Customer Reviews

Kung Fu Pilot (TV Premiere DVD)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Buy the complete seasons 1 and 2, don't waste money just in the pilot that is included in the season 1

This is a great movie. But I wouldn't recommend that you purchasee it. Buy the "season one" DVD set. It includes this film and let's face it... The season shows really built on this film. Kung Fu was an awsome series, and more is more in this case.

Who amongst the forty and older crowd doesn't remember with great fondness the inscrutable face and piercing eyes of Master Kan repeating the statement, "snatch the pebble from my hand" in the weekly prologue to the latest episode of 'Kung Fu', one of the truly great television series of the '70's?

This DVD is the pilot show for what would become one of the most popular television series for '72 to '75 which offered a unique blending of Chinese philosophy and martial arts in an Old American Wild West setting.

Yes, this pilot movie is included in the First Season disc set so this one is basically for someone who liked the original movie but doesn't want to bother with all the ensuing episodes, or the completist who just has to have it all. I fall into the second category.

I love this movie! I have waited a long time for it to come to DVD. Here it is 2004 - watching a movie made in the 1970's, that takes place in 1873. I just love the philosophy of this film - avoid conflict when possible. This is in stark contrast to every action movie in the last 30 years, where the hero is just looking for an excuse to beat up / kill someone. With the above praise out of the way, the reason I didn't give it a 5 is that the production values are terrible. This was a tv show pilot, not a Hollywood blockbuster. While there is an explosion, that is the only "special effect". Bottom line, Get this movie, just be prepared for a very "low tech" experience.

This is not a review of this specific title, but rather of Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" series as a whole. I would like to make you aware of my issues with features that are apparently prevalent in ALL of the titles in this series, based upon my purchase of one of these titles ("The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer").

Although the list of issues below was written specifically for The Flintstones DVD, I highly suspect that most (if not all) of it applies to this and all of the other titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series. Be sure to check out The Flintstones page to see the photos that I uploaded which better illustrate the packaging and disc printing issues mentioned below.

-- The disc does not come in a plastic case, but rather in a cardboard sleeve which opens on the side. I've purchased $1 public domain DVDs from no-name companies that came in plastic slim cases, so it's appalling that a $6 DVD from a big-name company would be done so cheaply. Also, the sleeve has a hole at the top in the center where the peg would go for it to be hung on a rack like an action figure or toy. The hole has been edited out of the promo photos that Warner Bros. gave Amazon to display for the DVDs.

-- The text on the disc is very faint and hard to read - another way Warner Bros. skimped on production costs.

-- The cheapness doesn't stop at the packaging. The DVD does not contain a menu, not even a plain one. Because of this, there's an interesting glitch that happens if you let the DVD play past the episode. You see, after the episode plays, it goes to a FBI Warning on title 3, which then goes to the non-existent menu, so the player just hangs on a black screen.

-- They were even cheap in the placement of the chapters marks, which are placed every ten minutes (0:00, 10:00, and 20:00) no matter if it makes sense in the episode content for one to be there or not.

-- From what I've read, most (if not all) of the titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series were originally released on VHS and/or laserdisc, with these DVDs being done from the VHS and laserdisc masters. The quality of The Flintstones DVD definitely appears to be better than VHS, so either it came from a laserdisc master, or not all of the titles were done from old home video masters.

Although at first I didn't mind paying $6 for one 26 minute Flintstones episode, that was before I knew that the DVD didn't even come in a plastic case. Now that six dollars really seems like a rip-off.

Warner Bros. "TV Premiere DVD" Series (10 titles)
* The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer
* The Jetsons - Microchip Chump
* ER - Pilot
* Babylon 5 - The Gathering
* Taboo - Tattoo
* Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut
* The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest - Escape to Questworld
* Gilmore Girls - Pilot
* The Waltons - The Foundling
* Kung Fu - Pilot

This is an excellent film that stands quite well on it's own. For many people of it's generation, it was our first introduction to "The Stranger"; the strange man from a foreign land, who was action, and who gave little or no explanation for what he believed in.

This is the story of Caine, how he came to the Shaolin Temple in China as a little boy, and was trained there a Buddhist Monk. The actors and storyline are all rich and well done. There are several surprises in the film which lead the viewers to their own thoughts and conclusions on what it means to be "powerful" in a world of politics, greed and betrayal.

This is also a great film for kids! It will provoke their interest in Asian culture and Asian martial arts. The filming techniques of the creators are the first of their kind, using the teachings of Buddhism and martial arts in every day scenarios. I am sure George Lucas was inspired by this film and the consequential TV series as he went about dreaming of his Star Wars characters. A great buy, and hard to find, this film stands alone. It makes a great gift for people you would like to introduce to Asian and Buddhist cultures.

I had not seen much of the martial arts except some Bruce Lee stuff and some Hong Kong flicks. This Pilot movie was incredible. It showed a whole different way of discipline. The use of flashbacks, to show what he would have thought of, his memories, is so applicable to all of our lives. Kung Fu is a great show and truly remarkable.

The only trouble was I couldn't decide whether to buy the low cost pilot or the entire first season. In the end I purchased the low cost pilot because I don't watch much TV and wanted to save money. Either way, you won't go wrong. When I was a teen I thought Cain exhibited the perfect example of the character that should be seen in a religious man. I still agree . . . except . . . perhaps he . . . could . . . talk . a . bit . . . . . quicker? I certainly like Carradine's Cain character better than his Bill.

The DVD is very good and high quality. You can see with the stops that it was made for television which is fine. Brought back some good memories.

If you have a 'taste' for Eastern philosophy, this episode is FULL of the depth and profoundness of the Tao te Ching and ancient Shaolin teachings! It is visually well done and the story and teachings of martial arts and philosophy is "I believe" quite accurate. Even if you never watch the whole series, or any of it, your interest would be held throughout this episode.