It is hard to imagine that so much talent could
have come out of the same school. But in one of those amazing stars in alignment
occurrences Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao all went to the same Peking
Opera School at the same time. When they and others from the school performed
during that time in theaters they were called The Seven Little Fortunes.
Others such as Yuen Wah and Corey Yuen were also at times part of this troupe.
But it certainly is Sammo, Jackie and Yuen that have had the most effect
on HK cinema. Between the three of them they have been involved in hundreds
of films as either actors, directors, producers and fight choreographers.
All three are obviously incredibly gifted athletes and to watch them perform
their magic in fights or stunts is to wonder how humans can do such things.
But their talents go far beyond this - their impact and influence on HK film
is immeasurable and still I hope ongoing.
- Project A - this was Jackie’s first
breakout modern action film . Previously, he was stuck in the kung fu genre,
but here he sets the story at the turn of this century and utilizes his vision
of mixing action, incredible stunts and comedy to near perfection. Sammo and
Yuen are along for the ride.
- Police Story - in his next masterpiece,
Jackie brings the story into modern times as a HK policeman. I think most
people consider this the best film in the series and there are a few set pieces
- the car plowing down the hill through the town, hanging on to the bus and
the final fight in the mall - that are truly death defying and no matter
how often viewed - simply awe inspiring.
- Drunken Master II - in 1994 Chan
returned for one more kung fu outing as the same character that he had played
many years earlier - Wong Fei Hung - and this film broke many box-office
records all over Asia - for good reasons. It is an incredible film - full
of humor and incredible fights. The legendary matchup with Ken Lo apparently
took months to film before Jackie was satisfied with it.
- Miracles: The Canton Godfather
- perhaps my personal Chan favorite - and one of Jackies as well. This story
based on an old Frank Capra film - has a real plot line and a huge amount
of heart . For once Jackie designed his fights around the plot rather than
vice-versa. Nevertheless, the three major set action pieces are absolutely
a wonder to behold - the choreography is amazingly complicated and clever.
- Dragons Forever - Jackie, Sammo
and Yuen team up for what is thus far their last time together. It’s a wonderful
little film - with less action than many of their other films - more character
development than usual - but it is delightful. In particular, Yuen’s slightly
paranoid wacky incredibly acrobatic character is an original and he nearly
steals the film. There is action of course and the final set piece is one
of the best ever.
- Millionaire Express - a film
that I enjoy more with every viewing. Don’t worry about what a flimsy plot
it is or the less than great acting. It just has so many great action stars
- all having at least a few minutes to shine. We have Sammo (who directed),
Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Cynthia Rothrock, Yukari Oshima and Dick Wei to mention
a few.
- My Lucky Stars - my favorite
of the Lucky Star series - directed by Sammo. Most of the film focuses on
Sammo and his crew of goofy adolescent male friends, but Jackie and Yuen
also have solid roles. There is some excellent action and the sight of Michiko
Nishawaki all pumped up in her bathing suit still sends goose bumps down
my leg!
- Encounter of the Spooky Kind
- this 1980 Sammo film was one of the ground breaking films of that period.
It was one of the best mixtures of comedy, action and the supernatural -
and one of the first uses of the hopping vampire. It is a terrifically enjoyable
film.
- Eastern Condors - Sammo’s homage
to The Dirty Dozen. He and other Chinese prisoners go into Vietnam to blow
up a munitions dump left after the war is over. Sammo, Yuen and the others
have to fight all the way there. Some great violent action - Joyce Godenzi
as a Cambodian guerilla in particular is a standout.
- On the Run - Yuen Biao stars
in this almost HK film noire. Yuen and sleek hitwoman, Pat Ha, team up to
fight corrupt cops who are trying to kill them. Some brutal unexpected moments,
but Yuen actually does very little fighting until the final scene when he
gets into as down and dirty and real a fight as witnessed in HK films. It
was as if Yuen was saying - no tricks here, no acrobatics - I want to show
men fighting for their lives as it really would be - nothing graceful - just
trying to survive.
- Iceman Cometh - based slightly
on the American film - Time After Time - Yuen is an imperial guard who ends
up following a brutal rapist (Yuen Wah) into modern day HK. There he meets
his match in a charming conniver played by Maggie Cheung in one of her most
delightful roles. Then suddenly women are again being raped and killed and
Yuen knows who it must be. Great story, fights and humor in this film.
- Kid from Tibet - Yuen Biao plays
an innocent unworldly Buddhist monk from Tibet who must journey to modern
HK to fight a terrible evil in the form of Yuen Wah. Yuen is perfect in this
role and there is a lot of wonderful action with large elements of fantasy
and magic thrown in.
