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八大門派 (1976)
The Eight Masters


Reviewed by: mrblue
Date: 05/26/2011

The Eight Masters is haphazardly strung together with a series of nearly incomprehensible and extraordinarly convenient events, making the whole production come off like it was written after a major bender of Jagermeister and Benadryl, or perhaps in 1970's terms, Courvoisier and NyQuil. But, since director Joseph Kuo stuffs this film to the gills with plenty of hard-hitting old-school kung fu action, who cares about little things like story and plot?

Reviewer Score: 6

Reviewed by: Gaijin84
Date: 01/30/2011
Summary: Good Kuo film, as expected...

Carter Wong plays Chu Shiao Chieh, rescued from his house as a child and ferried to the Shaolin Temple before the Eight Masters, bent on revenge, come to kill him. Once safely at the temple, he learns martial arts and is taught the virtues of patience and mercy. After he reaches manhood, Chu must pass final tests in the temple in order to leave and repay the debt to his mother. Once let loose in the country, Chu witnesses injustices galore, but relies on the teachings of his master to remain calm and not get involved. After reuniting with his blind mother and cousin Ming Chu (Doris Lung), he is challenged by the Eight Masters again as revenge for his father’s misdeeds. Because Chu keeps denying their challenge, the Masters decide to kidnap his mother, leading to an inevitable tragedy. Freed from his own mental boundaries, Chu sets out to exact his own revenge.
Eight Masters is a typical Joseph Kuo movie, and I mean that in the best way. Insane amounts of quality fights, inventive sets and classic kung fu sound effects dominate the film. The plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but in the end it doesn’t have to. There is a strange comedy/fight scene that involves one thug involuntarily urinating on the face of another, but for the most part the action is very well choreographed. The trials in the temple are good, with lots of bronzemen getting pummeled and doing the pummeling. Carter Wong’s fights with the Eight Masters are also excellent with the highlights being his duel with Phillip Ko (although a little undercranked) and the fight with Chia Ling. She is excellent as usual.
Worth a view for some good Carter Wong action, you won’t be disappointed.

7/10

Reviewer Score: 7

Reviewed by: STSH
Date: 12/28/2001
Summary: Carter Wong shows off

Godsakes, just how many fu styles can one man excel in ? The rather psychedlic plot seems to require Carter to tackle every style known to the Orient. There's action, melodrama and overacting aplenty here. The fight choreography is generally first class, fast paced and varied.

There are a few dead spots where the plot kind-of gets in the way but, fortunately, the treachery and double dealing don't take long to return and make things interesting, then the beating starts again.

Probably not among Joseph Kuo's best work, but warmly recommended anyway.

Reviewer Score: 7