Furious Swords and Fantastic Warriors: The Heroic Cinema of Chang Cheh
Disc one focuses on the Shaolin cycle with The Men from the Monastery and Shaolin Martial Arts. The first film is a convoluted collection of chapters that never quite gel, introducing historical characters who figure prominently in the Shaw Brothers fantasy universe. This mix of facts, famous warriors, and timelines plays out better in the next film, which adds a touch of romance to the typical plot of two acolytes mastering special skills to defend their temple.
Disc two pairs King Eagle and Iron Bodyguard. First up, Ti Lung stars as a reluctant hero caught between two women (Lee Ching in a dual role) and a deadly martial arts power struggle — a fun wuxia adventure that moves from one showdown to another. The follow-up stars Chen Kuan-Tai as a respected “handler” who gets drawn into a political mess for which even his oversized blade is no match. This one is light on action but big on mythmaking.
Disc three is strange from start to finish, kicking off with The Fantastic Magic Baby, a tale lifted straight from the Peking opera with sets seemingly inspired by the original Star Trek. There is some kung fu action here, but the emphasis is on creatures, costumes, and heavenly metaphors. Its co-feature, The Weird Man, is an off-the-beaten-path tale of spiritual vengeance that’s tough to follow no matter how familiar you are with Chinese history. Full of odd special effects and dramatic plot twists, this was one of Chang Cheh’s final films for the studio.
On disc four, the set really hits its stride with The Trail of the Broken Blade and The Wandering Swordsman. For starters, Jimmy Wang Yu plays a banished swordsman who befriends another traveling hero, unaware of his true identity. The duo combine forces to rid their town of the notorious gang from Flying Fish Island. Next up, David Chiang’s smug self-confidence gets put to terrific use as a Robin Hood of sorts, rescuing damsels in distress and righting wrongs almost accidentally. His charming performance makes even the non-action scenes fun to watch.
Disc five ends strong with Trilogy of Swordsmanship, featuring (you guessed it) three stories celebrating heroes with a particular set of skills. “The Tigress” might be the best of the bunch, with its His Girl Friday-style dialogue and clever feminine edge. Finally, The New Shaolin Boxers gets back to the beginning, with Alexander Fu Sheng bringing the fists of fury down on a neighborhood bully. Things get a bit dark with a sex-slavery angle in the final act, but it’s still one hell of a way to wrap up a Shaw Brothers marathon.
Chang Cheh’s stamp is all over these films, from his signature compositions (his camera almost peeks through the sets and scenery) to his controlled staging of each battle — no pop zooms here! To say he brought out the best in Shaw Brothers talent is an understatement, and the unfailing quality he managed to maintain while working at such a breakneck pace is cause for celebration. And that’s just what Eureka’s set deserves: a tip of the hat and a place of honor on the shelf for collecting eight terrific films… and two, um, whatever those are.
Extras include audio commentaries on each film, an essential video essay by Jonathan Clements explaining the dodgy history of the Shaolin Temple, another on the background of Iron Bodyguard, and an interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on the life and work of Chang Cheh. The limited-edition set also comes with a slipcase and collector’s booklet.
Comments
Post a Comment