Regardless, this is a completely incomprehensible mess of kung fu nonsense, made barely watchable by having a decent twenty minute martial arts fighting finale. Ti Lung is a bumpkin who's been framed by his master for the disappearance of an important kung fu manuscript. While in exile, he teams up with pretty Chang Ling and together they exact their revenge while in search of the truth. There is so much nonsense in this film, I don't know where to begin. First, there's a crazy drunkard that lives in a cave who has three arms and three legs, and can teleport himself around. He teaches Ti Lung some kung fu in a matter of seconds, which he never uses again. Meanwhile, Ti Lung's master is learning from the secret kung fu manuscript, but decides to commit suicide by plunging a knife into his gut. Miraculously, he shows up again at the end of the film with his face covered in boils. Another unexplained drunkard with a horde of children shows up to tend to Ti Lung's wounds later in the film and he provides goofy comedic relief with tumbling tricks and camera mugging. Somewhere along the way, Ti Lung's pretty sister goes mad and spends her time in the water trying to catch fish with her bare hands. And out of that same water emerges a big white guy in a toga who does battle with Ti Lung in the final showdown. He eventually loses the battle when a bunch of children poke him in the butt with sharp sticks and blow bubbles in his face. What the hell?!? What else can I say? This film is just mind-boggling and dreadful to watch. It also features some of the worst sets ever made - even worse than the original "Star Trek" TV series. (but not as bad as Russ Meyer's "Wild Gals Of The Naked West" (1962) - that one takes the cake) For the most part, the kung fu is good and it's nice to see Ti Lung in action. You may want to consider just fast-forwarding to the end of the film to see him fight.

REVIEW:
Inheritor of Kung Fu is Ti Lung in one of his weaker moments in his long career. This Taiwanese produced film suffers from a confusing plot and weak performances by most of the co-stars.

Its not really necessary to try and explain the plot as even understanding it doesn't really help. The film is just a jumble of different sub-genres from fantasy to clan wars. The film begins with the typically stern kung fu master sending out his cronies to deliver messages to all the other clans. The significance of this is lost somewhere on the editing room floor but the story eventually shifts to Ti Lung who surprisingly plays a bungling oaf at the beginning of the film. After trying to help two young ladies from a rival clan, Ti brings them home to his master who promptly throws them out and sends Ti into the mountains as punishment for his bad taste in friends. Ti just happens to meet his master's former lead student who was cast out years before. He's the obligatory drunken master who trains Ti, and he also has three arms and legs?! After another chunk of missing footage, we find Ti being accused by his master of stealing the Kung Fu Manuscript. Ti tries to prove his master wrong but the previously mentioned clan leader has gotten hold of it and Ti gets the stuffing kicked out of him from his master and a number of odd assassins. The two girls come to his aid and while he recovers, he ends up taking over a clan of children! After more lost footage, everybody convenes at a martial arts contest between clan leaders to determine who is going to be top dog. After a series of fights at the base of a waterfall, Ti walks away with the honors and his bruised pride for appearing in such a hideous film.

Most of the film takes place on poorly disguised sets. The costumes, which have a sort of Mongol motif to them generally look ridiculous. Most of the actors are unknowns that try to rip off better performances in Hong Kong productions. As clearly stated above, the plot is a convoluted mess which almost looks like two films were sliced together. The English dubbing is worse than usual with loads of Western expressions used while odd synthesizer music drones on in the background. Amateur use of wirework results in wires being seen and the action being slowed down whenever someone takes flight.

About the only good thing about this film is Ti Lung himself who continues to looks noble amidst this quagmire of atrocious filmmaking. Some of the kung fu is actually pretty good but neither can save this film. I cannot in good judgment recommend Inheritor of Kung Fu to anyone but the most fanatical Ti Lung fans. It also serves as a good example of what not to do when making your own rip off of Hong Kong produced martial arts films.