THE PRODIGAL SON
Rating:
Aka: PULL NO PUNCHES
Stars: Yuen Biao, Lam Ching Ying, Frankie Chan, Sammo Hung, Chan Lung
Director: Sammo Hung
1981, Hong Kong, Golden Harvest
 
A young man known as Leung Chang (Yuen Biao) the street brawler thinks he’s an invincible fighter. One day he challenges Wing Chun master Leung Yee Tai (Lam Ching Ying) who reveals that Chang hasn’t even learnt the basics of Kung fu and that his father paid the antagonists to loose. Leung Chan follows Yee Tai with the opera troupe in hope of becoming his student. But Yee Tai refuses to teach him because he thinks kung fu isn’t for trouble makers like Leung Chang.
Later in a bloody massacre the entire opera troop is wiped out. But the two manage to escape to the country and leave everybody thinking that they’re dead. In the peaceful country Leung Chan makes his point on why he wants to learn and after thinking about it Leung Yee Tai accepts him. At the same time, he learns from the neighbor and brother (Sammo) to Yee Tai. After mastering the style and opening a Kung fu school back in his town he finds out who the killers where.
 
I love this film!!!
Lam Ching Ying is a really good actor and it shows. His Wing Chun is good but his footwork isn’t perfect. But who knows, maybe the style was like that 200 years ago. And he still makes it more enjoyable putting in some non-Wing Chun acrobatics.
Sammo and Yuen Biao’s Wing Chun is nothing to brag about, but still Yuen is very good at the beginning using some great kicks.
Frankie Chan is really excellent, using his Taekwondo kicks and wanders around with his Baoding Iron balls (some kind of balls known in China for improving your health). When he strikes a pose you get to hear a cool thunder sound.
The choreography is really excellent and entertaining to watch and the budget seems to be pretty high too.
A masterpiece, nothing to argue about. And great to convert people with.

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