Legendary Weapons of China (1982) Shi ba ban wu yi (original title)

Director:

Chia-Liang Liu

Writers:

Chia-Liang Liu (scenario)
Tai-Heng Li (scenario)

Release Date:

21 January 1982 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tiet Wo Chu
Sheng Fu	...	Charlatan Wu
Hou Hsiao	...	Tieh A-hou
Kara Hui	...	Fang Shao-Ching
King Chu Lee
Ke Ming Lin
Chia Hui Liu	...	Ti Tan
Chia Yung Liu	...	Lei Ying
Chia-Liang Liu	...	Lei Kung
Fei-Hung Mak
Sing-Kwong Tsang
Ching Ho Wang	...	Chief Li
Han Chen Wang	...	Roadside innkeeper

Directed by
Chia-Liang Liu

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tai-Heng Li		scenario
Chia-Liang Liu		scenario

Produced by
Mona Fong	....	producer
Run Run Shaw	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Chin Yung Shing
Chun Hau So

Cinematography by
Chih Chun Ao

Film Editing by
Hsing-lung Chiang
Yen Hai Li

Art Direction by
Johnson Tsao

Costume Design by
Chi-Yu Liu

Makeup Department
Ji-cheng Liu	....	makeup artist
Man-hua Pan	....	makeup artist
Yen-Lien Peng	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Li Hua Chen	....	assistant production manager
Ka Hee Wong	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pa-Ching Huang	....	assistant director
Tai-Heng Li	....	assistant director

Art Department
Kuo-wei Huang	....	props
Yu Lai	....	props

Sound Department
Ping Kuang Hsu	....	sound recordist

Stunts
Hou Hsiao	....	stunt coordinator
King Chu Lee	....	stunt coordinator (as Ching Chu)
Chia-Liang Liu	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Fen Chen	....	lighting technician
Ting Bong Yuen	....	lighting technician

Other crew
Kang Lin	....	production assistant
Wo-chuen Tsai	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Shaw Brothers

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (198?) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Celestial Pictures (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Image Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Shi ba ban wu yi" - Hong Kong (original title)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 (video rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:15 (cut)

Company:

Shaw Brothers

Trivia:

DirTrade(Chia-Liang Liu: Opening credits show a demonstration of martial arts against an empty backdrop.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Knockaround Guys (2001)

Plot jumbled Kung Fu Extravaganza!

Liu Chi Liang stands as the best kung fu director ever. As a kung fu master himself, he gives the films a unique perspective on the fighting arts. The fight scenes are the best combination of actual martial art ability, choreography, camera work and crazy effects you can get. Maybe Stephen Chow comes close. Watching Liu Chia Liang and his protégés at work is sublime.

That said, this film is a mixed bag. The opening 10 minutes are choppy and confusing. The film changes course for about 20 minutes to give Alexander Fu Sheng two elaborate comic scenes. The characters are about as shallow as you can get until 3/4 of the way into the film. In addition, the film ends very abruptly. The whole thing seems a flimsy excuse to stage fight scenes. But the fight scenes, what you get! Nearly every fight scene is amazing.

Liu Chia Liang, his brother and Liu Chia Hui are in full power here. The finale gives us the two brothers in an extended fight with the title weapons. If you can get the Celestial Films DVD, I suggest watching it on the largest screen you can find. Otherwise you'll miss the intricate moves of these two. The English dub is terrible, avoid if possible.

If you want a better plot try the director's 36th Chamber or Dirty Ho. If it's a fighting extravaganza you want, here it is.