It's great to see Liu Chia Liang still making movies. He has real integrity to his kung fu choreography. This film moves at a good pace, has a few great scenes and ends without us feeling cheated. The cast is energetic and It comes off in spirit like one of Liu's lesser Shaw films. Like his lesser Shaw films, the plot is lumpy and the tone veers from goofy comedy to seriousness abruptly. And like many of his lesser films, the legendary Liu Chia Hui shows up in a supporting role. It would be great to have Liu Chia Liang direct Liu Chia Hui in a starring role again.
What is clear is, however Liu makes his films these days, the Shaw style is gone. The camera work is very competent but doesn't compliment the fight scenes. There is an overuse of extreme wide angles. The actors are very well trained but only Liu Chia Liang has the physical snap that you saw nearly everyone have in the heyday of the Shaw studio. The fight scenes rely too much on editing, probably to cover for the fact that the actors don't have the time to train like at the Shaw studios. Too much Hidden Dragon style wire work.
Enough complaints, we don't get enough of this style of kung-fu film anymore. Watch it, have fun.
What is clear is, however Liu makes his films these days, the Shaw style is gone. The camera work is very competent but doesn't compliment the fight scenes. There is an overuse of extreme wide angles. The actors are very well trained but only Liu Chia Liang has the physical snap that you saw nearly everyone have in the heyday of the Shaw studio. The fight scenes rely too much on editing, probably to cover for the fact that the actors don't have the time to train like at the Shaw studios. Too much Hidden Dragon style wire work.
Enough complaints, we don't get enough of this style of kung-fu film anymore. Watch it, have fun.