Tien Feng Movies

Snakes and special effects abound as human and mythical worlds collide in this lavish variation of an old Chinese fable about a learned man who falls under the spell of two snake women. After 1,000 years of practice, White Snake is finally able to take on a completely human form. Hsu Hsien, the scholar, falls in love with the lovely White Snake. Her sister, Green Snake, is not as adept at shape-shifting as she has only practiced for 500 years. She is human above the waist only. The serpentine sisters are hunted by a Buddhist monk who is almost to nirvana, and a Taoist monk determined to rid the area of all snakes. When the two forces finally meet, Hsu stands by as a secular witness. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based on a true story, when the Coldest Winter in Peking was released in Hong Kong in April of 1981, it ran for only one day before it was banned for its content. The historical drama was produced in Taiwan (which is why Peking is not spelled Beijing in the title), and is overtly political. It chronicles a decade or so in the life of a young Chinese, Shen I-fu, educated in England and invited by the mainland Chinese government to return to the country and be the deputy director of the National Science Academy. Just as Shen returns, the prolonged years of the Cultural Revolution begin, and bloody turmoil ensues. Shen's father dies after being viciously attacked and humiliated in public for apparently supporting the now-defunct Chairman Liu Shao-chi. Shen himself is accused of causing his father's death and is sent to the northern Pei-ta-fan concentration camp for re-education and hard labor. After eight years in the camp, Shen is released and reinstated when the notorious Gang of Four (including Mao's wife) falls from power and a new regime takes over. When Shen returns to his former post, he discovers his wife has been interned in an insane asylum -- the Cultural Revolution had destroyed her. In this searing indictment of one of Mao Tse Tung's more notorious policies gone tragically amok, the truth was more than Hong Kong politics could bear -- and the censorship of the film is an indication that the perversion behind the Cultural Revolution was still in the process of censoring truth. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Jackie Chan headlines this martial arts adventure, one of the most internationally popular films of the genre. The story centers on his use of the ancient technique of Snake-Fist fighting to defeat the villains who murdered his father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

One of the Shaw Brothers Studios most well-known films, King Boxer was an international success that helped instigate the kung fu craze of the '70s. It opens with an old master (Wen Chung Ku) attacked in an alley. He fends off the fighters, but decides he isn't strong enough to travel to a martial arts school to learn the Iron Fist (also called Iron Palm) fighting technique. He sends his pupil and son-in-law Chao Chi-Hao (Lo Lieh) instead. When Chao arrives at the school, he finds the students and teachers in preparation for the All China Tournament. They fear that if their archrivals win the competition they will rule with cruelty. Chao, the clumsy rookie, must start at the lowest rung of the school's ladder and work his way up. Meanwhile Ming Dung Shun (Tin Fung), master of the "bad" school has hired Chen Lang (Gam Hei Chu), a tough mercenary, and two Japanese ronins to kill or maim the "good" school's best fighters. In one of these fights Chao's hands are broken and it seems as if he will not be able to fight again. Chao redoubles his efforts to overcome his injury and learn the Iron Fist technique. Mastery of the technique is indicated by a "whooo-hee whooo-hee" sound effect and a quick zoom to the fighter's glowing hands. Chao's old master is also attacked and killed by these fighters and his daughter/Chao's girlfriend Yin Yin (Ping Wang) flees to tell him the bad news. Chao fights his way to the All China Tournament, and prepares to take on Ming Dung Shun and his cohorts. In the United State, the film is more commonly known as Five Fingers of Death, the more exploitative title given to it by Warner Brothers. ~ Michael Buening, All Movie Guide

In this Chinese saga, the emperor's decision to hand over affairs of state to his cruel prime minister creates an endless amount of trouble that culminates in the destruction of a powerful family. Only one survives the massacre: Li-hua, the emperor's pregnant sister--who later bears a son. To protect the endangered child, a friend switches babies, and the real heir to the throne is safely placed in the home of the prime minister (who wants the throne for himself). Fifteen years pass before the royal son is told the truth about his parentage. To avenge the slaughter of his family and their loss of honor, he kills the aged prime minister. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide