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6 Degrees Entertainment

Monkey Kung Fu (Limited Edition)
(Chiu-Sing Hau, Siu-Tung Ching, Hui-Huang Lin, Feng Kuan, et al / Blu-ray / NR / (1985) 2022 / 88 Films – MVD Visual)

Overview: From director Mar Lo (Shaolin Thief) and starring Siu-Tung Ching (The Shaolin Boxer) comes this fast-moving Wuxia classic from the legendary Shaw Brothers studio.

When prisoner Ching is given half of a wooden keepsake by a one-eyed master about to be executed, he breaks out of prison to go in search of the other half to discover its purpose.

However, on his quest he is pursued by a gang leader who will also stop at nothing find out its secrets.

Embroiling mystical promise, an adventurous journey and a search for the truth into its winding storyline, Money Kung Fu AKA Stroke of Death is a uniquely satisfying late seventies delve into the magical world of martial arts Hong Kong cinema.

Blu-ray Verdict: For all intents and purposes, Monkey Kung Fu is a typically late 1970’s kung fu comedy that offers plenty of kung fu fighting, training and plenty of chuckles along the way.

Hot on the heels of Jackie Chan’s kung fu classics Snake In The Eagles Shadow and Fearless Hyena, this fast moving flick stars Chan Muk Chuen as the comedic star who can’t stay out of trouble. He eventually bumps into a kung fu master, played by Sun Jung Chi, during a fight that results in him being took on as a student - albeit a very annoying one.

Fight choreographer and co-star Chi gets the majority of fight scenes in the film, playing a barber who refuses to pay his protection money to Chang Yi and his thugs.

One of those thugs is played by a young Eddie Ko who gets to throw a few kicks more than usual. One stand out fight comes right after Sun Jing Chi defeats Ko, as he then faces off against Chang Yi in a great display of monkey versus snake.

It is pretty much end battle stuff, but happily fits in halfway through which shows how much kung fu this great flick has going on.

Ironically, in saying that, Shaw Brothers star Yuen Hwa struts his way through the film in an almost comedic fashion, as if playing a farce of his usual top-fighter self, and avoiding as much fighting as he can!

After his initial defeat, Chang Yi trains hard in his snake fist in a bid to beat the monkey master. This includes using a strange wooden device that can only be described as a wooden treadmill, to help him run faster. It’s around the same time (just before the hour mark), that lead star Chan Muk Chuen gets to let loose a bit more in a tea house fight.

I haven’t seen much with him as an actor, but in this role, I find him very hard to enjoy (sorry). He gets on as if he has special needs mixed with an unhealthy dose of ADHD!

As good as his kung fu is, I’m just glad more of the attention is on his master, Sun Jung Chi. Once the monkey training kicks in properly with him though, he delivers some incredible shapes and moves that he quickly puts into use and starts to tone down the childishness.

In closing, it cannot be ignored that Monkey Kung Fu is absolutely jam-packed with kung fu action and, in truth, I would say a good hour of the film is training and fighting scenes (which never tires!) Indeed, the final fight scene is worth the price of viewing admission alone! This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.35:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

High Definition (1080p) Presentation in 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
2.0 DTS-HD MA English Soundtrack
2.0 DTS-HD MA Cantonese Soundtrack with newly translated English Subtitles
Audio commentary by Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast On Fire Network
Stunting Around - An Interview with Choreographer Tony Leung Siu-hung
Original Trailer

www.MVDvisual.com





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