Yuen Woo Ping Movies
A legendary Hong Kong choreographer/actor/director whose first exposure to many stateside moviegoers came with his work in the Wachowski Brothers' 1999 breakthrough action flick The Matrix, Yuen Wo Ping has subsequently crafted an impressive international career with work on such high-profile efforts as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill (2003).Born the eldest of 12 children in Guangzhan in 1945, young Wo Ping was schooled in the art of Peking Opera and kung fu by his highly regarded father, Yuen Siu Tin (who also served as something of a mentor to international action superstar Jackie Chan). It was at his father's behest that the young martial artist was brought to the attention of the "Wong Fei Hung" series' producers in the 1960s, and Wo Ping's martial arts skills served him well as he rose through the ranks with stunt work in such Shaw Brothers classics as The Chinese Boxer (1970). A year later, Wo Ping received his first credit as choreographer for director Ng See Yuen's Mad Killer, and through the remainder of the decade he would work frequently with both Yuen and the Shaw Brothers. Of course, it wasn't long before Wo Ping was looking to advance his skills behind the camera, and in 1978, he made his directorial debut with the wildly popular Snake in Eagle's Shadow. Quickly following with Jackie Chan's Drunken Master and Dance of the Drunk Mantis (which featured his brother Sunny), Wo Ping's subsequent work with Golden Harvest found him again in the director's chair for such "Wong Fei Hung" efforts as Magnificent Butcher and Dreadnaught.
After forming his own production company in 1979, Wo Ping's prominence on the Hong Kong screen would skyrocket and his influence expand with the efforts of his protégé Donnie Yen; and though the popularity of traditional kung fu films would wane somewhat in the 1980s, Wo Ping's output never slowed. In 1991, the genre received something of a shot in the arm thanks to Tsui Hark's popular Jet Li vehicle Once Upon a Time in China (again featuring the enduring Wong Fei Hung and choreographed by Wo Ping), and subsequent work on Iron Monkey (1993), Wing Chun (1994), and Fist of Legend (also 1994) would yield some of the best martial arts films of the decade. After witnessing his jaw-dropping work on Fist of Legend, the Wachowski Brothers hired Wo Ping for The Matrix, and following its 1999 release, his life would be forever changed. Soon faced with an unfathomably large fan base that was hungering for more of the same, video stores across the country were swarming with new fans eager to dive into his impressive body of work. Of course, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would not disappoint, and after work on Tsui Hark's Zu Warriors and Black Mask 2, he returned to American films for The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, and Kill Bill. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Yuen Woo Ping, who would in time become one of the world's leading martial arts choreographers, blocked the fight scenes for this Kung Fu action extravaganza. A small Chinese town is being torn apart by a conflict between local farmers and Japanese soldiers of fortune, who have been brought to town to liberate supplies of a rare Chinese herb. A martial arts expert gifted in both Chinese and Japanese fighting disciplines passes through town, and takes it upon himself to settle the feud. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chen Sing
- 1973
Yuen Woo Ping directs the action of 1973's Awaken Punch (also known as Village on Fire). Chan Sing plays a young man who lives in a village that is getting raided by gangsters. In order to save his village, he is motivated to violently remove the gangsters. He uses a special killing move called the Awaken Punch. This film has been released on DVD with Red Wolf (1995) as part of a "Black Belt Theatre Double Feature" from Ground Zero. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Real like Shadow Boxing champion Chen Wo-fu stars as a humble construction worker who is compelled to mete out justice after his girlfriend is viciously assaulted by gangsters. Ku Ting is a quiet man and lightning-fast shadow boxer who keeps his fighting skills a carefully guarded secret. But his corrupt boss and arrogant son are far from the honest businessmen they present themselves to be, and when the thugs they work for get out of line, Ku takes it upon himself to teach them a painful lesson in humility. Charismatic Wo-Fu died shortly before the release of The Shadow Boxer at the tender age of 24, cutting short the legacy of a promising talent in martial arts cinema. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
- R
The hero is orphaned early on in From China With Death. The culprit is a powerful warlord, who not only kills the protagonist's mom and dad, but everyone else in the family. Thirsting for revenge, the young man trains diligently in the martial arts. By the time he's ready to take on the villain, he's a lean, mean kung-fu machine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The martial arts sequel Crash Masters: Secret Rivals 2 continues the story from the first film by having the brother of the defeated Silver Fox swear revenge upon Northern Leg and Southern Fist. Gold Fox can only track down the brother of Southern Fist who is promptly rescued by Northern Leg. Gold Fox puts together a personal security crew and soon the duo of Leg and Fist must team up again to take out their newest enemy. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
