarding Sir Run Run Shaw’s passing, a more tasteful move here is to dedicate this space to the man with a few words about what he meant to fans, kung fu, and film.

There is a plethora of sources to read about Run Run Shaw’s life (his Chinese name is actually Shao Renleng), especially in recent days as most cultural media journalists provided the requisite plot points to the man’s life story (and his rarely mentioned contribution to 1982′s Blade Runner) in the wake of his death. Today’s column shall therefore sidestep the obvious route, preferring to consider his legacy, what it means and how he went about building it sky high.

Like the great Hollywood studio producers such as Jack Warner, Run Run Shaw...

Reviewed as part of the 27th Leeds International Film Festival (6-21 Nov, 2013)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Dir: Takanori Tsujimoto, 2013

Weary samurai Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga) has returned from his year-long pilgrimage, having travelled across Japan and fought against seven formidable foes. Now, kneeling before his sensei Gensai (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi), he relates the challenges through flashback, with each of his enemies representing a different martial art and, crucially, a telltale dish. Toramaru begins every account with a description of his preparatory meal, with Gensai excitedly trying to piece together the clues like a culinary Clouseau. Welcome to the Cosmic Way, where honour and enlightenment can be achieved through one sacred tenet: know your opponent through what he eats.

It may be a gimmick, but then the martial arts/cuisine comedy crossover is hardly a crowded field. Although the film’s low budget is plain to see, such financial restraints have doubtless forced...

Bushido Man

Written by Takanori Tsujimoto

Directed by Takanori Tsujimoto

Japan, 2013

Ingenuity can go a long way in filmmaking. It is one thing to have a large budget and get creative, it is an altogether different matter to be forced into creative thinking and film techniques because a team of creative minds have no serious budget to speak of. Perhaps it is in those instances that the fruit born out of the efforts of filmmakers shines brightest. When one has no money to spend freely, one must think a bit outside the box after all. Enter Bushido Man, which had its North Ameican premier at the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival, a movie displaying a feverish amount of exuberance.

It is after a long and arduous journey of personal discovery that Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga) returns to the Cosmic Way school of martial arts. His master (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi) is especially pleased to see...

With the passing of Lau Kar-leung (the common Cantonese spelling, he was also often credited in Mandarin as Liu Chia-liang), one of the great chapters of Hong Kong cinema comes to a close. Justly famous as martial arts choreographer and action director for many kung fu and wu xia films—the last was Tsui Hark's Seven Swords (2005), in which he also acted—Lau was also one of the outstanding filmmakers of Hong Kong cinema. His most important period was during the final heyday of Shaw Brothers, Asia's biggest studio: In the late 70s and early 80s, before Shaw Bros. closed their doors, Lau proved himself the biggest proponent of the martial arts tradition in Hong Kong cinema, as well as its chief modernizing force, hiding sublime layers beneath ultra-robust exterior appearance. (Fittingly, in 2003 he also directed the studio's comeback movie, more or less coinciding with the inauguration of belated...

Time to shake things up a bit for the Shaw Brothers Saturday column. In addition to offering readers another review this week (The Mighty One), the column feels like it has run long enough and witnessed enough bloodshed to take a step back and reminisce on some of the more fondly remembered films reviewed since December 2011.

As such, in this special bonus edition of Shaw Brothers Saturday, readers will find a special top 5 list of the author’s favourite films with a some brief thoughts on each as well as links provided to direct readers towards the full length reviews. Before revealing the list, a few pertinent notes need be shared so that seasoned fans of the studio’s output are not dumbfounded by the omission of some obvious choices.

First, at the risk disappointing some, 36th Chamber of Shaolin is frequently included in top 5s and top 10s to...

The Man with the Iron Fists

Directed by RZA

Written by RZA and Eli Roth

U.S.A., 2012

The RZA’s directorial debut, The Man with the Iron Fists, is not a Shaw Brothers picture. It was released by Universal Studios, although its inclusion in the column feels right for reasons that shall be discussed in the review below, reasons which should also appear as evident for anyone who has seen the film. The RZA is certainly not a name one would immediately associate with potential first time directors, regardless of genre. However, his association with the classic martial arts films from the 60, 70s and 80s, most notably those which the Shaw Brothers studio churned out like hot cakes, goes back to his childhood, when he would venture to the nearest cinema on the 47th street in New York that would frequently give them some play. It was love at...

This is a run down of my Top 40 kung fu movies of the 1970′s. There were so many great films in this era, i just hope i do this list some justice. The movies chosen are just my personal choice, i understand others might have different views.

