The Fighting Dragon (1975)

1975 - The Fighting Dragon (Golden Films Company) 

[Hong Kong production partly filmed in the Philippines, also released as "Challenge Me Dragon", re-released theatrically in the US in 1982 as "Fighting Dragon vs The Deadly Tiger"; also released in France as "Le Dragon Rouge Contre Les Griffes De La Mort", in Germany as Die Todesfaust der Killerkralle", in Denmark as "Dragens Blodige Hævn"]

NOTE: Sometimes confused with Call Me Dragon (dir. Ng See-Yuen, 1974), also starring Bruce Liang/Leung Siu-Lung and Yasuaki Kurata.

Director Peng Chien [sometimes listed as Pang Him] Screenplay Wu Shih [HKMDB instead lists Ng Sek] Producer Hsiao Yin-Fang [sometimes listed as C.F. Hsiao] Executive Producer Chang Hung [HKMDB lists him instead as Production Manager] Cinematography Liang Hsi-Ming [also listed as Leung Hey-Ming] Music Frankie "Chen"/Chan Fan-Kei [sometimes listed as Yung-Yu Chen] Editor Cheng Keung [sometimes listed as Kuang Cheng] Assistant Director Yue Man-Wa [sometimes listed as Wen-Hua Yue] Sound Recordist Chang Hua Costume Designer Koo Che [sometimes listed as Che Ku] Lighting Fung Man-King [sometimes listed as Wen-Ching Fung] Makeup S. S. Tang Sheung-Sam [sometimes listed as Shang-Hsin Teng]

Cast Bruce "Liang"/Leung Siu-Lung (Interpol Agent Leung Kin Sun), Yasuaki Kurata (Lung Yen Fei), Lee Ka-Ting (Red Scorpion), Bolo Yeung Sze (Red Faced Tiger), Chan Lau  (Purple Snake), Ma Chien-Tang, Chu Gam, Lam Hak-Ming (Thug), Tony Leung Siu-Hung (Taxi Driver/extra), Lee Fat-Yuen (extra), Ng Ka-Wai, Kam Ching-Yan, Yau Mei-Chi, Chow Sau-Kuen, Cheung Ang, Lau Tat-Chi, Tamagawa Isao, Mitani Noboru, Fukawa Fusayo, Yoshida Noboru        

    

SYNOPSIS: The story begins as Leung Yun Fei arrives in Hong Kong to find out the reason his master was killed. As he exits the airport, a undercover Interpol agent is intercepting a kidnapping attempt by the "Black Panther" gang. Gang leader "Red Faced Tiger" manages to kidnap a woman named Ms. Lin to be held for ransom. Now, Leung seeks to save the woman and find his master's killer. This will lead him down a dark and violent road out of Hong Kong to Japan and the Philippines, as he battles waves of formidable gang members such as "Purple Snake", "Red Dragon", and "The Blue Cat" to get some answers, and his revenge.

Review from the Hong KongMovie Database:

This flick could’ve been much better. The flick was doing good until Bolo dies. Bolo plays an unlit Marlboro chomping, Hawaiian shirt wearin’ thug named the Red Faced Tiger. What a sight! The flick reminds me of a modern day Fists of Fury. Lung Yen Fei (Yusuaki Kurata) returns from Japan in a white suit (like Bruce) to find out the cause of his Sifu’s death. Like Master Fok Yuen Gap in Fists of Fury, the death of Lung Yen Fei’s Sifu is hard to fathom as he was healthy and his gung fu was fantastic. After some snooping around, not to mention being at the right place at the right time, Lung Yen Fei finds out that that the Black Leopard criminal society is the cause behind his Sifu’s death. An Interpol agent, Leung Kin Sun (Bruce Liang) is also investigating the Black Leopard gang’s activities and at times manages to lend the Fighting Dragon a helping hand. For the most part, Bruce Liang’s appearances are temporary and do nothing to bring the flick to another level of entertainment. Forget about this flick. Watch up to Bolo’s last hurrah and then turn off your TV. Below average fare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop (1995)

