Acclaimed action director Liu Chia Liang makes a mind-boggling directorial debut in The Spiritual Boxer, which not only quickly established Liu as a genius director but he was also credited with introducing comedy into the Kung Fu genre; the pre-cursor for Jackie Chan's Kung Fu comedies. Its Ghostbusters meets George C. Scott's The Flim-Flam Man as a pseudo-ghost catcher, wittily portrayed by Kung Fu comedienne Wang Yu, and catches more than he bargained for. This con artist uses Kung Fu to swindle villagers for money by pretending to be possessed by angry gods. However, when the villagers are later threatened by bandits he must use the same skills for good. (Source: HongKongCinemagic/IVL) Edit Translation
- English
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- עברית / עִבְרִית
- dansk
Cast & Credits
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![Wong Yu in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Wong Yu in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Wong YuHsiao ChienMain Role -
![Lin Chen Chi in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Lin Chen Chi in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Lin Chen ChiJin LianMain Role -
![Chiang Yang in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Chiang Yang in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Chiang YangChi Keung [Master]Support Role -
![Shih Chung Tien in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Shih Chung Tien in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Shih Chung TienLiu De RueiSupport Role -
![Chiang Han in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Chiang Han in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Chiang HanLiu YungSupport Role -
![Ai Fei in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie]( "Ai Fei in The Spiritual Boxer Hong Kong Movie")
Ai FeiA JinSupport Role
Photos
Reviews
1Hsiao Chen is separated from his master when Chi Keung was taken to jail. Hsiao takes over their spiritual charlatan business by accident and then purposefully. He’s saved from a group of thugs by cross-dressing Jin Lian who becomes his new “disciple” in the business. The two end up fleecing people even as they convince the villagers Hsiao is a medium for the gods. When Hsiao begins teaching the villagers kung fu to protect themselves from the local gangsters, the Big Bad calls in reinforcements that may be the end for the “spiritual boxer.”
I had high hopes for this film when the introduction included an exhibition match with Ti Lung, Chen Kuan Tai, and Wilson Tong. It went downhill from there. Wong had skills but lacked the star power to carry this film. The film had numerous familiar names as villagers and the Big Bad’s thugs. Lin Chen Chi in a wig that looked like combed out roadkill, did an adequate if not memorable job. Shih Chung Tien wasn’t exactly terrifying as the local crime boss Liu Deruei. Lee Hoi San and Ng Hong Sang did, however, bring the menace as Liu’s hired specialty killers.
The bookended fights were well choreographed as Lau Kar Leung (one of my faves) was both the director and martial arts director. This was only his second directorial effort so I’m willing to cut him some slack. Spiritual Boxer was the film equivalent of luke warm water, not awful, but not good either. Graded on a curve as usual.
31 October 2025
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