Those of us in the Portland area are lucky to have Dan Halsted, curator of the Hollywood Theater’s Kung Fu Cinema. The theater screens rare prints of classic kung fu movies. This weeks film? The only remaining 35mm print of Joseph Kuo’s (The Mystery of Chessboxing) The Seven Grandmasters. The print was surprisingly well maintained, considering how old it was. Halsted actually picked it up from a man who had dug it out of a dumpster.
The plot is convoluted--a master of Kung Fu wants to challenge the seven grandmasters so that he can prove his worth before retiring. Meanwhile, a young man is attempting to become a student of the traveling master. The master is also trying to find the final three moves of Pai Mei, which he was tasked with protecting. While I haven’t found evidence to support this, I believe that Kill Bill references this film, as Gordon Liu’s character is also named Pai Mei.
The plot is secondary to the spectacle of martial arts. This film has some of the best kung fu I have ever seen in any movie, with a few particularly spectacular battles. Early in the film is a duel with a master of monkey style that I don’t believe I will ever forget. The final showdown is less memorable, but still one of the most epic displays of martial arts prowess I have seen on film, and I have seen a lot.
Those interested in martial arts cinema owe it to themselves to check this film out. It is easily one of the best examples of 1970s Kung Fu movies. The skill of these artists is remarkable to a point that I cannot possibly describe. While you’ll have to wait some time and be in Portland to catch it on a big screen, it is easily available of dvd. Pick a copy up today.
5 out of 5 stars
© Tanner McCullough, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment