more on Celestial SB reissues
deadmead
Han-Hsiang and Chu Yuan ("big" in
terms of fame and productivity), Cheng
Kang made several quality moives
for SB in the golden studio era. By now,
the Celestial has reissued his KIDNAP
and THE TWELVE GOLD MEDALLIONS.
MEDALLIONS is one of his wu-xia movies
that made Cheng Kang an unique wu-xia
filmmaker, standing side by side with
Chang Cheh, Chu Yuan and others.
KIDNAP is the first HK movie based on
the story of "three wolves." "Three Wolves"
were the last three "hanging to death"
criminals in HK. There have been several
movies based on this story (especially after
Cat. III movies got popular...Taylor Wong's
SENTENCED TO HANG [featuring big Tony
Leung] and the most recent version PROSITUTE
KILLER), and KIDNAP is far better than all
the following attempts. Made in 1974, although
it was based on HK local story, the primary soundtrack
for this film was Mandarin (the DVD provides both
Mandarin and Cantonese sountracks).
also an interesting thing is that KIDNAP was
one of earliest movie projects Ching Siu-Tung
participated in. One of his earliest action-directing
work (well, Ching Siu-tung is Cheng Kang's
son...). However, there aren't many fight scenes
in KIDNAP, we get to taste more of Ching's martial
arts directing talent in THE TEA HOUSE
(also released in 1974), the pre-wires, and rough,
bloody fighting style...quite none-Ching Siu-
Tung-like actually, but these two films were the
beginning of Ching's career. Old school fans might
be interested in checking out both KIDNAP (featuring
Lo Lieh) and THE TEA HOUSE (featuring Chen
Kuan-Tai) for the sake of the two stars ^_^
lastly, Cheng Kang was one of the key directors
who were responsible for the first "gambling
fever" in Chinese langauge cinema scene.
That was from mid 70s to early 80s. His
1976 KING GAMBLER wasn't a big boxoffice
hit but was the first gambling movie that
blend kung-fu action and gambling together...
Wong Jing entered the HK cinema scene at
the end and also the peak of the first "gambling
fever"...the Celestail is scheduled to release
two of the most popular gambling movies in
the first fever -- Sun Chung's NORTORIOUS
EIGHT and Wong Jing's CALLENGE OF THE
GAMESTERS. GAMESTERS is Wong Jing's
first directing work, and very, very successful
at the time...
Wong Jing almost singlehandly (well, with
the help of star power of course) created the
second gambling fever; GOD OF GAMBLERS
is among the most well known HK movies in
the Western world. The Celestial reissue will
give the Westerners a chance to get a taste
of the first gambling fever (less comical
and more violent).
deadmead
--
瞋界 / The Deadmeads -- http://deadmeadchen.topcities.com/
夢遊:瞋界邊緣 -- http://www.geocities.com/deadmead/index.htm
In truth, positive certainty is unattainable by man.
--- Charles Sanders Peirce
Folly ad villainly are integral motives, necessary
to wisdom or virtue.
--- Kenneth Burke
DaleWBerry
as they emerge. Its making it more fun to know the backstory for KIDNAP, and
to learn about the work of Li Han-Hsiang...also: I recall an early TV series w/
Chow Yun Fat, THE BUND, that was perhaps edited and released theatrically? Did
this predate the emergence of 'gambling films,' or was it contemporary with
them? [just curious :)]
[btw: thanks again for clueing me in about RUNAWAY...what a great movie! Always
happy to discover a film with the visual richness of RAN, and a cast of the old
guard from Shaw Bros.... ;)]
Just recently picked up Celestial's LEGEND OF THE BAT, and was knocked out by
sets & production design, esp. the miniature work...plus I think I now finally
see the huge social impact Ti Lung's character holds in Asian pop culture; its
like just discovering there's been a James Bond all these years! And Gu Long's
take on the adventure/mystery story is everything good in what people call
"pulp."
I'm also getting deeper into Chor Yuan as a director, I think...BAT was shot
and edited to generate a taught,lean tension to compliment all the sumptuous
visuals. One just constantly wants more. I can't wait for the "Sentimental
Swordsman" series, now...!
