The Buddhist Fist: Viewer Comments

Let’s first start clarify some misleading advertising associated with “The Buddhist Fist”; this movie is NOT simply a Yuen Wo Ping movie. Rather this is one of a small handful of true Yuen Clan movies, where all members of the Clan (in addition to Wo Ping: Yuen Sun Yee, Simon Yuen, Yuen Yat Chor, Yuen Cheung Yan, and Brandy Yuen) contribute to make the film the classic it is. Wo Ping was not the sole choreographer of “The Buddhist Fist”, rather this film was choreographed by the Yuen Clan collaboratively. Moreover each member of the clan has some acting/stuntman role in the film. If one removes the Peter Chang Lung’s character (the amicable and bumbling sidekick to [Sunny] Yuen Sun Yee) and Sunny Yuen’s orphan brother character (the other lead) played by Chui Siu Ming, “The Buddhist Fist” is almost entirely a Yuen Clan acted, choreographed and directed film! So let’s give the Yuen Clan proper credit for this amazing film – this is not to take away from Wo Ping’s directorial efforts, but rather to give ‘props’ to remaining Clan members without whom this film might only be one of hundreds of uninspiring Fu flicks of the era.

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.

There are two names that rise above the others when we talk about the mid-70's to mid-80's kung fu films. The other is Sammo Hung and the other Yuen Woo-Ping. Yuen became famous with his directing debut "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" (1978) and it's sequel, "Drunken Master" (1978), both starring Jackie Chan. He then went on to direct such classics as "Dance of the Drunken Mantis", "The Magnificent Butcher" and - "The Buddhist Fist." It's hard to find anything bad about this movie. Well, the plot was worthless but otherwise, it's superb fun! We got lots of excellent fighting scenes, crazy characters [like the gyonshi-like hunchback assassin, who's speacilized in the Holy Ghost Claw style], great musical score [no joke!] and amusing comedy. There's way over 10 fights in the film [at least it felt like so] and they're all choreographed brilliantly by the Yuen Clan. The performers are in top form, with Yuen Shin Yee making a convining hero. A must-see for all fans of terrific old-fashioned fight action!