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Cast:
Yuen
Tak
Chen
Kwan-Tai
Wang
Lung-Wei
Wen
Hsueh-Erh
Wu
Hang Sheng
Lin
Hui Huang
Action:
Hsu
Hsia
Producer:
Mona
Fong
Director:
Tony
Liu
Score:
 
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3
EVIL MASTERS
AKA:
The Master ||
Three Evil Masters
Year:
1980 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Ko
(Tak) is the abused adopted pupil of a prosperous kung-fu
school who shows only a passing interest in the things he is
being taught. Instead his concentration is occupied by warding
off assault from two particularly awkward pupils who are
opposed to his part in the clan. Ko's fairly uneventful life
is shaken when a wounded fighter staggers into his sleeping
quarters, desperately in need of medical attention. The
injured man is none other than Chin Tuen Yun (Chen Kwan-Tai),
the well-respected master who had vowed to rid the town of the
so-called 'Three Evil Masters' - a trio of immoral killers who
run the district between them. After sustaining a serious
injury to his foes, Chin now needs protecting from the outside
world and therefore Ko decides not to tell anyone of his
appearance. When this superior fighter regains a measure of
strength, he agrees to teach Ko some of his kung-fu skills so
that he will be able to counter the physical abuse he endures.
Naturally the youngster develops into a more than adequate
student and lets his newly acquired aptitude slip, causing a
confrontation with his two masters. With him defending Chin
against his original master, Ko is expelled by the school and
forced out of town. In quick succession Chin Tuen Yun is
discovered, killed by the three evil masters and the school is
taken over by the aforementioned villains. On hearing the
news, Ko rushes back to his home to exact his gradual revenge;
the student steps from the shadows to face each of the evil
master one by one.
Many
will be familiar with the stellar work that Yuen Tak has
amassed as one of Hong Kong's finest action choreographers.
Such exciting productions as 'Iceman
Cometh', 'Dragon
From Russia', 'Operation
Scorpio' and 'Once
Upon A Time In China 3' have all benefited from Tak's
superb touch. Therefore it's interesting to see this performer
- rarely seen in front of the camera - take the lead role in a
Shaw Brothers film. As the hero, Yuen Tak is not only engaging
but more than able to amaze with his mixture of acrobatics and
kung-fu. Although not often seen in anything more than a cameo
(see Angels 2), he seems to enjoy the limelight and handles
the situations with the confidence usually shown with more
experienced Shaw stars. His role is also a pleasant bridge
with that of Chen Kwan-Tai; seeing the veteran star with
someone who would represent the cutting edge of local
film-making in the future makes enjoyable viewing. Both also
have ample opportunity to shine in a series of excellent
clashes between the protagonists and antagonists. Stand-out
moments include Chen Kwan-Tai's opening battle with all three
evil masters and the final retribution of Yuen Tak against
Wang Lung-Wei.
Though
containing enough reasons to warrant a viewing, '3 Evil
Masters' is still not as polished as the better films being
made by the studio at the time. The weak link overall is
director Lo Chun Ku's handling of the material, something
that, while not stopping this from being very entertaining,
means that it is slightly uneven. Whereas a better Shaw's
director such as Chang Cheh, Liu Chia-Liang or Sun Chong would
have dealt with the comedy in a more controlled way, Lo lets
it get out of hand. Therefore the over-used comic antics creep
into scenes that really could have done without them,
undermining the finished product. 4 stars, just.
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