King Boxer

Directed by Chang Chang Ho

Starring: Lo Lieh, Wang Ping

Synopsis: After his master is injured in an ambush attack, martial arts student Chao Chih-Hao is sent to another school to further his studies. At first his new master refuses to teach him, but eventually relents when he sees how hard he studies, eventually teaching him the special Iron Palm technique, which must never be used in anger. Meanwhile, a rival school is scheming to win the upcoming tournament, hiring three Japanese fighters to help with their dirty-work...



Review:Made in 1972, King Boxer (released in the US originally under the title, Five Fingers of Death), looks as crisp and sharp as ever thanks to a newly restored print, and is finally available in its original widescreen ratio. At last, the Dragon Dynasty titles are starting to be released in the UK, courtesy of Momentum Pictures, and they’ve kicked things off with a couple of the classics (see our review of 36th Chamber of Shaolin, here .

King Boxer contains many of the plot elements that would become staples of the genre (rival schools! Secret skills! Chinese/Japanese antipathy!) but manages a surprise or two along the way. Just when you think the movie has reached its climax, it shoots off at a tangent, allowing a minor character to exact revenge. The movie also proves to be quite gruesome for the period, with two characters having their eyes gouged out (nasty) and another being beheaded (lurid).

The cinematography for this movie is superb, utilising the classic “Shawscope” widescreen to great effect. The fight scenes are a bit prehistoric by today’s standards but are still entertaining. The soundtrack is quite different to the normal martial chivalry you usually get with this sort of movie, and fans of Quentin Tarantino will instantly recognise one of the musical cues used in Kill Bill. Finally, there is an early appearance by Bolo Yeung (Enter the Dragon, Bloodsport) as a Mongol exhibition fighter.

Verdict:

A proper classic, finally given the treatment it deserves. A great introduction to kung fu movies.

8 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)