58
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11
If you are looking for a bloodless kung fu film, Jackie Chan’s second directorial effort, The Young Master, would be a place to start. The fights still weren’t up to speed but the creative use of props made up for it.
Lung and Tiger were orphans taken in by Master Tien. When Tiger betrays the school for money, he’s kicked out. After second thoughts, Master Tien sends Lung out to retrieve the wayward student. Tiger falls in with Ah Suk’s motley gang and helps spring a dangerous prisoner, Master Kam. Lung is mistaken for Tiger and becomes entangled with Sheriff Sang Kwan and his family.
The story was thin, even as kung fu flicks go, but it provided a framework for numerous fights beginning with a Lion Dance. Back when Lung was chastised as a lazy fighter. Somehow, he became a more proficient fighter as the story moved along, all without the benefit of a training montage or new master. The story had continuity issues, perhaps because of editing for time. Chan fought with just about every fighter in the movie-Fung Hak On, Lee Hoi Sang, Yuen Biao, Sek Kin, Lily Li, Wai Pak, Fan Mei Sheng, Yue Tau Wan (& friends), and the big finale with hapkido master-Hwang In Shik. The final fight showed off Hwang’s fighting skills and Chan’s pratfalls for nearly 20 minutes before Chan finally ate his spinach and was able to do more than fall down.
Comparing it with other films from the era, the fights were well choreographed. Fung Hak On and Lee Hoi Sang tended to move at a faster speed in their fight against the prison guards. Chan’s fights were more deliberately styled, often with props, which slowed things down. His fight with Sek Kin (and Sek’s double) was entertaining. The old veteran brought nice acting skill to his scenes as well. I lost interest in the last fight other than being impressed with Hwang’s diverse kicking techniques. There were only so many times I could watch Chan fall down before it became monotonous. The Young Master was entertaining, but often felt a bit self-indulgent and uneven. 7.25 rounded up to a 7.5.
31 March 2025
Trigger warning: Nekkid men’s buttocks
Lung and Tiger were orphans taken in by Master Tien. When Tiger betrays the school for money, he’s kicked out. After second thoughts, Master Tien sends Lung out to retrieve the wayward student. Tiger falls in with Ah Suk’s motley gang and helps spring a dangerous prisoner, Master Kam. Lung is mistaken for Tiger and becomes entangled with Sheriff Sang Kwan and his family.
The story was thin, even as kung fu flicks go, but it provided a framework for numerous fights beginning with a Lion Dance. Back when Lung was chastised as a lazy fighter. Somehow, he became a more proficient fighter as the story moved along, all without the benefit of a training montage or new master. The story had continuity issues, perhaps because of editing for time. Chan fought with just about every fighter in the movie-Fung Hak On, Lee Hoi Sang, Yuen Biao, Sek Kin, Lily Li, Wai Pak, Fan Mei Sheng, Yue Tau Wan (& friends), and the big finale with hapkido master-Hwang In Shik. The final fight showed off Hwang’s fighting skills and Chan’s pratfalls for nearly 20 minutes before Chan finally ate his spinach and was able to do more than fall down.
Comparing it with other films from the era, the fights were well choreographed. Fung Hak On and Lee Hoi Sang tended to move at a faster speed in their fight against the prison guards. Chan’s fights were more deliberately styled, often with props, which slowed things down. His fight with Sek Kin (and Sek’s double) was entertaining. The old veteran brought nice acting skill to his scenes as well. I lost interest in the last fight other than being impressed with Hwang’s diverse kicking techniques. There were only so many times I could watch Chan fall down before it became monotonous. The Young Master was entertaining, but often felt a bit self-indulgent and uneven. 7.25 rounded up to a 7.5.
31 March 2025
Trigger warning: Nekkid men’s buttocks
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