Search - Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog on DVD

This Film Deserves A Better Reputation.

Scifihorrorfan | Parts Unknown | 07/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On almost every website I've seen with martial arts movie reviews, this film has been panned as been not that great in terms of the martial arts quality or content. Usually the ending is what people recommend about this film the most, but overall, it usually gets 2 or 3 out of 5 stars type of reviews. Personally, I strongly disagree. Sure, when you stack it up against films like Prodigal Boxer or Magnificent Butcher, it looks rather slow and archaic. But this film was made in 1978. High speed action was still in its early stages. There are plenty of martial arts scenes speckled throughout this film. Again, they are not up to the par of Sammo's later films in terms of speed and intricacy, but they are good watching, none-the-less. I actually liked the first fight scene at the beginning of the film, where we almost get to see all of the Legendary Weapons of China, to quote another film Lau Kar Wing was in. They pull out weapon after weapon fighting each other. Actually, the whole film features a lot of different traditional Chinese weapons, which is interesting to see. Don't know if it was intentional. I liked seeing Sammo in action using the three-sectioned staff. Normally, I've seen him using swords and poles, so it was the first time I saw him use the multi-jointed pole. And he's great! Too bad he didn't use that weapon in more films.
Another cool thing about this film are all the 'cameos' by many stuntmen/actors who would go on later to star in Sammo's films or films associated with him. It's fun picking out guys like Meng Hoi, Yuen Biao and Lam Ching Ying. The only guy who is conspicuously absent is Leung Kar Yan. I guess he was busy. ;>)
Overall, this is a fun film, with enough martial arts to keep a fan of the genre entertained."

A brilliant kung fu comedy from Karl Maka and Eric Tsang

morgoth | omaha, NE | 05/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a simple comedy where the characters are constantly doublecrossing eachother which leads to plenty of kung fu fights. Sammo plays a man who married an 80 year old lady so that he could steal her famed Invincible Armor. After successfully stealing it, he gets it taken by a young woman who tricks him into going into her bedroom. Sammo's wife hires Lau Kar Wing to track him down, but after finding out about the armor, Lau Wing decides to help Sammo. After they get the armor back, Lau Wing doublecrosses Sammo and takes it for himself. Sammo then gets it back, but then it gets taken by the evil White Brow Monk played by Lee Hoi San. Jason Pai Paio (Tiger) plays one of his main henchmen, and Dean Shek (Panther) plays the other giving a hilarious performance. The movie is also filled with a ton of small roles from countless actors including Fung Hak-on, Chan Lung, Hsiao Ho, Alan Chui, Yuen Biao, Mars, Lam Ching Ying, Hoi Meng, Chung Fat, and the mantis fist teacher from Thundering Mantis Chien Yuet Sang.

The action is just about as good as it gets for the time it was made. Most of the fights are pure comedy, but the choreography is extremely intricate. Watching some of these scenes, it is easy to see why Sammo has so many physical problems these days. Sammo is one of a kind when going off on a room full of people. This may be his very best all around athletic performance, and being Lau Wing's horse is no small task either! And if you don't know who Sammo Hung is, then all I can tell you is that he is not exatly a small man, yet he pulls off moves that will make your jaw drop. The best part of the movie is when the 90 minute feature ends with Sammo and Lau Wing defeating the villain, and then they have their own duel.

The Invincible Armor is a key element to the story, and you will be wondering why they don't just punch or stab in the face instead of the stomach, but there is so much fun in this movie that it can easily be forgiven.

4.5/5

DVD from Mei Eh has good sound and picture quality."