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The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great!
Review: Boy, it's good to see that they are finally remastering kung-fu films! Clean and crisp picture! Even in DTS! Although the surrounds are not really utilized much.

This is one of the few films that actually has a good story. It is actually funny, but also has real hard-core fights. Basically, get all of these remastered wide-screen kung-fu films. That fat girl was cute too...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Best films of the Genre
Review: Director Sammo Hung creates a story of Chinese folklore hero Leung Chang played by Yuen Biao(phonetically= Beau).
It portrays Leung Chang as rich spoiled kid who thinks he knows how to fight. People actually get paid to get beat up by him.
He meets a peking opera star Leung Yee Tai played by Lam Chi Ying. Leung Yee tells him that he can't fight and has his butt handed to him. Leung Chang then wants to be taught how to fight by Leung Yee.

Anyone who wants to start a collection of Kung Fu DVD's should consider buying this. Prodigal Son is always in a top 10 of the genre. The Action is non-stop and the story is very good. Go check it out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow....blew me away...
Review: For the age of the film (made in 1982), this film really surprised and pleased me. I wasn't expecting such intensity, but it is frequently said that this film started the modern fighting kung fu flicks of the 80's, which in my opinion is the best due to lack of wires and other digital tools that now invade the majority of the newer flicks. It was straight forward Kung (Gung) Fu skills. This film is somewhere up in my top 5 martial arts film of all time, and can rival any kung fu movie of any time. I have become a huge fan of Lam Ching Ying,Yuen Biao,Sammo Hung, and Frankie Chan because of this film. The story, as stated by everyone else here, focuses around Biao's character as the Prodigal Son who who is recognized around his town as the fighter who has never lost a battle. However, the townspeople know something that Biao himself is oblivious to, which is the fact that Biao's father is paying off challengers to protect his only precious son. One day, a true Kung Fu master (Lam Ching Ying) teaches him a lesson and Biao soon realize the truth afterwards. The rest of the film has Biao relentlessly following the master pleading him to become his teacher. The movie will start off slow with the beginning fight not being too impressive, but dont let that turn you off because it definitely gets better. Throughout the rest of film are amazing fights involving Lam, Biao, Frankie, and Sammo. This film displays probably the best view of Wing Chun seen in a movie. One of the best fights I have ever seen takes place between Lam Ching Ying and Frankie Chan with Lam using Wing Chun and Frankie using what im assuming some sort of Tiger or Eagle style that looks like Mantis-form (I am a former kung fu student). Folks, this fight is so fast and realistic, I cant help thinking its better than the fights from fist of legend or drunken master 2 (but of course, not quite). These guys are TRYING to hit each other, but at the same time the speed of the fight is insane. The hand movements and contacts are so quick, it's amazing that the fighters were able to keep up with themselves. This is true great martial arts at its finest. Biao and Sammo also show their usual great skills with some brilliant fighting from Biao in the last battle. However, it was Lam Ching Ying that took me away with his Wing Chun abilities. I've seen him in other films (Mr. Vampire), and he doesn't get quite as good as he did here. This man is extremely talented and totally stole the whole movie in my opinion. I was kind of let down when Biao didn't use wing chun very much if at all in the last battle, but the fight was still very impressive. Aside from the fighting, the movie is hilarious with great comedy provided by Sammo. Prodigal Son is one of Sammo's greatest works by far, and the many awards the movie has won would show that. Movies are never made like this anymore and for the greatest kung fu flicks of all time, this is no exception. There are at least 3 versions of the dvd I know of with the best coming from the Hong Kong Legends distributors. You'll need an all-region dvd player to play their region 2 PAL dvds. It's worth it tho folks, the video and sound are all remastered to the fullest and the extras are incredible. These distributors live to remaster kung fu flicks. There are also all-coded Universe and Megastar dvd releases too which are decent enough, but dont match to HKL. Either version is fine, but you gotta at least check it out and make your own opinions about it. Other great Sammo and Biao flicks are Eastern Condors, Righting Wrongs, and almost any movie alongside Jackie. Check out my other martial art movie reviews too, thanks for reading.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Martial Arts Movie Not TO Be Missed
Review: For those "Wing Tsun Widows" out there and you know who you are, this would be the perfect gift for your martial arts enthusiest for any occasion. My husband came home from class one night saying that this is the end all of all the best martial arts movies and he just had to have it. So guess what we will be watching on Christmas day?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Pretty good movie with some good Wing Chun scenes
Review: I bought this DVD for one reason and one reason only: because I'd heard that it had the Wing Chun fighting style in it.
Over all, it wasn't a bad movie. However it seemed a little dated; the production quality seems to be similar to the cheap Kung Fu movies I used to watch on Saturday afternoon years ago on TV: bad overdubs, etc. However I did like the fact that there was some Wing Chun in the movie and for that reason I'm glad I bought it. It would be nice though if someone would release a better produced, more modern movie that emphasized the Wing Chun style.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: I gotta agree with everyone. This movie is really good, and the fights are fantastic(ranking right along side Fist of Legend for pure brutality). The fighters perform their moves fast and realistic, like they're really trying to hit each other. It's not like other movies where it seems they are being too flashy showing off moves rather than actually fighting. You'll need the slo-mo feature on your dvd to capture all the cool choreography in this one. Also, i don't think people are stressing this enough; besides Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, and Lam Ching Ying, there is another great reason to see this...the incredible Frankie Chan! He makes a great and formidable villain(although he's not quite the bad guy that one would expect...he has respect for his opponents, which makes him a very cool antagonist in the film). ANY kung fu film worth its salt has a formidable villain(otherwise, how would the hero be able to show off his skills?). Also, if you're price conscious(as in cheap) and think all of us who are giving rave reviews are exaggerating, there is a new version that costs less than $10! For that price, surely you can't pass up a chance to see what may become your next favorite kung fu film can you? Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: I gotta agree with everyone. This movie is really good, and the fights are fantastic(ranking right along side Fist of Legend for pure brutality). The fighters perform their moves fast and realistic, like they're really trying to hit each other. It's not like other movies where it seems they are being too flashy showing off moves rather than actually fighting. You'll need the slo-mo feature on your dvd to capture all the cool choreography in this one. Also, i don't think people are stressing this enough; besides Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung, and Lam Ching Ying, there is another great reason to see this...the incredible Frankie Chan! He makes a great and formidable villain(although he's not quite the bad guy that one would expect...he has respect for his opponents, which makes him a very cool antagonist in the film). ANY kung fu film worth its salt has a formidable villain(otherwise, how would the hero be able to show off his skills?). Also, if you're price conscious(as in cheap) and think all of us who are giving rave reviews are exaggerating, there is a new version that costs less than $10! For that price, surely you can't pass up a chance to see what may become your next favorite kung fu film can you? Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The man with no eyebrows will not be your Master!!!!!!
Review: I must say, that despite the love affair I see w/Yuen Biao, I feel it was Lam Chi Ying who stole the show. Lam Chi Ying plays the eyebrow less actor, who breaks it to Yuen Biao that he has piss poor kung fu, and anyone who knows anything about kung fu would easily defeat him. Then, after Lam Chi Ying easily disposes of him, Yuen Biao goes and tests Lam Chi Ying theory about his poor kung fu. Nevertheless, lets just say he finds out the hard way Lam Chi Ying was right.

