Credited cast: | |||
Jackie Chan | ... | A Lung (as Chen Yuen Lung) | |
Nora Miao | |||
Sing Chen | |||
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Chung-Kuei Chang | ||
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Ming Cheng Chang | ||
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Shen Lin Chang | ||
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Chao Yung Chen | ||
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Jen Chen | ||
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Siu Siu Cheng | ||
Kam Cheung | |||
Lung Chin | |||
Kuo Chung Ching | |||
Su Han | |||
Ying-Chieh Han | |||
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Ming Shao Ho |
A brother and sister escape from Japanese-occupied Shanghai to Japanese-occupied Taiwan, to stay with their grandfather who runs a Kung-Fu school there. However, the master of a Japanese Kung- Fu school in Taiwan has designs on bringing all other schools on the island under his domination, and part of his plan involves the murder of the siblings' grandfather. Undaunted, the brother and sister reestablish their grandfather's school, leading to a final confrontation with the Japanese Kung Fu master. Jackie Chan plays a young thief who at first does not want to learn Kung-Fu, but finally realizes that he can no longer stand by and let the Japanese trample the rights of the Chinese people. He proves extremely adept at the martial arts, and carries the fight to its final conclusion. Written by Christopher E. Meadows <cmeadows@nyx.cs.du.edu>
Fairly drawn-out and sometimes frustrating Kung Fu film about the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. This film is not too bad, you just have to make it to the final reel - something that I expect only enthusiasts of this genre will do. So why is it frustrating? Well, Jackie (or Jacky as credited here), does virtually nothing until fellow Chinese literally drag him into a Kung Fu school in the last quarter of the (2 hour) film.
Sure, he has one action scene early in the film, but he succeeds only in getting pounded nicely by two Japanese fighters. A nice motive for him to learn Kung Fu, I thought. But I was wrong. He does nothing about it...
Anyway, this is one of the more coherent Wei Lo films, and the tension builds fairly steadily. The main villain played by Sing Chen is a believable and decidedly confronting and dangerous man - he's great.
The references to Bruce Lee are tastelessly rammed down your throat, but the final fight is great and suitably brutal. It's a good revenge story, with an unusual ending.