Liu Chia-Liang Movies

David Lai Tai-wai directs this period kung-fu yarn, set in the 1920s, about Fei Yu-shu (Chin Kar-lok), an undisciplined, wayward student who is about to be kicked out of school. One day, he saves a beautiful young maid named Hsiao-ju (May Lo Mei-mei) from being sold to a whorehouse by her venal master Wang (Victor Hon Kwan). Later, Fei is sent to live with his Uncle Yi (Lau Kar-leung), who runs a noodle shop. When Wang's thugs try to trash Yi's shop in retaliation, Fei's uncle reveals himself to be a master of kung fu as well. Aided by muscle bound health nut Jean Pol (Frankie Chin Chi-leung), Yi instructed Fei on the finer points of the Scorpion style of kung fu, as Fei prepares himself for his final showdown with Wang. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Considered one of the finest kung fu films made by the Shaw brothers, this film was directed by master choreographer Lau Kar-Leung. Three years after the Yim Ho clan sends ace fighter Lei Kung (played by the director Lau) to Yunnan to set up a branch there, headquarters learns that their man has spurned clan loyalty and closed down the group's southern outpost. Boss Li Lien-ying sends a trio of assassins independent of each other out after their renegade brother: Lei Ying (Lau Kar-wing) is skilled in the magical arts; Tieh Hon (Hsiao Hou) is a skilled killer; and Ti Tan (Lau Ka Fai) is the master at kung fu. Lei Ying hires a bumptious petty thug, Wu (Alexander Fu-Sheng), to pose as assassin, hoping to smoke Lei Kung out of hiding. Meanwhile, Tieh Hon becomes convinced that a wizened lumber salesman is the missing clan member. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

As a sequel to Executioners from Shaolin, this standard kung-fu actioner features Liu Jiahui as the fighter Hong Wending whose friends have been killed by the seditious White Lotus Society. He wants revenge. In order to prepare himself for the great confrontation with the head of the White Lotus fighters, White Eyebrow--otherwise known as Pai Mei--who has two remarkable skills: He can achieve weightlessness and he can draw his reproductive organs up into his stomach in order to protect them. Wending is trained by a woman (Hui Yinghong) in how to use her more flexible style of combat. From his boss, he also learns the secret of acupuncture points that are connected with specific parts of the body. Armed with needles placed in his braided hair, he is ready to shut down his opponent like a toy whose batteries are disabled. His opponent, it so happens, is an aged abbot (played by director Lo Lieh) who looks like he could not harm a fly. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Lau Kar-leung spins this high-flying kung-fu saga about a Peking opera actor named Chen (played by the director), who, along with his beautiful sister (Kara Hui Ying-hung), is invited to dine with the dastardly and powerful Mr. Tuan (Lo Lieh). There Chen is slipped a mickey and when he comes to is accused of trying to rape Tuan's wife. Tuan offers to spare Chen's life if his sister becomes his concubine. The dealt is struck and Chen is cast into the street after getting his hands smashed by Tuan's henchmen. Years later, we find Chen struggling as a street performer with a trained monkey named Ah Mo. When Chen runs afoul of some gangsters, they kill his monkey. Just before Chen decides to snuff his own candle, he realizes that energetic street urchin known as Monkey (Hsiao Ho) would make a decent substitute for his former simian partner. After the two again run afoul of the same gangsters, Chen vows to teach Monkey kung-fu and soon thwarts the thugs. Later, he along with Monkey decides to take on Tuan and break his sibling out of sexual bondage. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Popular Hong Kong martial arts star Gordon Lau headlines this entertainingly comic Shaw Brothers production from prolific action director Lau Kar-leung, who also choreographed the film's fight scenes. Lau plays Wang Chin-chin, who is both the 11th prince and an expert fighter. Wang has fun secretly subverting a local con-man, the inept Ho Chi (Wong Yue), but blackmails the crook into becoming his student after making it look like a B-girl named Choi Hung (Kara Hui) has poisoned Ho and beaten him up in a nightclub. Prince Wang is on his way to the palace for the announcement of the heir, but doesn't really want to rule. His major function has been to prevent his brothers from falling victim to assassins, so Wang knows that there are forces who wish to see him killed before he reaches the palace. He brings Ho along with him, because, although his new sidekick can't fight very well, he could still prove useful in the event of an ambush. The two face various perils together, including a spectacularly staged attack in the wastelands near a village's typhoon wall and a group of comically effeminate attackers who seem to masochistically enjoy being beaten up. Eventually, Wang teaches Ho enough about kung-fu for the reforming con-man to protect him so they can get to the palace. Veteran supporting actor Lo Lieh co-stars with Johnny Wang, Hsiao Hou, and Peter Chan. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

In this Shaw Brothers Kung Fu actioner, a young man named Wong Fei-hung must undergo difficult training under the tutelage of his father's teacher, in preparation for a match that will regain the honor of his school. Will years of training against a mere wooden rack prepare him for the real-life battle that awaits him? ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

In this kung-fu comedy, a con-man who goes from village to village pretending to channel Chinese gods is forced to turn to kung-fu to defend himself. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This fast-paced action film from the Shaw Brothers studios takes its inspiration from the events of the Sung Dynasty. The story begins with Bao Ting-tien (Ti Lung), the leader of a group of Sung rebels, attempting to rescue a prince from the Ching forces that have overtaken northern China. Bao crosses paths with Little Bat (David Chiang), a mysterious kung-fu expert, and the two decide to team up so they can pull off this daring mission. Unfortunately for both men, the odds are stacked against them -- their mission involves crossing a long, perilous rope bridge and storming into a compound guarded by countless soldiers. The action that follows involves heroic sacrifices, cliffhangers galore and plenty of bloodshed. The end result was a hard-hitting action film and another hit for "the Iron Triangle" (this was the nickname given to the teaming of director Chang Cheh and stars David Chiang and Ti Lung). ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide