ej's kung-fu capsule review for films of the chop-socky old-school.
1. basic plot type - Hero seeks revenge for murdered family.
2. plot construction - Solid, if a little complicated; involves a bounty hunter we don't quite trust (Meng Fei), as well as a gang of thieves who can't trust each other.
3. dramatic - Chen Kuan Tai really adds credibility here.
4. funny - Meng Fei almost adds credibility with occasional humor.
5. dialog - pretty good; could have cleared up a couple points rather sooner than later.
6. cast performance - Solid, for the most part; gets a little hammy in spots.
7. crew performance - Competent, nothing special.
8. amount of fighting - Plenty.
9. quality of fighting - Pretty good; cast includes some of the better fight-performers of the genre.
10. special any cast or crew notes - None.
11. big positive - Chen Kuan Tai.
12. big negative - Meng Fei (I just find him annoying here).
bottom-line - who should see this movie - 'Fu film fans; action film fans with a tolerance for "old school" chop-socky will not be disappointed.
1. basic plot type - Hero seeks revenge for murdered family.
2. plot construction - Solid, if a little complicated; involves a bounty hunter we don't quite trust (Meng Fei), as well as a gang of thieves who can't trust each other.
3. dramatic - Chen Kuan Tai really adds credibility here.
4. funny - Meng Fei almost adds credibility with occasional humor.
5. dialog - pretty good; could have cleared up a couple points rather sooner than later.
6. cast performance - Solid, for the most part; gets a little hammy in spots.
7. crew performance - Competent, nothing special.
8. amount of fighting - Plenty.
9. quality of fighting - Pretty good; cast includes some of the better fight-performers of the genre.
10. special any cast or crew notes - None.
11. big positive - Chen Kuan Tai.
12. big negative - Meng Fei (I just find him annoying here).
bottom-line - who should see this movie - 'Fu film fans; action film fans with a tolerance for "old school" chop-socky will not be disappointed.