Wang Tao Movies

Xia Gang directed this Chinese drama, beginning in the late '50s and spanning four decades. Jiansheng (Wang Luoyong) learned classical music from his father (Da Shichang), missed a concert career because of the Cultural Revolution (when Western music was banned), and turned to teaching. His fascination with music led his girlfriend (Zhang Xi) to marry someone else, and later, his wife (Yan Xiaopin) left for the United States. The impact of the Cultural Revolution on people is the film's main theme. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 is featured. Shown at the 1998 East West Film Festival (London). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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, Rovi

In the early 20th century, rebels were fighting the Chinese monarchy in order to establish a democratic republic, and after outlining that background, this film develops a story of a military officer and his wife whose allegiances seem, at first, to differ. When the wife joins the rebels to fight the incredibly backward Empress Dowager, she has no idea that her husband has changed his mind and is secretly in league with the rebels as well. Both fight for justice in their own way, heading towards a dramatic ending as the civil war starts to define who will eventually win, and who will lose. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Also known as Eagle's Claws, this martial arts extravaganza is not to be confused with the like-vintage Eagle King or Eagle Fist. While there are striking similarities vis-a-vis plot elements--treachery, revenge, one man against a dozen foes, etc.--the three films can be distinguished by their different approaches to the action highlights. Kuan Chan and Chang Yu head the cast of Eagle Claws, dishing it out and taking it for nearly 90 minutes. As is customary in films of this nature, the best battle scenes are reserved for the final reel. Eagle Claws was part of a sizeable package of Chinese chopsocky films syndicated to American TV markets in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Tyrone Shu directs Lung Chun, Wang Tao, and Angela Mao in the historically set martial arts film Moonlight Sword & Jade Lion. During the Sung Dynasty, Mao plays a martial arts expert who finds herself involved in a variety of political intrigues. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Chang Chi directs Han Ying and Wang Tao in the martial arts action film The Death Duel of Kung Fu. Ming General Cheng has taken a group of soldiers to Taiwan after their kingdom succumbed to the Ching. The Ching prince sends mercenaries to finish of Cheng, but Cheng's elite guard surprises the Manchurian foes. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

The martial-arts action film 10 Brothers of Shaolin tells the tale of ten specially trained fighters who have been taught their skills in order to protect Master Chu, who needs all the help he can while attempting to bring down the Mings. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Sergio Leone's western classic Once Upon a Time in the West gets re-interpreted for eastern audiences in kung-fu legend Wang Tao's tale about a mysterious man known as "Miracle" who seeks vengeance upon the nefarious "Black Dragon Society" for past transgressions. When "Miracle" arrives in a remote town with motivations known only to himself, Black Dragon Society leader Hunchback (Tommy Lee) disburses his best fighters to ensure that their grip over the small burg is not threatened. Though long thought lost, this classic martial arts film was acquired from Tao himself by Rarescope films and subsequently restored to its original glory. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In this period martial arts-adventure, three warriors set out on a series of adventures in order to determine who has the strongest fighting skills. The Hot, the Cool, and the Vicious stars Delon Tan and Wang Tao. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi