What's your favorite OLDSTYLE kung fu flick?

[Ummon]

Those of us who grew up during the golden age of video games also saw the arrival of cable in every neighborhood and with it the various channels that would have all sorts of candy for a young boy. One of them was USA's Sunday morning KUNG FU THEATRE. Another one on our service was KTTV's (L.A.) Saturday afternoon BLACK BELT THEATRE.

All through junior high, I pretty religiously watched these, alternating between them, as for a time one would show the older and cheesier flicks, then they for some uknown reason would switch. I fancied myself a connisseur of the finest kung fu flicks of the time, and me and my brother and even this older kid would watch these and 'incorporate' the styles we saw into our for-fun fighting.

I don't remember many of the titles, but two that have stuck in my mind are The Spearman of Death, and The Fists of White Lotus, the latter being my all-time favorite (especially as it stars Gordon Liu, my fave dude in these movies). So, a few years ago, I searched Ebay for The Fists of White Lotus - and I found it! And tonight I've been watching it again after a long break. Of course some of it is flat out ridiculous. But some of the really hardcore fighting still gets my goose.

What's your fave from that time (75-83)?

[Singapura]

Maybe it's a cliche but Enter the Dragon is still one of my favorites.

[NiN^_^NiN]

Ninja Death

Its a cheesy kung fu movie but not the cheesy mouth moving for 2 seconds after the english voice over has finished it's quite a good movie i like it it is one of thoese movies you gotta like its like a movie MST3k would use except it's got some nudity in it


Well worth watching i got all 3 movies

It's in public domain now so it's legal go download it

Ninja Death
http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowmovie.html?movieid=449

Ninja Death II
http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowmovie.html?movieid=447

Ninja Death III
http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowmovie.html?movieid=448

The site also has a thumbnail listing of scenes of all the movies so you get an idea of what the movie looks like without blindly downloading it

Here is a quick youtube vid of some of the movie


Here is the Martial arts section of publicdomaintorrents.com
http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowcat.html?category=martialarts

[danny_galaga]

Maybe it's a cliche but Enter the Dragon is still one of my favorites.

yeah, i saw this at the drive in with my parents when i was a lil fella. for years all i remembered was the cool 'room of mirrors' scene. was many years later that i saw it again on the telly and was finally able to put a name to it...

[Malenko]

well you said oldstyle kungfu flick, so Im gonna hafta go with "The Bride with White Hair"  even though it doesnt meet the 75-83 criteria, it came out in 93  but its in the same vein as everything else mentioned so far

[Ginsu Victim]

The Kid with the Golden Arms

Five Deadly Venoms

36th Chamber of Shaolin

Drunken Master

Legend of Drunken Master

Old Dirty Kung Fu

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

Shaolin Drunkards

Fist of Legend (not that old, but a return to style)

Twin Warriors (aka Tai Chi Master)

Tai Chi 2

10 Tigers of Kwan Tang

and though not old school, I love Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story.

[Blanka]

Kung Fu Panda 

[mcfreak]

+1 for Shaolin Master Killer

[hyiu]

36th Chamber of Shaolin

that's definitely a legend...

there's another one....

the legendary 18 weapons... (or something like that....)
sorry, don't know the English name....

those are old school, minimal special effect, real fighting kung fu movie...

[odysseyroc]

Seven Grandmasters

Two Champions of Shaolin

The Mystery of Chessboxing

[Grasshopper]

A couple more well worth watching:

The Prodigal Son (some very authentic looking Wing Chun makes up for the terrible dubbing)

The Silent Flute (one of my favourites - preposterous but incredibly cool at the same time, and written by Bruce Lee and James Coburn!)

[Ummon]

No no, I set that range because anything after that is generally a different thing. Especially anything in the 90's, especially anything of Jet Li's. Some neat stuff there, too, but way more intense effects-wise, and some of it a little over the top. Of course, it could be argued that old style really peaked and sort of ended with Bruce Lee's last flick, but I don't really think of his stuff cos I didn't ever like his sorta John Wayne-ish fighting style in the movies.

Looking back, I don't know WHY they tried to lip-sync the dubbing. I've never anywhere else seen that, so where did THAT idea come from? They actually could've really written some good dialogue if not for that.

The Kid with the Golden Arms

Five Deadly Venoms

36th Chamber of Shaolin

Drunken Master

Legend of Drunken Master

Old Dirty Kung Fu

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

Shaolin Drunkards

There ya go. Yeah.  36th chamber and many of those - Gordon Liu. Also something I'd not realised, is in Fist of the White Lotus, one of the main things is that he learns 'pulses' and that's how he's healed after a fight with White Lotus, and how he then beats him. I mean, not the same story as Crouching Tiger, but a major plot element that was in a movie long before it.

