Po jie da shi

WARRIOR FROM SHAOLIN is a Gordon Liu-starring kung fu film with a more updated setting than usual: it's the early to mid 20th century, and Liu plays a Buddhist monk whose temple is attacked by the invading Japanese army. He fights back but is forced to flee by the overwhelming forces, taking refuge in a quiet village where he gains a couple of apprentices and tries to lead a quiet life.

Of course, the various traitorous foes of the film have other ideas, which is where the action comes in. It's certainly well-shot with a wealth of talent behind and in front of the cameras, although it's just shy of becoming a memorable classic; the low budget hurts the production a bit. What I found amusing was that despite the updated setting, this is a film that could easily have been set a century before. The mid part of the film is of the usual provincial humour variety, with much of the running time given over to the hijinks of the comic apprentices.

Kung fu fans will find some elements to enjoy here, not least a performance from the youthful Eric Tsang, who has some good comedy fight scenes. His Bruce Lee impression has to be seen to be believed. Watch out for torture on a water wheel, brief use of the famous Wong Fei Hong theme, and random cutting from broad comedy to brutal violence. Liu makes a strong and steadfast central presence playing his typecast role, and Lily Li has a rare turn as one of the villains. My favourite moment is the random interlude involving hopping vampires that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the movie.

A movie crying out to be seen in its original language (and widescreen), Carry on Wise Guy is a relatively straightforward and sometimes painfully unfunny martial arts adventure featuring Gordon Liu, one where whenever he's not onscreen becomes borderline intolerable. Even in the cropped and super crummy VHS-level transfer this movie has, you can tell that the choreography of the fight scenes goes hard, the major saving grace of this otherwise relatively low-budget comedy. Unfortunately, the plot is super generic, where things happen with no rhyme or reason. One minute it is a jiangshi horror comedy scored with Walter Murphy's A Fifth of Beethoven, the next minute it's a serious foot-flying adventure to deliver a map of Japanese movements to Chinese troops. Sadly, the disingenuous dub isn't doing this movie any favours, (I swear one of the voice actors was Eric Idle of all people, sounding like he does in Casper 😭) and as it stands, Carry on Wise Guy is worth a fleeting look mainly for Liu kicking arse.

This is an independently-produced kung fu film made in 1984 by the Lau Brothers: Liu Chia-liang, Liu Chia-hui, and Liu Chia-yung. Liu Chia-hui(a.k.a. Gordon Liu) portrays a Buddhist monk who abandons his post at a Buddhist temple when the temple is attacked by Japanese troops during World War II. After he leaves the temple, he takes on two misfit apprentices portrayed by Eric Tsang and Liu Chia-yung. Together, they battle two villians, one portrayed by the talented, but underappreciated Li Li-li. Some scenes are incoherent such as the scene with the hopping Chinese vampires who have nothing to with the film and do not reappear later on. Most of the violence is bloody and the mood of the film changes from Cantonese comedy to gritty bloodshed. Still, the excellent fight choreography is very much in the Lau brothers fashion. It's enjoyable, but not really memorable.

It opens to a night scene, pursuit, a man is shot but escapes. He is helped by the monks and Gordon. He asks them for help because he carries a map showing the location of the attacking Japanese forces. After a fight involving guns, Gordon and group are off to deliver the map. Gordon ends up depending on Lau Kar-Wing and Eric Tsang and they are only in it for the money. They can't beat Gordon in a fight so they resort to their wits (also not a strength). Their plan involved hopping vampires.

There is an abrupt cut from the vampires at night to a daylight fight outside a restaurant. It is so abrupt I think there might be a few minutes of this movie missing. The scene is about a dinner invitation. Next all the heavies gather around a dinner table with their girls. They are dividing up territory. One of the Lau brothers and Lily Li are now in charge of finding Gordon and the map. (I can't tell the brothers apart except for the mole over the right eye of Lau Kar-Leung.) Gordon and the guys hide out with a family.

Guns are part of the time setting of this movie. I dislike when guns are involved in a martial arts movie. There are few believable ways to eliminate the gun in a fight scene so every fight must begin that way. It soon leads to the unbelievable ways to eliminate the gun. In this movie the gun adversely affects the final fight.

Eric Tsang has been in over 275 movies covering almost 45 years. His face and stature would seem to limit his range of roles yet this man has appeared in a truly limitless range of roles. He has been a stunt man, simpleton, shoe shine boy, fat lady, police chief and the leader of the triads. Yes, he even played James Bond. (2002 Golden Chicken)

My copy is VHS to digital file with the square picture and English dubbing.

The Lau brothers production company made four movies. The fight choreography in these movies was the best but the other elements that make up a good movie was lacking. Despite the shortcomings this movie still adds up to a fun experience for fans of martial arts movies from the golden age 1967-1984. I rate it slightly above average and recommend it for my fellow fans.