The Master (1980)
"Bui bun si mun" (original title)

Director:

Chin-Ku Lu

Writer:

Kuang Ni

Stars:

Kuan Tai Chen, Tak Yuen, Hsueh-erh Wen

Cast

Credited cast:
Kuan Tai Chen	...	Jin Tien-yun
Tak Yuen	...	Gao Jian
Hsueh-erh Wen	...	Shi's daughter
Lung Wei Wang	...	Yan Qing-wang
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fei Ai
Lau Chan	...	2nd Brother
Chok Chow Cheung	...	Extra
Lin Chiang
Tsi-Ang Chin	...	Brothel madam
Miao Ching	...	Mr. Huang
Kam Kong Chow
Ging Man Fung	...	Extra
Hsieh-su Fung	...	Pupil of Shi
Eddy Ko	...	Pupil of Shi (as Ko Hung)
Fai Wong Lam	...	Ying Chang, 3rd Brother

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

martial arts | fighting

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin

Release Date:

August 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

3 Evil Masters

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shaw Brothers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Frustrating

Late Shaw Brothers films are dangerous territory. They did put out some of their absolute best flicks in the 80s (Fist of White Lotus for example), but generally speaking the industry had left their old- fashioned operatic sensibilities behind, and they were struggling to stay relevant. This one epitomizes that fact; somewhere in The Master there is a really good kung-fu movie, but it's dragged down by a constant stream of sub-Jackie Chan humor and pseudo-softcore porn exploitation elements, as well as the fact it probably runs about 20 minutes longer than it needs to. This was supposed to be Yuen Tak's breakout role, and it's easy to see why you probably don't recognize that name. He jumps around well enough, but he's got the charisma of a soggy cracker. At times he's reminiscent of the worst kung-fu star ever, Elton Chong.

Let's talk about some good things. The opening restaurant brawl is Shaw Brothers at their best, insanely stylish and kinetic, if a bit too promising for its own good. Then things get a bit lame & slapstick, and that's the trend the rest of the movie follows: great action setpieces, bad everything else. During that duel in that ancient, dusty tomb, or those temple ruins set to vaguely blaxploitationish smooth jazz, you'll WISH the rest of the film was better, but as a whole it's just competent enough that you can't really just dismiss it as something just to watch for the action. It's frustrating: not quite good enough, not quite bad enough. It drags, and whoever wrote the comedy deserves severe punishment, but there are some gems here and there.