'3BlackChicks Review...'
THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER (1994; dubbed in English in 2000) Rated R; running time 102 minutes Genre: Comedy/Action IMDB site: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0111512 Official site: http://www.legendofdrunkenmaster.com/ Written by: Edward Tang, Tong Man Ming, Yuen Chieh Chi Directed by: Lau Ka Leung Cast: Jackie Chan, Ti Lung, Anita Mui, Lau Ka Leung, Wing-Fong Ho, Chin Kar Lok, Ken Lo, Ho Sung Pak, Felix Wong
Review Copyright Rose Cooper, 2000 Review URL: http://www.3blackchicks.com/bamsdrunken.html
There comes a time in every Chick's life when she has an epiphany so mind-blowing, it forever alters her life, causing her to grow up far quicker than she expected to, and making well-done hamburger patties out of her Sacred Cows.
My time came Sunday, with the realization that Bruce Lee isn't the greatest martial artist the movie world has ever seen.
The Story (WARNING: **spoilers contained below**): THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER humorously tells the story of Chinese folk legend Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan), young master of the "Drunken Boxing" kung fu style of martial arts.
In this almost plot-overloaded movie, Wong Fei-Hung and his hapless brother Cho (Lau Ka Leung), travel by train with their father, Dr. Wong Kei-Ying (Ti Lung), bringing medical supplies back to their home. Part of their supplies - some medicinal ginseng - gets mixed up in the baggage of the Ambassador (Ken Lo), leading to a struggle between Fei-Hung and a mysterious old man, Tsan (Felix Wong) over the package. The struggle gets especially interesting when Fei-Hung tries to impress Tsan with his Drunken Boxing style of kung fu (which he doesn't do nearly as well when he's *not* drunk).
Wong also has comical misunderstandings with his father, who doesn't want Fei-Hung to either fight *or* drink - both of which, of course, Fei-Hung does in abundance; with his mother, Madame Wong (Anita "Lucy Ricardo, reincarnated" Mui); and with friendly rival Ching Ho Sang (Chin Kar Lok), who spars with Fei-Hung for the attention of the lovely Fong (Wing-Fong Ho). Fei-Hung and his Folks face epic battles with the Ambassador (who has the fastest kicks I've ever seen), his minion Henry (Ho Sung Pak), and a rather hot bed of coals.
Sober, Fei-Hung is good; but to do Drunken Boxing the way it needs to be done, he has to get good and toasted, which he does on more than one occasion. And what commences are some of the outright funniest skits and amazing martial arts scenes I've ever seen in one movie.
The Upshot: Ok, so maybe I exaggerated a wee bit; maybe Chan didn't exactly Rock My World, but he did shake the foundations a bit. It really was quite eye-opening to see just how Bad the man is - and in a relatively unpolished, six-year-old movie, no less!
To some, the plot of a martial arts movie is like the plot of a porn flick: most people don't bother paying attention to the words; they just want to get to the Action [the same has been said about Black "booty call" comedies, so don't Trip over the analogy]. Which goes to show you how warped we westerners can be sometimes - because the plot was well-developed in "Legend". Still, I won't lie; I got lost in the backstory with the English Overlord (I think that's what he was supposed to be), to the point where I totally dismissed him whenever he came on-screen. I imagine part of my confusion comes from the fact that I haven't seen the film "Legend" is a sequel to - 1978's DRUNKEN MASTER - and thus don't fully know who's who within Fei-Hung's circle of friends and enemies. I'm fairly sure that I got some of the names mixed up in "The Story" above, unfortunately.
But the point remains: this movie was a lot more than the "chop socky" so often dismissed when we see a "Karate Flick". Sure, the kung fu was there at base, and rightly so (I'd pay to see those scenes by themselves, especially the final battle; it was that good). But the humor was *strong* - especially with Anita Mui; I swear I cracked a rib on her account! - and I even found myself crying with sadness when Fei-Hung got chewed out by his father. Add some interesting cultural references on top of that, and you have yourself a well-rounded movie. Granted, it's no CITIZEN KANE; but could Kane drink like a fish and then kick serious butt? Thought not!
It's funny: I was just telling some friends about how much I enjoyed the DVD release of SHANGHAI NOON, a Jackie Chan east-meets-west flick I reviewed earlier this year. Besides the great DVD features available in this cut, Chan's trademark outtakes and behind-the-scenes bits show the true measure of his technical and cinematic skills. But who knew it would take a six-year-old flick like "Legends" to finally make me bow to the master?
Bammer's Bottom Line: I have never, ever, laughed harder, or damn near cried my eyes out, at "just a karate flick", the way I did during "Legend". Bruce Lee was baaad, no doubt; but Jackie Chan is The Man. Chan has stood the test of time, and *still* comes out swinging. Sit down, Steven Segal; take a hike, Jean Claude Van Damme. Check out this older Jackie Chan flick, and see what Legends truly are made of.
THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER (rating: greenlight): I still love me some Bruce Lee, and I always will. But the king is dead: long live King Jackie.
Rose "Bams" Cooper /~\ Webchick and Editor, /','\ 3BlackChicks Review /','`'\ Movie Reviews With Flava! /',',','/`, Copyright Rose Cooper, 2000 `~-._'c / EMAIL: bams@3blackchicks.com `\ ( http://www.3blackchicks.com/ /====\
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