One of the finer things of late about subscribing to Well Go USA’s in-house streaming platform, Hi-YAH!, is much ado with their output of classic kung fu titles. Lau Kar Leung’s Heroes Of The East is just one of them these days, making landfall this week with Gordon Liu and Yuko Mizuno headlining the cast.
The 1978 film bodes as a classic staple from the Shaw Brothers catalog and currently residing in the library of Celestial Pictures in its preservation of legendary Hong Kong hit films. Written by Ni Kuang amid his sizeable studio resumé as screenwriter, the film follows another chapter in the age-old battle of the sexes when a pre-arranged marriage between Ho Tao (Liu) and Yumiko (Mizuno) ensues a competition of hijinks, hilarity, and martial skill between Chinese and Japanese styles.
Liu is as charismatic in the role of Ho Tao, as he is skilled opposite the equally fantastic Mizuno as a force to be reckoned with. This especially comes when Ho Tao escalates things with Yumiko after she moves her weapons into their home to practice with. It’s here when the film’s first real martial arts fight kicks off well in the first half hour, pitting swords, spears, and eventually food.
The deeper cut comes when Ho Tao insults Yumiko’s practice of Ninjitsu, compelling her to leave back to Japan. In an effort to bring her back, a letter he sends her is interpreted as a challenge by Yumiko’s friend, Taneko (Yasuaki Kurata), who leads a band of martial arts fighters to Ho Tao’s home and challenge him to a series of one-on-one duels. What remains to be seen, apart from Ho Tao’s chances, is if whether or not the two opposing sides can win the far greater battle of understanding between cultures and customs with amicable resolve, as martial artists adjacent to a marital quarrel.
Heroes Of The East is precisely the kind of kung fu film that stands with a strong message in its presentation of Chinese and Japanese characters, including the director who makes a brief cameo as a drunken fighter Ho Tao learns from during his trials. Lau Chia Liang is the genius behind the action which puts Liu and Mizuno squarely in their element, armed with an assortment of hand-to-hand and weapon techniques, all coupled with a bevy of fighting characters. This includes an extensive, brilliantly choreographed finale between Liu and screen legend Kurata.
I actually bought this on Digital via Google years ago and it was only available with English dub, which is fine if you’re not into reading subs. I suppose that’s where Hi-YAH! comes in with its own insert of the film in Cantonese audio, which you can now watch from the comfort of your home via TV or mobile.
