Drunken Master

Rating:
Summary: great movie, bad dvd
Review: i'm reviewing the product in question! Columbia House Dvd of Drunken Master! when I play this movie, and switch to cantonese language, the movie will sometimes play the english dubbing part of the film! And I know none of these actors can speak english! so I don't know if it's just my dvd or any of Columbia dvd's! GREAT MOVIE , bad product!

Rating:
Summary: One of Jackie's Best
Review: "Druken Master," the film that cemented Jackie Chan's stardom in Hong Kong, is still one of his best. This veeery broad kung fu comedy has a goofy, relaxed atmosphere to it that makes it enjoyable to watch. Also, the fight scenes (admittedly what really matters in a movie like this) are expertly choreographed, and a genuine thrill to watch. The melodramatic (if almost non-existant) conflict between Chan and bad guy Hwang Jang Lee only adds to the fun. Plus, Simon Yuen as the old master was never better.
The DVD from Columbia is in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, after many years of faded pan-and-scan videos. The picture is a tad scratchy, although it's without a doubt the best this movie has looked in a long time. Thankfully, in addition to the English dub, the original Cantonese language track is included (although sections that were apparently lost have been replaced by the English). As a special feature, an absolutely fascinating commentary by Hong Kong film historian Rick Meyers and Jackie Chan's autobiography co-author Jeff Yang is included. It covers just about everything one could possibly want to know about "Druken Master."

Rating:
Summary: Vintage Jackie
Review: The young Jackie Chan was indeed something to behold. Full of fresh ideas and vigour, his hard work and sacrifice never failed to rub off on the viewer. And although he still has enough star power to pack a cinema anywhere in the world, few of his films since the mid-eighties have engaged audiences as much as the ones that rocketed him to stardom. The Drunken Master is one of those films.

Directed by HK film legend Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix, Kill Bill and so on...), The Drunken Master is Packed with the kind of balls-to-the-wall, take no prisoners action that could bring the dead back to life. In fact the action is so good, it completely supersedes the films typical, cookie-cutter plot. Don't get me wrong, the plot exists. It's there, and it's valid enough, (Jackie plays a mischevious kid/Kung fu master who gets his ass kicked in a fight and so goes on to learn a new secret technique from a wheezy old man) but the whole thing stuffed so tightly with Jackie's unique brand of action/physical comedy, you won't notice it. The fight scenes in this film are superb, carried out with the hectic energy of a kid with something big to prove. Jackie pulls off moves that defy the laws of gravity one after the other, and all the while looking like he's put away half a keg of Australian beer.

I could go on all day, but I won't. You'll have to see it, Not just to love it, but to beleive it. For genre freaks like me it was great for the fighting, for everyone else, watch it just to see what action should be. Minus the budget, minus the egos and minus the CGI, the films star and the film itself are full to the brim with raw talent and innovation.
Oh, And wine. Gallons and gallons of wine.

Rating:
Summary: Funniest KungFu Comedy
Review: This is probably one of the first, and funniest KungFu movies. I truely enjoyed watching all the fight scenes which all have a good sense of humor attached to them. Enjoy :)

Rating:
Summary: Amazing choreography, shame about the Lip Sync
Review: One of Jackies earliest movies in a starring role, (released in tandem with Snake in Eagles Shadow) that many would say started him on the road to stardom. I'm told in their native country, these simple storylines were churned out almost weekly and all pretty much follow the same formula. Similar to Saturday morning cowboy movies from days gone by, for Western audiences. The fact that Jackie has appeared in over 90 pictures, probably supports that fact. Here Jackie becomes student to a wisened old beggar who happens to be an expert exponent of "Drunken Boxing" and dutifully teaches Mr Chan, after he is helped by him. Jackie's love of Buster Keaton action slapstick, combined with the almost superhuman acrobat skills he acquired with the Peking Opera from a young age, blend masterfully, and the movie has plenty of humour as well as action. The fight scenes and stunts, are superbly executed (as usual)and the arduos training regime Jackie must endure, is both comical and revealing. Like so many Kung Fu style pictures of the era, this film sufferes terribly from bad dubbing, and is actually better watched in it's original form with subtitles. At 10 mins short of 2 hours is not that lean, but bounces along from scene to scene without making you worry too much. 16 years before the more widely known Legend of Drunken Master in 1994, this is still a great comic/action martial arts flick, and although it may not be as polished as his more recent work, the raw energy and exuberence of a more youthful Mr Chan, make this a must for fans and collectors alike. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: this movie is amazing. not many people know much about kung fu movies. morons see uma thurman with a sword and think that's a kung fu movie. know-nothings credit crouching tiger as innovative. what are these people talking about?

drunken master shows jackie chan in amazing form as sam seed's apprentice. his style is so incredible that his drunken beatdowns are no less than art, true ballet. the fight between him and the stick-king is breathtaking. and the dubbing is hysterical. sam seed hits jackie on the head with a chopstick. jackie holds his head in pain, replying "master why do this? even a monkey would die!" goofy translations like that make this piece unforgettable.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT TRANSFER BUT WHATS WITH THE AUDIO?????
Review: The picture is terrific and the audio commentary from film expert Ric Meyers is nice because he does speak with the love and passion of a martial arts film fanatic so he's great on the dvd.

The problem is the flip-flop of the english and cantonese audio in the film. One moment they're speaking cantonese then all of a sudden they're speaking the dubbed english then back to cantonese and on and on. it is claimed on the back of the box that english is substituted where the original audio is missing. Well WHY is it missing? It shouldn't be missing because the complete original audio does exists. It doesn't make sense to flip-flop the audio from english to cantonese and back when the complete original audio exists. When the audio does this it is somewhat distracting.

Thats the one and only knock I have on this disc. Otherwise its great.

Rating:
Summary: Bad dub or not...GREAT MOVIE
Review: That's the key IMO. This is a must own, buy it b4 seeing it, don't even think about it. All this crap about it being a bad dub taking away from it being a good movie is crap.

The movie does go back and forth between english and subtitles, as mentioned. But honestly, you just go in and out as the movie progresses, and I just stayed intrigued w/the great story, great characters, great plot, and the intertwine of characters. Very, very well done.

This may be Chan's best movie. I loved this movie from beginning to end. In addition, fight scenes are just right. Not too over the top (1 guy vs. 50) or too long (perfect example is Jet Li's "Fist of Legend" last fight sequence.)

Every aspect of this movie is perfect IMO. Do not let these detractors talking about poor quality because it goes in and out of english. As one person said, you can make it subtitles only if you want. Nevertheless, who cares? When you sit down to watch this movie, expect it to be all subtitles, be pleasantly surprised of the few instances it isn't, and sit back and appreciate the masterpiece it is.

A+