Yuen Biao wants Lam Chi Ying to be his master, but Lam Chi Ying wants no part of it, and then takes off the adventure of the extremes Yuen Biao must go through to get Lam Chi Ying to teach him the style of wing chun.

Frankie Chan was also awesome in this movie, and his two fight scenes were done so well. I also loved the make-up/realism of the last fight sequence. I knew his head should swell up, but the swelling was done to perfection. That last fight sequence was marvelous.

Also, Sammo Hungs relationship w/his brother and daughter was done so well. His character was fabulous, and really added to the movie. This is definitely a movie that is safe to purchase before seeing. No need to rent this movie, just purchase it and add it to your collection.

Grade: A

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great classical wing chun movie!!
Review: Newly remastered film that brings a fresh new look once again to the classic movie. Picture is clear for the most part like most remastered films except for slight tears in the original film that probably couldn't be repaired further. DVD contains the basic actor profiles on Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung. Plot-wise it is a story of a spoiled young man who wants to become a top kung fu fighter. However, his rich father, not wanting his only son to be hurt, pays off potential challengers. Eventually, he meets up with his future sifu, or teacher, of the wing chun style thru a travelling opera troupe. Later, the sifu is killed by the henchmen of a government official's son which in turn forces a fight between the two young men. Overall, the training scenes and fight scenes of the wing chun style in this movie are great although true wc practitioners will see that its been modified a bit for filming purposes. The philosphies and teachings though are for the most part true to the wing chun credo.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ever enjoyed a fight scene? GO BUY IT.......
Review: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I will begin by stating my #1 kung fu movie of all time is "Fist of Legend".(Jet Li. If you haven't seen this title....Please do, it is a remake of Bruces' classic "Fist of Fury" and it surpassess it...Majorly, and don't question me, it's the best ever.) This is #3 in my top 10..
Yep, it's amazing. I just hope you go get it, for your sake.

Th story is deep, (Revenge is only a fraction of the plot.)and it has very likable characters. Lam Ching Ying is the best in this film. Biao is awsome, but it's all about the Wing Chun master. This exciting form, just about never caught on film,(It's the first time I've seen it besides the fantasy title "Wing Chun" with Michelle Yoeh[Also great]) has juiced me up to try to find a school of Wing Chun. I've always wanted to take up a style, and I've found one. Exhilarating!!

The action direction won an award in China. This choreography can be compared to Yuen Woo Ping's brilliance because it shows just the right angle you need to see at just the right time. The editing is delicious! Slow motion shots, hard hitting realism, and tons of it. Sammo moves like a limber gymnast here, definately in top form. Lam Ching Ying will entertain you with his awe-inspiring technique, while the popcorn flies in your mouth and your eyes bug out at the screen.

Pure action and adventure for any adult!....Wow.


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