Kung Fu Genius

Rating:
Summary: Cliff Lok and top players shine in worthy kung fu fight fest
Review: KUNG FU GENIUS (1979) is an excellent vehicle for unsung kung fu star Cliff Lok (OL' DIRTY KUNG FU) who plays a self-proclaimed kung fu "genius," notable for his unique ability to easily pick up varied kung fu styles. Even while in the midst of fighting he watches his opponents' moves and then uses them himself to defeat the opponent. In the film's opening scene, Cliff quickly peruses a stack of training manuals and performs Eagle, Butterfly, Monkey, Rat, Mantis and Rabbit styles.

Aided by his "idiot" sidekick (Cheng Kang Yeh), Cliff starts his own "Genius" school and immediately becomes a rival of the local "Spiritual" school run by Chan Lung. He is challenged by the top students there, including monkey expert and iron hoop fighter Hsiao Hou, and outfights them all. However, one of the fights takes place at the local brothel, and both schools run afoul of the brothel owner, Lee Hai Sheng (aka Lee Hoi San), who calls in his brother, a lethal fan fighter played by Wilson Tong, the film's director. Several more major brawls occur before Cliff takes on both Lee Hai Sheng and Wilson Tong in the spectacular 11-minute finale.

The film's simple but effective plot serves as a vehicle for at least six major fight scenes and functions as a showcase for the talents of four major kung fu performers (Lok, Lee, Tong, Hou), and several fine supporting players, including the always dependable Chan Lung and Cheng Kang Yeh. It's all very well-photographed and staged and is consistently entertaining from start to finish of its 84-minute running time.

The DVD edition from Eastern Heroes/Xenon offers a high-quality letter-boxed transfer made from a fine-looking, if slightly worn print. It's easily one of the best-looking kung fu DVDs available from this particular company and one which belongs in any kung fu fan's collection.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of real-fu action
Review: Not bad at all. No wire-fu (I like wire-fu) but the intensity and complexity of the fight scenes kept my attention and the plot had a few interesting twists and so was not as predictable as some. The styles were an invulnerable 'spiritual' style and lots of animal styles. The weapons were knives, staff, hoop(!) and fans.

The reason I did not give it more stars (I would give it 3.5 stars if it was possible) was because once in a while the choreography allowed us to see that it was, indeed, choreography and the *attrocious* sound quality. The video quality, well, like many others of this genre, it was taken from an old reel of film - but it did not distract me from the movie itself, except during the very 1st and very last frames.

Rating:
Summary: Some good fight choreography!!!!
Review: This movie was not fantastic, but the fight scenes were excellent. The comedy was not needed in this movie. The star of the film, Cliff Lok, did his best to make up for the boring plot line. If it wasn't for Wilson Tong doing the fight directing and movie directing, it wouldn't probably be the big hit that it was. This is definitely one to add to your collection, for the fight scenes are superior, especially the ones with Wilson Tong and Li Hai Sheng in them. Maybe not a genius movie, but not a bad idea!!

Rating:
Summary: Some good fight choreography!!!!
Review: This movie was not fantastic, but the fight scenes were excellent. The comedy was not needed in this movie. The star of the film, Cliff Lok, did his best to make up for the boring plot line. If it wasn't for Wilson Tong doing the fight directing and movie directing, it wouldn't probably be the big hit that it was. This is definitely one to add to your collection, for the fight scenes are superior, especially the ones with Wilson Tong and Li Hai Sheng in them. Maybe not a genius movie, but not a bad idea!!