Hu ying (1983)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Chung Sun

Writer:

Barry Wong (writer)

Release Date:

October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Kung Fu | Fighting | Martial Arts

Cast

Billy Chong
Hao-yi Liu
Ing-Sik Whang	...	Captain Nai Sing (as Hwang In Shik)
Ying Bai	...	Ding Wei Chung
Feng Tien
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chung-kuei Chang
Shen Chan
Kang-Yeh Cheng
Kei Ying Cheung
Tao Chiang
Shao Hua Chu
Hsiao Po Ko
Kun Li
Chin Ku Ma
Te Sheng Wang
Hung Yang

Also Known As:

A Fistful of Talons (Hong Kong: English title)
Foo ying (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Guo lu ke (Hong Kong: Mandarin title) (original script title)

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Eternal Film Company

Kung Fu, stunts and Eagles!

A combination of old school kung fu and new style ala Jacky Chan. The director, recently from the Shaw studios lends a seasoned hand while the action is geared more to the "smash the anonymous stuntman" school made popular by Chan and Sammo Hung.

The Chings are trying to make a comeback and restore the Manchu dynasty in early 20th century China. Billy Chong plays a youthful tormentor of Ching sympathizers. He likes to chop their pony tails off. A Ching traitor comes through the tavern Chong's father runs and Chong decides to join up with the revolutionaries and help defeat the Chings. Along the way he promises to marry the police chief's daughter who raises eagles (!). She's unmarried because men think she's "too fierce". Chong is trying to escape the daughter and find the traitor who's on the run from the Chings since he's stolen the emperor's seal from them.

The best part of this film are the plentiful fights and wacky stunt work. There are some incredible acrobatic stunts during some fights. The actors are all good movie fighters. The plot is a little weak and the acting is good for a cheapie but not exceptional. Chong seems to base his acting style more on Fu Sheng than Jacky Chan but without the needed intensity for the final scenes. Director Sun Cheung keeps the film moving and has his usual intense action style. The fights look exceptional fierce at times. Unfortunately the last fight isn't as good as some of the fights before. The trained eagles are unusual but not used very well in the plot.

A warning to animal lovers, the last scene has a brazen example of real cruelty so I would advise you to avoid this film.

Better then average HK independent film. Might be worth a try.