Any of the movies that make the Top 40 list must have something special to make it in the first place. So i hope you enjoy my Top 40 Kung Fu movies and some of your favorite movies are in there also.

Here it is, my top 10 kung fu movies of the 70′s. I have really enjoyed putting this list together and whatever ends up as number 1 will also count to the impact that movie as had all over the world since it was released.

10.Disciples Of Shaolin (1975)

Starring: Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Fung Hak On, Kong Do

Fu Sheng stars as Kuan Feng-yi,...

5.Corey Yuen

Other names: 元奎

Yuan Kui

Yuan2 Kui1

Cory Yuen

Don Yuen

Yuen Fooi

Nationality: Hong Kong

Workplace: France, Hong Kong, USA

Cory Yuen as been choreographing movies since 1973, is first movie was Chinese Hercules, starring Bolo Yeung. He was a member of the Peking Opera Schools and one of the Seven Little Fortunes. In July 1981, Yuen made his Hong Kong directorial debut in 1982 film Ninja in the Dragon’s Den, along with Hiroyuki Sanada, Conan Lee and Hwang Jang Lee. In June 1985, Yuen made his American directorial debut in 1986 film No Retreat, No Surrender, which marked the film debut of Belgium martial artist actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.

n 1993, he began an alliance and good friendship with action star Jet Li. He directed several of Li’s films, beginning with Fong Sai-yuk and Fong Sai-yuk II, and continuing through The Bodyguard from Beijing, The New Legend of Shaolin and My Father Is a Hero,...

Executioners Fom Shaolin

Directed by Liu Chia-Liang

Written by Ni Kuang

Hong Kong, 1976

The Shaw Brothers column is back after practically a one month absence! To get back on track in style, this week we take a look at a slightly earlier effort from one of the all-time greats, Liu Chia-liang, who is most fondly remembered for bringing fans The 36th Chamber of the Shaolin and Heroes of the East. Both of those iconic films were released in 1978, but just a couple of years prior he made Executioners from Shaolin. This is, in truth, the sequel to a Chang Cheh film from 1974, Men From the Monastery, which depicted the assault of the Shaolin temple by one of its own elders, Bai Mei (here played by Lo Lieh), who conspired with the Manchus. Both films are loosely based on historical events.

The film opens up with a very interesting scene in...

Not long ago, Sound on Sight’s editor Ricky D emailed myself and fellow contributor Michael Ryan for the purpose of compiling some of our individual favourite martial arts pictures to celebrate The Raid‘s theatrical release across North American this Easter weekend. I would never consider myself to be a scholar of the genre, but it is true that I do tend to go back to martial arts films on a consistent basis when I have I craving for high-octane action. I think it has to do with the fact that what the performers pull off actually can be done if one practices long and hard enough. You can round-house kick someone in the face or brutally beat up a group of thugs with nunchucks but you could never levitate off the ground on bend metal with your mind, fun as it may be to watch movies in which characters perform those acts.

Heroes of the East

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

Written by Kuang Ni

Hong Kong, 1978

Marriage. There is really nothing like it. The love which binds two people together so strongly can emanate from any number of things, such as common interests, even in the smallest of things. It is interesting how some marriages and various other relationships can come undone by matters one least suspects. Pride, for one, can be a mighty big killer, especially if one has too much to swallow and thus must abide by it. Such is the dilemma facing the central couple in Lau Kar-Leung’s 1978 classic film, Heroes of the East, who not only come together because of their shared love for martial arts, but eventually grow apart due to their respective adherence to the disciplines they know best, which, in the case of the historical China-Japan rivalry, can be a tremendous matter of national pride,...

The Flying Guillotine

Directed by Ho Meng-hua

Hong Kong, 1975

Despite all the genuine thrills Shaw Brothers films can produce, it is quite apparent that the studio always had half a foot planted firmly in ‘camp.’ Oftentimes, specific elements elevate the movies from being farcical. Mesmerizing action and a charming ensemble cast, such as in The Crippled Avengers, perhaps a unique central figure accompanied by interesting themes like in 36th Chamber of the Shaolin, or even a uniquely special representation of martial arts culture, of which Heroes of the East is a prime example. As is the case with most rules, there are exceptions, The Flying Guillotine unfortunately being one of them.

Guillotine transports viewers back to a fictionalized version of the era of the Ching Dynasty, a time when Emperor Ying Cheng (Yanng Chiang) holds the country in his evil grasp. The emperor lives by remarkably generous definitions of the...