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FATAL
NEEDLES VS. FATAL FISTS
AKA:
Fatal Needles ||
Kung Fu Hercules || Fatal Needles Versus Fatal
Fists
Year:
1978 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
In
the world of independent kung fu cinema, few film-makers have
the pedigree of Taiwanese director Lee Tso Nam. With the
ability to construct exciting, well-made productions with a
relatively small budget, Lee Tso Nam stands head and shoulders
above most of his contemporaries in the sub-genre. 'Fatal
Needles Vs. Fatal Fists' - despite its exploitation-style
title - is another example of what elevates Lee from the
countless other directors in the independent field.
Meng
Hu (Wong Tao) and Chow Lung (cameo by Lo Lieh) are famed
throughout the land as 'The Bandit Catchers', the justice
seeking fighters who flush out the lands most infamous
villains. One evening though, the pair are ambushed and Meng inadvertently
aids the assassins in killing his partner.
Though Meng escapes, his life his shattered as memories of his
loyal friend's death constantly pierces his conscience. After
being wounded in a attack in which he refused fight, Meng
manages to crawl to the home of righteous magistrate Chen
whose daughter helps nurse him back to health. When he
recovers, he changes his name to hide the past and accepts a
menial job in the magistrates home. Forgetting his past proves
to be increasingly difficult as opium dealer Chung (Chang Yi)
tries to exert pressure of the magistrate and his family so
that he can pass through town unhindered. Even though
conflicts arise, Meng refuses to fight and is therefore
branded 'Coward' by his colleagues. Inevitably, the clash
between the notorious Chung and Magistrate Chen escalates and
the newly-titled 'Coward' is forced to ignore his
inner-turmoil and avenge those who are dear to him.
Once
again Lee Tso Nam takes a simple premise and injects it with
as much sophistication as his constraints allow. While perhaps
not among the Liu Chia Liangs of this world, Lee nonetheless
makes 'Fatal Needles Vs. Fatal Fists' much more than just a
thick-headed actioner. To some, the film's lack of action will
hardly recommend it, but to judge it on such simplistic terms
would be to miss the director's intention. Lee Tso Nam intends
to make his work more of a character-driven piece than is the
norm and his goals are mostly successful. Lee's varied body of
work has often boasted a certain three-dimensional quality
that many independent films never aspire to; his concentration
on the development of the story through non-action scenes and
the allowance for characters to develop is certainly to be
commended.
Wong
Tao gives one of the best performances of his career as the
arrogant fighter whose world collapses around him. His
emotional pangs are believable and add real pathos to the
whole production. Meanwhile the menacing Chang Yi is again
splendid as the needle-throwing Chung. Although there is a
lack of fight action, the fact that much care is taken in the
story development gives the closing confrontations a special
intensity. 'Fatal Needles Vs. Fatal Fists' is not a work of
Kurosawan proportions, but its certainly better than there's
any reason to expect. If nothing else, it cements Lee Tso
Nam's reputation as an independent helmer who deserves
commendation for his refusal to be ordinary.
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