Viewer Comments:Challenge Of The Masters
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Good movie, little action.
It should be said up front that there are about 2 1/2 actual fight scenes in this entire movie.
Aside from that it is an enjoyable film, Gordon Liu young and with hair has some fun training scenes with Chen Kuan-Tai playing the old master. Lua Kar-Leung plays a villian (?!) and there's some great sets.
Good story, camerawork and script, but if you want action definitely look elsewhere.
Good, original film, features a young Wong Fei-Hung played by (who else) Gordon Liu. Lots of training, lion dances, and some fighting with dragon poles and spears. Heavy on plot and a little light on action. This film is a bit unique in that it has some good philosophy of kung-fu and features some nice large sets.
If you're looking for straight action, look elsewhere. If you want a decent film that has some good action featured, boom, this is it.
Fun and different with good kung fu.
Liked the action but it could use some more action.
Very good martial arts from the Lau family and an extraordinarily good statement of a benevolent martial arts philosophy (even though the director himself plays the most evil villain in the picture!).
-Jeffrey Frawley (see my profile)
Though I thought the fighting sequences were better in the sequel, "The Martial Club", this movie is better in story and spirit. Gordon Liu is outstanding as Wong Fei Hung learning kung fu from Shaw great Chen Kuan Tai. We see the lessons on kindness, nobility, and justice that director and fight choreographer Liu Chia Liang tries to impart to us. What is also spectacular is watching Liu Chia Liang fight with his brother Liu Chia Yung and then with his pupil Liu Chia Hui!
This film is a slight departure from the others from Shaws in that there's no revenge seeking. Very good Gordon Liu film, in which he plays Wong Fei Hung, the legendary healer, lion dancer, and martial artist. Very unique film, which shows forgiveness instead of killing to atone for a wrongdoing.
This is one of Gordon Liu's best films from when he first started! I loved it too!
| Most people who give this movie a low rating do not understand the historical/cultural story that is being told. As is always the case, Lau Kar Leung shows the brotherhood, honor, and discipline bestowed upon practitioners of Hung Gar and lion dancing. This is an outstanding cast consisting of the three famous Liu (Lau) brothers and Chen Kuan Tai. It is about school rivalry. The sub-plot is that Kar Leung is also a wanted killer. Lau Kar Wing is pursing him. Another sub-plot deals with Wong Fei Hong’s father’s refusal to teach him Kung Fu, so his father’s teacher teaches him instead and impresses upon him the values of forgiveness, humility and never humiliating your opponent. All of this comes into play when Fei Hong (Gordon Liu) ends up facing real life older brother/director/choreographer Kar Leung. The training fights with Kuan Tai are wonderfully realistic, and all of the fights between the Lau brothers showcase traditional Hung Gar forms, especially the weapons--something that is hallmark of his movies. If you want blood and gore, this isn’t for you. If you want history, culture, and real martial arts, this should be in any real old school collection as well as its sequel, Martial Club. |
| AGREE? | READER COMMENTS | AUTHOR |
| N | Or perhaps most of the people who gave it low ratings did so because it is a subpar effort with uninspired fight sequences. | MS10197 |
Mediocre sound effects, but the movie was okay.
I wasted my money on Gordon Liu's worst film, the fights are slow, made me fall asleep, go and buy "Invincible Pole Fighter" instead!
| AGREE? | READER COMMENTS | AUTHOR |
| N | There was more to this film than just action and I thought the fights were fine! Totally disagree with your rating! | Sgt. T |
I might be parital because I am a big Lau, Ga Fai fan, but I loved the storyline, the characters played, and the fight scene between Ga Fai and his real life sifu, Ga Leung, at the end was just classic! It was very interesting to see Ga Fai when he was so young.
-BH29460 (see my profile)
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