According to my Vengeance video case this story is based on actual events that took place in Shanghai 1919. And that is the key to this film. 90% of the film is a drama about several Chinese being framed by the local police (led by Hwang Jang Lee) over the loss of a gwailo's Boxer dog. For the period the photography and direction are rather good with the help of authentic buildings and locations and only limited use of sets. The bad news is that the subtitles are almost unreadable and the film doesn't seem to have been restored and is grainy at times with fluctuating light and colour levels. But the story is gripping and when Philip Ko does fight they are very good indeed. In fact the final fight between Ko and Hwang is very evenly matched and both seem to be on superb form producing an outstanding bout with a clever ending. I must mention Lau Hok Nin's acting and the old mother Lam Jing who give very good dramatic performances not even seen in this sort of film. This is not your usual hit everything / everyone film but a good drama with one of the best climax fights ever filmed.
6 Reviews
Flawed, but it's still good
hmmdrmike31 January 2005
Tiger Over Wall has several seriously flawed battle scenes where you can noticeably tell that actors are falling over before actually being "hit." Though I guess you shouldn't watch any karate movie with a sense of absolute reality, the poorly choreographed fight scenes do detract a lot from the viewing experience. Overall though, the movie is still good.
The plot is inane and I'll spare you the details. The dialogue is poor and the character's poorly developed. All in all you're supposed to feel sympathetic towards the Ko and hate the police chief (I forget his name). The entire movie is a built around the final fight scene between Ko and the chief... and this scene along saves the movie.
How does a movie with a nonsensical plot and bad fight scenes garner a 6 vote? Who knows... but it somehow does. A good film 70's martial arts film... but not a great one.
The plot is inane and I'll spare you the details. The dialogue is poor and the character's poorly developed. All in all you're supposed to feel sympathetic towards the Ko and hate the police chief (I forget his name). The entire movie is a built around the final fight scene between Ko and the chief... and this scene along saves the movie.
How does a movie with a nonsensical plot and bad fight scenes garner a 6 vote? Who knows... but it somehow does. A good film 70's martial arts film... but not a great one.
A personal best for Hwang Jang-Lee and Phillip Ko Fei
ckormos120 November 2016
It starts with a game of blind man's bluff but the kids are actually hazing the disabled guy. A white guy comes out, chases the kids off and demands to know if the disabled guy saw a missing boxer dog. The answer is no but the white guy insists he lies and beats him. In the next scene the police are also looking for this dog and if you haven't seen it then you too will be beaten. Finally they arrest the disabled guy for stealing the dog.
I've viewed thousands of martial arts movies going back as far as the 1950s. Anyone who has not watched at least a few hundred would never get past the first ten minutes of this movie. The novice viewer would think that in Chinese society to beat disabled people is normal, the folks in power use all opportunities to oppress, you are guilty unless you can prove your innocence or pay a bribe, and if a crime is committed it is solved as soon as an arrest is made regardless of innocence or guilt. And if you made it to the end – all that matters is who walks away after the final fight. Hard core fans like myself acknowledge the senseless plot and then go on to rave about the final fight scene.
Phillip Ko Fei began his acting career in 1970 as an extra. This movie was his first big role. Hwang Jang-Lee is an established martial arts who began acting in small parts in South Korean movies with Charles Han as the lead. He hit the big time in the Hong Kong movie "The Secret Rivals". There was a glass ceiling to his career though as Hong Kong movie makers type cast him into "The Boot Master" role. In the 1990s he invested his money in various business opportunities in South Korea and has acted only on special occasions. He still practices Tae Kwan Do and also enjoys golf. He is in his 70s now in great health and looks 20 years younger which he credits to martial arts.
Other reviewers have called the final fight in this movie one of the best fights ever. There is always the question "What was the best fight sequence ever in the history of martial arts movies?" That can never be answered because simply defining the best is impossible and all is really opinion anyway. I have been watching every martial arts movie ever made in chronological order from 1967 to present day. This mission began in January 2014. Since then I have made the following opinions regarding various "The Best".
1969 "King of Kings" The opening sword fight was the best sword fight ever as of 1969.
