The Man From Hong Kong

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Man From Hong Kong!

Original image located here. Accessed 31st December 2021

Watching a 1970s Australian attempt at making a Kung-Fu movie? Well I have spent worse New Years Eves.

Obviously this is a product of it's time: The music, the clothes, haircuts, and film-making techniques all scream mid-1970s. Why, even that opening scene has no chance of being replicated now.
And it may be easy to mock the movie for it's corniness.
But in the end I still find a lot to admire: It is a decent stab at tackling a particular genre, the nods to the James Bond franchise are admirable (most notably having George Lazenby as the villain) and the fight scenes are really good - special mention to the car chase, the fight in the restaurant and the martial arts school.
All in all, an entertaining way to see out 2021.

Anywho, this concludes the Friday Night Movie for 2021. Thank you for reading these and to anyone that provided any likes and comments made throughout the year. Next year brings some more movies to watch and I'm looking forward to it already....

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th November 2021

The MCU tries it's hand at making a Kung-Fu movie. Well, why not? It's tried a whole lot of other genres so in a way this was inevitable.
Okay seriously though, there's nothing wrong with that its just that I've seen many a kung-fu movie in my time and when Marvel do it, i want only for them not to do shoddy job.

Thankfully Marvel don't do a shoddy job: The action sequences are very well done and are, at times, jaw dropping. Indeed there is a sense that this a kung-fu movie being made with a larger budget - when compared to some Hong Kong flicks I have seen in my time - and they are going to milk it for all that it's worth.
Simu Liu is great, Michelle Yeoh is always fantastic, Benedict Wong is having fun, but personally, the real MVP is Awkwafina who is a delight to watch and steals every scene she's in. So if this film was made for more Asian representation on the silver screen, then all I can say is: More please!
Funny thing however: One gets the sense that with this film, as well as the upcoming Eternals movie (if the trailer is anything to go by), is bringing the MCU to a more grandiose direction than ever before. It may seem a strange movie - considering that Phase one was a very grounded one - but when Endgame makes so much money one can do whatever they want.

Five Deadly Venoms

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Five Deadly Venoms!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th August 2017

Has anyone heard of this? It's a Hong Kong kung-fu movie from the late seventies. I only heard about it largely through reputation and it being referenced in Kill Bill. So what did I think of it?

Well, there are some goofy moments, some odd sound design and a scene that utilizes the intro music to Monty Python and the Holy Grail but seriously, the only reason people watch kung-fu movies is for the action. And this movie delivers the type of action that is no laughing matter. The action is astonishing, even with the passage of four decades, all held together by the six leads.
Can i think of a better martial arts team assembled on film? No I don't think i can XD

The Bride With White Hair

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Bride With White Hair!

Original image located here. Accessed 30th September 2016

Has anyone heard of this? It's something of an underground hit in Kung-Fu/Asian cinema that has created repercussions since - Allegedly the titular character was the inspiration for Xena Warrior Princess.

As for the movie.....well.... it was weird. Sure the fight sequences were exciting and choreography stunning to behold. Sure the plot was an interesting variation on Romeo and Juliet and the drama compelling. Sure the cinematography was superb but in the end....it was weird. Particularly that climatic fight scene which left me feeling like the movie had completely lost it's mind.

Weirdness aside though, the reason why i watch kung-fu movies is for the fight scenes and this one has it in spades. So I'll take that for what it's worth.

Enter the Dragon

And this weeks Friday night movie has been.....Enter the Dragon!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th August 2016

This may come to a surprise to some people but I haven't seen any Bruce Lee movies before this one. Maybe it was the whole martyring of him that put me off (see also: James Dean, River Phoenix and Heath Ledger). But you can only stick your head in the sand for so long.

So what did I think of this movie? Well, it's interesting to see this movie having been familiar with Mortal Kombat (both the game and the movie) and see where Midway pillaged their ideas from. But in reality, we go to see Bruce Lee in a movie just to see him kick the living daylights out of so many goons. And to that end, the movie delivers: The fight scenes are all superbly done and the action is exciting & fast-paced.

So in the end, Enter the Dragon is Bruce Lee's show and what a show it is