Search - Challenge of the Masters on DVD

"You can fight and beat your opponent, but if you can show h

morgoth | omaha, NE | 08/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have heard a lot of different opinions on this movie over the years, and the people who don't like it seem to not like it because they think the movie is slow. It is a bit slow I suppose, but to tell a story you can't just have nonstop fighting, right? The story in this movie is very well done. A killer is in town (played by the director Lau Kar Leung), and an officer (played by his real life blood brother Lau Kar Wing) has shown up to arrest him. They have an amazing fight scene and Lau Kar Leung kills him. Gordon Liu plays the legendary Wong Fei Hung, and had become friends with Lau Kar Wing's character. He wants to catch the killer, but he has only started to learn kung fu (from a teacher played by Chen Kuan Tai). Chen Kuan Tai's character is where the line in the title of my review comes from (in the English dubbed version that is, and I had to shorten the quote so it could fit into the limited space given for the title). He also teaches Wong Fei Hung that "kung fu cannot be learned in just a few years. After 2 years, people start to believe they're not bad. But then, after some 20 years, you realize that you are not so good. But still, if you are not feeling satisfied, that means you are on the right track". It's those types of speeches that sucked me into this movie and kept my eyes glued to the screen the entire runing time (I actually just got the movie yesterday, and I've already watched it 3 times!). So Wong Fei Hung ends up becoming a kung fu master and he fights the killer, and helps his school gain back the respect that they had lost in some kind of a fun looking game where everybody beats eachother up.

There are a ton of other recognizable actors on hand, such as Wong Yu, Fung Hak-on, Eric Tsang, Wilson Tong, John Chang, Shut Chung Tin, Ricky Hui, Lily Li-Li-Li, Peter Chan Lung, Chien Yuet Sang and Kong Do.

There are a couple of very touching moments towards the end of the movie, and that is what helps to make it a real kung fu classic, and a movie that I highly enjoyed and will surely be watching again and again. If it had maybe one more great fight scene, it would easily get a 5 star rating. But as Chen Kuan Tai's character would say, a rating of 4.5/5 isn't all that bad.

Picture and sound quality are awesome. Cantonese and Mandarin tracks included, and what I prefer, the original English dub.

Special features include the original English and Chinese trailers, and 2 interviews with Chen Kuan Tai. Very enjoyable interviews.

And on a side note, is Chen Kuan Tai going to star in every Media Blasters Shaw release? Because it's fine with me."

More forgiveness, less aggression

Michael W. Jaworski | Fairfield, NJ USA | 01/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Definitely deserves five stars. Liu Chia-Liang (Lau Kar-Leung)'s second directorial feature is amazing, it's also one of the few films where all three Liu brothers are in it. I would probably rank this as my third favorite Liu Chia-Liang film; right below my all-time fave "The 36th Chamber of Shaolin" & "Heroes of the East." Great fu (the weapons used in the film were real) especially the fights between the Liu brothers, and a bunch of cameos. Tokyo Shock did a fabulous job restoring this gem; remastered, widescreen, well done subtitles and your choice of audio (Mandarin, Cantonese & English). The interview with Chen Kuan-Tai was awesome & informative. Although the whole movie is great; for me, the meat of the movie is the teacher/student relationship between Chen Kuan-Tai & Gordon Liu. I've seen plenty of martial arts pictures (just check out my reviews), but I've never seen that teacher/student aspect done with more emotion and heartfelt sincerity; "More forgiveness, less aggression." (quote from the subtitled track)."

Digitally remastered

Kung Fu Lover | Ann Arbor, MI | 10/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an awesome kung fu movie with a classic premise. Gordon Liu is totally amazing as usual. The quality of the movie is really good - its been digitally remastered - awesome picture compared to some kung fu movies."

Right on morgoth !!!

David Brown III | gloucester, MA. USA | 09/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You nailed it. Those Chen Kuan Tai inspirational speeches are awesome in this film and coming from Chen Kuan Tai, you know it! My favorite from him is the last one he delivers to Gordon Liu, " Hung Fei, not only are you skilled at kung fu you have the right humility. This virtue is much more important than kung fu excellence. When you've beaten your opponent, you've only beaten him in a physical match, but if you can win that man's heart... well then. That is the way real kung fu should be, forgive men and forbear! Hung Fei, never forget your humility and kindness. Awesome english dubbs. Also that showdown between Liu Chia Liang and Liu Chia Yung is priceless in it's own right!"