-Dale [Back In The Saddle Again] Berry
deadmead
"DaleWBerry" <dalew...@aol.com> 撰寫於郵件新聞
:20030509143929...@mb-m13.aol.com...
> Thanks (as always) for your insights and background information on these
discs
> as they emerge. Its making it more fun to know the backstory for KIDNAP,
and
> to learn about the work of Li Han-Hsiang...also: I recall an early TV
series w/
> Chow Yun Fat, THE BUND, that was perhaps edited and released theatrically?
Did
> this predate the emergence of 'gambling films,' or was it contemporary
with
> them? [just curious :)]
hey, Dale - among the happiest men on earth - Berry,
good to see you here again...and my posts definitely
will find audience while you're around ^_*
It's kinda "rewarding" for myself writing those things,
all those re-issued movies bring back the glorious
yesteryears ~~~~~~~
and yes, THE BUND was edited and released
theatrically (THE BUND I & II) in 1982.
When the TV series was extermely popular
in HK, the first gambling fever actually
was already dying out in HK. 1981 was the
last year when gambling films made major
noise in HK boxoffice. The fever contiuned
to burn in Taiwan though unitl mid 80s (Cheng
Kang actually made several Taiwan-base gambling
films after 81). But the connection between
THE BUND and gambling genre was
there (well, you got good eyes for cinema)...
triad / gangster more often than not was a
quite important plot-element for the first fever
gambling films.
now a side note, for many female audiences
(well our generation), THE BUND is CYF's
best work..."he's unbelievably charming and
heartbreaking!" to quote my sister @@
>
> [btw: thanks again for clueing me in about RUNAWAY...what a great movie!
Always
> happy to discover a film with the visual richness of RAN, and a cast of
the old
> guard from Shaw Bros.... ;)]
you're very welcome...hope someday it will be introduced to
Western audience (the chance is slim...but we still can hope eh?)
>
> Just recently picked up Celestial's LEGEND OF THE BAT, and was knocked out
by
> sets & production design, esp. the miniature work...plus I think I now
finally
> see the huge social impact Ti Lung's character holds in Asian pop culture;
its
> like just discovering there's been a James Bond all these years! And Gu
Long's
> take on the adventure/mystery story is everything good in what people call
> "pulp."
> I'm also getting deeper into Chor Yuan as a director, I think...BAT was
shot
> and edited to generate a taught,lean tension to compliment all the
sumptuous
> visuals. One just constantly wants more. I can't wait for the
"Sentimental
> Swordsman" series, now...!
>
the sets & production design is one of the most important
(if not the most important) cinematic element for Chu Yuen
to create his "sentimental, surreal jiang-hu universe." As
we'd discussed in the past, Chu Yuen's Gu-Long wu-xia
has the peculiar surrealistic aura that no other martial
arts -related sub-genres have. Chu Yuen's sets & production
design in these movies mostly follow the form and style
of Chinese "yuen-ling" art ("Garden art"). Chinese "Garden
Art" is to create artistic garden scenery that echoes or
"follows the way of" the natural scenery...
The Chinese garden is made consciously to know and
let known that the scenery is created (now...this is Tao
and Zen territory...). Chu Yuan's wu-xia movie concsiously
saying that "hey, this is a make-believe world" -- even if
the scenery looks fake, and unrealistic, it doesn't matter,
for "believe it or not" is a no-issue in wu-xia world. The
setting of a movie is like a Chinese garden...artifical,
make-believe, yet consciously so...thus, real is surreal,
surreal is real...sentimental swordsman is jiang-hu,
jiang hu is sentiemtal swordsman...sentiemtal jiang-hu
is but a state of mind...a state of mind is but a sentimental
jiang-hu...
BAT probably most obviously demonstrate Garden art
at work in Chu Yuan's movies (because the location the
narratvie takes place -- the island of bat itself
is a big, artificial Chinese garden~~).
as I mentioned...the Celestial has slowed down putting
out Chu Yuan's Gu-Long stuff..but hey, there are
just too many movies to be re-issued!!!! Like...finally,
finally, Master Liu Chia-liang is here --
THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN will be out May 13!