1995 - Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop (New Treasurer Films Co. Ltd)

[Hong Kong production filmed in the Philippines, sometimes listed as “Tough Beauty And Sloppy Slop”]

Directors Alan Chui [Chung San], Yuen Bun Screenplay Foh Ging-Yiu Producers Chung Wai-Shing, Lam Wai Cinematography Stephen Poon Tak-Yip Composer J. Galden Editor Yiu Tin-Hung Action Directors Alan Chui [Chung San], Lee Chi-Git Planning Shum Wai Production Manager Jeng Shing-Miu Art Director/Costume Designer Buboy Tan Lighting Paul Yip Pak-Ying Presenter Woo Man-On, Ng Ming-Choi Props Elson Ho Wai-Keung Assistant Action Directors Hon Chun, Chow Gam-Kong

Philippines Crew Alex Austero, Orly Centeno, Renato Gracilla, Teddy "Tsiu"/Chiu, James Gaines, Eduardo Cabrales, Jany Chua, Jessie Manaloto, Felix Calderon, Maning Sta Maria, Princ Atelagos, Cinilo Lim Pim

Cast Yuen Biao (Li Chin Tang), Cynthia Khan (Captain Yiang), Waise Lee [Chi-Hung] (Wai), Monsour Del Rosario (Major Sandos), Yuen Wah (Mainland drug seller), Billy Chow [Bei-Lei] (Leader of counterfeiter gang), Tam Suk-Mooi (Yu Yung Chi), Jerry Bailey (Mr Ramos), Peter Chan Lung (Mainland drug buyer), Shum Wai (Mr Wu), Wong Ngok-Wa, Lam Wai (Hong Kong official), Alex Man Chi-Leung (Officer Wan), Leung Shun-Yin (Wan's mother), Alan Chui Chung-San (Peter Wu), [uncredited] James Gaines Jr (James), Teddy Chiu

Three high-octane cops--an unorthodox one from Hong Kong, a straitlaced one from the Mainland, and one from the Philippines--join forces to demolish an insidious counterfeiting ring. Cops-and-robbers action fare taken to its most gleefully bullet-ridden extreme.

Cynthia Khan (presumably "Tough Beauty") and Yuen Biao (presumably "The Sloppy Slop") do their take on "Police Story 3", masquerading as unsavories and busting some bad guys out of jail to win their trust. After succesfully infiltrating the evil gang, they must resort to some oft-wacky techniques to protect their true identities...

Phil Mills' review from the Far East Films website:

Mainland Officer Yiang (Khan) is on the tale of Wai (Lee), a high profile leader of a money counterfeiting scheme. Annoyingly, he persistently evades the long arm of the law due to his men's unfathomable loyalty to the cause but the Police are handed a loophole when it turns out that his wife is currently in prison in the Philippines. Yiang goes undercover to befriend her in the hope that it will lead her to Wai and during her time inside she is given a contact by the name of Li (Biao), a Hong Kong policeman who poses as her husband to keep up the facade. When Li helps to free the two friends all goes according to plan and the undercovers become members of Wai's gang, running various errands for him whilst supposedly hiding from the police. When it becomes apparent that there is a man behind the man, the two officers must use all their wits to avoid revealing their identities and try to bring the entire ring down.

The first thing that is instantly noticeable about this bizarrely titled 'Police Story 3' imitation is that this is low budget film making of the highest order. Film quality is poor and scripting is minimal, providing a springboard for a set of action sequences that will hopefully allow the film to capitalise on current box office successes. Established talent in the form of Biao and Khan (albeit stars that are down on their luck) are drafted in to bring recognisable faces to the charade but even their combined talent cannot help to make the story rise into the realms of rational thought. This is not to say it is completely unwatchable, just in a sort of P.S.3 through very clouded glasses type of way.

