Matthew D
Angela Mao uses both Chinese Shaolin kung fu alongside South Korean Hapkido!
Chinese director Huang Feng's Hong Kong martial arts film Hapkido (1972) is totally unique among movies of this era. Feng shoots thrilling kung fu combat with precise choreography, striking cinematography, beautiful music, and compelling ethos. It's genuinely amazing how fast and versatile each fighter is in Hapkido. We get to see Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Karate, Bushido, and Hapkido all in one motion picture! There are multiple fights with a single fighter going against over 20 to 30 other attackers at once. Feng shows a sense of patriotism for China in his filmmaking as well as solidarity between China and South Korea against Japan's cruel occupation. Producer Raymond Chow delivers another awesome martial arts movie with Hapkido. It's pretty unbelievable that Huang Feng directed Lady Whirlwind and Hapkido both in the same year!
Writer Yan Ho's story about Chinese fighters defending China against Japanese gangs and occupying forces, who use Japanese karate, whereas China must use their traditional Shaolin kung fu as well as Korean Hapkido is cool. It's very interesting to set up three Chinese heroes to learn Korean Hapkido, based off of Chinese Tai Chi, in South Korea. Seeing Angela Mao demonstrate Shaolin kung fu from China as well as South Korean Hapkido is fascinating. Hapkido's dynamic throws, grapples, and unique punches are interesting.
Furthermore, I liked the grandmaster's ideals of morals, discipline, and planning your attack or escape accordingly. They have to set up Hapkido schools in China to teach Korean martial arts to defend themselves against the ruthless Japanese. I like how Hapkido is preaching to unite China in their efforts to protect their people from Japanese oppression and occupation. You see Japanese students steal food by not paying, beat up civilians, and assault women with brutal scare tactics.
Editor Peter Cheung uses slick fast cuts for enthralling storytelling and brisk close quarters combat. Hapkido is a very fast paced 97 minutes. Cinematographer Li Yu-Tang shoots these outrageous fights with spinning and panning camera movements. The smooth camerawork makes each move visible and incredible. The outside street vendor battle, the dojo attack, to the outstanding final encounters are all brilliant. Art direction Li Shen's beautiful dojo sets and old village restaurants are very nice.
Angela Mao is breathtaking with her swift moves and piercing glares as Hapkido's heroine Yu Ying. Her Shaolin Kung Fu and Korean Hapkido skills are formidable. I like that she ends up just trying to defend her friends. Carter Wong's ultra fast Hapkido skills as Kao Chang in the dojo fight are unbelievable as he takes on 20 men at once like Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury. Sammo Hung gets into a brutal and hilarious Hapkido battle in the market square against Japanese students as the portly Fan Wei. I appreciate that he gets to fight alongside Angela Mao this time instead of against her like in Lady Whirlwind.
Wong In Sik is outstanding as the Korean Hapkido Elder classmate with advanced martial arts skills. He's clearly a real grandmaster like the main three heroes and Ji Han Jae's awesome Teacher Shih Kung-chan. Pai Ying is fearsome as Japanese Elder instructor Chou Ba-tien. Nancy Sit is lovely as Hsiao Hsiu. Goro Kumon is disgusting as the Japanese villain Toyoda Yaguma. Ping-Ao Wei's hilarious secretary Chang Pu-tse is so entertaining. I enjoyed Lan Sun's Sung Chung as well. You can even see a super young Jackie Chan as one of the Japanese Black Bear students.
Composer Tsao Hua Lai uses traditional instruments for a boisterous film score that brings life and energy to Hapkido. Costume designer Chu Sheng-Hsi recreates classic Korean Hapkido gis, Chinese kung fu robes, and Japanese Karate gis for the different schools. I loved the pretty Chinese dresses for the actresses.
In all, Hapkido shows Angela Mao and Sammo Hung representing China to defend themselves against occupying Japan using the Korean martial art of Hapkido.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
08/09/23
Full Review
camille l
Tourné quasiment en même temps que Fist of Fury, Hapkido est l'archétype parfait du film de kung-fu des années 70. Entre le titre français qui n'a rien à voir avec le film, le nationalisme exacerbé qui fait des japonais des tortionnaires et des chinois des héros honorables, les scènes de combat délirantes (sans pour autant abuser sur les câbles, restant alors crédibles) où on se retrouve souvent à 1 vs 20, la musique très funky qui ne se prive pas de quelques gros riffs de guitare lors de zooms sur les protagonistes principaux et les dialogues qui parlent d'humilité et de patience, Hapkido est un parfait mix de tout ce qui a rendu le kung-fu pian légendaire. Carter Wong et Sammo Hung sont bons, mais Angela Mao est tout simplement parfaite en pacifiste obligée de se venger. Feng Huang parvient à garder tout cela rythmé et offre quelques jolis plans pendant les bastons. Hapkido est un très bon film, même au premier degré.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Typical Martial Arts Film From The 1970's Starring Angela Mao, Typical But Interesting & Better Made Than Most Films From 70's Chinese Cinema. The Film Was Released In 1972, The Same Time As Bruce Lee's "Fist Of Fury", & Features A Similar Storyline.
Both Films Focus On Warring Martial Arts Schools, Unlike "Fist Of Fury", The Japanese In This Film Are Portrayed As One-Sided, Xenophobic & More Racist & Are Also Referred To As "Japs" By The Main Characters. The Film Is Based Before WW2, Before The Japanese Occupation Of China Or Just At The Start Of It Anyway.
Mao's Character Is A Pacifist Torn Between Her Extreme Commitment And Beliefs Of Non-Aggression & Righting The Wrongs On Which The Japanese Have Done, With Them Destroying The Local Town & Murder.
Mao Is A Terrific Actress & This Is A Good Film To See It As Her Martial Arts Skill Are On Top Form Here With Her Appearing In Some Really Good Choreographed Fight Scenes. Her General Acting Skills Are Also On Top Form With The Way She Presents & Performs Her Character, From Great Line Delivery To Some Really Good Facial Expressions.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
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Audience Member
This film made Angela Mao an international action star. It's a must see for fans of 70's Kung Fu action films.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/23/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Interesting typical kung-fu film from the 1970s with Angela Mao.
I saw a number of interesting parallels between this flick and Bruce Lee's <i>Fist of Fury</i> as both films were released in 1972. Most notable is that the plots bear some resemblance to one another and there is a strong sense of conflict between warning martial arts schools. Unlike <i>Fist of Fury</i>, however, the enemy, the Japanese, are portrayed in a flagrant, one-sided, racist, and xenophobic light; they are sometimes referred to as "Japs" by the main Chinese characters (I know this film is set before World War II - I wonder, did such racial epithets exist before then?).
Mao's character is really interesting because she's a pacifist torn between her belief in non-aggression and righting her enemy's wrongdoings. She displays her fighting skills in several scenes and she acts really well especially with her facial expressions.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/10/23
Full Review
Audience Member
It shares similar parallels with Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, but an excellent martial arts movie. A lot of familiar faces show up in this, from the Hapkido master also being the Hapkido villain in Bruce Lee's Game of Death. A young Ching-Ying Lam plays a henchman, and we get to see a young Sammo Hung and Carter Wong.
The story is simple. Three Hapkido students attempt to open up a school in Japan invaded China, but are constantly in trouble when the Japanese Black Bear school bullies the local residents. Once blood is shed, both sides begin to stop pulling their punches until the action packed climax.
It was truly a visceral experience, as the camera angles were very dynamic and engaging. Mix in some excellent fight scenes for a classic martial arts movie, just as good as Fist of Fury.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
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