Drunken Master - The Beginning

PG-13

1978

1h 47m

Action

Comedy

List

81%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Apr 4, 2003

Full Review

Joey O'Bryan

Austin Chronicle

Not unlike the silent films of Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd, or for that matter, the best pictures of Hong Kong's Seventies kung fu films, the genius of Drunken Master lies in its kinetics. Pure entertainment, and a true chop-socky classic.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The infectious mix of slapstick sequences and amazing martial arts moves breathes new life into the old school of Hong Kong action.

Apr 6, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Fast and furious and frequently funny.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 7, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Setting the groundwork for Chan's subsequent pictures, this one boasts plenty of fast-paced kung fu.

Rated: 4/10

Aug 29, 2020

Full Review

Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

It shows why Chan deserved to become a world-class star. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 13, 2020

Full Review

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Brent A

50% rating ... Had its moments of comedy and decent action, but not quite enough for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

Full Review

Matthew B

Best of Movies/TV Series Collection

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/22

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favourite films of all time, definitely in top ten.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

matthew d

Lightning fast kung fu techniques and hilarious comedy from a young Jackie Chan! Yuen Woo-ping's Chinese martial arts action-comedy Drunken Master (1978) is a splendidly entertaining comedy movie, a well made demonstration of endless kung fu techniques, and a dazzling action film full of over a dozen martial arts encounters. The jaw dropping fight choreography allows each fighter to perform inspired techniques with flawless execution. Hui Chang's stellar cinematography shoots with many wide shots for the battles to bravely show how meticulously they worked out each punch, kick, and dodge. Woo-ping's direction is phenomenal as he effortlessly glides from hand to hand combat sequences to witty comedy and slapstick, then back into the action for 111 minutes. Editor Hsiung Pan deftly cuts around each strike and each joke with a brisk pacing. His sharp cuts allow the viewer to see all the moves with clear precision and enthralling timing. I cannot stress enough how Drunken Master is around 12 fights in a row essentially. Yuen Woo-ping, Ng See-Yuen, and Lung Hsiao's writing centers around the value of respecting your elders, whether it is your father, aunt, or master. There's also the idea of avenging your master and finding inner peace through martial arts mastery as you hone both body and soul. Jackie Chan is a remarkable talent of unreal acrobatics and versatile kung fu styles. His lead performance as Wong Fei-Hung is hilarious with Chan's gifted comedic timing, outrageous in his physically shocking training, and exhilarating during his mind blowing fights. Chan might as well be dancing, fighting, and drinking at the same time. Jackie Chan's dangerous stunts look funny and fluid with his engaging charisma and speed. He displays Drunken Fist mastery as well as Crane, Snake, and Monkey styles of kung fu with peerless prowess in Drunken Master. I think that Drunken Master may be his greatest film as his fights are so skillful, yet fun to watch at the same time, each battle in rapid succession one after the other. Simon Yuen Siu-Tin must be mentioned as the amazing martial arts master Beggar So, who trains Jackie Chan's Wong Fei-Hung in the Drunken Fist style of kung fu boxing with his hidden Eight Drunken Gods techniques. Siu-Tin is hilarious as this drunken old fool, but he's also doing the same intense martial arts skills as fast as Jackie Chan in his prime while he was 65 here! It's incredible to think about, let alone see in Drunken Master. No wonder Beggar So got 2 sequels before Siu-Tin tragically passed from a heart attack. Jason Hwang Jeong-Li's Thunderleg is a fearsome villain, whose legendary hi kicks are swift like lightning and look like they pack serious power like thunder. I like that a Korean actor, born in Japan, could be a Chinese film star in a diverse Asian film scene. Lam Kau as Wong Kei-Ying is excellent in his duel with Jeong-Li's Thunderleg. Stanley Chow Fook-Leung's score is excellently matched in Drunken Master's whimsical tone and majestic atmosphere during the fights themselves. Lastly Linda Lin is hilarious and daring as she duels Jackie Chan while she plays Fei-Hung's Aunt. Her kicking prowess is no joke. In all, Drunken Master may very well be Jackie Chan's greatest feature as he takes on master after master with his own uniquely hilarious brand of drunken kung fu.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A classic drunk boxing movie that no one will ever forget.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was like Jon Wick, before Jon Wick. Fight scenes galore, and most of them are pretty damn fun. Jackie Chan is the man. Solid concept, solid execution.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Woo-Ping Yuen

Director

Jackie Chan

Actor

Siu Tien Yuen

Su Hua Chi

Jang Lee Hwang

Thunderleg

Chin Chiang

Actor

Ging Man Fung

Actor

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Synopsis

Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight.

Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
Screenwriter: Hsiao Lung, See-Yuen Ng
Production Co: Seasonal Film Corporation
Rating: PG-13 (Martial Arts Violence|Language)
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 47m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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