Never let it be said that a lack of script can mean the film is a total disaster though as the combination of classic action and quality cameos make this a film not to be overlooked. Yuen Biao can never have too much screen time when it comes to kung fu as far as I'm concerned and although he is not exactly tested to the full extent of his ability here, he does provide some noteworthy action moments for this performance. If anything, it's the choreography that lets the production down as the main dosage is simplistic to say the least with very little room for the extravagant. There is however an attempt to mix it up a little with a few acrobatic tricks thrown in along with slow motion gunplay that pops up now and again to impressive effect. Billy Chow is most likely the cream of the crop as he gets an extended appearance as the final opponent and it's worth the wait as he unleashes his powerful bootwork that compliments a satisfactory amount of martial artistry.

'Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop' has it roots firmly set in the Hong Kong style of film making that emerged from the 1980's. Who needs a huge budget or a masterful script when you can put together a fun action movie with some over-the-top fights accompanied by a little slap stick comedy. Despite the cash-in elements taken from other movies of this kind, it still provides enough entertainment to make it stand out and with a little more money and thought it could have become a classic of the genre.

Review from the Chop Sockey Cinema website:

A multi-national gang headed by Mr. Wei (Waise Lee) and his boss (Billy Chow) and is using counterfeit money produced in the Philippines to buy and traffic them in mainland China and Hong Kong. In a police co-operation, Captain Yiang (Cynthia Khan) from mainland China is sent to the Philippines to join undercover Hong Kong cop Li Chin Tang (Yuen Biao) and Phillipino cop Major Sandos (Monsour Del Rosario) to solve the case. Together they must defeat hordes of gun-totting, martially inclined baddies, all while comedically trying to stay undercover.

This 80's styled mid-90's movie of an interesting title pairs martial arts and acrobatic phenom Yuen Biao with Cynthia Khan (In The Line Of Duty IV) under the direction of Biao's former Peking Opera classmate Yuen Bun. It's usually shrugged off as another semi-decent Supercop rip-off, and for good reason - it's just that. From the basic low-budget shootout opening, it's apparent that this Phillipino production will linger in mediocrity for the remainder of its duration, only made watchable by the saving graces of its two stars (referring to Yuen Biao and Monsour Del Rosario) and a superb villain, veteran Billy Chow (even though he only gets minutes of screen time and the one finale fight).

The fighting is fairly average. Choreography is basic kickboxing (80's style) and has enough of power and speed to mildy satisfy the taste for violence, but all of the fights are too short, and the camerawork isn't good enough to capture the action well. The fighting lacks energy and is slow way too often (for the exception of Yuen Biao, Billy Chow, and Monsour Del Rosario). Although most of the fighting appears to be tight, it's easy to spot off-timing reactions everywhere. The first martial arts fight is very brief, Cynthia Khan fighting Yuen Wah, and ends with Wah's double crashing through a scaffold. Looks very painful. Good end to a bad fight. The stunts would all be half-decent if not for the constant cutting (sometimes absolutely ridiculous like Yuen Wah and Cynthia Khan jumping off of a 3-story roof and landing on their feet), close-ups, and overall cheapness present in virtually all of them.

Phillipino Olympic Tae Kwon Do master and World Champion Monsour Del Rosario steals the show in whatever scene he's in offering some of the best Philipinno movie fighting ever (although only seconds of it are featured here). Had the fights been longer, and with better camerawork and stunts, this movie could have really been something with such talent.

The film wisely relies on comedy to carry through the plot in moment devoid of action, but comes across uninspired, and offers little to enhance the viewing experience. The chemistry between Yuen Biao and Cynthia Khan is good enough to keep viewers from being bored, but there are too few jokes of too little comedic value. Khan is slow and unconvincing in the fighting bits, but she looks good so that's forgivable, whereas Biao is noticeably kicked back instead of kicking bad guys. When he's taking part in the action, it's of course to his standard, but that's not much in terms of quantity.

The finale is definitely worth the wait, and is climatic enough. Rising tension explodes in a raging gun battle featuring some good (but short) martial arts showdowns. The automatic weapons are put to good use in the best action of the movie, and the fights are very well done here as well. Khan is at her best in the 2-on-1 face-off against Billy Chow with Yuen Biao. Hands down the best and longest fight in the movie, but Chow and Biao are capable of better. Fast, crisp kickboxing, great falls and stunts. Fantastic 4-star fight (minus the ending) that is worth watching even if the rest of the movie isn't.