Some of those others posted I'll have to check out.

[Ginsu Victim]

Some of them I posted just because I like them, not because they're that great or anything.
Mainly referring to Shaolin Drunkards (a Yuen Woo Ping film) which is kind of funny, and Old Dirty Kung Fu starring Simon Yuen (the old man from Drunken Master and many other drunken boxing films).

[ray_slup]

Shaolin Temple was good
spearman of death I also remember
the flying gulitin of death

[Goz]

What about the 1985 classic.... The Last Dragon

[Spaz Monkey]

Check out www.kungfucinema.com for movies.  I got a few flicks from them.  Shaw Bros are the best!

[Thenasty]

Five Deadly Venoms....

[vorghagen]

http://www.publicdomaintorrents.com/nshowcat.html?category=martialarts

  you owe me a new hard drive.

[ark_ader]

By far the best one is Enter the Double Dragon.

[Xiaou2]

 Ginsu,  great pics 

Ones Ive seen and agree with:


36th Chamber of Shaolin  (all time classic!  Gordon is da man!     )
 
Drunken Master

Legend of Drunken Master  (some of the most amazing Drunken fist Ive ever
seen.  Probably Jackies best choeography/movements ever filmed.  Simply
jaw dropping)

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow  (not to be confused with snake and crane arts.
Love the scene where he fights 3 men with spears at once.  The training
sequences were great too   )

Fist of Legend (not that old, but a return to style) (Jets end fight scene is AWESOME)

Twin Warriors (aka Tai Chi Master)  (the movements at the end at phenomenal!)


and though not old school, I love Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story.

 (you mean  Supercop?  cool movie.  Rumble was ok... loved the wooden
dummy sequence)



 Another Excellent film is  "Fist and Guts".  Gorden Liu  is also in this as well.
It really will surprise you towards the end.   Excellent Kungfu scenes, and
some great comedy in there too.

 I wish I could remember the rest.  Should have written them down.


 Some of these old films may not seem to have that realistic speed fighting
seen in todays films... however, there is a lot of brilliance in the actual
movements.  Much more so than in many of the modern movies.  You can
actually learn a lot by watching them... esp with a background in the arts.
Some of the training sequences are also very cool - and many actually are
the real methods used in the past.  Can be very insightful and inspirational.

 Gota love Gordon Lui.   Not many are as great at portraying kungfu.. but also
have that amazing personality and charisma.   Hes a great actor and artist -
which is pretty rare.   hmm, that reminds me of  Michelle Yeoh..
Love her! 
 
 Ohh, almost forgot to mention a few more modern films:

 "Wing Chun"   starring Michelle Yeoh.
 "Iron Monkey"
 "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"


 Heh, and this doesnt really count.. but was entertaining:
"Remo Williams The Adventure Begins" 

[Ed_McCarron]

For some reason, I read the title as "Whats your favorite OLDSTYLE kung fu KICK" and was thinking "How the heck do I know what the different kicks are called?"

[Ummon]

For some reason, I read the title as "Whats your favorite OLDSTYLE kung fu KICK" and was thinking "How the heck do I know what the different kicks are called?"

Ss-ss-ss-ss-ss-ss-ss.

Xiaou2, I think Rumble in the Bronx is '80, so it qualifies. A lot of those others don't, though. Yeah, Liu was pretty cool. Have you ever heard one of his flicks un-dubbed? Oh my god, he has this high male voice. Well, seems they all do, and they sound like a bunch of geese in heat! I remember the kids back in college sounded the same. Egads.

[Xiaou2]

 Now that you mention it... Im not so sure if Ive heard Liu unedited.  Ill have to check it out.

 I once went to a  Chinese Opera  here.   They train to sing in a very high and unusual
voice. It was very strange.   The acrobatics were incredible however.

 Personally, I try to watch the originals when I can.   For example,  I saw Crouching Tiger before
it was dubbed english.   I dont mind the subtitles.     I later saw the english dubbed version, and
I was horrified.    The little girl was supposed to be portrayed at being like 12 yrs old I think.
However... they used an older woman to do her voice... and it totally didnt match her character
at all.   I literally cant stand to watch that movie in english.

 However,  there are some movies which I prefer in english... such as  Wing Chun.   The translation
is actually more comical...  and the voices are very well suited to the characters. 

[sez]

Japanese Ghost Story - one of my favourites.

[Ginsu Victim]

and though not old school, I love Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story.

 (you mean  Supercop?  cool movie.

No, not Supercop. Supercop is the sequel to Police Story.

[Ummon]

Japanese Ghost Story - one of my favourites.

I haven't seen this....

and though not old school, I love Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story.

 (you mean  Supercop?  cool movie.

No, not Supercop. Supercop is the sequel to Police Story.

