Vendetta karatéka

1973 Taiwan with Nancy Yen Nan-see, Tien Peng, Lung Fei, and action director Ng Tung-Kiu I am currently in the process of watching my collection of about 3000 martial arts movies in chronological order. To get straight to the point – They all look alike quickly and what a pleasure for something different. The movie starts out as a total stinker with a feeble demonstration of martial arts techniques that would not even cause a bruise and then the USA title "Murder Masters of Kung Fu". Major cringe moment. The story did not make any sense even though every time a character spoke it was exposition. There was one great moment of dialog from Lung Fei though, where he tells the girl "Sure I said that - to get in your pants" (paraphrased – see the movie for the actual lines.) Despite the bad acting and vague story line we know why we are watching this – for the fights. This movie makes a good effort to show something different and realistic with the fights. I'll give one example – the karate guy gets into seiza position (kneeling Japanese style – Google it if you don't know karate) and takes on the kung fu challengers. The fight choreography demonstrates ground work and submission holds that – in 1973 – you only saw elsewhere in Bruce Lee's movies. After watching this I'm looking for all the movies of the action director Ng Tung-Kiu, this guy knew how to put a good fight sequence on film. Plus some of the sequences were remarkably long single takes. This movie is mandatory for all fans of the genre and I rate it highly.

As someone who has watched hundreds of Kung fu movies - particularly from the 70s area, I was very disappointed.

First of all the American title "Murder Masters of Kung Fu" is very fitting for a "period" 70s Kung fu flick but this is set in the 70s with 70s attire - so that's a turn off right off the bat.

Second, the fighting is both amateurish and non sophisticated. No one impressed me in the least as a "master" and even less as a "murder master".

Third, the convoluted plot is a mish-mash of non-compelling events to which you develop no investment whatsoever.

Fourth, there is a pretty "daughter" (who fights) vaguely at the center of of the plot lines who is simply an ok fighter like everyone else.

The "final fight" which lasts no more than 2 minutes or so is no more compelling than other fights in the movie.

This is a movie that might typically be thrown in as the third movie in a triple header in the classic kung fu movie houses of the 70s - but that most moviegoers including myself would not bother to stay for.

The movie opens at a martial arts school with demonstrations of self defense techniques. Nancy Yen Nan-See (as Miss Lam) is looking at the shoes some men are wearing because there has been a peeping Tom and she saw the man's shoes. Two guys show up and want to be students but initially are refused. Lung Fei tries to charm Miss Lam and she refuses cuts him down like a dead pine tree. Lung Fei does get the best line in the whole movie "Sure I said that - to get into your pants!" (Paraphrased translation.)

Story-wise there is a lot going on here that doesn't make sense even though every time a character spoke it seemed to be exposition. Despite the vague story line and bad acting and feeble demonstration of martial arts in the opening scene the movie improved significantly by the ending.

The action director, credit to Ng Tung-Kiu, made an effort to show something different and realistic with the fights. One example is when the karate guy gets into seiza position and takes on the kung fu challengers. There was also ground fighting and submission holds in the fights and this was rarely seen in 1973. Also some of the fight sequences were remarkably long single takes.

I rate this above average for the year and genre and recommend it for all fans of this genre. Currently the 8.5 rating here is way too high though.My original review from 2015 was updated after a second watch.