(ehh...of course we already get a taste of his brillance
as martial art director in Cheung Cheh's classics such
asTHE MAGNIFICENT TRIO and HEROES TWO)
although this masterpiece and several other master
Liu's works have been widely avalible, this time
it's with original soundtrack and remastered!!! furthermore,
I expect the Celestial to re-issue all master Liu's SB
movies...that'll be a blessing^^
>
> -Dale [Back In The Saddle Again] Berry
welcome back to the earth, lucky man ^_*
Man-Fai Wong
Just thought I'd toss in my $.02 on the gambling/gangster genre.
Yes, I agree w/ deadmead in parts although I would not draw the link for
gambling genre between TV and film cinema using The Bund. The Bund is more
of the father of period gangster films, especially the pre-revolution
Shanghai setting, than for gambling films in general. The literal Chinese
title for The Bund is actually Shanghai Beach. And to me, it's not CYF as
much as Ray Lui that carried the gangster genre forward in both TV and film.
CYF didn't actually do much more w/ this genre until later in God of Gambler
and A Better Tomorrow, IIRC.
For the father of the gambling genre, The Shell Game, which ran about the
same time as The Bund, is probably the better choice. The pre-revolution
Shanghai (and Hong Kong) setting is also used here, but the focus is on
gambling and the con. The Chinese title is more accurately translated as
King of Con Kings or King of Deception and starred the likes of Patrick Tse
Yin (in his defining role), Lisa Wang, Simon Yam, etc. FYI, Patrick Tse is
the evil Hung in Shaolin Soccer in case you're wondering. There was also a
sequel series called something like The Gathering of the Con King's Heroes.
_Man_
--
Please remove **NOSPAM** from my address to reply by email.
"deadmead" <kjc...@loyno.edu> wrote in message
news:b9hau5$b1o$1...@mozo.cc.purdue.edu...
>
> "DaleWBerry" <dalew...@aol.com> 撰寫於郵件新聞
> :20030509143929...@mb-m13.aol.com...
> > Thanks (as always) for your insights and background information on these
> discs
> > as they emerge. Its making it more fun to know the backstory for
KIDNAP,
> and
> > to learn about the work of Li Han-Hsiang...also: I recall an early TV
> series w/
> > Chow Yun Fat, THE BUND, that was perhaps edited and released
theatrically?
> Did
> > this predate the emergence of 'gambling films,' or was it contemporary
> with
> > them? [just curious :)]
>
DaleWBerry
Many thanks for the information and insights; I'd never heard of the other
series before but I see now/it makes sense that the shift toward "gambler/
triad" films was also more of a general phenomena than a direct line of one or
two movies & shows. Much more of a social evolution thing.
(Thought just struck me: where do TV series like these fall in relation to
those "golden years" of HK television, when Tsui Hark & the "future new wavers"
were getting started? Were they contemporary of all that? Earlier...?)
[btw, have you had a chance to check out any of the SB discs yet? Was
wondering what you thought of them... :)]
-DB
DaleWBerry
>
>Message-id: <b9hau5$b1o$1...@mozo.cc.purdue.edu>
>
>the sets & production design is one of the most important
>(if not the most important) cinematic element for Chu Yuen
>to create his "sentimental, surreal jiang-hu universe." [sadly snipped.]
>Chu Yuan's wu-xia movie concsiously
>saying that "hey, this is a make-believe world" -- even if
>the scenery looks fake, and unrealistic, it doesn't matter,
>for "believe it or not" is a no-issue in wu-xia world. The
>setting of a movie is like a Chinese
>garden...artifical,
>make-believe, yet consciously so...thus, real is surreal,
>surreal is real...sentimental swordsman is jiang-hu,
>jiang hu is sentiemtal swordsman...sentiemtal jiang-hu
>is but a state of mind...a state of mind is but a sentimental
>jiang-hu...