Tough Beauty And The Sloppy Slop also featured a load of Hong Kong stars in cameos, but with such a basic film, it doesn't really add much. It's a mediocre attempt, but hey, you can't blame them for trying. Martial arts action movies were on the decline, and if the Phillipinnes were the only place to get it done, then why not - it's better than nothing. It will take more than the casual fan to enjoy the whole thing however.

Danton's review from the Hong Kong Movie Database:

This B-movie shot in the Philippines plays like a throwback to the kind of cheap action films that studios like D&B Films churned out in the late Eighties. Starring Cynthia Khan and Yuen Biao, as well as Waise Lee as the villain (along with Billy Chow and Yuen Wah), it depicts the story of Khan and Yuen going undercover to infiltrate a money-forging, drug-smuggling crime syndicate. While doing so, they not surprisingly are given ample opportunity to put on a display of their Martial Arts skills. In fact, much of the story is really just filler material designed to bridge the time between the various shoot-outs and fisticuffs.

There's not much originality here, nor any great acting or story to speak of. Which is not necessarily a bad thing: the flick never tries to be more than a brisk, generic, action-filled time-waster, along with some banter between the two stars that is driven primarily by Cynthia's well-established prudishness. If you're in the mood for some mindless action fun, this movie certainly delivers, especially in the final explosive showdown with Billy Chow.

Not as good as the better known films in this genre, but I'd still give it a marginal recommendation.

Lethal Panther 2 (1993)

HONG KONG CREDITS: 1993 – Lethal Panther 2 (Golden Kay International/Harvest International/My Way Film Co)

[Released on German DVD as “Lethal Dragon”, on UK VHS as “Lethal Panther”, and elsewhere (unconfirmed) as “Blood And Guts”]

Director Philip Ko [other sources list Cindy Chow Fung, and Philip Ko as “action director” only] Producer Ricky Wong Ga-Kui Presenter Jeffrey Cheung Kai-Ping

Cast “Cynthia Luster”/Yukari Ôshima, Monsour Del Rosario, Philip Ko, Sharon Kwok [Sau-Wan], Edu Manzano

PHILIPPINES CREDITS: 1993 - Magkasangga Sa Batas/“Partners In Law” (Harvest International Films Corp/Golden Kay International Films Corp)

[Philippines release date 2nd February 1993]

Directors Philip Ko, Erwin T. Lanado Screenplay/Associate Director Erwin T. Lanado Producer Luis Sy Executive Producer Jose Yu Cinematography Peter Li, Eduardo "Baby" Cabrales Music Jaime Fabregas Theme Song Singer Chad Borja Lyrics Jojo Villalva Editors Tony Sy, Philip Ko, Ever Ramos Sound Supervisor Gaudencio Barredo Sound Effects Rudy Cabrales, Jun Cabrales Production Manager Jess Baruelo General Manager Roger Gonzales Post-Production Manager Bong Lansangan Assistant Directors Larry Santos, Cindy Chaou Production Designers Kiddy Li, Lito Estacio Stunt Directors Philip Ko & his Stunt Group Stunt Coordinator Jerry Corpuz Special Effects Tikboy Sto. Domingo Makeup Artist Gloria Vidallion Wardrobe Juliet Tata, Leni Visaya, Max dela Cruz Script Supervisor Larry Santos Assistant Editors Richard Aning, Orland Brien Dubbing Supervisor James dela Rosa Post-Production Coordinator Antonio Benavidez Post-Production Assistant Tochie Tamone Propsmen Max Paglinawan, Romy Setmen Roy Amaranto, Allan Parian Looper Resty Brien Sound Technicians Elmer Torrena, Ondy Valleso, Alex Rima, Danny Lorilla, Danny Navarez, Winston Lope, Felipe Vera, Peter Emerencia, Roger Bernardino Stills Wilmore Baruelo, Oscar Baruelo Gaffers Antonio Cabrales, Man Keung Schedule Master Renato Gracilla Field Cashier Orly Centeno Titles/Opticals Rey Erestain Layout Artist Pete Manansala Property Custodians Noel Dayandante, Joel Dayandante Catering Nene Lopez & Co Drivers Bernardo "Ginaw" Dagoy, Boy Labo, Eddie Baylon, Albert Utility Men Rey, Lando Publicity/Promotions Alfie Lorenzo, Billy Balbastro, Oskee Salazar Company PRO Mar Munoz Cay

