CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS.
Produced by: Run Run Shaw (what the heck is up with that name?)
Starring: Chen Kuan (Kwan)-Tai or as I know him- The Chinese dude with lips thicker than mine- as, Lu a-Tsai
Liu Chia-Hui as Huang Fei-Hung. Is this Wong Fei Hung?????
There were also a host of familar faces.
Um.. OK, Challenge of the Masters huh? Bah!! No challenge. No masters. Just a contest to see what Kung-Fu School could capture the most Firecrackers. Yet another Kung-Fu movie with a contest that is bewildering to the Western mind. Purpose: The School that captures the most sticks reigns supreme for two years. It doesn't matter if their Kung-Fu skills suck!
The story starts out with Wong Fei Hung's- OOps, I mean Huang Fei-Hung's school preparing for the up coming tournament. Fei-Hung isn't a participate. It seems that his pops won't teach him to fight. That pisses him off. Hell, I'd be pissed too, if my pops wouldn't teach me to fight. Fei-Hung's father is supposed to be the number one teacher in the land, but his students aren't as good as the dudes from the "Pang School of Bullies" Teacher Pang wants to win at all costs. Enter Brother Ho-Fu. Hey, isn't that... It is!! That's old man Manchu from DM II (Liu Chia Liang). He's not old in this though, he's a strapping buck now. I wouldn't have recognized him if it wasn't for my KFSS training and that dot in the middle of his forehead. He's on the run. And the Law is right behind him. Ho is down with Teacher Pang. I smell a plot build up. Inspector Yung Chang - the Law - just happens to be a good friend of Fei-Hung's pop. He's looking for a wanted bandit that uses 'Deadly Kicks & Killing Spear techniques' that sounds painful doesn't it? The day of the contest is upon us. The school of bullies arrive and try to punk the other schools. Lets call them the Pang School of Bullies. Right. The Pang School is out to win the contest at all cost. There isn't supposed to be any fighting, but they tend to ignore the rules. Fei-Hung begs one of the students to let him join the contest, but he's got no skills. The answer is no! Fei-Hung genuflects and grovels until the answer is yes. Bad choice bruh! The bullies hurt a good number of the Huang Schools students, including number one brother. He got his chest caved in trying to protect Fei-Hung. Brother Chang asks Teacher Huang to reconsider teaching his son. Nope!! So Huang Fei-Hung decides to bypass the Chain of Command and go to his father's teacher. Mr. Thick Lips himself. Teacher Lu decides to take Wong- Damn!- Huang Fei-Hung as his student. -Meanwhile back at the ranch....
...Chang and Ho meet in the Banyon Grove. I don't need to really say that they got down do I? "Although your breath control is good, it can't beat my Death Kick!" *Ho-Fu, the bandit* Well if I have to. Spear VS Sword. Spear wins. Breathing Technique VS Deadly Kicks. Kicks win. I think that metal tipped shoes would pretty much cause anyone to cancel those vacation tickets to Disney World. Dirt Nap for Chang. "Carrie-Ann, don't follow the light!" if you don't get that one, email me. Good fight though! Fei-Hung spends a good 3 or 4 years training. He learns Shaolin Long Pole. Along the way he becomes the bane of all things pottery. Fei-Hung learns that Chang is now in the hands of Buddha and vows vengence. Once his training is complete he beats feet back to town to challengeHo-Fu. High Noon at the old Banyon Grove. Long Pole VS Killing Spear. close, but Pole edges the spear. Deadly Kicks Vs. Very good reflexes and bamboo trees. Reflexes and trees win. Huang Fei-Hung beats the snot out of Ho-Fu and arrests him. Next tournament. Wong Fei Hung got skills now, so the Pang school takes a licking. Fei-Hung and the students have the upper hand, but Hung shows mercy and forgiveness by letting the other school get a stick. The two schools become homies. Thee End.
I don't get it!! No evil dude. No end fight. Not a lot of asses getting whooped. It was all about the contest. Bah! This movie has way too many familiar faces to suck like it does. well, suck is a harsh word. I just didn't get the ending. This was the second time I've watched it. It was better the second time, only because I could name drop. And Kwan-Tai is one of my favs. I guess with those lips I feelthat he's got a little brother in him.
Rewatchability: Sure.
Rewindability: None
Quotability: One
All Things Feet & Fists: 4