I spent some years working as a stagehand/technician/sometime desiger, and I
know that at the basic fundamentals both eastern & western cinematic
storytelling is informed in many ways by stage tradition. And that is what
kills me about Chu's work: the sheer *theatricality* of it [in the best sense
of the word]. Chu is a superb stylist, and his "visions" completely draw the
viewer in. He makes you want to live there,regardless of the violence and
betrayal that would come with it...
Did Chu do many musicals? He's got a touch of the Busby Berkely-extravaganza
about him, with all those geometric tableaux/spatial relationship camera
set-ups... :)
On the Celestial Front: recently watched Chang's BLOOD BROTHERS...again,you
simply cannot imagine the difference the English dubbing made in one's
perception,for all these years...they are like two different films! [One of
which,btw, is an outstanding, dramatic, historical saga with a slight cinematic
flavor like John Ford. The other one just lost its street cred... ;)].
-DB
deadmead
:NpIva.6205$Ur1....@nwrddc03.gnilink.net...
> Hey, guys! Long time no see. :-)
hey... _Man_ it's been quite---- a while ^_^
thanks for pointing out the HK TV extension of
the gambling genre...I have no idea (HK gambling
movies were certainly popular in Taiwan back
then, but gambling TV series didn't really catch
attention from Taiwanese audience...)
I guess, Dale and I just see sorta "connection"
between THE BUND and the gambling genre
(the TV series bearing spme "shadows" of the
genre) rather than thinking that it's the TV counterpart
of the movie genre.
THE BUND is more of a gangaster-drama-romance
rather than a gangaster + gamblers TV series...it's just
that gambling was probably a necessary element in
any gangaster-related movies or TV series at the time.
deadmead
--
deadmead
:20030512162233...@mb-m07.aol.com...
> Did Chu do many musicals? He's got a touch of the Busby
Berkely-extravaganza
> about him, with all those geometric tableaux/spatial relationship camera
> set-ups... :)
come to think of it...as versitle as he was, Chu
wasn't a musicals director for SB and actually,
he rarely, if not never, used elements of musicals
(singing and dancing) or even elements of Huangmei
opera in his works.
now, Huangmei opera and musicals were two different,
distinguished genres back in the SB golden age.
When Chu became a major SB director (early 70s),
Huangmei opera as a genre was pretty much totally
"dead" but the musicals moved on. as you mentioned it,
I do agree that Chu's cinematic style is perfect for
the musicals...but for whatever reason, he wasn't a part
of SB musicals world^_*
also...although Chu made one of the most popular,
successful comedies - THE HOUSE OF 72 TENANTS --
in the pre-Michael-Hui-domianting HK cinema scene...
the cinematic aura of majority of Chu's works are
moody and dark (more sadness than happiness in the
big picture) ... musicals (bright, light, and happy by
convention) probably just didn't fit into his "sentimental
universe" maybe? look at the Gu Lung, sentimental swordsman
genre he created!!!
The three "Prince of theives Chu Liu Hsiang" movies are
probably the "brightest" of Chu's sentimental swordsman
movies...however, the "bright" mood brought about by
the main character, Chu Liu Hsiang, in the end would
be shadowed or fade into the dark mood of sentimental
universe...as we can see by far in the first two Celestial
reissues of the three -- CLANS OF INTRIGUE and
LEGEND OF BAT.
Now I'm waiting for the third and final Ti Lung-as-Chu
Liu Hsiang PERILS OF THE SENTIMENTAL!!!
>
> On the Celestial Front: recently watched Chang's BLOOD
BROTHERS...again,you
> simply cannot imagine the difference the English dubbing made in one's
> perception,for all these years...they are like two different films! [One
of
> which,btw, is an outstanding, dramatic, historical saga with a slight
cinematic
> flavor like John Ford. The other one just lost its street cred... ;)].
mmm...I've never had the "privilege?" to experience the
English-dubbed BLOOD BROTHERS (or any other SB
classics)...but I could try to imagine the "out-of-sync"
effect (not just of the mouth and diaolgue, but of the
original cinematic image and the "revised" cinematic
image) ^_* but, hey...it has to be a great feeling
watching this classic like watching it for the very
first time!!!!
deadmead
>
> -DB
Man-Fai Wong
wasn't that much they could do w/ it. For the most part, only The Shell
Game and it's sequel made much waves. I really loved The Shell Game even
though it was rather cliche I guess. You might think of it as
sentimental/melodramatic wuxia using gambling and more importantly
deception, trickery and the con as the "art", instead of martial arts.
