Long hu feng

When watching action flicks out of Hong Kong, especially if not attached to one of the most famous studios, it seems all too fair sometimes to question the provenance of a picture. Above all when it's already a dubbed version that we've found to watch, it behooves one to wonder whether or not we might be seeing a bootlegged copy, one that's been further hacked up by re-editing along its path to wider viewership. Or rather, perhaps one hopes this is the case, because if not it speaks extremely poorly to the skills of the filmmakers themselves. 'The dragon vs needles of death,' sadly, is one of those pictures. By one means or another the film in its extant form is very dubiously made - and since the storytelling is in doubt as much as the film-making, the allowances I'm willing to grant don't extend all that far.

The editing is rather terrible, not just in shifting from scene to scene but even in how it is used to construct some sequences. The cinematography might be even worse, for very often the image being framed is only a fraction of a scene - poorly visualizing actors who are speaking, other participants in that dialogue, action scenes, and more. One might be inclined to use the word "amateurish," though that's an insult to actual amateur filmmakers who often demonstrate more capability, or at least more earnest effort; one might say that this is a matter of style and choice, but if so, it's a terrible style and choice. Maybe these facets come down to the decisions of filmmaker Kuo-Heng Chung, presumably guiding the production, but one way or another the result does not look good.

Mind you, I do appreciate the work of the cast and crew. Nothing about this is remarkable in any way, but the acting is suitable (if sometimes overwrought), and the art direction and costume design are nice. The stunt coordinators Lu-Po Tu and Wen-Po Tu are to be commended for orchestrating fun action sequences; these, too, may not be anything special, but there's one thing that matters above all else in fare of this nature, and the least that can be said of 'The dragon vs needles of death' is that the martial arts sequences look good. On the other hand, the story that the filmmaker wrote also raises a quizzical eyebrow. There are very workable ideas here, and with a little more care I would have no criticism to level toward the writing. Be that as it may, the saga as we see it shifts very roughly and shoddily from "school" to "crime syndicate" to "maybe daddy," and the beats are presented so curtly that one is left to wonder how we got from A to B to C. It's not just the primary thrust, either, for details about the characters also get mucked up in the process.

Factor in the editing and cinematography that sometimes shortchange entire beats in the narrative, and the entertainment to be had in these eighty-five minutes is distinctly reduced. None of this is to say that the feature is outright bad, and there actually is a fair bit to like here. Though troubled by muddled audio, I like the music in and of itself; the sets are pretty terrific at points, and scouts found some excellent filming locations. For as dubitable as the saga is in its precise form the bones are solid enough, and gratifyingly, the climax is at least well written as threads converge. It's ably realized, moreover, for this might be the most cogent that the film-making is throughout the whole length, not least with the last long action sequence that comprises a total of some fifteen minutes. Some tiny moments along the way actually look really good, including some fine shot composition. I just wish so much that the skill and intelligence this illustrates at its best had been applied more evenly, because the worst elements of its construction weigh heavily against the final product. Swell as the climax is, I even wonder if it isn't longer and more drawn out than it should have been; to be perfectly frank, the last few minutes - one last beat and action scene to round out the plot - fully exemplify the worst qualities of the movie, for the editing, cinematography, and writing are as bad here as they have been at any other time previously.

I do actually like 'The dragon vs needles of death' when all is said and done, and in some measure I wonder if I'm not being too harsh. Then again, maybe I'm being too kind. I don't think there's much arguing that this is not a premier title, and the faults that trouble it are just too substantial to completely pardon. This is worth checking out if one comes across it, and it's enjoyable on its own merits. Definitely don't go out of your way for it, however, and maybe leave it for a quiet day when you want something that neither requires nor inspires major investment. That might end up being the best way to appreciate this flick.

A young man who is a social misfit joins a kung-fu academy but still unable to fit in, turns to a life of crime. A former friend who tried to help him must track him down. Unique for it's "nail-throwing" combat scenes. Spot the modern home furnishings and farm machines in this picture shot in medieval China. For the genre it is an entertaining film, with constant kung-fu action the last 40 minutes. Sold as a double feature on DVD with "Mantis vs Falcon Claws" in the Brooklyn Zu series from noble house.

In the wild bunch of Kung-Fu pics sorted out from Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 70's, this Dragon, Tiger, Phoenix was a little surprise, even if made with same zero-budget formula. More a sentimental drama than a story of revenge, it has the psychological aspect not totally overwhelmed by the usual rain of fists and kicks. The main character, played by actor Ang Fung, is not a Bruce Lee-type hero but a shy boy who enters in a gym where he is bullied being is unable to fight. But he is a master with a secret arm: being son of a carpenter, he learned how to throw nails with his bare hands, husing them as mortal needles. He never do this easily and publicy, nobody knows it at the gym. The local beauty (Shaw Bros female star Wang Ping) fall in love with him but she was promised to the gym's best fighter (actor Chu Jun, a stuntman visible also in Enter the Dragon in the badguys army). The troubled and the beauty ran together and the champion goes after them. Things gets complicated by the fact a Triad organization hires the nail-thrower as a professional killer, so when the gym champion reaches him to take a revenge and bring back the girl to her home, nothing will go in the right way, leading the story an unpredictable and very sad conclusion. Acting is effective enough for a movie like this, expecially by nail-thrower Ang Fung, and action is fast and furious. But what makes this movie a cut above many others are the original weapon used by the star and the poignant portrait of a social misfit doomed by the fate. The production values are low, the countryside setting is the same you can see in many Taiwanese actioners from the Era, but the fights (staged by stuntman and grande-z director Tu Lu Po or Tu Man Bo of Bruce and the iron fingers' fame) are quite good and the final clash against the almost unbeteable henchman played by stuntman Chin Kung is funny. All in all a little curiosity who deserve a look.

Version: 'Kung Fu Theatre' DVD, English dub

Be forewarned: 'Dragon vs Needles of Death is nowhere near as cool as the cover might suggest. The cover does a good job of presenting what could be an entirely different movie altogether, as 'Dragon vs Needles of Death' certainly did not feature the kung-fu fighter who sported an afro. The afro was on the DVD cover, but not in the movie. I'm not impressed. I want my five dollars back.

Needle Throwing Dude (I can't remember his name) enters a kung-fu school, but as soon as he joins, he runs off with the master's daughter Mei Lei. They leave behind a jealous Sami, the school's top fighter, who also runs off. Coincidentally, they end up in the same town - Needle Throwing Dude as a salt smuggler, and Sami as an apprentice blacksmith - and opposing the local mob leader, who wants all the salt for himself. Or something. I missed that.

'Dragon vs Needles of Death' isn't the worst chop-socky flick I've ever seen, but it is nowhere near any of the best. As the plot progresses we get treated to far too much 'intrigue' and "I am your father" type stuff, until the final scenes where the kung-fu just drags on far too long. Most of the fights up towards the end were poorly edited and choreographed (I suspect that many extras were really just flailing their arms about wildly). The scenes towards the end were much better, but managed to continue until long after I had gotten quite bored.

'Dragon vs Needles of Death' is pretty boring, but fans of this kind of stuff should at least give it one go - 2/10

Best thing that iveI ever come across in the dollar movies bin.