Here it is – the film that launched the kung fu movie craze in the United States.  Before even the rise of Bruce Lee, King Boxer (Tian xia di yi quan, 1972), also known as Five Fingers of Death, was a surprise hit on the drive-in and grindhouse circuit. 

In June 2007, Dragon Dynasty released a superbly presented DVD as part of its growing Shaw Brothers collection.  The result is a classic example of chop socky history and an excellent kung fu flick in its own right.  Its relatively complex plot combines popular themes of honor, betrayal, revenge and the handing out of righteous beat-downs.

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Here’s a trailer for the Shaw Brothers flick Human Lanterns, just released on DVD. Review to follow as soon as its’ available.

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From the press release:

Swordplay, savagery and blood-chilling thrills reign supreme in this outrageous mixture of martial arts and the macabre from Shaw Brothers! Two rivals, one rich and the other poor, enter an unholy pact to win an annual lantern-creating contest in their village; however, the terrifying secret behind their remarkable creations lies within the supple flesh of local maidens, who are disappearing at the hands of a demonic assailant! Now featuring shocking scenes too extreme for its Asian DVD release, this unflinching action-horror masterpiece is now finally available to American audiences to enjoy full strength and full throttle!

“This beautifully shot classic is immensely entertaining thanks to a combination of outrageous swordplay and richly gruesome and bizarre imagery!”

-KUNGFUCINEMA.COM

“Brilliantly shot and undeniably creepy…deliriously sick, sleazy and gory with some kickass action!”

-10,000 BULLETS

SPECIAL FEATURES:
§ Shaw’s Baby Doll: An Interview with Shawn Yin Yin
§ Extended Scene
§ Shaw Brothers Trailers
§ Production Stills Gallery

If you’re looking for something to blow that $300 tax stimulus check on, here are a couple of suggestions - Dragon Dynasty is releasing two Shaw Brothers kung-fu classics on 5/27, namely Come Drink With Me and Heroes of the East. Both are acknowledged classics and these releases look double-extra-sweet.
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Rating:   

More than 40 years after its original release, The One-Armed Swordsman remains a classic martial arts film. Its pageantry, performances, drama and unstoppable action exemplify everything audiences love about Shaw Brothers films, and rightly made stars of its director, Cheh Chang, and its smoldering star, Jimmy Wang Yu.

While we’re on the subject of noted genre pictures I’ve never seen, I have a shameful confession: one of them was the 1967 Shaw Brothers classic The One-Armed Swordsman. I’ve long been a big fan of Jimmy Wang Yu, but somehow never got around to seeing the film that catapulted him to stardom. Fortunately, a typically excellent Dragon Dynasty DVD released in summer of 2007 provided the opportunity to correct the situation. Read the rest of this entry »