Legendary Weapons of China review by Bobby Blakey
I love all things martial arts and grew up with the iconic Kung-Fu Theater on TV that often times featured films from The Shaw Brothers. In 1982 they debuted the film The Legendary Weapons of China directed and starring Chia-Liang Liu and co-starring Chia-Yang Liu, Sheng Fu and Kara Wei. Now The Legendary Weapons of China is getting the Blu-ray treatment from 88 Films.
Legendary Weapons of China follows the former member of a failing magical kung fu order that threatens to destroy the remaining group's reputation through his loud mouth insults and defamatory behavior, so an elite band of killers is dispatched to silence him forever. Though perhaps the golden age of martial cinema had been and gone, this late entry wuxia style film from The Shaw Brothers house of dreams was still able to pack a powerful punch. This gloriously fast-paced drama which entertainingly mixes swordplay with hand to hand combat in a fabulously furious rollicking adventure weaves its own special kind of magic.
This is a damn fun flick that brings all the great martial arts action complete with a full on display of a wide assortment of weapons to the finale. The classic styles are all displayed and everything this genre is about. Sure it gets a bit silly in the magic side with the inclusion of the voodoo doll control that is ridiculous but also fun to watch and entertaining element to the fighting.
The story is all over the place like most of these movies and while it makes sense is like pulling teeth to really stick with, but that isn’t why we watch these flicks anyway. It is for the action and they deliver a tone of it making totally worth it for those fans of the genre. I can’t wait to dive back in a gain if for no other reason than the final weapons fight. I also love the demo style
openings these old flicks had showcasing some of the martial artists doing their thing. It sets a tone to the rest for the film and gets you excited for what’s to come.
Included in this stacked package are a Limited Edition Slipcase with brand-new artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien, Double-Sided A3 Foldout Poster, Extensive Booklet Notes, Audio Commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng and Actor / Martial Artist Michael Worth, Audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, Eighteen Weapons - David West on Legendary Weapons of China, Gordon At Shaw - Interview with Actor Gordon Lui by Frédéric Ambroisine, Titus At Shaw - Interview with Producer Titus Ho by Frédéric Ambroisine and an Original Trailer.
Grab your copy of Legendary Weapons of China available now from 88 Films.