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	The Kung Fu Master "If you are a Donnie fan or, like me, always wanted to be one, this is a must-see film." - Reefer The Kung Fu Master (1994) Director: Chan Yu-Chiu (aka Bennie Chan) Producer: Chan Yu-Chiu Cast: Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Poon Chi Man, Wong Wan Choi, Lo Lieh Running Time: 200 min. Plot: Righteous and nationalist Han Hung Hei-Kwun (Yen) encounters political scandal and family strife discovers that his Ching-employed father is secretly a rebel Han planning to assassinate the emperor. Availability: This title is available at HKflix.com Reviews REEFER'S REVIEW: I have always wanted to be a fan of Donnie Yen. He has always interested me as a performer with his athleticism, but mostly, the results of his work have left me somewhat cold. As an actor, he too frequently is unlikable and surly. Combine that with his frenetic, often over-stylized martial arts choreography and what you get is a candy bar that is all wrapper and no filling. So I approached The Kung Fu Master as just another one of those chances that I am curiously so willing to give him. Not expecting brilliance. Not expecting exhilaration. But consequently that is exactly what I found. The Kung Fu Master is the first few episodes of a forty-one episode television program that aired on ATV about 7 or 8 years ago. Filmed on Beta-cam, the pictures seems flat at times and takes a while to get used to. Think of it as a kung fu soap opera. However, TKFM doesn't settle for low budget television stereotyping. This is a sprawling epic whose aspirations attempt to reach beyond the small screen and dazzle its audience in terms of acting, character development, and authentic kung fu action. Yen plays real-life martial artist and nationalist Hung Hei-kwun who journeys home to reconnect with his parents after extensive study in martial arts. His father Ting-nam, played by Poon Chi-Man in an amazing performance, while born a Han, works for the tyrannical Ching government but harbors secrets that force him to keep his son at a distance. It is their relationship that is the meat and potatoes of this film while the political dealings are present to throw the characters into some rather dangerous situations. Torn between the two is Hei-kwun's mother who must follow the wishes of her husband but still reach out to her son. Villainy comes in enormous doses thanks to treachery of Ching official Sek Tot (Ng Tang Lee), who becomes Hei-kwun's main rival physically and psychologically. This guy is one of the most ruthless and boo/hiss-worthy bad guys in recent memory. His increased presence in the last third of the movie really provides a lift when the story's dramatic moments seem depleted. Unfortunately that final third degenerates into more of a revenge scenario, forcing Hei-kwun and his friends to study some advanced kung fu techniques from a stinky ex-monk a la Drunken Master. That said, the fights are what you would expect from Yen, largely sped-up, flexible, wire-happy, and ultimately satisfying given the brilliant characterizations involved. Aside from Iron Monkey, The Kung Fu Master easily displays Donnie Yen's best acting performance. Add to that wonderful support from Poon Chi-Man and numerous others including a rival fighter who exhibits super-human strength. Plus, appearances from Chinese folklore legends Wing Chun and Fong Sai Yuk. If you are a Donnie fan or, like me, always wanted to be one, this is a must-see film. Those interested should know that the Tai Seng DVD release of The Kung Fu Master is loaded with some very impressive extras including: Two audio commentaries (one with Donnie Yen and Bey Logan and another with Ric Meyers and Bobbi Samuels), a making-of featurette, trailers, plenty of language tracks and Donnie's filmography. REEFER'S RATING: 9/10

The Kung Fu Master

"If you are a Donnie fan or, like me, always wanted to be one, this is a must-see film."

- Reefer

The Kung Fu Master (1994)

Director: Chan Yu-Chiu (aka Bennie Chan)

Producer: Chan Yu-Chiu

Cast: Donnie Yen Ji-Dan, Poon Chi Man, Wong Wan Choi, Lo Lieh

Running Time: 200 min.

Plot: Righteous and nationalist Han Hung Hei-Kwun (Yen) encounters political scandal and family strife discovers that his Ching-employed father is secretly a rebel Han planning to assassinate the emperor.

Availability: This title is available at HKflix.com

Reviews

REEFER'S REVIEW: I have always wanted to be a fan of Donnie Yen. He has always interested me as a performer with his athleticism, but mostly, the results of his work have left me somewhat cold. As an actor, he too frequently is unlikable and surly. Combine that with his frenetic, often over-stylized martial arts choreography and what you get is a candy bar that is all wrapper and no filling.

So I approached The Kung Fu Master as just another one of those chances that I am curiously so willing to give him. Not expecting brilliance. Not expecting exhilaration. But consequently that is exactly what I found.

The Kung Fu Master is the first few episodes of a forty-one episode television program that aired on ATV about 7 or 8 years ago. Filmed on Beta-cam, the pictures seems flat at times and takes a while to get used to. Think of it as a kung fu soap opera. However, TKFM doesn't settle for low budget television stereotyping. This is a sprawling epic whose aspirations attempt to reach beyond the small screen and dazzle its audience in terms of acting, character development, and authentic kung fu action.

Yen plays real-life martial artist and nationalist Hung Hei-kwun who journeys home to reconnect with his parents after extensive study in martial arts. His father Ting-nam, played by Poon Chi-Man in an amazing performance, while born a Han, works for the tyrannical Ching government but harbors secrets that force him to keep his son at a distance. It is their relationship that is the meat and potatoes of this film while the political dealings are present to throw the characters into some rather dangerous situations. Torn between the two is Hei-kwun's mother who must follow the wishes of her husband but still reach out to her son.

Villainy comes in enormous doses thanks to treachery of Ching official Sek Tot (Ng Tang Lee), who becomes Hei-kwun's main rival physically and psychologically. This guy is one of the most ruthless and boo/hiss-worthy bad guys in recent memory. His increased presence in the last third of the movie really provides a lift when the story's dramatic moments seem depleted.

Unfortunately that final third degenerates into more of a revenge scenario, forcing Hei-kwun and his friends to study some advanced kung fu techniques from a stinky ex-monk a la Drunken Master. That said, the fights are what you would expect from Yen, largely sped-up, flexible, wire-happy, and ultimately satisfying given the brilliant characterizations involved.

Aside from Iron Monkey, The Kung Fu Master easily displays Donnie Yen's best acting performance. Add to that wonderful support from Poon Chi-Man and numerous others including a rival fighter who exhibits super-human strength. Plus, appearances from Chinese folklore legends Wing Chun and Fong Sai Yuk.

If you are a Donnie fan or, like me, always wanted to be one, this is a must-see film.

Those interested should know that the Tai Seng DVD release of The Kung Fu Master is loaded with some very impressive extras including: Two audio commentaries (one with Donnie Yen and Bey Logan and another with Ric Meyers and Bobbi Samuels), a making-of featurette, trailers, plenty of language tracks and Donnie's filmography.

REEFER'S RATING: 9/10