Gordon Lau Movies
Norman Law Man directs this affable kung fu comedy about the wisecracking Lun Man-chui (Dicky Cheung), who is a master in japes, snipes, and witty insults. His family forces him to put his mental agility to the test and study to become the first certified Cantonese scholar. His rival is a handsome kung fu master named Liu Sin-hoi (Aaron Kwok), who is more than Lun's equal in terms of wit. When their teacher learns that he is being pursued by a dastardly agent from the East Chamber, the two put their differences aside and battle against their newfound enemy. Vivian Chow, Ng Man-tat, Leung Kar yan, and Gordon Lau also appear. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
This standard Hong Kong action film from director Pak Lam Chui was filmed in Thailand using much of the same cast and crew as the contemporaneous Cheetah on Fire. Carrie Ng stars as Lisa Li, who gathers an expedition to seek out the legendary Gold Crystal God, which, according to the local mythology, has the power to heal her deathly sick father. Naturally, she isn't the only one after this valuable treasure, and her rivals soon kidnap the professor who is guiding her. Lisa presses on regardless, along with the professor's daughter, Police Superintendent Wu (Sibelle Hu), and former police officer Chi-liang (Donnie Yen), who acts as their tour guide. Nonstop action and gunplay lead up to a thrilling climactic battle in a cavern filled with deadly traps. The expected visual references to the Indiana Jones series and various '70s drive-in features are enlivened by spirited performances and exuberant pacing, making this an above average low-budget adventure. Gordon Lau co-stars with Ken Lo, Leung Kar-yan, and Michael Woods. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Sibelle Hu, (more)
This 1970s-style Hong Kong martial arts comedy from director Lau Kar-wing stars the irrepressible Gordon Lau as a monk called Tien Fa who is carrying a secret map with the locations of Japanese troops to a small band of rebels during the Japanese occupation in World War II. A pair of shifty boatmen (including Eric Tsang as "Fat Dragon") accompany him on his journey, which becomes a comedy of errors as the boatmen (who think he's carrying treasure) and the villainous Captain Wang (played by the director) try to swipe Tien Fa's package. There's also an amusing scene in a bordello and an appearance by the uniquely Asian brand of hopping vampires, as well as a number of impressively staged fight sequences choreographed by the Lau Family to keep things moving. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
Liu Chia-Liang spins this Shaw Brothers period kung-fu flick about a pair of scalawags -- Chi Ta-po (Alexander Fu-Sheng) and Chau Chu-chi (Chan Chang-peng) -- who decide to track down some ill-gotten booty from a long-dead pirate named Chang Po-chu. They first manage to find a letter written by Chang and owned by a sly old antique collector who also happens to be a kung-fu whiz himself. From the letter, they learn of an evil priest named Wu Sheng (Gordon Lau) and a wicked lord named Mo Chung (Johnny Wang) who systematically killed anyone claiming a piece of the treasure. Wild high-flying kung-fu fights ensue. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
Lau Kar-leung directs this martial arts yarn about competing kung fu schools locked in a bitter rivalry. Meanwhile, the master of one school Huang Chi-ying (Ku Feng) is having a hard time controlling his son Wong Fei-hung (Gordon Lau Kar-fai) and his son's friend Yin-lin (Mai Te-lo) who get their kicks by posing a kung fu masters. Even after getting drubbed in a match with a real kung fu ace, the two continue to play the part, going so far as to hire opponents to take a dive. Soon Master Shan (Johnny Wang Lung-wei) of the rival Jing Wu school gets wind of Fei-hung's bragging and subsequently breaks Yin-lin's leg. Soon Fei-hung realizes that he must get serious and fight Shan in order to save his repudiation and that of his father's school. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gordon Lau, Ku Feng, (more)
Lau Kar-leung directs this revenge thriller, widely considered to be the greatest kung-fu flick of all time. Liu Yu-te (Gordon Lau Kar-fai) is a gentle ethics scholar until his family and friends are brutally slaughtered by a band of Manchu troops. Vowing revenge, he ventures to the fabled Shaolin temple hoping to become a one-man martial arts killing machine. Rechristened San Te, his first year at the temple is spent largely doing menial chores. His begins training during his second year, which involves passing through 35 chambers where he learns the finer points of kung-fu through grueling and excruciating tests. After a year of training, he moves on to learn about weapons. He soon proves to be the finest student in the history of the temple, mastering the entirety of the training in mere five years. He is cast out of the temple, however, for wanting to teach his skills to the masses. Once out of the temple, he assembles a team of fighters and sets out to get revenge. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
