Search - Shaolin Challenges Ninja on DVD

A MUST HAVE for a fan of kung fu films

Mr. O | 06/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you know kung fu films then you must know Gordon Liu, and this is one of my favorite movies of his. Gordon Liu is an awesome martial artist. In this film he demonstrate many martial arts techniques such a drunken boxing and other kung fu styles. In this movie Gordon Liu is forced to marry a Japanese woman who is skilled and proud of her Japenese fighting skills and customs. This couple eventually quarrells over whos style is better. The Japenese wife's masters come from Japan to teach Gordon Liu a lesson. A beautiful display of spear, sword, staff, Judo, karete, ninjitsu, and other fighting styles are displayed. The movie is english dubbed, and the option of clear subtitles is available. The movie is digitally restored so it is fairly clear when compared to other old school kung fu films. Simply, buy this movie if you enjoy good kung fu movies, a must have for all fans!!"

Old Skool Kung Fu!!

M. Beckford | Toronto Canada | 07/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This flick definately reflects Gordon Liu in a positive light since "The Master Killer". I thought his flick was a great old school story,,,very entertaining. This flick was directed by the great Leung Kar Yan, one of his best production,,no question. Definately a must see,,really great movie!!"

The China vs Japan mythos has never been done better

D. Wilson | NY by way of Cali | 10/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Apples vs. oranges, Chevy vs. Ford, Yankees vs. Red Sox, vanilla vs. chocolate... all great debates to be sure, but they pale in comparison to the best debate of them all, Chinese Martial Arts vs. Japanese Martial Arts! This Lau Kar-Leung (who also appears as a drunken master!) film, also known by the much better title, "Heroes of the East," delivers this battle in fantastic fashion with tons of style and charm to spare. The plot has Gordon Liu in an arranged marriage to Japanese actress Yuko Mizuno and instantly their cultures and beliefs clash, most importantly when it comes to just who has the best fighting techniques the world over. In typical Kar-Leung film fashion the movie has a light playful tone, however; unlike some of his other attempts it's never corny and obnoxious and Gordon and Yuko in particular have fun with the situations while still keeping a serious tone about everything. The Japanese masters that are brought in to challenge Gordon are all great and bring personality and flavor with the small amount of screen time each is given (by actual Japanese actors). When these duels occur we get everything you could ever hope for including Kung Fu vs. Karate, Long Sword vs. Kitana, Butterfly Knives vs. Sais, 3 Section Staff vs. Nunchuku (in the closest we'll ever get to seeing Liu take on Bruce Lee... and this guy is an obvious clone), and more! One knock I do have with the movie is that Chinese master Liu tends to pawn the Japanese masters in exciting but fairly one-sided duels. Still, this is a Chinese film (if it was Japanese I'm sure things would be quite the opposite) and the Japanese masters are all treated respectfully even in defeat. This is a top 10 martial arts movie for myself and many other fans of Kung Fu cinema so if you haven't seen this yet then do yourself a favor and check it out ASAP! As far as the DVD by bargain-bin bootleg company Red Sun goes, it looks unbelievably good in a crisp, clean widescreen presentation and comes with 2 language tracks (original and English dub... the dub has a pretty solid hissing behind it) and can be bought for next to nothing. That being said I advise buying this only if you have never seen it and until Image or another respectable company rereleases it... then crush this bootleg copy with a rock (means of destruction completely up to you. The rock is just a sugestion LOL!)."

Very good kung fu movie with charm

Take a Louie at Texas | Texas | 10/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All the reviews listed here say it very well. This movie portrays the mythos between Japanese and Chinese fighting very well. It compares and contrasts them through the discovery between a newly wed husband and wife. It is playful and humorous in spots, without being the least corny. It is one of my favorite Shaw releases. If you are trying to get your girlfriend to watch old school kung fu, start with this one. If you have a girl that likes kung fu, she's a keeper. If you are a single girl that likes kung fu..... how YOU doin'? Anywho, the Japanese wife who is skilled in martial arts and playful with it early in the movie will appeal to the female gender.

The Red Sun release is a little sketchy. As stated in another review, this dvd has original language with subtitles, even though my dvd cover says english language with no subtitles. Color reproduction and sharpness are fairly good. Also, my dvd wouldn't work in one player, but did in another. For the money, and to have original language, I am most pleased though."