One of the earliest major films starring Jackie Chan, this 1978 Hong Kong offering highlights the relationship between a student and his martial arts master. This theme would dominate the American martial arts genre for years to come, as evidenced by The Karate Kid and many films to follow. Wong Fei-hong, played by Chan, is a 19th-century folk hero in Chinese culture and cinema, a kung fu master who fights injustice in the time of British colonialism. This character would later be portrayed by Jet Li in the more serious Once Upon a Time in China. Drunken Master finds Wong in his early years as a troublesome youth who is sent to receive discipline and martial arts instruction from his uncle (Siu Tien Yuen), the hard-drinking title character. Wong runs away, but runs afoul of some local villains. Beaten badly, he returns to his uncle, who trains him in "drunken-style" kung fu. The martial arts showcased by Chan in this film are important in the development of his career; the staggering, inebriated techniques allow for a looser, more flowing style, but more importantly, they contribute to the elaborate martial-arts slapstick that have become Chan's trademark and have made him an international star. ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jackie Chan, Simon Yuen, (more)
Shangkuan I-yun (Hwang Jang-li) has developed the deadly eagle claw style to devastating effect on the follower of the Snake Fist technique, killing all except the group's dithering leader Pai Chang-tien (Simon Yuen Siu-tien). When harried orphan Chien Fu (Jackie Chan) saves Pai's life, the master teaches the youth some of the finer points of the Snake Fist style. When Chien nurses Pai back to health following an ambush by two of Shangkuan's followers, Pai teaches the lad everything he knows. Later, Chien watches with amazement as his pet cat kills a cobra, giving him the beginning of a new deadlier technique that eventually defeats the evil Shangkuan. This film helped created Jackie Chan's winning screen persona as a put-upon everyman and kung-fu comedian. This film proved to be so popular that director Yuen Woo-ping, Simon Yuen, and Chan went on to make the smash hit Drunken Master later that year. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Famed martial arts director and choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this old school period kung-fu flick featuring some particularly amazing fight scenes. The film opens with inept coiffeur Shang (Yuen Shun-Yi) getting canned from his job and returning to the hinterland to find his old man. Once there, he is unable to find his dad, who mysterious disappeared. Shang does run into his buddy Si-ming (Tsui Siu-ming), who is now a monk. Having both been raised by the same Shaolin master, the two are crack kung-fu artists in their own right. Si-ming finds himself being blackmailed, when, years ago, he violated his oath by drinking liquor, and subsequently getting framed for the rape and murder of a woman. Now a shadowy crime syndicate has the goods on the monk and forces him to do their dirty work, lest his alleged crimes be revealed. Meanwhile, Shang learns that his father stumbled onto a plot by a bunch of foreigners to steal China's cultural treasures. When Shang also discovers Si-tung's blackmailers role in the whole affair, Shang starts to question the loyalty of his friend. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
Famed choreographer and martial arts director Yuen Woo-ping follows up on his wildly successful Jackie Chan vehicle with this kung-fu comedy. Sam the Seed (Simon Yuen Siu-tien) is one of the finest drunken boxers around, in spite of his shambled appearance. He returns home after a prolonged jaunt about the country only to discover that his teenaged son is an incorrigible klutz, seemingly unable to master the simplest of kung-fu moves. Though Sam's wife begs him to teach the lad some of the finer points of fighting, he instead has his son practice a series of grueling and painful calisthenics. Meanwhile, Sam's archenemy and master of the Northern Drunk Mantis style of kung-fu, Rubber Legs, tracks him down and challenges him to a duel. Though Sam seemingly has his rival whipped in the beginning of the match, Rubber Legs soon has him on the robes with his unusual hybrid fighting style. Just when Sam is about to be sent to that great dojo in the sky, his son rescues him. While looking for herbs to help his dad recover, the lad meets the "Sickness Master" who knows just the fighting style that can beat Rubber Legs. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yuen
