Breaking it down, nothing unusual happens here as revenge through kung fu is the stock plot of choice. So Bruce Lee The Invincible is ordinary. In fact Bruce Li is not very Bruce at all but part of the ensemble-team of Michael Chan, Nick Cheung and Chen Sing. But at some point ordinary turns into the unusual and it's here the movie gathers its points. The action choreography is overall powerful and sufficient but without crazy sights, the movie would've faded from memory quickly. But when giving us advanced face-mask technology that turns Chen Sing into Mars (who gets one of his better showcases on film here, demonstrating fine leading man presence) and for no easy to explain reason multiple fights with gorillas (guys in suits expectedly), the ordinary factor has turned into the fun-factor. Even if the Bruce Lee-mannerisms manifests themselves during the end, mad content and fairly strong choreography carries the movie all the way through.

Surprisingly straightfaced and ambitious bio of Bruce Lee covering his time in America leading to his death after having just achieved super stardom, Ng See-Yuen, now that we have his directing career seemingly completed, proves that he was not just after making mad cinema utilizing and exploiting the image of Bruce Lee (Tower Of Death). Bruce Lee - True Story is flimsy for sure and no true depth comes out of ticking the boxes of the essential beats within Lee's shortlived story (going to America, creating Jeet Kune Do, taking on challenges, rejected in America only to become a superstar in Hong Kong etc) but the ambition is admirable. Especially since Ng seemingly goes to the same locations The Big Boss and Way Of The Dragon was shot (Thailand and Rome respectively). Not somber or dramatic as such though as direction (and dubbing) of in particular Westerners is highly awkward (and amusing) and Bruce's training facilities essentially turning into a science lab in his quest to improve his martial arts is memorable, goofy celluloid. Bruce Li is fine in the role and never misses a beat in the action department, one of the areas the film truly excels in. As a bonus after the main body of the film, Ng See-Yuen shoots scenes detailing the alternate rumours of Lee's death and even the theory that Lee disappeared to live as a recluse is touched upon. Not truly good or appropriate, this is still far from Bruceploitation, close to a drama but ultimately viewers will take away the goofy side of it in addition to the masterclass in action. Unicorn Chan, Chiu Chi-Ling, Fung Ging-Man, Mars and Lee Hoi-Sang also appear.

All kinds of questions start at the English title stage. So Bruce Le was big enough to warrant getting his credit into the movie title and amongst his many tales of revenge, this is the greatest? Huh. Well when you're essentially just rehashing beats from The Big Boss and Fist Of Fury, it's hard to put forth any confidence into much of anything. Especially concerning revenge. As much as he and others tried, Le was never destined to come off as as iconic in terms of being the Chinese hero and it's very apparent when copying the "No Dogs And Chinese Allowed" park sign smashing from Fist Of Fury and it comes off as the most forced copying ever or cloning rather. So there's plenty of shameless exploitation of Bruce's image here but little of the shameless fun and it's only Le's fight with Bolo Yeung that comes remotely close to fury. Le's physical chops weren't bad but he was not a huge visionary. Also with Ku Feng, Lee I-Min and To Siu-Ming.

By all accounts Bruce Le's first stint as a Bruce Lee impersonator, here teamed up with Michael Chan to take down Lo Lieh's Lee Hung who's after the real Bruce Lee's treasured martial arts instruction book on the invincible finger kung-fu. There's standard and rather dull beats about finding missing persons, sisters forced into prostitution, all wrapped in a package containing henchmen in the modern wear of the time, fairly impressive ferocity action-wise and an completely awkward Bruce Le mimicking the mannerisms of Bruce Lee in such a goofy way that it carries Bruce's Deadly Fingers. An odd rape scene set within a ring of fire, characters losing eyeballs and finger kung-fu being effective when you want to crack open your beer, director Kong (The Clones Of Bruce Lee) makes no excuses about being an exploitation director but comes off as rather likeable despite. Nora Miao also appears. Also known as Bruce's Fingers.

Also known as Bruce's Secret Kung Fu, Bruce's Ninja Secret and made up of footage primarily from Bruce And The Shaolin Bronzemen (1982) with select scenes from Bruce's Deadly Fingers (1976), you can never quite figure out why director Kong wanted to merge his own directed movies into a new one. Market potential for Bruce Le still in the mid 80s one would assume but regardless, the hybrid product is a mess. A sporadically entertaining and colourful one though. With the new dub now about a treasure hunt, Le is continually appearing in scenes with varying film stock (making the switch between the footage is easy to spot), in new outfits and constantly deals with assassins also after the treasure. These range from beautiful women waiting in the sea with knives, an obese masseuse and midgets. Colourful at the very least. As per the 1982 movie, much of this takes place in the Philippines and Le, a damn fine action performer, only sporadically works with talent able to keep up. But the exploitation colour the PRODUCT (it's not really a movie and certainly not a coherent one) lines up makes for shameless but entertaining viewing if all you want is Bruce Le... trying to be Bruce Lee. Forcefully so. Key phrase being forced. Lo Lieh and Chiu Chi-Ling also appear via scenes from the oldest of the movies. Asso Asia produced Bruce And The Shaolin Bronzemen and its crew consisting of among others Joseph Lai would go on to flood the market with many hybrid footage-movies containing ninja action as IFD Films & Arts.

