This is indeed the film that solidified Bolo Yeung's international reputation as a strong and implacable villain. And he really pulls his weight in the film, killing with a rare enjoyment.
The trouble with the film is two-fold. First it is an early 'chinese boxing' film, not really about the self-discipline that 'kung fu' is all about. It is in the vein of what became known as the 'swining fist' fight movie, since that is what the fighters really do, swing their arms and legs about, without much technique.
This leads to another, larger problem: this film is downright cruel. The violence is unrelenting, even sadistic, and there is no great sense that the hero will at last achieve the much needed revenge and justice until the very end.
It is unclear why many Hong Kong filmmakers chose that kind of structure during that period; my own guess is that it made making films cheaper, easier and faster - everybody get's killed, and then the hero at last exacts revenge. That's pretty much the whole formula.
Historically interesting but actually difficult to watch. Definitely not for repeated viewing.
The trouble with the film is two-fold. First it is an early 'chinese boxing' film, not really about the self-discipline that 'kung fu' is all about. It is in the vein of what became known as the 'swining fist' fight movie, since that is what the fighters really do, swing their arms and legs about, without much technique.
This leads to another, larger problem: this film is downright cruel. The violence is unrelenting, even sadistic, and there is no great sense that the hero will at last achieve the much needed revenge and justice until the very end.
It is unclear why many Hong Kong filmmakers chose that kind of structure during that period; my own guess is that it made making films cheaper, easier and faster - everybody get's killed, and then the hero at last exacts revenge. That's pretty much the whole formula.
Historically interesting but actually difficult to watch. Definitely not for repeated viewing.