Yuen Woo-ping directs this classic of the period kung fu epic. Butcher Wing (Sammo Hung) is the most talented and the most troublesome pupil of Master Wong (Kwan Tak-hing). One day while helping to stop a robbery, Butcher runs afoul of the power, and evil, Master Ko (Lee Hoi-sang), resulting eventually in a duel between Ko and Master Wong. Meanwhile, Butcher's long lost brother Lam Sai-kwong comes to town with his beautiful bride Yuet Mei. Master Ko's son Tai-hoi (Fung Hark-on) hoodwinks the country bumpkin into thinking that Butcher owes him a stack of money, taking Yuet Mei as payment. Just as Sai-kwong is about to take a flying leap off a bridge, he is saved by a wily beggar (Fan Mui-sang) with surprisingly good kung fu ability. Eventually, Sai-kwong, Butcher and the beggar unite to free Yuet Mei from Master Ko's clutches, only to create a whole new set of problems. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sammo Hung
- 1981
Ng See Yuen directs Bruce Lee and Tang Lung in the martial arts film Tower of Death. Jim Koo's funeral service takes an unexpected turn when his coffin is stolen by a helicopter. His best friend falls to his death after grabbing onto the helicopter as it flies off. The best friend's brother tracks the bad guys down to the Tower of Death, a fortress for an evil drug ring. The identity of the drug ring's leader comes as quite a surprise to the brother. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Lee
Director and master choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this brilliant kung-fu-thriller featuring future star Yuen Biao. The film opens with serial killer White Tiger (Yuen Shun-yee) fleeing from the authorities of rural China and hiding in a small town's opera troupe. There he covers his prominent birthmark under a layer of face paint. In that same town lives Mousey (Yuen), a shy lad who scares easily. His best friend Foon (Leung Kar-yan) decides that the only way for Mousey to conquer his timidity is to study kung-fu under Wong Fei-hung (Kwan Tak-hing). Mousey proves to be tepid fighter in spite of Wong's best efforts. Yet after several run-ins with the sociopathic White Tiger, Mousey develops the gumption to stand up to this bloodthirsty bully. This film features some of the most influential and oft copied fight sequences in Hong Kong cinema, including Mousey's rigorous training/laundry detail scene and the film's hallucinatory climax taking place on the stage of a Chinese opera. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuen Biao, Kwan Tak-Hing, (more)
Yuen Woo Ping directs the Hong Kong martial arts action film The Miracle Fighters. A high priest has ridden the coattails of a prince in order to gain power. The prince dies, forcing the priest to set up a stooge to take the prince's place. The newcomer rebels, learns martial arts, and then takes revenge on the priest. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuen Cheung-Yan
Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping takes the helm for this wild and unconventional epic action adventure. When the Shaolin Temple comes under the attack of the dreaded Wu Tang sect, the master of liquor style (aka drunken boxing) must swing into action to save the day. Featuring monsters, outrageous kung fu, and a supernatural theme, this unique martial arts film certainly stands out from the pack. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Yuen, Yuen Cheung-Yan, (more)
- 1983
Hong Kong filmmaker Brandy Yuen wrote and directed this breezy sports comedy set in the 1960s soccer scene. Yuen Biao stars as Lee Tong, who leaves his remote farming village after accidentally injuring the chieftain's son and travels to the big city. While settling in, Lee meets Suen (Cheung Kwok-keung), an aspiring soccer player who encourages him to audition for the Luen Wah team. Unfortunately, Lee falls for a trap, as he had earlier disgraced the team's star player, King (Dick Wei), who is eager to get revenge. Lee becomes the team's ballboy and is subjected to repeated humiliation, but finally gets his chance to shine when King accepts a bribe to throw a match and has Lee take his place, assuming that the lowly ballboy will make a fool of himself. As has become standard procedure in films like this, Lee singlehandedly leads the team to victory, gets the stuffing beat out of him as punishment, and finally redeems himself one-on-one in a climactic showdown with King. Moon Lee co-stars with Eddy Ko. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuen Biao
- 1984
Instant Kung-Fu Man stars John Liu...and John Liu. The story concerns twin brothers; more specifically, the story concerns one twin being mistaken for the other. One of the Lius is a martial-arts expert; the other isn't. The less physically prepared brother finds it expedient to learn a few tricks of the trade in a reeeeaaal hurry. Okay comedy content, above-average action ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Liu
- 1984
