For nearly fifty years, revered action cinema luminary Jackie Chan has dazzled the big screen with the kind of captivating, innovative and death-defying stuntwork that has made his career what it is today.
Among the cadre of longstanding kung fu thesps and experts of the last fifty years, martial arts master, ex-stuntman and Hung Gar successor Mark Houghton’s story is certainly one of interest. From traversing the world of martial arts starting at the age of 14 to battling life and death scenarios both on-screen and off, he’s since become one of the foremost figures in martial arts film and sport – his posterity further sustained in Lei Chiu’s new documentary, I Am The White Tiger, which has already circulated festivals aplenty with numerous awards and accolades in its wake.
The past year saw a grave loss of a few notable, memorable and iconic film figures of the martial arts and film industry as a whole, including the passing of action cinema arbiter and late kung fu cinema legend Lau Kar-Leung.
Before passing away on June 25 last year at the age of 78, the late master Lau earned his acclaim in part through the shared legacy of his kung fu lineage through his father’s training under Wong Fei-Hung disciple Lam Sai-wing. In the following years, this would ultimately take his own training from the age of seven into a lucrative career as a teacher, a stuntman and rising film figure through Shaw Brothers studios in the 1960’s and 70’s, and evidently it didn’t stop there.
These articles of Lau‘s stellar history in the world of kung fu cinema could be part of what is now being formulated for a potential autobiographical feature film according to forwarded reports from Yahoo! Singapore. The update comes on the heels of this year’s events over at the Hong Kong Book Fair where author, former actress and Lau‘s spouse for 29 years until his passing, Mary Jean Reimer (a.k.a. Yung Jing Jing) who was on hand to promote her new book “Dangerous People” spoke to the press about this latest development.
“When Master Lau was still alive, he asked me to help him fulfil this wish,” Reimer said. “I even have someone in mind to portray him; a young man with a movie background.”, the latter quote being a statement to previous potential casting choice, Fearless and True Legend co-star Jacky Heung Cho before the idea rescinded due to Lau‘s diminishing health at the time.
“I might as well be writing a script first instead of a book about my husband,” said the former actress, who appears to be intended on helping make this film a reality. So I guess it’s safe to say this is only a matter of time, while it could take years to develop as we await official word from a studio or another trade news organization closer to the potential project.
I suppose the big question now is how one would go about cinematically approaching Lau‘s story? Will Reimer‘s vision see something more spectacular with what we have seen in films like the Ip Man movies? Or will we see a more contemplative adherence similar to Wong Kar-Wai’s approach to biographical storytelling in The Grandmasters? Or more importantly, will we see Rise Of A Legend helmer Roy Chow board the project considering his new film shares its protagonist’s legacy with the late great Master Lau? Or will Reimer direct it herself?
All speculative, yes, I know. But it’s well worth the chatter in my humble opinion. Chat away.
Beginning today, Film Combat Syndicate contributor Graeme Noble will be host to wide array of short reviews for beloved old school Hong Kong kung fu and comedy films. Films will be listed in random groups of five depending on titles, actors and franchise, etc. Most of these titles you might be fortunate to find on DVD or Blu-Ray, including today’s list, the Sam Hui/Karl Maka five-film pair and subsequent part six outlining the Aces Go Places film series. Take a look!
Aces Go Places – 4/5, a great entertaining and funny movie. Chemistry between Karl Maka and Sam Hui is fantastic and some of the fun action scenes are great. The movie drags in places and it’s old fashioned but it’s a good example of quality Hong Kong cinema!
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
The famous thief, King Kong, has stolen a bag of diamonds from a group of gangsters, and asks his good friend Ah Chuen to look after it. After Ah Chuen has hidden the diamonds in a safe place, he is kidnapped by his enemy, Mad Max, and his fate remain unknown. While the gangsters sends White Glove to find out where the diamonds are, the police invite Bald-head Detective to work with Superintendent Ho to solve this case. Actually, Superintendent Ho possesses more courage than wit, but Bald-head Detective possesses both qualities. He forces King Kong to admit of his theft and they follow Ah Chuen’s hints to locate the diamonds. However, they fall into Mad Max’s trap, but are saved by Superintendent Ho. Finally, King Kong and Bald-head Detective succeed in finding the diamonds, but they are caught by White Glove. They manage to let off a small bomb and escape. White Glove shoots at Bald-head Detective and wounds him. King Kong chases after white glove until he falls into the sea. King Kong regrets that the detective is seriously wounded. In fact, he isn’t and succeeds in deceiving King Kong again.
