Customer Reviews

Fists and Guts

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gordon Liu stars in this 5 star kung fu showcase. Filled with nothing but the best shaolin kung fu, along with some comedic styles such as the lepper style, and cat claws. A great story, and ofcourse the master killer himself, plus a star studded kung fu cast that also includes lo leih (five fingers of death). Great movie. If you are a fan or a collector, and you don't have this one, what kind of collection do you have?

story is decent. but for those who appreciate "uninterupted" fight scenes with raw power,focus,& skill,(i.e.-the final battle between the two determined monks)will impress even the 'hard to please' crowd.

first class...first class.

Reading previous reviews One would think this flick was on the level of MASTER KILLER or a VENOM'S series film. It's really pretty standard fare for this genre and the ending is silly without any real closure. That said, the end fight was (as usual) the best in the film and there is a very funny (in a sick sort of way) scene where the 2 protagonist ( one hesitates to call them heros as there motives were money : ) fight a group of lepers. Just imagine the potential for physical comedy!
Oh well, I doubt they would get away with that scene in Hollywood!!

This is a wonderful kung-fu film with the Lau Brothers' classic touch. A Cantonese Comedy (or as I call them, "Fun-Fu"), the disc is a keeper.

The basic story is that a young stranger is looking for a former servant, who stole some treasure of great value (the treasure is pretty much the MacGuffin, and the value of it is never really explained). Gordon Liu tracks the crook to a specific town, and meets up with two good-hearted bumblers (one of whom is the director of the film). Together, they try to track down the myterious thief, a master of disguise. Along the way, they face the dangers of riflemen, a death trap made of pipes and cinderblocks, and the deadly "leper-fu" technique of a leper colony.

While it is true that there is a wealth of stereotypical kung-fu movie moments, the film is still very interesting. And the comedy is all the better for the bad dubbing, giving the characters British accents.

I have to say that the commentary is very, very good, and gave me a lot of insight into these films, how they were made, the people behind them, and why they are still so hard to find in widescreen. I found myself watching the whole film twice in one night, first without, and then with, the commentary track running.

There are three incredible fights; the climax, of course, in the mystery-man's lair, a fight with a spearman guarding a treasure, and a fight that has to take place in total silence. This one I found to be pretty imaginative, and you can see the origins of what would become the comdeic style adopted by Jackie Chan and others.

Well worth picking up if like Liu or Fun-fu films. If still you aren't sure you should buy it, I can honestly report that the commentary track makes up for any flaws in the film itself.

"Fists and Guts" is quite simply one of the most dynamic and interesting old-school kung fu movies. There is a good deal of Cantonese comedy and some "gross-out" humor, but I would not consider it a "comedy". The night fight inside the General's home is one of the most fantastic and creative sequences ever filmed. The opponents are fighting over a box, and must fight in total silence. The final fight between Liu and Lo Lieh is incredible and perhaps even tops the final fight in "Master Killer". Don't be dismayed or distracted by bad dubbing; concentrate on the amazing techniques displayed. Fast forward through the leper island sequence, it's pointless, and doesn't even factor in the idea that the opponenents are LEPERS whom one should probably not touch. Ric Meyer's commentary is fantastic and can teach the viewer a lot about kung fu movies in general, the actors and their culture, and other great movies to check out.

Gordon Liu stars as a man who is looking for someone who stole a treasure of his. Director Lau Kar Wing and strongman Lee Hoi San are conmen who help out Gordon. Lo Lieh plays the master of disguise and we don't find out until the end exactly what is going on between Lieh and Gordon.

The main problem is that this movie is boring and doesn't have many fights. I don't mind a kung fu movie that only has a few fights as long as it is a good story. The story is not very good in this movie and it just mainly involves bad comedy. The only part I laughed at is when Lau Wing and Lee Hoi San have to fight a bunch of lepers. It was one of those moments that is funny only because it is so incrediby stupid. While the action is sparse, it is very good when it comes. There are only 3 real fights and they are all VERY good. The 2nd one is a silent fight where the 2 can't make any noise so that they don't alert the guards outside. The final fight is very good with a 3 section metal staff against a sword but they lose the weapons pretty quick and go hand to hand. The first fight is actually the best, the silent one is second, and the finale is third. All in all, a very average movie that could have been much better with a few more fights. Fittingly, the ending does't make any sense which goes right along with how bad the movie is.

Picture is full screened and picture quality is not bad at all. Commentary from Ric Myers is OK.

This movie has about 3 good Gordon Liu fight scenes in it and other than that 15 minutes or so the rest is just the worst sort of unfunny 70's kung fu movie zany hijinks. HK fanboys will want to see this and skip directly to those 3 scenes but everyone else should avoid this movie.