A hilarious contradiction occurs right up front when the filmmakers claim The Kung Fu Fever is not based on any real persons or events yet it DEPICTS THE DEATH OF BRUCE LEE! Who said Bruceploitation was logical but many rightfully claimed it was a lot of fun. Dragon Lee (here credited as Bruce Rhee) stars as Rickie Chan, one of Bruce Lee's students and after circumstances that leads to his master's death (circumstances that are not very clear which is a sign of respect by the sensationalist filmmakers as they refrain by putting forth a theory thankfully), he and friends are chased by various people in search of the book of finger techniques as developed by Bruce. After some all too familiar footage from Bruce Lee's real funeral (making these sensationalist filmmakers lose all respect they gained a sentence ago), Rickie fights through various dumb henchmen of Shu Mu's (Martin Chui) including an opponent using the Iron Head-Technique but flown in from the US of A, enter Ron (Ron Van Clief - Black Dragon)...

One group of thugs even leads a cabaret troupe. Yep, a lot of amusement comes packaged with The Kung Fu Fever which may not be competently staged, is definitely overlong but has enough goofy details to make it memorable. One starts with the student of Bruce Lee's, Rickie Chan, who apparently feels he has to or has been made to act just like Bruce. He appears in the Game Of Death tracksuit for no reason, he of course owns the glasses and ghastly shirts and when it then comes to mimicking the mannerisms... oh boy. Dragon Lee is possibly the one impersonator taking it TOO seriously. Really looking more mentally handicapped when in fight mode than sincerely paying tribute, somehow there IS sincerity in Dragon Lee, albeit a bit misguided. The dubbing is classic stuff with a variety of wacky voices, accents and lastly, Amy Chum (My Mother Is A Belly Dancer) has a sexy leather suit on all throughout the film. It's likeable stuff as well as shameless but god, it's hard to stay angry at the film. Director Kim Si-Hyeon helmed several Dragon Lee vehicles including the South Korean movie IFD acquired and re-titled Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger (hence Godfrey Ho getting a directorial credit on that one).

Despite gathering up a cast that had performed under master Lau Kar Leung's masterful eye for martial arts action, Wilson Tong's Kung Fu Genius never sparkles. Stock plot aside (rivalry between martial arts schools), Tong fills the running time with wall to wall action (including spirit boxing, monkey style and most bizarre of all, duck style) yet overall never achieves an exciting flow to the choreography, sometimes even leaning towards sluggish. Some of that can be due to Cliff Lok's obvious rough transition from real life martial artist to on-screen fighter and him as a lighthearted hero never is a choice that gels either. One of the fights that does work well however is a weapons one between Lok and Hsiao Hou. Kung Fu Genius also co-stars the alternate Dean Shek of the time, Cheng Hong Yip as well as Lee Hoi San, San Sin and Wilson Tong.

Dedicated to a slew of iconic directors and performers that defined Hong Kong cinema, Teddy Chen's modern martial arts picture doesn't exactly provide a throwback where that dedication connects to his chosen story at hand here. But it's a very valuable nod to make because these people tend to be forgotten to time and he even got most to appear in cameos for his Donnie Yen vehicle at hand here. A fun mix of the traditional beats of a martial arts movie in a modern setting, Donnie Yen is a kung fu master that seems to know a thing or two about the continual murders of other masters by Fung Yu Sau (Wang Bao-Qiang) so he's let out of jail to assist police (headed by Charlie Young). With the prison brawl setting the tone action-wise with decent clarity and brutality, the movie then unashamedly goes high concept and really feels like the martial world intruding on our real one. But it's an easy buy because of the energy provided by in particular our villain played by Wang Bao-Qiang and also when we understand the reasoning behind it, Teddy has managed to establish a fun balance between the traditional in a new package. It doesn't attempt to make that much of a meaningful statement but how you navigate the world with martial arts, where skill can and should take you is entertaining to have in this merging of style and settings. When trying to be dramatic with backstories, the movie falls pretty flat and unfortunately Charlie Young is given a very standard cop-role with no interesting layers or beats to work with. Released as Kung Fu Killer internationally.

If I'm hearing the English dub right, Chin Kar-Lok plays Fong Sai Yuk who gets caught in a rebellion (headed by Lam Ching Ying's character). Fong Sai Yuk or not, it doesn't much matter as this production falls short of humble goals of being poor even! While the martial arts is often grounded, there's no energy, excitement or flow to support that worthwhile stance on choreography and even when outrageous concept like surfing on spirit tablets occurs during the finale, it's still lacking. Poorly added foley effects NOT done by ones with a hard on for a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix and unfunny interludes between Fong and his mom (acclaimed actress Siqin Gaowa) makes one want to reach for the Jet Li/Josephine Siao chemistry as found in the Fong Sai Yuk movies instead. Kwan Hoi-San and Wu Ma also appear.