And like many great wuxia films and TV series, The Shell Game also had its
share of great songs and list amongst Lisa Wang's greatest hits. And the
main song is named of the series title. I still listen to them from time to
time even though I haven't seen the series in ages -- I've been meaning to
buy the VCDs, but they seem to be cut as usual w/ TVB series.
_Man_
--
Please remove **NOSPAM** from my address to reply by email.
"deadmead" <kjc...@loyno.edu> wrote in message
news:b9ovoa$l0k$1...@mozo.cc.purdue.edu...
Man-Fai Wong
those "golden years" came before them and began to end some time around the
mid-80's when the Stephen Chow craze began w/ "mo lei tao". If you want to
find out more about the HK TV series back then (and even more recently), you
might try this site for starters:
http://www.spcnet.tv/index.html
You should find many of the old classics reviewed there although not too
many of the really old ones from the 70's. Unfortunately, last I heard,
they still are not available w/ English subs.
RE: the Celestial SB releases, I still haven't gotten around to watching
them. Part of it is that I still don't have a region-free player, and part
of it is that I've been too busy to get to it.
BTW, have you guys seen the SB version of Buddha's Palm? I recently visited
ACD (moebius forum) and read some comments about it. I've never seen it
myself. But is it really true that the original version of this (and some
other similar SB movies in the 80's) were supposedly based on the HK comic
books??? The Celestial DVD sounds a little goofy w/ re-edits, and I'm
wondering if the insertion of the comic book pieces into the movie were
really done in the original or by Celestial. From the comments I've read,
the movie definitely sounds more like the old 60's Cantonese version of
Buddha's Palm than the comic book itself, IIRC.
_Man_
--
Please remove **NOSPAM** from my address to reply by email.
"DaleWBerry" <dalew...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030512152801...@mb-m07.aol.com...
deadmead
> RE: the Celestial SB releases, I still haven't gotten around to watching
> them. Part of it is that I still don't have a region-free player, and
part
> of it is that I've been too busy to get to it.
>
hey,
_Man_ you know...I was thinking that if you were going to
get a Celestial SB DVD, it should be BUDDHA'S PALM~~
> BTW, have you guys seen the SB version of Buddha's Palm? I recently
visited
> ACD (moebius forum) and read some comments about it. I've never seen it
> myself. But is it really true that the original version of this (and some
> other similar SB movies in the 80's) were supposedly based on the HK comic
> books??? The Celestial DVD sounds a little goofy w/ re-edits, and I'm
> wondering if the insertion of the comic book pieces into the movie were
> really done in the original or by Celestial. From the comments I've read,
> the movie definitely sounds more like the old 60's Cantonese version of
> Buddha's Palm than the comic book itself, IIRC.