1972 "The Roaring Lion" The final fight in this movie with Cliff Lok against Sek Kin was the best fight sequence ever as of 1972 when the movie was released.
The best real martial artist female martial arts star was Kan Chia- Fong (aka Yuen Qiu).
May 7, 1976 (the release date of "Challenge of the Masters") the best fight scene ever filmed as of that day was the fight scene in that movie with Lia Chiu-Liang against his brother Lau Kar-Wing. The runner – up would be his fight against Gordon Liu in the same movie. Since then there are thousands of possible best fight scenes.
1976 "The Secret Rivals" was not "The Best" anything but a landmark that changed the look of fight choreography with the amazing kicks of John Liu, Don Wong, and Hwang Jang-Lee.
The final fight in this movie was impressive. There was real power, speed, and expert focus. I would rate it Hwang Jang-Lee and Phillip Ko Fei's personal best fight sequence. I recommend the movie for all fans and rate it above average.
I've viewed thousands of martial arts movies going back as far as the 1950s. Anyone who has not watched at least a few hundred would never get past the first ten minutes of this movie. The novice viewer would think that in Chinese society to beat disabled people is normal, the folks in power use all opportunities to oppress, you are guilty unless you can prove your innocence or pay a bribe, and if a crime is committed it is solved as soon as an arrest is made regardless of innocence or guilt. And if you made it to the end – all that matters is who walks away after the final fight. Hard core fans like myself acknowledge the senseless plot and then go on to rave about the final fight scene.
Phillip Ko Fei began his acting career in 1970 as an extra. This movie was his first big role. Hwang Jang-Lee is an established martial arts who began acting in small parts in South Korean movies with Charles Han as the lead. He hit the big time in the Hong Kong movie "The Secret Rivals". There was a glass ceiling to his career though as Hong Kong movie makers type cast him into "The Boot Master" role. In the 1990s he invested his money in various business opportunities in South Korea and has acted only on special occasions. He still practices Tae Kwan Do and also enjoys golf. He is in his 70s now in great health and looks 20 years younger which he credits to martial arts.
Other reviewers have called the final fight in this movie one of the best fights ever. There is always the question "What was the best fight sequence ever in the history of martial arts movies?" That can never be answered because simply defining the best is impossible and all is really opinion anyway. I have been watching every martial arts movie ever made in chronological order from 1967 to present day. This mission began in January 2014. Since then I have made the following opinions regarding various "The Best".
1969 "King of Kings" The opening sword fight was the best sword fight ever as of 1969.
1972 "The Roaring Lion" The final fight in this movie with Cliff Lok against Sek Kin was the best fight sequence ever as of 1972 when the movie was released.
The best real martial artist female martial arts star was Kan Chia- Fong (aka Yuen Qiu).
May 7, 1976 (the release date of "Challenge of the Masters") the best fight scene ever filmed as of that day was the fight scene in that movie with Lia Chiu-Liang against his brother Lau Kar-Wing. The runner – up would be his fight against Gordon Liu in the same movie. Since then there are thousands of possible best fight scenes.
1976 "The Secret Rivals" was not "The Best" anything but a landmark that changed the look of fight choreography with the amazing kicks of John Liu, Don Wong, and Hwang Jang-Lee.
The final fight in this movie was impressive. There was real power, speed, and expert focus. I would rate it Hwang Jang-Lee and Phillip Ko Fei's personal best fight sequence. I recommend the movie for all fans and rate it above average.
Hwang Jang Lee and Philip Ko Showcasing Skills!!
jrat620024 January 2005
Like no other, Mr. Silver Fox himself, Hwang Jang Lee, has done it again. With Philip Ko as the protagonist and Mr. Silver Fox with his usual villainous on screen presence. Basically, revenge is the motive in this octane action flick. Of course, I admit that the story is flat except for the simplicity of the plot.
