Whilst visiting Thailand, Chow, a master of Shaolin kung fu, befriends Chi, a Thai boxer who is under threat from the mob. Chow agrees to teach him his Shaolin techniques, especially the death-striking "knife style".

Meanwhile, back home in Taiwan, Chow's martial arts school, which is being managed by his sister, is under threat from Tu Pien, a Japanese Judo and Karate expert. Tu Pien wants to prove he is the best fighter and throws down a challenge to the revered Chow (known in his homeland as King Boxer).

On his return, Chow learns of Tu Pien's threats to his sister and the destruction he has caused in his school. When Chow beats Tu Pien, the Japanese tyrant plots his revenge and plans to kill his enemy. Unknown to Tu Pien, Chow's friend is on his way to Taiwan to visit his school--but will he be too late?

Fifty minutes later, after our excruciating tour of Thailand's elephant festival, King Boxer meets up with his kickboxing friend and some semblance of a story begins to materialize. It turns out that King Boxer is on vacation visiting friends in Thailand, and that he runs a martial arts school back in China (or Hong Kong). While he's in Thailand, his students and his sister are keeping the school running for him. In Thailand, he teaches his friend his famed "knife technique", which allows a fighter to use his bare hands as knives.

While King Boxer is elephanting it up in Thailand, his school back home is in trouble. A rival Japanese martial arts instructor, Tu Pien (played by Yasuaki Kurata), has smashed the signboard of King Boxer's school, and seems to be moving in on his sister against her will--he seems as if he will stop at nothing to get her.

King Boxer returns home at last, and his sister collapses into his arms, desperate for him to protect her from the evil Tu Pien. KB battles with Tu Pien and kicks his butt hard, stopping short of killing him at his sister's request, and Tu Pien agrees to replace KB's signboard. It seems the thrashing he's just gotten from KB hasn't deterred him from trying to get to KB's sister, however...

Tu Pien returns to his school and beings to plot KB's death, his reasoning being that if he kills him, his sister will be his...? And so begins a series of ruthless attacks by Tu Pien designed to bring about the ultimate downfall of KB.

We're not big fans of Mang Fei--his fighting always seems a bit weak and unsteady, and he just seems generally dopey. The true gem of this film is Yasuaki Kurata, whose character in this film is absolutely deplorable. Kurata's fighting is an obvious standout in this film--he's steady, incredibly fast, smooth, and accurate. It's too bad his character is the one you're supposed to hate--and hate him you will, he's truly evil--because his fighting is a joy to watch. However, it feels like Kurata is the only one in the film who really knows his craft, and the rest of the actors are just moving props. There's lots of blood and fighting in the second half of the film, but much of it comes off as amateurish and silly. Why three stars then? The film (second half) has an energy that draws you in. You really really hate the bad guy, and you just want to see him get beaten up. A movie that can make you talk to the screen has done something right, and we found ourselves doing exactly that several times.

All in all, this movie was just too weird to believe. There's the whole first 50 minutes, with this unbelievably sappy lounge music and all the Thailand stuff; and then there's the second half, which is a bit amateurish and sloppy, but engaging nonetheless--and features Kurata, who is excellent. If you're into movies that are so bad they're good, want to see something kooky and kitschy, or you're simply willing to drop a few bucks on an oddball film that is unlike any other you've seen, we recommend this film--the second half is truly enjoyable, and Kurata may even be worth the small price of admission alone. But if you're not yet caught up on the truly great Shaw Brothers, Yuen Wo Ping, and other classic martial arts films--or if you're just picky about what films you allow into your collection--perhaps it would be better to keep browsing and look for something a bit more substantial.