How far would you go for love? Or lust? These are the questions posed in this sinfully entertaining Sung Dynasty period effort. Split into two tales, the first one involves a devilish magistrate who tries to tempt a Buddhist monk out of his self-professed celibate control by hiring a pretty prostitute. The second story is the tragic tale of an exploited young girl, the queen of femme fatale Shaw Yin-yin, who is forced to work in an unscrupulous couple's brothel.
This is the acting debut of Yuan Te, Jackie Chan's kung-fu classmate. He plays the downtrodden kung-fu student Ko Chien, who saves the life of a kung-fu master played by Chen Kuan-tai.
Chen Kuan-tai, Wang Lung-wei, Wen Hsueh-erh, Yuan Te
The crazy bumpkin returns in a sequel for more bittersweet laughs and heart-wrenching misfortune, as his true love becomes the wife of an abusive husband and his uncle further exploits his naïve nature.
In attempting to rescue some innocent people, swordsman Chiang Tzu-chao (Fang Mien) slays the son of Tsao Kang (Wang Hsia), leader of the ruthless Crimson Charm gang.The enraged father promises vengeance on the day of Chiang's 60th birthday...
Ivy Ling Po, Chang I, Shih Szu, Ku Feng, Wang Ching-ho
During World War II, a singer and her lover face invaders, insurgents, and a warlord's beautiful daughter. Released two years after Linda Lin Dai's suicide, the sequel to the original box office hit becomes all the more moving because of it.
The Water Margin, Journey To The West and Romance Of The Three Kingdoms are China's most famous literary classics. After director Chang Cheh's film adaptations of the first two classics wowed audiences, Chang completed the circle with The Weird Man, a bizarre variation of Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. Besides Cheng Tien-chi, who starred in Jackie Chan's Fearless Hyena, Chang uses a cast of unknowns and gives the story a ghostly-horror edge. Chang is known for his lone swordsman and hero movies and strangely The Weird Man still reflects this. Cheng plays a righteous, beheaded priest with supernatural powers that returns from the dead to wreak havoc against one of the corrupt kingdoms, making Cheng a heroic "swords-ghost." It's insane sanity to the hilt, a must see film.
A love triangle of the first order by one of Shaw's top directors Chin Chien. A psychiatrist falls for one of his patients at the same time another girl proclaims her love for him. An explosive mix of passion and misunderstanding...
The versatile and prolific Wang Feng writes and directs this ensemble epic which unites actors from both Shaw Brothers' film units and their television network, HK-TVB. The place to be is flat number 8 on the second floor of the Gossip Street apartment building, where all the neighbours gather to gossip. The sitcom turns serious when a local mobster wants to change the place into a gambling den -- leading to a satisfying finale where hearsayers turn into heroes to save their neighborhood.
Pao Hsueh-li, the trusted co-director for several of Chang Cheh’s most memorable productions (including THE WATER MARGIN), here creates one of his own. It features a brother who loves books and a sister who loves swords taking on men-haters, women-haters, and even monsters. The yellow-robed warrior, the Red Python, a sinuous snake-charmer, and a silk-masked beauty (who must kill or wed the first man to see her face) are just some of the fascinating characters these siblings must face before they bring peace to their battle-addled family. The versatile actor Danny Lee, future star of John Woo’s THE KILLER, stars as the brother, while the striking Tanny Tien Ni, is the sister in this familial fight fest. Respected kung-fu choreographers Tang Chia and Huang Pei-chi controlled the swordplay and even the feared "moonlight blow" in this special, cliché-smashing production.
No list compiled of all the screen's comic geniuses would be complete without Michael Hui. He created a hilarious and lovable comic persona that was both uniquely Asian and universally beloved. The Warlord, his first film, not only showcased his incomparable sense of humour but also a revolutionized Hong Kong comedy. Evoking Chaplin, he plays a warlord in early 20th century China, but makes the role his own with comedy. Some of the sexiest ladies on the Shaw Brothers lot add on to the ingenuity of the movie.
Accomplished film director Ching Siu-tung not only received international acclaim for his A CHINESE GHOST STORY film trilogy, but is also considered one of Hong Kong's top action directors and is regarded to be the father of the outlandish wire stunts and sight gags that Hong Kong film is so recently noted for. In MONKEY KUNG FU, Ching plays Wei Chun, a wayward underachiever that is given the key to unlock the secret of the gibbon fists tactic. Besides being the film's martial arts instructor, bearing first hand witness to Ching's remarkable martial arts skills on screen makes this movie a once in a lifetime catch.
There is no Chinese novel more famous than Journey To The West; and while there have been many movie adaptations, this memorable version presents a unique interpretation with humour, action, and fantasy galore. Ho Fan (who later became a celebrated erotic film director) plays the monk who undertakes a journey for Buddhist scriptures, encountering Monkey, Pigsy, and a damsel in distress (played by the actress named "The Most Beautiful Creature In China"), among many fun and fascinating others.
Scientist Li Chung-hua invents a chemical called L333 capable of accelerating the growth of plants. Applied to man, it can create gigantic superman. Not surprisingly, agents of world powers vie to get hold of this revolutionary invention. Li's son Yuan-ming is a student in Japan and engaged to vocalist Ting Tu. His daughter Hsiao-lan stays with him in Hong Kong and she's about to marry nightclub owner Hsiao Chia-wen in Japan. Hsiao Claims he's Ting's brother. Fearing Li might be kidnapped by gangleader Dr. Zero, Interpol agent Chu Tien-wei sends Lo Tien to help Hsiao-lan protect Li. Meanwhile, a Japanese fertilizer firm employs Chang Chih-hsieh to steal the invention when Li refuses to sell it. Dr. Zero, whose underground h.q. is situated in Japan, abducts Yuan-ming before he leaves for Hong Kong. A brain transplant takes place and Yuan-ming is given one of the gangsters' brain. Now completely obedient to Dr. Zero, he is sent on a mission to Hong Kong with Hsiao. Li discovers Yuan-ming trying to seize his invention and in a fit of anger he burns all his research papers. Yuan-ming kills Lo Tien and paralyses Li. He explains to Hsiao-lan that this is to divert Li's pursuers' attentions. Li is shipped to Japan and taken to Dr. Zero's h.q. Hsiao-lan goes to Japan to rescue her father and is herself made prisoner. Li agrees to divulge from memory the formula of L333 rather than see his daughter killed. Chang arrives at the gangsters' h.q. with several Interpol agents. A fierce fight ensues and the criminals are routed. Dr. Zero turns out to be none other than nightclub boss Hsiao Chia Wen.
The Killer star Danny Lee plays the lead role of a guy who needs to become a hero. He lies, steals and cheats his way into operating a plush casino, but when he incurs the wrath of a female Japanese gang leader, all bets are off!
