Whether “Secret Rivals” really deserves such high credit is debatable, what is not is that this film is one of the cult classics of the era. Clearly low budget and slow to get moving, “Secret Rivals” possesses a decent plot and choreography that builds in intensity to the explosive climax. In the end “Secret Rivals” is carried by the solid acting and action (in that order) performances by a trio of relative unknowns: Don Wong Tao, John Liu, and Hwang Jang Lee. So while we can debate whether “Secret Rivals” revitalized the fu genre in the late seventies, it unquestionably sent the careers of the three stars into the stratosphere, gave credibility to Seasonal Film Corp. as a ‘new kid’ on the HK scene, and brought high kicking Tae Kwon Do to the masses as a new alternative to the classic Shaw Bros. Shaolin and various animal styles of gung fu.

The sequel to “Secret Rivals”, “Secret Rivals 2” is more explosive and rewarding in terms of fight intensity and quantity, but less balanced and enjoyable in terms of overall story and acting performances (especially the replacement of Wang Tao with Tito Wong). “Secret Rivals” is a solid 4-star cult film that should be seen by all old skool fu fans!

The Secret Rivals is a story about two strangers who come to town with different motives, one is out for justice the other for revenge. Eventually they have to work together to accomplish their secret shared goal.

Filmed in Korea among beautiful pagodas and ancient temples, the Secret Rivals features plenty of the local martial art- Taekwondo. This movie is perhaps the greatest kicking movie of all time. Real life Taekwondo masters and screen kicking legends John Liu and Hwang Jang Lee put on an absolute kicking exhibition with flying kicks, jump spinning kicks and nearly vertical side kicks.

John Liu puts on an awesome display of flexibility and kicking ability in this film and proves that he is perhaps one of the most flexible actors in the history of kung fu cinema. Liu also gives a solid acting performance as the "northern leg" Shao Yi-Fei, a man who is a "loner by nature." Wang Tao gives a charismatic performance as "southern fist" Sheng Ying Wei. Wang Tao is in tremendous shape in this film and gives a terrific physical performance, perhaps the best of his career. Secret Rivals was also a breakthrough film for Hwang Jang Lee. Lee brings a powerful presence to the screen as the evil "Silver Fox", one of the greatest villains in the genre's history. As a real life 7th degree black belt of Taekwondo, Lee convincingly holds his own against the talented Liu and Tao.

The Secret Rivals is a bit slow starting as a lot of plot and backstory are introduced but the action heats up big time when the Silver Fox (Lee) drops in. Secret Rivals features a unique "spaghetti western" sound track (The Big Gundown by Ennio Morricone) with pounding drums, twanging electric guitar, blaring brass section and angelic choral singers. The film is really helped out by great supporting performances featuring many talented martial artists in smaller roles.

Li Ming Wen (Tommy Lee) and Chang Chuan do a fantastic job at fight choreography. Many kung fu films around the same time had dance-like, over choreographed fight sequences. The Secret Rivals features a faster, more brutal, and realistic style of fight choreography.

The Secret Rivals is a fantastic first effort for Seasonal Films and is one of the best independent martial arts films ever made. Solid writing and direction by Ng See Yuen, great physical performances by John Liu, Hwang Jang Lee and Wang Tao plus some nice stunt work by Yuen Baio make the Secret Rivals one of the very best films of the kung fu genre.