The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter

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Audience Member Alexander Fu Sheng was another in the line of martial arts actors who could have been the next Bruce Lee, yet he died unexpectedly in a car accident during the making of this movie. Fight-choreographer-turned -director Lau Kar-leung (The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Legendary Weapons of China, Challenge of the Masters) remade this film — based on the legendary Yang dynasty — as a tribute to the star and an attempt to make the most action-packed film possible. As this was one of Shaw Brothers' final all-star martial arts epics before they ceased filmmaking altogether, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter may be recognized as Lau's masterpiece, yet he made so many, it can be hard to select just one. The Yang family patriarch and all of his children — except for Yeung Dak (Gordon Liu), Yeung Chiu (Fu Sheng) and Yeung Kei (Kara Hui) — have been murdered. Yeung Dak has given up the ways of violence and is studying at a monastery. When he learns that his sister has been taken by the same people who murdered his father, he must renounce the Buddhist way of life, taking notice once more of the physical world, and use the spear training to invent the 8 Diagram Pole Fighting style, which he can still practice inside the walls of the holy place. If you value your teeth, this may be a tough watch. I've never seen more molars and incisors knocked out in a movie than this one. It's awesome, however, with stylish fights and big drama. It's sad that Fu Sheng is gone and would not be the hero of this film, but Gordon Liu has that certain something, an intangible quality that makes you notice him and say, "This is a star." Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Aunque más moralmente ambigua de lo habitual y con sus momentos se baratillo, El luchador invisible brilla en sus originales "action set pieces" con luz propia. Todo un disfrute. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review s r Initially it started campy, over-choreographed, dramatized and repetitive. By the end though it more than made up for it with some great fight scenes that have definitely influenced the genre. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Deadly poles against deadly foes. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member There's no disguising the obvious sets in this production, but the story is strong and gratifying. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Liu goes to a temple again, this one has just one chamber, and it focuses on defanging wolves. Like Legendary Amazons and Saving General Yang, this flick is about the Yang family. Fantastic staff and spear fighting, especially the finale. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter

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