Cast Edu Manzano, "Cynthia Luster"/Yukari Ôshima, Gabriel Romulo, Shiela Ysrael, Rachel Lobangco, Charlie Davao, Lovely Rivero, King Gutierrez, Johnny Wilson, Stella Mari, Edwin Reyes, Marita Zobel, Monsour Del Rosario, Lani Lobangco, Boy Fernandez, Telly Babasa, Naty Santiago, Louie Katana, Paolo Conti, Jerry Corpuz, Perry De Guzman, Al Nanca, Greg Lucero, Blandino, Delfinger, Ronnie Francisco, Lito Martinez, Jun dela Paz, Rene Pascual, Commando Stuntmen, Thunder Stuntmen, SOS Daredevils, Nonong Talbo, Maxie Alvarez, Roger Santos [other sources also list Philip Ko, Sharon Kwok, Johnathan Palmer]

Named Lethal Panther for its UK release since the actual first, unrelated film was blessed with Deadly China Dolls, this contains precious little Cantonese speaking performers as leads since the Philippines was used as a location. Phillip Ko appears briefly and choreographs the action and while quick-cut editing is an issue, this is unusually strong, acrobatic gunplay coming from him. The team for once channels the need for excess and creativity so above average for a Ko Fei production it definitely is, with Yukari Oshima responding dependently. Watch out for a brief but obviously Bullet In The Head inspired car finale. Drama in between is just basic framework for mentioned action aspect but we do get to the fair goodies within relatively short periods of time.

Review from the Yukari Oshima website:

Yukari leads an Interpol/NBI investigation of a weapons smuggling organization with ties to Japan, but operating in the Philippines. “Albert” is a macho Manila detective whose wife was killed by the gang. Philip Ko briefly appears as a gang member who is killed by the NBI team during an attempted kidnapping. After his partner and a bystander are killed, Albert takes a surviving witness to his mother’s country home. The location is betrayed and the homestead attacked.

Albert and Yukari then confront the gang at their hideout. While some of the fight scenes are spoiled by wire work, other sequences are better than average for Filipino action movies. The final fight is quite well done, but would have been even better had they left out the wires. The Cantonese version of this movie appears to have the most natural dialog and script, with a soundtrack apparently inspired by “Terminator.”

Review from HK Film:

Before the juggernaut of Jurassic Park de-railed the local HK movie industry (or, perhaps more accurately, put it off course) by becoming the all-time box office champ, HK studios were producing a record number of movies per year. To take a quote from Tsui Hark about Wong Jing's movies, most of these were "cheap, fast and no good," and Lethal Panther 2 is a good example. This cheapie (shot in the Philippines) is so derivative of other movies that it copies stuff from them wholesale, such as music from The Terminator and a "car joust" at the end ala Bullet in the Head. It doesn't really help matters that the film is edited so badly that it started giving me a headache about halfway through.

The story has Yukari as an Interpol agent who comes to the Philipines in search of some Japanese terrorists…and that's about it. There's the usual attempts at humor and romance, but they all fall flat, as does most of the script -- which really hampers the movie as a whole. And, as per usual for most of Yukari's films during this period, the emphasis here is really not on Yukari, but rather on a two-bit actor trying to make a name for themselves; this time it's a low-rent gweilo who makes Jeff Speakman look like a tough guy. Major Yukari fans might still want to give this one a look, since the role is a bit different for her (she actually smiles -- and not in an evil way -- during the movie) and it's one of the few times she's used wires onscreen.

