Rating:

Aka: MAD MONKEY

Stars: Hsiao Hou, Liu Chia Liang, Lo Lieh, Hui Ying Hung

Director: Liu Chia Liang

1979, Hong Kong, Shaw Bros.

 

Monkey kung fu expert Chen (Liu Chia Liang) is tricked and crippled by brothel owner, Tuen (Lo Lieh). Chen’s sister (Hui Ying Hung) is also tricked and is forced into prostitution. To earn some money Chen becomes a street entertainer with a monkey named Ah Mao. Tuen’s men kill Ah Mao and Chen starts performing with a man called Monkey (Hsiao Hou). But Tuen’s men continue steeling their and the other villagers money and beating them up. After getting beaten up a couple of times Monkey wants to learn the Monkey style so he can defend himself. He's thought the style (of course) and becomes pretty good at it as he moved like a monkey even before meeting Chen (and so he got the name Monkey). Monkey doesn't want to take more shit from the Tuen and his men and goes to kick their butts, but ends getting his own butt kicked instead. He also meats Chen's sister and tells her that he's Chen's student and is saved. So he escapes and continues his monkey style training until he masters the style. Together with Chen they go to make justice and to save his sister once for all.

 

You want to see some real Monkey kung fu. Than you better check out this title.

The movie Builds up gradually until the amazing two against one end fight which is one of the best I've seen. It's a really original revenge movie and it has more than that going on. Liu Chia Liang also wants to show how unjust this world can be and doesn't get revenge until he really hasn't any choice left. And I think he went to Lo's house to save his sister more than anything else. It also has the "an eye for an eye" elements in it and that "good" conquers after all. A bad thing was the comedy, it was quite silly at times and some scenes had an irritating computer game music in the background, also the kung fu is great but more serious kung fu from Hsiao wouldn't hurt.

 

Hsiao Hou is very acrobatic but doesn’t show his real thing until the end were he flips and somersaults all-over the place making you go wild.

The solid Liu Chia Liang knows his stuff, he’s a real expert (as you already know).

Hui Ying Hung has one truly great scene where she gets to kick Lo's butt. She's beautiful, and moves so damn good she puts Lo Lieh to shame (not that he's so hard to beat).

Lo Lieh is not the best fighter I've seen, but he's all right. Would've looked cooler with beard and long hair.

<<Back