THE CHINESE STUNTMAN


Year: 1981
AKA: Counter Attack, Counter Strike, The Chieh Boxing Master
Starring: Bruce Li, John Ladalski, Dan Inosanto, Wei Ping-Ao, Yang/Young Kong, Chang Tao
Directed by: Bruce Li
Running time: 85 minutes


This may be one of Bruce Li’s best. With acting and directing credits as real moniker Ho Chung Tao, Bruce shows more of his talent and ability at making an entertaining non-Bruceploitation film. It’s also a buddy film with Chang Wei (Bruce) and his student/buddy John who provides a lot of the humor with lines such as:

"You’re an idiot!"
"HEY, those are the guys who ambushed me!"
Chang Wei, an insurance salesman, has the most aggressive sales pitch ever which includes a funny scene where he ruins a perfectly brand new suit. I was cracking up hearing Bruce describe his mundane day to John during a workout. John serves as Bruce's floating conscience and mostly disagrees with him while dispensing conventional wisdom. I never knew the insurance/stuntman business was so shady. Like the title says, there are lots of stunts in this movie ranging from crashing through walls, a cool car somersault (wait a sec, was that a cut shot?), and lots of prop destruction.

The fights are some of the best I’ve seen in Bruce Li’s films. Thanks to John Ladalski and Dan Inosanto, the move look more polished, refined, and really grab your attention. In one fight, Bruce shows the best way to use a phone! I’ve seen a lot of kung fu training, but nothing like the egg method. Oh did I mention there are ambushes? Every five or ten minutes, Bruce is getting jumped (attack cameo by Lo Lieh!) which keeps the movie rolling along. Add a nunchuk scene and Eskrima courtesy of master Inosanto, Chinese Stuntman is a well-rounded kung fu flick and one of Bruce Li’s best. Man, dig that funky 70s soundtrack!

Reviewed by Lester.