David Lai - Operation Scorpio (1992) 3Audio 624x352.mkv
Operation Scorpio, also known as The Scorpion King, is a 1992 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by David Lai and starring Chin Kar-lok, Lau Kar-leung and Kim Won-jin. The film follows the adventures of a young comic book artist who learns kung fu from two masters of opposing styles and uses his skills to fight against a ruthless gangster's son, who is a master of the deadly Scorpion Style. The film was released on 12 November 1992 in Hong Kong and received positive reviews from critics and fans of the genre.
Plot summary
Yuk Su (Chin Kar-lok) is a dreamy young man who loves drawing comics of imaginary martial arts heroes. He is expelled from medical school by his strict father, who wants him to become a doctor. He is sent to work at his uncle's noodle restaurant, where he meets Jade (May Lo), a servant girl who is being forced into prostitution by Mr. Wang (Victor Hon), a local police chief and crime boss. Yuk Su rescues Jade from Wang's men and takes her to his home, where he hides her in his comic book room.
Yuk Su also meets Master Lo (Lau Kar-leung), an old kung fu master who lives next door and teaches him the Northern Shaolin style. Master Lo tells Yuk Su that he has a rival, Master Yat (also played by Lau Kar-leung), who teaches the Southern Praying Mantis style. Master Lo and Master Yat have been enemies for years, but they agree to train Yuk Su together after seeing his potential. Yuk Su learns both styles and combines them to create his own unique fighting technique.
Meanwhile, Wang's son, Sonny (Kim Won-jin), arrives from Korea to take over his father's business. Sonny is a skilled martial artist who practices the Scorpion Style, a deadly form of kung fu that resembles a scorpion's movements and stings. Sonny is ruthless and arrogant, and he challenges anyone who dares to oppose him. He also has a crush on Jade, whom he considers his property.
Sonny learns that Jade is hiding with Yuk Su and sends his men to capture her. Yuk Su fights back with the help of Master Lo and Master Yat, but they are outnumbered and outmatched by Sonny's Scorpion Style. Sonny kidnaps Jade and takes her to his father's mansion, where he plans to rape her and kill her afterwards. Yuk Su follows them with the help of his uncle and his friends, and confronts Sonny in a final showdown. Using his comic book imagination and his kung fu skills, Yuk Su defeats Sonny and rescues Jade. He then reunites with Master Lo and Master Yat, who congratulate him for becoming a real hero.
Cast
| Chin Kar-lok | Yuk Su / Yu Shu |
| Lau Kar-leung | Master Lo / Master Yat |
| Frankie Chin | Bull / Jean Paul |
| James Lai | Inspector Hua's son |
| Fung Yuen-chi | Loanshark in Su's dream |
Production
The film was produced by Bo Ho Film Company and Golden Harvest, and distributed by Golden Harvest. The director, David Lai, was a former assistant director of John Woo and had previously directed films such as Girls Without Tomorrow (1990) and China Strike Force (2000). The film was co-written by Barry Wong, who also wrote scripts for Jackie Chan's films such as Police Story (1985) and Armour of God (1986).
The film featured a mix of Hong Kong and Korean martial arts stars. Chin Kar-lok, who played the lead role of Yuk Su, was a former member of Sammo Hung's stunt team and had appeared in films such as Project A Part II (1987) and Dragons Forever (1988). Lau Kar-leung, who played the dual role of Master Lo and Master Yat, was a legendary kung fu director and actor who had directed classics such as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) and Drunken Master II (1994). Kim Won-jin, who played the villainous Sonny Wang, was a Korean taekwondo champion and actor who had starred in films such as The Villainess (2017) and Martial Masters (1999).
The film featured several impressive fight scenes choreographed by Yuen Tak, who had worked on films such as Once Upon a Time in China (1991) and Iron Monkey (1993). The most notable fight scene was the final showdown between Yuk Su and Sonny Wang, which lasted for about 15 minutes and showcased their different styles of kung fu. The fight scene was praised by critics and fans as one of the best ever filmed, and was nominated for the Best Action Choreography award at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Reception
The film was released on 12 November 1992 in Hong Kong and grossed HK $512,932 at the box office. [citation needed] The film received positive reviews from critics and fans of the genre. J. Doyle Wallis of DVD Talk rated it 3/5 stars and wrote, "Extremely mediocre story is elevated by the action talent on hand, mainly Kim Won-jun, whose jaw dropping skills make the film worth owning for any martial fan." The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies rated it 3.5/4 stars and wrote of the climax, "Although slightly marred by wire special effects, the bulk of the battle is breathtaking martial arts perhaps some of the best ever filmed, and certainly the best of the year."
The film was also released in other countries under different titles. In Korea, it was released as Scorpion Warrior. In Japan, it was released as Scorpion Fighter. In France, it was released as Le Roi Scorpion. In Germany, it was released as Der Skorpionkönig. In the US, it was released as Operation Scorpio by Fox on DVD on May 25, 2004.
References
- Palmer, Bill; Palmer, Karen; Meyers, Rick (1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies.
Trivia
Here are some interesting facts about the film and its production:
- The film was inspired by the comic book series The Scorpion by Belgian artist Enrico Marini, which features a swashbuckling hero who uses a scorpion-shaped dagger as his weapon.
- The film was originally titled The Scorpion King, but it was changed to avoid confusion with the 2002 American film of the same name starring Dwayne Johnson.
- The film marked the first collaboration between Chin Kar-lok and Kim Won-jin, who became good friends and worked together in several other films, such as Operation Billionaires (1998), Martial Masters (1999) and Dragon Squad (2005).
- The film also marked the last appearance of Lau Kar-leung as an actor, as he retired from acting after this film and focused on directing. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 76.
- The film features a cameo appearance by Yuen Miu, who plays a friend of Yuk Su's uncle. Yuen Miu is a veteran martial arts actor who had appeared in films such as Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), Drunken Master (1978) and The Prodigal Son (1981).
- The film was shot in Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand, and used several exotic locations, such as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the Namsan Tower in Seoul and the Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.
- The film won the Best Action Design award at the 1993 Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan, beating other nominees such as Hard Boiled, Swordsman II and Twin Dragons.
Sources
- "Yuen Miu". Hong Kong Movie Database. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
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