CompleteMartialArts.com - Legendary Weapons Of China / Shaw Bros / Special Edition
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List Price: $14.99
Our Price: $13.49
Your Save: $ 1.50 ( 10% )
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Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Starring: Tiet Wo Chu, Sheng Fu, Hou Hsiao, Kara Hui, King Chu Lee
Directed By: Chia-Liang Liu
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Image Entertainment
EAN: 0014381321128
Format: Color
Label: Image Entertainment
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-01-09
Running Time: 109
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 1982
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Editorial Reviews:
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From the director of Drunken Master 2, Invincible Pole Fighter and The 36 Chambers of Shaolin! Confronted with brutal invading hordes during the Boxer Rebellion, heroic Lei Kung is appalled by the senseless slaughter around him. When his dissent puts him in the path of deadly masters who want him silenced, his only chance for survival lies in a secret, powerful arsenal of the most bizarre, deadly weapons ever created by man! This wild, martial arts powerhouse features incredible stuntwork, bizarre plot twists (including hypnotism-controlled fighting!), and an eye-popping climax that has become a towering classic in kung fu cinema. Nominated for Best Choreography at the 1982 Hong Kong Film Awards!
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: action action
Comment: I only have one complaint: it would not play in my dvd player.
Overall it was good
Customer Rating:
Summary: a unique tale, set during China's Boxer Rebellion
Comment: Image's release of Celestial's remastering of this Shaw Brothers' classic should quench the thirst of those who waited for years for a decent version on DVD. This flick makes the top-10 list of a lot of old-school critics. In that capacity I think it's a little overrated, but if you like classic kung fu movies, it's a must-see.
It's now the 1900's and the world is changing. The Industrial Revolution has thwarted any last attempts the world has of living in harmony with nature. Misery loves company and China is full of potential labor and natural resources, so goons from all over the world are pestering them to join in the carnage. The country is divided. Groups of rebels are trying to preserve China's way of life, but meet with resistance from the preferred weapon of the westerner... the gun. Still believing that the right amount of kung fu training will overcome the rifle, the Spiritual Sect continues to sacrifice pupils in perfecting the art of deflection. Lei Kung (Lau Kar Leung, directing the film and the fights) tires of watching his brothers die needlessly. Eventually realizing that these changes are inevitable, he decides to leave the sect. Not content with letting him go peacefully, the sect's leader (Lau Kar Wing) dispatches 3 fighters (Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, and Hsiao Hou) to find him; though the only one who is aware of the other two, secretly sympathizes with Lei Kung.
This movie is very different and one of Lau Kar Leung's better directed films. There are a lot of cool, brief, ninja-like exchanges between the major players before the captivating extended finale involving the 18 members of the film's title. There is also a long comic sequence with Alexander Fu Sheng pretending to be Lei Kung in an attempt to draw out the old master. Though it's an odd mix, it is well done if you're patient enough between fights. I wasn't real big on the hypnotism kung fu, but it's brief and adds to the individual flavor of the movie.
The picture is as crisp as a new dollar-bill and will disappoint no one. Celestial has done an amazing job on all of the Shaw Bros. flicks, but some really stand out; this is one of them. Kara Hui don't hurt none neither. The language tracks include the original Mandarin and an English dub.
1982. aka: "18 Legendary Weapons of China", "Legendary Weapons of Kung Fu"
Customer Rating:
Summary: could have been better
Comment: the fight scenes are awsome in this movie but it could have been alot better they have some A list actors in this film for it to be dull as it is the plot sucked in a way but the best part of the film was the end the dimestration of the diffrent weapons used.....
Customer Rating:
Summary: Image did it again
Comment: When I first saw this awesome movie on Drive-In Movie (channel 5) back in the day I liked it. However, it didn't have those familiar Australian voices, it had these new voices on the dubbing. Many Shaw Brother flicks that were made after 1980 had these different U.K. voices, and they sucked big time. It actually affected the acting negatively. Now, Image Entertainment changed all that. It's like a whole new film.
Along with "Master Killer" this is one of Liu Chia-Liang's (Lau Kar-Leung) best. This one also stars his half-brother Gordon Liu, but Liang (along with his other brother, Liu Chia-Yung a.k.a. Lau Kar-Wing) take on the lead roles. Co-starring are Chu Tieh Wu (the villain from "Jade Claw"), Hsiao Hou, Kara Hui Ying-Hung (both were Liang's students) and the late Fu Sheng. Widescreen, beautiful, crisp picture. Awesome original Chinese track (even includes the English dub), and a bunch of trailers showing the rest of the growing catalogue of Image acquisitions.
I'm not really going to go into the plot because if you're reading this, all you need to know is it's from Shaw Brothers. It takes place during the Boxer Rebellion, and this movie even reveals the hoax of witchcraft, magic and being bullet-proof toward the end. Absolutely amazing martial arts (choreography by the Liu brothers, Hsiao Hou & Ching Chu), especially the fifteen minute end fight, which includes everything from hand-to-hand to the 18 weapons. It also includes the name of the weapon appearing on the screen when one of the Liu brothers use it. Yeah, I know fu, too. I hope this is a sign of things to come from Image Entertainment.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of Lau Kar Leung's best movies
Comment: While there are at least 5 or 6 Lau films I would put above this, Legendary Weapons is still a wonderful kung fu film. Let's see, we have Lau Kar Leung himself in a starring role, Lau Kar Wing in a spectacular fight with many different weapons, Kara Kui, Hsiou Hou, and Gordon Liu in a great fighting role. The director manages to live up to the title of the movie and manages to top what you may be thinking of it going in. While it is not one of the most exciting movies ever, the last 30 minutes will absolutely blow you away.
It is also odd seeing Hsiou Hou from Lau's 'Mad Monkey Kung Fu' and 'Cat Vs. Rat' in a serious role. He gets in a couple of moments of comedy but don't expect the norm with him on this one. It is a joy seeing all of Lau's great stars that he brought up in this. Even Fu Sheng has an extended cameo and most fans of his will enjoy seeing him on screen but others will not like his part in the movie.
This release from Image Entertainment is very good. Crystal clear picture quality and great 5.1 and 2 channel sound in the Mandarin dialogue. Many will be very pleased to see an English track on here. All 3 tracks have great sound quality. Unfortunately this release does not have any special features except for trailers. It does not even have the liner notes that the previous Image releases have had. No big deal to me though since I had never seen this wonderful movie. Overall this is an outstanding release. Very nice to see a couple of American DVD companies stepping up to the plate and giving American kung fu movie fans the releases they have been waiting for for a very long time.
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