Aces Go Places 2 – 4/5, probably even better than the original, this sequel is very similar but contains even funnier scenes than the hilarious original. There are even 2 fights scenes here, choreographed by Lau Kar Wing, and they’re both credible, but not outstanding.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
King Kong was attacked by the robot – Black Knight I which was sent by the Italian Mafia to avenge the capture of White Gloves. He also hired an internationally notorious killer Black Gloves to kill King Kong as well as diamond transfer deal with the underworld. King Kong join forces with the police to capture Black Gloves who sends Black Knight II to attack……
Aces Go Places 3 – 2/5, a disappointing movie this. Not a patch on the first two and Tsui Hark directs this one instead of Eric Tsang. There is too much emphasis on spoofing James Bond movies and it doesn’t work. Drags and the comedy is limited! No Kung here either.
Style: Comedy
King Kong is commissioned by a man who claims to be Mr. Bond, special agent from the British Secret Service to recover for the Queen precious stones stolen from her crown which are now in Hong Kong. Back in Hong Kong, a Secret Service man from the Bond Street Headquarters. Mr Tom Collins, has just arrived to find out a gang of notorious international crooks led carried out his mission successfully for Mr Bond, he is summoned by the Governor to assist Collons in retrieving the stolen goods and catch Mr Bond’s gang.
Aces Go Places 4 – 3/5, an improvement on part 3 but not as good as part 2. This one has a few good fights that are well choreographed. There is some nice comedy but I think the producers knew that they were running out of ideas, and it shows. Still enjoyable stuff here.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
The invention of a prism – a special brain stimulant, gets King Kong and Inspector into a series of dangerous adventures. The lives of Inspector Ho and her son, Baldy Junior are also threatened by the villains.
Aces Go Places 5 – 1/5, the worst of the series despite there being a few fight scenes involved. The fights are weak apart from the finale, which is only good in parts. The movie is poor and Hui and Maka get less screen time than before.
Style: Comedy, 80’s kickboxing
White Glove steals terra-cotta warriors and Brother and Sister disguise themselves as the “ACES” partners King Kong and Kodajak steal the Sword of Chin Dynasty from White Glove swears to revenge on the “ACES” partners. The real and new “ACES” partners will join together with police to fight against White Glove.
97 Aces Go Places – 2/5, this is better than part 5 and it features the best fighting out of the entire series thanks to Chin Kar Lok’s choreography. Christy Chung vs. Billy Chow at the end is very good and she looks very hot in this movie which saves it from being a poor movie!
Style: Comedy, modern day fighting
Man Ling conned two million dollars from Big Brother Lui in a dirty deal. Lui then ordered to have Ling killed. Ling escaped from the fight. Meanwhile, Philag was a kind and righteous student studying law in the States. He was expected to help his father to do illegal business. His father was killed during a transaction which also involved Ling. Philag needed to go back to Hong Kong to tend to his father’s business and root out the murderer.
Written by FCSyndicate Asian Cinema contributor Graeme Noble (5/9/13). Noble is an acclaimed independent filmmaker and actor, and represents one-half of his award-winning independent film company, Noble Brothers Productions with brother John-William Noble. For more information on his work, visit http://www.noblebrotherproductons.org.
The movie that cracked the genre in half, 36th Chamber is king of the kung fu films — everyone references it, everyone steals from it, but it still holds up today. LKL’s god-brother, Gordon Liu, plays a kid in Manchu-occupied China who gets his entire family killed by the Manchus because he is an idiot. With nowhere else to go, he flees to the Shaolin Temple, and begs them to train him for revenge. Training involves mastering 35 chambers, each teaching a different discipline, and as he conquers them one-by-one the Buddhist philosophy behind Shaolin kung fu opens his third eye to enlightenment. The training sequence is a stock martial arts movie setpiece, but in the hands of LKL it expands into an hour-long, genius-level, cinematic tone poem on how discipline, focus, commitment, and willpower can save you from yourself.
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