Review from the Kung Fu Cinema forum:

Oh Philip, how could you? Well, he could, and he did...many times over. One cheap-ass, mindless, uninspired Filipino flick after another. And this one is no exception.

It really pains me that the once mighty Philip Ko Fei, a name that to me use to mean quality, chose this path for himself. I also feel bad for poor Yukari Oshima, who he dragged through more B-movie schlock than I care to remember. And I doubt this would have happened had the two not been an item at this time. But I guess "the Osh" was just standing by her man, and I admire that.

This movie is as about as cheap as it gets. Well, maybe not, but it's pretty damn cheap. Philip, Yukari, and Sharon Kwok are the only known actors in the entire movie. The rest (including the male lead) are just Filipino no-names who look like they just stepped on the set in whatever clothes they were wearing, and whose sole motivation seems to be the paycheck at the end of the day. Forget the story, forget the characters. At this point, Philip had just stopped caring, so you don't have to either.

But at least the action delivers, right? Wrong! Yukari was one of the best female screen fighters of all time, and I love that little snaggletoothed Japanese tomboy to death. But not even she could save this clunker. There are odd moments of halfway-decent choreo. But for the most part, it is just a messy mix of awkward, acrobatic gunplay, retarded use of slo-mo, poorly edited fight scenes, and wonky wirework. What a waste.

But the silver lining here is the final showdown, which is pretty damn awesome! Actually, no, it's not, I'm lying. It's just more of the same crap, set to the theme from "The Terminator" and complete with a blatant rip-off of the car jousting battle from "Bullet In The Head". And they couldn't even get that right.

To sum up, this movie is piss poor, and a complete and utter waste of time. I wouldn't even recommend this for Yukari completists, 'cause this would be a shitstain on any movie collection; and I will in fact go and throw out my copy right now.

CaptainAmerica's review from the Hong Kong Film Database:

Let me get the story synopsis out of the way: an international criminal syndicate (two of whom are Phillip Ko and Ronnie Ricketts) is executing a vendetta against a Phillipines NBI officer who proves to be a thorn in their side. A Japanese Interpol officer (Yukari Oshima) and two HK detectives (one of them Sharon Kwok) join the Filipino officer to stop the bad guys. Along the way, a local lady becomes a witness to (and nearly gets killed by) the bad guys. Oh, by the way: one of the HK cops is a criminal plant. (Hint: it ain't Sharon!) Things eventually explode as the villains track down the good guys...and then the cops counterattack. Pretty much paint-by-numbers storytelling.

Unfortunately, it sounds better than it actually is. It's an all-around wasted opportunity by some genuine talent. The editing is for crap (I'd use a few expletives to better describe the editing, but I'll offend someone) and the music is pure second-hand (some of it you'll remember from a few other HK films and even THE TERMINATOR!). The action scenes aren't very well done; there's actual wirework involved in more than a few scenes. That's right: wirework. Now if it had a fraction of the quality SFX you'd see in a Yuen Woo Ping movie, that could be forgiven...but it gets so atrocious I actually winced at the execution. Bad movie! BAD MOVIE!

On the plus side: you have Yukari Oshima, Sharon Kwok, and I wish I knew the name of the actress who played the witness. They display their natural charisma (and they have a ton of it!), but their characters are so underdeveloped you can tell they had no choice but to go through the motions just to get paid. (You've guessed correctly if this is one of those films where Yukari is relegated to a one-dimensional avenger.) Ronnie Ricketts (bad guy number one in the movie) does the appropriate scenery-chewing, but that's all that can be said; Phillip Ko isn't around long enough to do anything but look menacing! Yukari has a few fights and gunbattles (especially at the end) but this is where some of that damn wirework comes into play. Someone -- ANYONE -- should have told the director that none of that crap was necessary! Sharon, unfortunately, doesn't get to do much except look gorgeous and tough (each when appropriate) and shoot a lot.

For Yukari Oshima fans and Sharon Kwok fans only. (It isn't a total waste of 90 minutes...)