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Cast:
Gordon
Liu Chia Hui
Robert
Mak
Hui
Ying Hung
Wang
Lung Wei
Ku
Feng
Chu
Tiet Woo
Action:
Liu
Chia Liang
Producer:
Mona
Fong
Run
Run Shaw
Director:
Liu
Chia Liang
Score:
 
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MARTIAL
CLUB
AKA:
Instructors Of Death
Year:
1981 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Liu
Chia Liang adds another interpretation of Chinese folk-hero
Wong Fei Hung to the already bursting Hong Kong cinematic
pantheon. The veteran director manages to blend a number of
facets to the main character that bridge the gap between the
representations in 'Drunken
Master' and, later, 'Once
Upon A Time In China'. Returning to the role he played in
'Challenge Of The Masters' (also directed by Liu Chia Liang),
Liu Chia Hui plays the aforementioned Wong Fei Hung who, at
the film's opening, is already carving out a fine reputation
in Canton. His father, Wong Kei Ying, happily presides over a
local school in co-operation with the equally righteous Chan
school and appears a pleasant equilibrium in the town. This
union infuriates the devious Lu school who spend their time
trying to discredit their rivals and bring down Wong
Kei-Ying's reputation. Hot-headed Wong Fei Hung fights back
against all of these plans and finds himself at odds with the
Lu school and also his authoritative father who preaches a
more Confucian way of dealing with the problems. Seeing Wong
Fei Hung as a major threat to their thoughts of domination,
the Lu school invite a Northern kung fu stylist to fight for
them and rid them once and for all of Wong Fei Hung's
meddling. What follows is a classic confrontation that has
rightfully taking its place in the Hong Kong film archives as
Wong and his new opponent fight through a maze-like and
gradually narrowing alleyway that tests their skills to the
limit.
This
fine period film flawlessly combines the dazzling choreography
that one expects from Liu Chia Liang and the moral edge that
often underlines his work. One notable touch is the inclusion
of Wang Lung Wei as the Northern stylist who, after defeat by
Wong Fei Hong in the film's exceptional finale, leaves as a
wiser and certainly more honourable man. Rarely was Wang Lung
Wei given such a chance to shine on a character level and he
adds a real spark to this already accomplished Shaw Brothers
production. Credit for this must go to Liu Chia Liang who was
always more than just an average director; his efforts to
break boundaries within the kung fu genre - including this
films, '36th
Chamber of Shaolin' and 'Heroes Of The East' to mention
just a few - have not gone unnoticed by film historians of the
past and probably will gain even more respect as Hong Kong
film's undergo their current appraisal. Liang's half brother,
Liu Chia Hui, makes a fine Wong Fei Hung as he mixes the
fighting skills associated with the hero with his own unique
charm. 'Martial Club' is a film that has long been held in
high regard among veteran Hong Kong film fans and deserves the
widest possible audience; if you've yet to sample Shaw
Brothers' cinematic excellence, this film is a good starting
point to a whole new world of the Jade Screen.
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