A confident production that puts captions such as "Dragon Films Co. Masterpiece" and "Super Star Bruce Le" in its opening credits, the martial arts/treasure hunt adventure directed by its Bruceploitation star doesn't convince it has the right stuff to escape the genre hole it's deep, deep in. While an international flavour is added via Western and Phillipino actors that takes up more space than Le himself, all this senseless talk and no excess spells doom for this venture. Because Bruce The Super Hero has evidence pretty early on that it shouldn't compete so why not let us have fun by watching Bolo Yeung fight a bull...or something? Luckily for us, he actually does but this requisite behaviour is far too infrequent for the film to be loved by those in the know. The dubbing comes with some hilarious delivery at points though, the yellow track suit makes a random appearance, the worst stock music possible is employed and Kong Do employs snake style fighting at the end by having a snake head appear on his arm but content mentioned is still overall overshadowed by incompetence for even this sub-genre of the genre.

Ku Long provided with Night Orchid he could pen a movie-script with the usual colour of a Wuxia pian but with scaled down characters and twists in favour of a comprehensible narrative. Perhaps there was one such present in Bruce Tuan - 7 Promises but under the guidance of Au-Yeung Wang, nothing stands out as coherent or compelling. The main weapon of desire, the Jade Sword, that can kill without touching an opponent is a cool but highly awkward looking idea (seeing as it looks more like a knife) but on the surface the movie seems to bring an above average design sense though. The action also keeps matters grounded with only select dips into more fantastical techniques. But the longer it runs, it looks more and more like actors casually saying the lines demanded of them to advance a script that in turns transforms into pure incoherency that is neither charming or fun. Said colors of the genre quickly fades throughout too and even action becomes increasingly flat. Just like the movie. A big parenthesis. Starring Mang Fei, Chen Sing and Yueh Hua.

Also known as Blood Finger for its release abroad, The Brutal Boxer was sold on its carnage and that's no lie. You just have to wade through the standards that occasionally explodes into furious action first though. Concerning characters getting lured into the gangster world and taking on the big boss (Chen Sing, a fine choice if you want a brutal and bloody angle to shine through) eventually, The Brutal Boxer is short but doesn't warrant much attention for approximately an hour. Then laying it on thick with the need for bloody revenge, Raymond Lui heads this section and he is pissed. It's a finale slaughter that isn't the usual sights for these movies as it contains some unexpected make-up effects and a bloodthirsty aura that is welcome. Mars appears in an early supporting role and amidst the stuntmen a young Jackie Chan can be spotted.

Some do it better than others (The Devil springs to mind) but the black magic genre brings the fireworks in a better way when we get a lead character who's truly an ass and deserves a bit of Thailand Black Death Magic. In this case, taxi driver Alan (Newton Lai) is haunted by the spirits of a couple not buried together so he does the nice thing by bringing their bones to Thailand to set things right. Then he cheats on his wife as he is on a holiday after all (when in Thailand...). Cue problems caused by his mistress in Thailand when he doesn't return.

In fact, we know by the opening moments Alan is dead so hoorah, let's wait and anticipate just how brutal sorcery can be. Passable but disappointing and same can be said for this entry in its particular horror genre. Much thanks to a low budget that can't produce many gruesome sights and I suspect the English dubbed Ocean Shores version I watched wasn't particularly intact either. Still the odd dip into contractual obligatory sights of maggots, maggots being vomited by the cursed, animated devils (who are the creations of our good natured Thai priest employed later in the film) are amusing and Fong Yau yet again playing an evil priest gets to pour maggots on himself and really chew scenery so despite there being little for US to chew on, it's an acceptable time provided by Pang Ling (Curse). Also with genre regular Kwan Hoi-San.

Hsiao Hai (Mang Hoi) saves a Qing Prince Lo Han (Hwang Jang-Lee) from assassination. Given riches and influence, it quickly gets to Hsiao Hei's head. It turns out he's being played for a fool and being used as leverage in a conflict between once united fighters now turned opponents. Hsiao Hei ends up taking the advice of crazy beggar San Lu (Chin Yuet-Sang) and learns the Buddha style to counter the Prince's Lo Han style (that includes sleeping!)...

A terrific little piece out of the martial arts genre, although it's clear Mang Hoi was never going to break out into stardom akin to Jackie Chan or anyone. He's got the innocence, acrobatic skill, fighting chops but not much of leading man charisma. However it doesn't stop The Buddha Assassinator from being perhaps THE showcase for him. Director Dung Gam-Woo keeps matters efficient and restricted on the comedy side of things to instead focus on some genuinely intriguing and creative choreography by Corey Yuen and co-star Chin Yuet-Sang. The flow and intricacy is jaw dropping and with expert presence from Hwang Jang-Lee and Chin Yuet-Sang, this entry is a home run on all fronts. Also with Lung Fei, Hau Pak-Wai and Corey Yuen appear in the fight intro.