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MYSTERY
OF CHESS BOXING
AKA:
Ninja Checkmate ||
The Mystery Of Chessboxing
Year:
1979 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
There's
no doubt that 'Mystery Of Chess Boxing' is a kung fu film
that's held in high distinction around the globe. In cult
cinemas the world over this classic independent feature has
wowed audiences and earned hysterical cheers from the avid
public. The storyline is a very simple one, seen in literally
scores of other kung-fu films of the 70s.
It
centres on one young man's quest to find his father's killer
and, to this end, his development as a fighter. Initially he
finds himself bullied by all around until he meets an elderly
master (Yuen) who teaches him a few tricks. These prove to be
adequate for his day-to-day living, but cannot fulfil his deep
desire for revenge. This changes when he then encounters a
humble chess master and his young daughter. The mysterious
chess player later reveals himself to be a former kung-fu
chief who held sway over the area with his fellow fighters.
Unfortunately he had been forced to go into hiding after being
badly injured in a fight and also coming under scrutiny by the
dreaded 'Ghostface Killer' - a fearsome warrior who is wiping
out all who once opposed him. Coincidentally it is the
Ghostface Killer who was responsible for the death of the
young avenger's father. Therefore he needs to be trained up to
combat the 'Five Elements' style of the formidable foe and
strike a blow for justice.
There
is nothing original or innovative about the plot, as has
already been stated, but this is something which does not
affect the entertainment value of 'Mystery Of Chess Boxing';
the strengths of the film outweigh any of these expected
weaknesses. The stand-out feature is the abundant fight scenes
that are not only exciting, but also have a level of
imagination not always seen in independent kung-fu cinema. The
mixture of ostentatious styles and acrobatic moves means that
this certainly never has a dull moment. Director Kuo also
fashioned one of the Jade Screen's most infamous villains - 'Ghostface
Killer - and it is this presence that is particularly
memorable. Ghostface Killer provides the protagonists with a
real challenge and also managed to etch his name in the pages
of Hong Kong cinematic history.
The
film is too formulaic to be considered among the best that
kung fu cinema has to offer; there have been too many other
great productions to allow 'Mystery Of Chess Boxing' to sneak
in. While it does not compare to the classier output of Chang
Cheh, Liu Chia Liang et al, there is still much to recommend
it. A cult classic that just about lives up to its reputation.
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