REVIEW
One time superstar, Jimmy Wang Yu directs and stars in this highly entertaining and fantastic tale of Chinese Vs. Japanese martial arts mayhem.

Give in to your high brow notions of cinema as art and indulge in the too-cool personification of every martial arts wannabe's dream. Or that's what the over-the-top, opening training scene to "Return of the Chinese Boxer" implies. As a famed guitarist once sang, "Move over rover and let Jimmy take over." This film is vintage Jimmy Wang Yu in all his gratuitous glory. Jimmy plays the character that you know can't lose. He's faster, smarter and always at the right place at the right time. In other hands, this would make for dull viewing.

The evenly paced plot keeps up the momentum, despite the fact that it stretches itself way beyond the realm of reality. The Japanese are once again stereotyped as the evil-minded villains intent on subjugating China to its rule. This and a subplot about a Japanese martial arts contest and the winner's desire to take each other's prize pearls provides the pretext for a great series of fights involving numerous martial arts styles from Mui Thai to jujitsu. Of course, its Chinese boxing that beats all comers, even when they're sporting primitive, multi-barreled guns.

The story gets increasingly improbable as Wang goes goes to-to-toe with an assortment of villains, from a knife throwing expert to a goofy trio of zombies that refuse to stay down. Wirework is everywhere in this film as Wang walks up walls or balances on the end of a staff. Much like the Shaw Brothers' "Kid with the Golden Arm," most of the action revolves around a caravan of people, in this case the Chinese official's niece traveling from point A to point B with an odd assortment of fighters popping up left and right. This all leads up the the finale with a Japanese killer who has no reservations about blowing our hero away with a gun. Sharing an eerie resemblance to scenes from the James bond film, "The Man with the Golden Gun," Wang conveniently lures his opponent into a house filled with mannequins all looking like Wang himself. Taking advice from the villain's book of tactics, Wang gets hold of the gun and blasts the baddie at close range. Disappointing ending for a kung fu movie? Yes, but there's still plenty of martial arts action throughout with the Japanese contest and Wang's fight with the knife thrower as highlights.

The costumes and sets are better than average, especially the Japanese details. The stock music is pretty corny with James Bond-like horns blasting whenever Wang pops from out of a bush. Yet, this is definitely one of Jimmy's more enjoyable films. Its worth noting that he was already in decline at this point with his greatest films, such as "The One-Armed Swordsman" behind him. Luckily, "Return of the Chinese Boxer" doesn't take itself too seriously and manages to keep the best of Wang's trademark action front and center. Perhaps the best moment in the film comes after Wang first appears. Having chased away a band of Japanese thugs, he looks knowingly at the camera and with just a hint of a smirk, dashes off in pursuit. You'll forgive his arrogance once you realize just how much you're grinning like a little kid throughout the film.

Jimmy Wang Yu stars as the heroic lead fighter in this film, and he is the director too. Not only is he highly proficient with the martial arts, but he is a highly regarded filmmaker as well; kind of like the Sammo Hung of his time (only thinner). His resume as a director includes ONE ARMED BOXER (1971), MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE (1975), and POINT THE FINGER OF DEATH (1978) among many others from this era. He also starred as the hero in ROYAL FIST (1974), FURY OF KING BOXER (1975), and THE MAN FROM HONG KONG (1978). Other martial arts talent in the film include Lung Fei (EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER), Ching Chin Min (BRUCE LEE'S DEADLY KUNG FU), Chin Kang, and Cheung Ying Chen.

The film tells of a time in the late 1800's (there are trains and guns in the movie) when China and Japan were trying to establish fruitful relations with each other. A Japanese shogun leader set about finding their nation's best warrior to send to China as a delegate. They find a seasoned fighter and team him with a cunning female ninja to send to China along with a band of Japanese soldiers.

In China, a leader's beautiful niece is elected to travel to Japan as an ambassador of good will and as a sexual offering for the Japanese shogunate leader. Meanwhile the Japanese contingent have arrived in China and attempt to kidnap the Chinese leader's niece, when a strange warrior, named Cunning Fist arrives in time to stave off the Japanese contingent. After witnessing Cunning Fist's super human fighting prowess, the female ninja begins a search to find a fighter who is equal to the task.

Meanwhile, an elimination tournament is held to determine who is the best fighter. The survivors of the tournament are recruited by the Japanese contingent and are given the opportunity to face the Cunning Fist, but none prove worthy to defeat him. Finally, the female ninja locates a mythical Japanese warrior called Black Crane who incorporates guns into his martial arts routine. The Japanese contingent then kidnap the Chinese leader's neice. Cunning Fist must use his wits to rescue her and defeat the deadly Black Crane or die trying.

If you've ever been a fan of this genre, you'll notice numerous films that employ the Japanese vs. Chinese theme, but here it is realistically rendered. There is a lot of costumed, Shogun-style theatrics and ninja techniques that are countered by the Hong Kong traditional kung fu styles. In fact, this film goes out of it's way to depict non-Chinese martial arts styles such as Thai boxing and Ninjitsu. Also included in the martial arts mayhem are dagger throwing, javelin throwing, lethal archery, use of guns, use of explosives, and death match tournament fighting. There is a huge amount of martial arts and stunt work for all involved and thanks to some rapid camera movements and fast paced editing, it blends neatly to keep the narrative from falling apart.

The death match tournament is one of the highlights of the movie (though there are many). In a Chinese style coliseum, larger than life warriors do battle using different martial arts techniques and different weapons. The loser always ends up a bloody mess, while the winner goes on to fight another winner resulting in another breathtaking tournament match. It's tough to pick a winner.

Speaking of a winner, the film's cinematography is a winner thanks to the 2.35.1 widescreen presentation (though the video is not without problems; see Video section below). There are excellently rendered Japanese dojos, castles, and temples and Chinese ones as well with incredible attention to detail. Here is where the Shaw Brothers bigger budget comes into play. You believe you are taken back in time to the late 1800's because the interior and exterior visuals are so perfectly rendered. The art direction crew has every bit of colorful detail down pat from the standout items such as wall hangings to the inanimate objects like tablecloths.

So despite the fact that the film looks great and has a lot to offer martial arts fans and historical drama nuts, the movie has many faults as well (typical of the films from this time period). Virtually no characterization, lack of a linear narrative structure, and a shortage of logic. But these problems have plagued martial arts films and even American action films for decades. But knowing the faults of a movie like this, at least you know the limitations going into it, so you can put aside your expectations to just enjoy the spectacle.