There were already traces of it in earlier flicks like "Dance Of The Drunk Mantis", and again with this one. The comedy here is nothing that a lot of other kung fu comedies of the day weren't guilty of. But it is still a chore to sit through. Furthermore, it doesn't really fit with the more serious tone of the story. I mean, the ridiculous barber shop scene juxtaposed with the eerie and disturbing scene in the basement is an example. Also, weird stuff like San Kuai's ghostly hunchback character seems like he wandered in from a "Mr. Vampire" movie or something. I had the same problem with the sickly guy in the coffin in "Dance Of The Drunk Mantis". It just feels out of place, and unnecessary.

I never bought Yuen Shun Yee as a leading man. But he is one hell of a screen fighter, as is Tsui Siu Ming. And the choreo is of the usual high Yuen Clan standard. Too bad that all this awesome action has to be dispersed between all the lame gags and general weirdness that plagues the rest of the film. The end fight is so super tight, that it deserved to be in a better movie.

This is one of the best kung fu films ever made. What I mainly look for in a kung fu movie is characterization, and this film delivers in spades. From the holy ghost killer to Big Little Feet, the characters are recognizable and fun to optically assimilate for euphoria.

The story is pretty good, though I felt they should have been more elusive and mysterious with the true villain of this film. It becomes evident by the time the fight between the thief and Simon Yuen occurs.

The kung fu action is crazy and fun. I like martial arts films to be more creative, rather than use the traditional garbage that usually exists in these films and gets rather dull after awhile.

The only flaw, but a flaw I love in these b-movie grindhouse films, is the laughable English dubbing. Some of it is misplaced in certain scenes, which makes me laugh hysterically. "BE CARFUL OF THE JADE BUDD...BUDDHA BLESS YOU."

Overall, one of the most entertaining films ever made. If you like wacky kung fu action and good characterization, this film is sufficent.

Now about the film itself: Few HK Fu films of the 70’s gather together a more interesting cast of characters than “The Buddhist Fist”. For example, we get hunchbacked old dude who uses the ‘ghost fist’ and hops around (and resembles) a Chinese vampire. As already mentioned we get comic standout Peter Chang Lung (had a small but funny role in Summo Hung’s “Knockabout”) in a role that lets him stretch his fu-wings as well (and he’s pretty decent). The two leads, Sunny Yuen and Chui Siu Ming are colorful in their own right. The two are orphan brothers raised by Buddhist monks, the later continuing in his adopted fathers step becoming a monk himself, while the former takes up a trade; namely he becomes a barber! The barber shop fight scene when Sunny Yuen does such a ‘great’ job with a costumer is quite funny and choreographically interesting. In terms of story, “The Buddhist Fist” packs a decent punch as well. There are several twists and turns centered around Sunny Yuen’s search for his missing godfather which leads him into a greater web of intrigue and pits him in the final battle with the protagonist of the intrigue – which itself is a surprise. This final fight is nothing short of amazing in style, length and brutality (with only minimal blood).

“The Buddhist Fist” deserves the positive accolades it has received as it represents a classic old-skool Fu flick from the glory days of HK Fu! 5 super stars.