Some years ago when I was getting back into kung fu flicks and checking out newer ones, I meant to see this/these, but didn't get around to it. I like Yeoh. She's just a great actress. And I prefer any non-American movie in its original language. I originally saw Ghost in the Shell in Japanese, and, in combination with the subtitles, the vocalizations were outstanding.

[shardian]

Master of the Flying Guillotine was flat out bad ass.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072913/

If you haven't seen it, then it is required viewing.

[ChadTower]

Legend of Drunken Master  (some of the most amazing Drunken fist Ive ever
seen.  Probably Jackies best choeography/movements ever filmed.  Simply
jaw dropping)

My vote too... might be my favorite movie period.

[Ginsu Victim]

Though not Kung Fu, also check out "Ong Bak", "The Protector" ("Tom Yung Goong"), and coming soon, "Ong Bak 2" and "Chocolate".

[Ummon]

I think I remember Flying Guillotine. I think I'm going to revise the time period to 78-83. One thing I didn't like about the punching sound effects in the 70s was they sounded like a 'shung'. Like someone was slamming a metal hatch. But the 'TSCH, TSCH, TSCH' of the next era sounded more like you were hitting somebody.

Of course, these are fun, but ultimately I think the more aggressive fighting styles of the pacific islands and such are more effective as the intent is to meet briefly and instantly mame or kill. Then of course you have those monks in Tibet or whatever who can just touch you and paralyse or kill.

[Ginsu Victim]

instantly mame or kill

They either build a cabinet or kill you? I'll take the first.

[RyoriNoTetsujin]

Oh, I could live in this thread... 

I often wonder how much "Master of the Flying Guillotine" influenced the original designers of Street Fighter II...

Has anyone here seen the much less known (and significantly worse) "Fatal Flying Guillotine"?

"The Legend of Drunken Master" as the US got it (just plain ol' Drunken Master 2 to everyone else) is not a perfect movie, but it is certainly Jackie's best martial arts performance. There's a reason he chose to bring that style back in "The Forbidden Kingdom."  NOBODY does Drunken Fist like Jackie Chan...

Five Venoms is another masterpiece.  Great "gateway" movie for people who are on the fence about kung fu mivies in general...

No one has mentioned "Shaolin vs. Wu Tang", or "Lords of Wu-Tang" so I'll add them in...

That Thai movie "Chocolate" looks like it's going to be really interesting!

Ultimately, if I hadn't seen the great Bruce Lee flick "Fists of Fury" ("Chinese Connection" in the US, the movie which inspired Jet Li's "Fist of Legend") back when I was 6 years old(!), I wouldn't be training in martial arts today... hell, I might not have even become an actor!

[Ginsu Victim]

Yesterday Dragon Dynasty finally released a proper uncut DVD of Tai Chi Master (known as Twin Warriors in its previous American edition).

Picked it up today to replace my old VHS.

Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, and Chin Siu Ho directed by Yuen Wo-Ping.....how can you go wrong?

[vidmouse]

The only one I remember from that time was one
where the hero used bamboo reeds to fight...
kinda like rope, he wouldn't use it like a whip, but
but move so fast he tied his opponents up
to some scaffolding...

darn if I can't remember the name of it...

[Ummon]

instantly mame or kill

They either build a cabinet or kill you? I'll take the first.

Aiyy, I got mame on the brain. Maim! Heheheh.

The only one I remember from that time was one
where the hero used bamboo reeds to fight...
kinda like rope, he wouldn't use it like a whip, but
but move so fast he tied his opponents up
to some scaffolding...

darn if I can't remember the name of it...

Hard to say. I think one of Liu's flicks had something like this. Maybe 36th chamber, actually. Also, I think a 90s flick had one where this kid early in the movie develops this kind of thing by the time he's into his teens or early 20s. Can't remember the name of it, but one of the 'techniques' of his family is to 'train' his pony tail.

[vidmouse]

Hard to say. I think one of Liu's flicks had something like this. Maybe 36th chamber, actually.

Looking at the Youtube preview of it, I don't think so, but
it's hard to say, it was soooo long ago that I watched it.

[Ginsu Victim]

From the description, it doesn't sound the same as Liu's samjiegun (three-section staff) in 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

[Ummon]

I forget which Liu flick it was, but there definitely is one where he's in the monastery and is sorta let loose to figure out his own style by discovering new techniques in various work projects. One of them is building out of bamboo and reeds.

[Xiaou2]

 It was "Return of the Master Killer"

 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-AVKvyawto[/youtube]

 They wouldnt let him train in the Temple... but let him fix their Temple.  In the
process of fixing the temple...  while he observed the monks.. he was able to
develop his own training methods.

[Ummon]

Heh heh heh heh heh heh, yeah, that's a good one. I might aspire to walking two walls and stuff like that.