Zui quan nu diao shou

By the time she made this film, Chia Ling (aka Judy Lee) was already a star, and din't need to prove anything. But she apparently didn't sit on her laurels. She not only mastered the drunken boxing style (and her performance of it here is one of the best on film), but she portrays the blinded alcoholic fighter with a crush on a man she believes will never love her, is realistic and sympathetic.

The rest of the film has some nice touches as well as some really wildly off-beat characters. It is seriously weakened by unnecessary plot twists. The American release print also suffers from an all-important fight sequence getting cut short for no reason that I can tell.

But it is Chia Ling's performance that makes this film, and it will eventually be by this performance that she will be best remembered.

The title is aptly put. No one can touch Chia Ling in kung fu style. She may be the best female martial artist ever.

A girl is blinded by a banded, but later recovers and fights them to avenge the death of her father. Blind woman and drunken style is pretty original combination for a kung fu movie. There's some good romance sub plot put in where it ends in a surprising conclusion. Fight scenes in the beginning and the middle is standard kung fu movie's affair, but the fight scenes at the end is pretty original and never seen anywhere else.

Very good movie with interesting plot, beautiful ladies, and a good kung fu action. A must see if you're a kung fu movie fan.

AGAINST THE DRUNKEN CAT PAWS is a cheap Taiwanese martial arts story about a famed blind female fighter who goes around the countryside taking care of business by bringing those of ill repute to justice. It's an odd little film that seems to have stylistic aspirations to emulate the likes of the wandering swordsman films that Shaw Brothers et al were putting out in the late '60s, yet as a cheap chop socky film it's hampered by a low budget and a lack of finesse in terms of narrative drive and plot elements.

Chia Ling is certainly good value as the female protagonist and her fighting skills are superior to those of many rival performers, both male and female. However, it's the unfocused plotting that lets this film down. The villains are never truly villainous enough to hate and the film gets bogged down in all-too-broad comedy scenes like those involving the ridiculous cross-dressing character so that it becomes a chore to sit through. The good news is that the fight choreography is well achieved although hampered by the obviously low budget, so it's not all bad, but truth be told it could have been much, much better.

I found this movie to be very action packed with a great story line. From the time that I sat down until the very last frame, I was always on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to come next. The use of martial arts technique used in this movie is by far the most dramatic form of art I have seen in a very long time.

If you are like me and want only the best...this one should never get out of reach.

(Against the Drunken Cat Paws)is in all-around excellent martial arts movie, from a wonderful story line to great fighting styles. The combined elements of a dwarf, a blind and drunken heroine, a dude with fangs, and a crazy inspector complete this epic tale and in the end, the drunken-style will prevail! I recommend this winner to anyone who is looking for a good drunken-style kung fu with a good plot. I haven't heard anything about a DVD coming out but hopefully one will arrive soon. Enjoy!