Plot Breakdown:
-Someone has a missing dog
-Hwang Jang Lee plays a corrupt official who tries to gain power and territory
-Lee locks up one of Ko's family members for pure torture
-Ko handles his business like a man and beats down everyone affiliated with Lee
-Long climatic battle between hero and villain (y'all know which is which)
It is stated that Hwang Jang Lee choreographed the fight scenes. All I have to say is that I'm very impressed with this man's work. Whether he's acting, producing, or choreographing, he's one of the best at what he does. The action scenes throughout the movie were pretty good. Philip Ko puts on a serious "kick a**" face when he's exploding on enemies. Lee does the same thing, but with more emphasis on legs. Both are brutal and hard-to-the-core. Remember though, there is no character development or emphasis on plot. Who cares!! The producers and the director of this film knew what they were doing. Wicked martial arts action is what I crave, and Hwang Jang Lee along with Philip Ko are just the ones to deliver it.
The last fight scene, in my opinion, should go down in cinematic martial arts history. As an avid viewer and aficionado of HK cinema, I would expect a board or big review of this movie. The reviewer before me is right though. Buy the movie for action only. You won't regret it. There is a second movie on the DVD version. The DVD version is a double feature. It is called Goose Boxer. Philip Ko is the villain. Not a very good edition to the DVD. Stick with TIGER OVER WALL!!
Final Judgement: ***1/2/****
Plot Breakdown:
-Someone has a missing dog
-Hwang Jang Lee plays a corrupt official who tries to gain power and territory
-Lee locks up one of Ko's family members for pure torture
-Ko handles his business like a man and beats down everyone affiliated with Lee
-Long climatic battle between hero and villain (y'all know which is which)
It is stated that Hwang Jang Lee choreographed the fight scenes. All I have to say is that I'm very impressed with this man's work. Whether he's acting, producing, or choreographing, he's one of the best at what he does. The action scenes throughout the movie were pretty good. Philip Ko puts on a serious "kick a**" face when he's exploding on enemies. Lee does the same thing, but with more emphasis on legs. Both are brutal and hard-to-the-core. Remember though, there is no character development or emphasis on plot. Who cares!! The producers and the director of this film knew what they were doing. Wicked martial arts action is what I crave, and Hwang Jang Lee along with Philip Ko are just the ones to deliver it.
The last fight scene, in my opinion, should go down in cinematic martial arts history. As an avid viewer and aficionado of HK cinema, I would expect a board or big review of this movie. The reviewer before me is right though. Buy the movie for action only. You won't regret it. There is a second movie on the DVD version. The DVD version is a double feature. It is called Goose Boxer. Philip Ko is the villain. Not a very good edition to the DVD. Stick with TIGER OVER WALL!!
Final Judgement: ***1/2/****
One of the best kung fu movies ever made
gorthu18 April 2009
Not often will you see a kung fu movie this well directed. Almost a perfect movie. This is the same director who made masterpieces for the Shaw Brothers like Secret Service of the Imperial Court and Bastard Swordsman. Though director TOny Liu has absolutely zero budget here, he doesn't let that stop him. He gets amazing performances from all of his actors. It is a dark movie. The cops are crooked, the heroes are poor, and bad things happen to all of them. The one flaw about this movie is that the story is about a missing dog. The cops want a retarded man to confess, but he doesn't know anything about the dog. I just don't see how I'm supposed to believe that all this fuss is over a dog. But if you can get past that, everything in this movie is perfect. The final fight is spectacular. The villain from Drunken Master, HWang Jang Lee, gives IMO his finest kicking performance in this movie. There's a raw energy in the final fight that will force any action/fight fan to watch in amazement. Just remember to breathe.
Worth a buy just for the awesome climactic battle!
Ash-896 February 2003
Tiger Over Wall has another senseless plot about someone's missing dog and a corrupt official (Hwang Jang Lee) who is sought out by the main character (Philipp Ko). But what matters here is the action. All the fights are good(especially Ko's ones)and they keep getting better and better. Which leads us to the final showdown between Hwang Jang Lee and Philipp Ko. This fight is awesome: its starts up with staffs and then they go hand-to-hand. This bout is like 10 minutes long too with blazing fast choreography and footwork, courtesy of Bootmaster Hwang Jang Lee. I also think this is Philipp Ko's best overall martial arts performance. Buy this DVD just for this fight alone, it is worth it and you'll get another movie as a bonus: Goose Boxer....................8/10
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