Released on dvd by Tai Seng under the title Shaolin Avengers, Chin Kar-Lok and Lam Ching Ying are credited on this print as Jean Carlo and Mark Lim respectively.

While nowhere near the worst the kung fu comedy-genre has to offer, there's no doubt that the attempts at merging the two fails here. John Cheung is our down on his luck hero (emphasized with him unknowingly walking onto a film set and later getting urinated on accidentally), diamond smugglers hide their stash in a jar of candy he thinks is his and then the chase is on. This is of course harmless entertainment that's not aiming to go the violent or meaningful route. Which is fine but most scenes and concepts play out like one of many genre-imitators. Here it's not broad and grating though. It's just flat. John Cheung is also not a charming or funny hero and while he executes complex choreography, not even the selling point sets off any sparks (it's a bit too slow for that). Sharon Yeung stands out as the best piece of energy the movie has to offer however. As does does the comically large cyst our villain has on his neck. Also with Simon Yuen and Candice Yu.

Dicky Cheung and Aaron Kwok are scholars both attending the same college. Then farce happens. Then Leung Kar-Yan enters as a newly appointed teacher. Then people start to fly. When all's said and done, no laughter or marvel at the feats have been uttered from an audience. The local perhaps but The Kung Fu Scholar is not THE vehicle to rival period kung fu comedies in the higher divisions. When you try to be mou lei tau without Stephen Chow and instead place Dicky Cheung in his place, you know it's a recipe for disaster in the making. Playing the wisecracking scholar with a skill for talking his way out of most situations, nothing on display rings of any sincerity or comedic skill. Adding straight man Aaron Kwok and Ng Man-Tat doesn't elevate in the slightest. The latter goes on to prove how tough going of a comedic presence he is without Chow. A quiz and athletic competition between the colleges, lots of comedy with added sound effects and a decent Leung Kar-Yan/Gordon Lau fight later, it's merely later and absolutely nothing gained or saved. Also with Kingdom Yuen, Vivian Chow and Kent Cheng (in a role referencing his Fat Cat character from Why Me? and The Beloved Son Of God).

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As the narrated opening tell us, there are various ways to transport dead bodies and vampires across the land and various stories that accompany these rituals. Yuen Cheung-Yan ends up directing the most unbearably crap one out of those. Draining all sense of fun that the vampire movie used to have, the Mainland visuals are at times attractive (in an automatic way obviously) and certain scenes quite gleefully gruesome (including rodents being set on fire and potions being mixed up consisting of snakes blood and maggots). "Fun" ends there and the proceedings where our grating male lead and uncharismatic leading lady gets in various troubles with the locals (and some ghastly, lame romance finds its way into the torture as well) registers irritating because it doesn't go anywhere. No Yuen clan distinction or madness. You're no fun anymore, Yuen Cheung-Yan! Ji Chun-Hua (Red Sorghum, Fong Sai Yuk II) appear as the lead villain Zombie King.

Taylor Wong revisits the magic buddha's palm (previously seen in his 1982 Shaw Brother's movie Buddha's Palm), transferring the spectacle to modern day Hong Kong. Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic opens with some wonderful clips from the old Tso Tat Wah Buddha's Palm-movies and it's a nice reminder of how Hong Kong really hadn't progressed in terms of its special effects usage (in this case, when employing animation) by the time 1990 came along. Taylor doesn't really make more of a mark from this point in the film and instead Wong Jing's script takes over.

Andy Lau and Nat Chan therefore gets to be thoroughly silly and stupid, with stupid also being the grade of the comedy. Wong Jing's insistence on trying to be clever by taking past dynasty characters into the modern era while poking fun at the popular culture of its day is far from it and falls flat completely. Some low-brows jokes gets to your funny bone but it's really shameful that that even happens. Within these loony Wong Jing shenanigans, co-star/action director Yuen Wah and the animators manage to entertain slightly whenever it's magic powers battle time. It's a long trek though to get the even slightly good stuff though.

Taylor Wong never really was a good director outside of fair promise showed in Sentenced To Hang and Buddha's Palm. Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic has its title as the most prominent trait, which is obviously not a good final tally. Also with Joey Wong, Lau Shun and Tso Tat Wah.

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HK Flix.com
Yesasia.com

A short and highly undercranked time with a mix you can easily gather from the title, Billy Chong stars in a whirlwind of complications starting with a dead thief in need of reincarnating so he can have revenge. He ends up in Chong's father's (Kong Do) recently diseased body and recently diseased character played by Kwan Yung-Moon gets his chance to come back and wreck havoc, now with vampire tendencies. With a rather clumsy Taoist priest (Chan Lau) available too, Kung Fu Zombie delivers a broad and intense fighting mix often played out at overcranked speed. This creates energy, albeit fake energy but this consistency to comedy, action and the supernatural shenanigans in between works in favour of the movie. All often set to the James Bond score.