>
> _Man_
>
> --
It is not based on the comic book, as we know, after the 10th issue of
the comic series, the "Lung Gim Fei" story is actually the "Cheung
Mo Gei" story. This SB movie, however, is really about
Lung Gim Fei's (played by Derek Yee) adventure...it is a compliatoon
of the old cantonese Buddha's Palm movies. In this one, Shen Jien
actually plays his villain role in the old movies, showing off his
"enhanced leg" magic skill!!! the whole movie is like a
color version of the old Buddha's Palm series and with advanced
special effects...lots of fun actually^_*
as for the insertion comic peieces...it is no different from what
you see in SPIDERMAN and other American based-on-comics
movies. Those comic pieces are from the actual Tony Wong
comic books, but not really matter to the story. They insert
those pieces not because the movie is based on Tony Wong's
comics, but because Tony Wong and HK comics were at
the hight of their popularity when the movie was made (the
early 80s). There's a popular comic series "Buddha's Palm"
running and that's a pretty good selling point for SB folks~~
deadmead
My Daddy
> the comic series, the "Lung Gim Fei" story is actually the "Cheung
> Mo Gei" story. This SB movie, however, is really about
> Lung Gim Fei's (played by Derek Yee) adventure...it is a compliatoon
> of the old cantonese Buddha's Palm movies. In this one, Shen Jien
> actually plays his villain role in the old movies, showing off his
> "enhanced leg" magic skill!!! the whole movie is like a
> color version of the old Buddha's Palm series and with advanced
> special effects...lots of fun actually^_*
>
Is that series of films the source of the intro to Miike's Dead Or Alive
3? I recall a post by you (or someone) about a black and white VCD of a film
that contained some dude with a giant leg, and thought of it when I saw DOA
3. Today, a friend of mine asked me about that intro. He wanted to see that
film. So do I but I forgot the name of the movie.
I have the SB Buddhas Palm, but haven't watched it yet...
--
Edshugeo The GodMoor
http://edshugeo.com
http://www.mp3.com/psychovoyager
http://www.mp3.com/ejam
The next time my d*ck has something to say, listen up.
- Dan Savage
deadmead
:5yBya.16795$OB5.6...@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> > It is not based on the comic book, as we know, after the 10th issue of
> > the comic series, the "Lung Gim Fei" story is actually the "Cheung
> > Mo Gei" story. This SB movie, however, is really about
> > Lung Gim Fei's (played by Derek Yee) adventure...it is a compliatoon
> > of the old cantonese Buddha's Palm movies. In this one, Shen Jien
> > actually plays his villain role in the old movies, showing off his
> > "enhanced leg" magic skill!!! the whole movie is like a
> > color version of the old Buddha's Palm series and with advanced
> > special effects...lots of fun actually^_*
> >
>
> Is that series of films the source of the intro to Miike's Dead Or
Alive
> 3? I recall a post by you (or someone) about a black and white VCD of a
film
> that contained some dude with a giant leg, and thought of it when I saw
DOA
> 3. Today, a friend of mine asked me about that intro. He wanted to see
that
> film. So do I but I forgot the name of the movie.
> I have the SB Buddhas Palm, but haven't watched it yet...
well then...it's easy, watch the movie and you'll know whether it is
or it is not ~~
My Daddy
> > > Lung Gim Fei's (played by Derek Yee) adventure...it is a compliatoon
> > > of the old cantonese Buddha's Palm movies. In this one, Shen Jien
> > > actually plays his villain role in the old movies, showing off his
> > > "enhanced leg" magic skill!!! the whole movie is like a
> > > color version of the old Buddha's Palm series and with advanced
> > > special effects...lots of fun actually^_*
> > >
> >
> > Is that series of films the source of the intro to Miike's Dead Or
> Alive
> > 3? I recall a post by you (or someone) about a black and white VCD of a
> film
> > that contained some dude with a giant leg, and thought of it when I saw
> DOA
> > 3. Today, a friend of mine asked me about that intro. He wanted to see
> that
> > film. So do I but I forgot the name of the movie.
> > I have the SB Buddhas Palm, but haven't watched it yet...
>
> well then...it's easy, watch the movie and you'll know whether it is
> or it is not ~~
>
O.K., I watched it. It IS a fun movie, and it has some of those elements
from the scenes used in DOA: Final; crazy guy with a giant leg, giant
bird/dragon thing, plenty of magic, but no smiley faced robots or kid in a
monkey suit. The old clip resembled 1940's American movie serials in film
style (and technology). I suppose that could've been where Cantonese film
was at during the sixties, I dunno. Anyway, I'm more curious about the
original version as it seems even wackier than the Shaw version (which
doesn't take itself too seriously. Then again, how could it?). The 5 movie
set discussed here once before has no english subs, and there was some
debate whether or not it included the film with Shek Kin's giant leg.
Regardless, I have to get it... To quote Paul Rudd; "too bizarre to pass
up".