Prolific Hong Kong filmmaker Yuen Woo-ping directed this amusing martial arts spoof which marked the film debut of popular genre actor Donnie Yen. Yen plays Chin Dao, an unruly rascal who continually runs headlong into trouble. After causing the son of a local boss to lose face, Chin Dao compounds his infraction by causing the young man to go insane after fighting back when the boy seeks revenge using firecrackers. This development enrages the boss so much that he orders Dao's entire family to be murdered by a mute but powerful killer known as the Killer Bird (Yuen Shun-yee). Dao is crushed when he comes home one day to find that his father and brother have both been killed by the assassin, and -- his life completely altered -- wanders aimlessly until meeting a puppeteer (Yuen Cheung-yan) and his heavyset wife (Lydia Shum). The couple attempt to teach Dao to earn a living, but his inability to carry out even the most simple tasks without botching them soon finds him homeless again. While on the streets, he unwittingly saves the Killer Bird's son from some kidnappers, but this does nothing to dissuade the assassin from trying to murder him. Dao is almost killed, but makes his way to the puppeteer, who decides to teach him a method of "soft style tai-chi" which can defeat his pursuer. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen, Wang Tao, (more)
Director turned hot Hollywood fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping spins this propulsive action-thriller. When officer Hsiu (Leung Kar-yan) successfully cracks into a major drug ring, he is able to arrest everyone except the group's ruthless ringleader, Swatow (Johnny Wang Lung-wei). The following day, Hsiu ends up full of holes and the police department launching a desperate manhunt to find Swatow. When they eventually track him down, the criminal is set up to be murdered by crooked cop named Feng (Ng Man-tat), who is working for a rival smuggler. When protagonist Fang (Jacky Cheung Hok-yau) stumbles upon evidence that Feng is working for the crime world, he quickly learns that Feng is not the only dirty cop in the department. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacky Cheung
Cynthia Yang Li-chang stars again in this fourth installment of the popular series directed by Yuen Woo-ping. The film opens with straight arrow American longshoreman Luk Wan-ting (Yuen Yat-chor) stumbling into a police raid, in which he gets blamed for a DEA agent's death. Now a murder suspect, Luk flees to Hong Kong with Madam Yeung (Yang) and street cops Donny (Donnie Yen Chi-tan) and Michael (Michael Wong Man-tak) in hot pursuit. When they finally catch him, Luk is shot by a shadowy assailant before he is extradited. As Luk is the lucky survivor of one assassination attempt after the next, Yeung begins to suspect that Michael isn't necessarily on the side of the law. As it turns out, he's a CIA agent selling drugs to the inner cities to finance terror campaigns in Central America. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cynthia Yang Li-ching, Donnie Yen, (more)
- 1990
In this name-only sequel to the 1988 Tiger Cage, Hong Kong cop Dragon Yau (Donnie Yen Chi-tan) is having a truly bad day: His wife is demanding a divorce, he is almost killed in a bloody robbery attempt, and he gets thrown from a speeding ambulance. Worse still, he finds himself not only framed for murder and wanted by the triads but also handcuffed to Mandy (Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam), the very female lawyer her disgruntled wife hired to clean him out. A band of gangsters are under the impression that Mandy is hiding a wad of laundered cash in her attaché case and seems indisposed to talking the matter out. A litany of explosions, gun play, and general mayhem ensues. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Yen
- 1991
Yuen Woo-ping returns to direct the final installment in this series. In this go around, the film centers around earnest cop James (Cheung Kwok-leung) who works for the Commercial Crime Bureau and is keeping a sharp eye on slick business man Lee Siu-pong (Wong Kam-kong). When his business endeavors garner the attention of an enterprising extortionist, Lee has the blackmailer killed. Fearing that the incriminating document has fallen into the hands of James, Lee does the only thing that a red-blooded criminal might -- he kidnaps the cop's girlfriend Suki (Sharla Cheung Man). When James gives chase, he finds himself horribly burned in an explosion detonated by Lee. After months of painful recovery, James dons a silver mask and sets out for bloody, gut-wrenching vengeance. Meanwhile, Suki, who has become Lee's unwilling mistress, plots for the thug's gory demise as well. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- NR
Peter Mak Tai-kit spins this exuberant, visually dense adaptation from the popular similarly named Japanese anime. The film is set in a world where shape-shifting alien creatures known as Raptors have infiltrated human society. To deal with this problem, Hong Kong has fashioned a secret government task force aptly known as the Anti-Raptor Bureau, recruiting young talent with telekinetic abilities such as Taki (Leon Lai Ming) and Ken (Jacky Cheung Hok-yau). The bureau's current interest is in Japanese billionaire Daishu (played by Japanese screen legend Tatsuya Nakadai, who spends much of the film looking like he is going to kill his agent) who they figure is well over 150 years old and a likely Raptor. For his part, Daishu preaches peaceful co-habitation with humans. His deranged son, Shudo (Roy Cheung Yiu-yueng), on the other hand, espouses the wholesale destruction of the human race. Of course, the presence of a mysterious drug called Happiness, which gives Raptors fantastic strength and a hair-trigger temper, is not helping the cause of the peacemakers. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, (more)
