After seeing this films sequel/follow up, The Legend of Drunken Master, I found myself compelled to check out the original. What was I hoping for? Perhaps an amplification of the second film? Perhaps even more incredible Kung Fu that the second (as Chan was younger when he filmed this one). That, of course, is not what I got.

I got the same Yuen Woo-Ping movie I already own, Twin Warriors, plus a lot of film grain, minus the political struggle. Wong Fei-Hong (Chan) is just this chipper little kung fu master-in-his-mind, who, after getting beaten up by his Aunt, ends up being sent to old coot Sam Seed (Siu Tien Yuen) to learn his secret technique. And, wouldn’t you know it, Wong gets his butt kicked again as he tries to run away from Sam Seed. And, wouldn’t you guess… the guy that kicks his butt is dispatched to kill his father, thus making for a final confrontation that has that cute little uplifting butt-kicking. And while this might be the convention for every Kung Fu film… well… I just hoped that Drunken Master would be a little bit more than it was.

Sure… the story is solid, the fight scenes are terrific, but the film wanders its way along like the drunks it depicts. The actual “plot” doesn’t really show up until near the end, and in the meantime it feels as if you’re watching a character drama with half-decent characters. And while the Kung Fu is great, the rest of the movie has a long way to go.


Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older