Opium and Kung Fu Master [DVD]

Finally, a Chinese kung-fu movie that is a fable, lessons to be learned about drug addictions (opium in this case) based on a period in China when opium addiction was wide spread that brought about the Opium War in the 1800s. However, China lost that war against westerners, which resulted in foreign occupations of Chinese cities after the war that included Hong Kong, so it's nice to see that this movie is in Cantonese with English subtitles.In this particular town, there is a kung-fu master who is new and has helped driven out bandits and other bad guys. Opium became a new pass time, and rich folks smoke them at home, while poor folks smoked them in opium dens, which are historical facts. Westerners brought opium to China in large quantities while taking spices and financial gains after doping the Chinese. At first the Chinese had no idea that opium was an addictive substance until many families were destroyed from financial ruins after the Chinese were hooked and were willing to pay any amount of money to continue their addiction. Rich folks became poor, poor folks committed suicides, etc. It was so out of control that the Chinese government deemed this to be a manipulation by western foreign interference of the Chinese culture and family structure that they declared war on imports of opium by western countries. At the thought of huge revenue lost if the imports stopped, the British and other western nations sent ships to Chinese ports. The emperor's army and weak navy were no match against the guns and cannons of the British navy. Opium continued to flow into China and the Chinese always hated those who made loads of money off of a destructive import. This is no different than the Colombian drug cartels importing cocaine into the U.S., but imagine if they had the backing of the Colombian government, which then sends their Navy into the U.S. and wins. That's what it was like during this time in China.So, this movie is based on that period of China when the Chinese were ruined by opium. Most people could not stop their addiction and there were no drug addiction clinics. The only way they knew how to stop opium addiction was by locking individuals in rooms or tied them up in beds. They had to be isolated for a few days or weeks until they overcame the addiction cold turkey. The opium addiction caused people to lose jobs, their mental health and families, and in this movie, their kung-fu skills/strength. The master himself was being taught by his own student that he needed to admit to his addiction and stop ruining his life and the lives of others who count on him. Though the kung-fu weapon fights were well choreographed, you have to like the plot to like the movie as it's not the old good vs. bad kung-fu movies. This story has a bit of humor, a bit of romance/flirtation, a bit of Chinese family and community culture, and a bit of just the good vs. bad, a bit of right and wrong, and most of all a bit of what life was like when opium was brought to China. Great fable based on a real period in China.

IF YOU ARE 55 AND OLDER AND LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU MOVIES,THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.LUNG TI CREATED A NAME AS ONE LEADING EXPONENT OF THE SHAW BROTHERS STABLE OF TALENTED ACTORS.IN THIS CLASSIC HE IS A WELL ESTABISHED INSTRUCTOR WITH A REPUTATION OF HAVING AN INVINCIBLE POLE TECHNIQUE.HE IS WELL LOVED AND RESPECTED AND STANDS FOR VIRTUE AND GOODNESS,YET HE SUCUMS TO TEMPTATION WHEN AN OLD FRIEND INTRODUCES HIM TO THE USE OF SMOKING OPIUM,BEING A MASTER HE TRULY BELIEVES IT WONT AFFECT HIM LIKE IT DOES TO ALL WHO USE IT AND THAT HE CAN QUIT THE USE WHEN EVER HE WANTS.HE TRIES TO ACT NORMAL AND HIDE THE FACT THAT HE IS SLOWLY BECOMING AN OPIUM ADICT HIS STUDENTS START TO NOTICE AND TRY TO WARN HIM HE WILL NOT HAVE A STUDENT PASS JUDGEMENT OVER HIM BECAUSE HE IS IN DENIEL BUT ITS NOT TILL THE GREEDY ELDORS OF THE VILLAGE START BACKING A MALLICIOUS GANG OF GAMBLERS. THAT END UP KILLING ONE OF HIS BEST STUDENT THAT STANDS UP TO THE GANG,WHEN THE MASTER FINDS OUT HE TRIES TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT CHALLENGING THE LEADERS AND THE ELDERS WHO IN THIS TOWN ARE NOW SPLIT IN TWO AND THE GOOD TOWN PEOPLE ONLY HAVE THE MASTER STANDING INBETWEEN TOTAL CORRUPTION OF THE TOWN.TI LUNG DOES NOT REALIZE HIS MASTERY OF THE MARTIAL ARTS IS AFFECTED UNTIL HE ENGAGES IN ONE TO ONE DUEL WITH A TWO SPEAR SPECIALST ASSASIN HIRED TO CONFRONT HIM.THE DUAL IS GOING LUNG TI WAYS UNTIL HIS STAMINA STARTS WARERING DOWN DUE TO THE INACTIVITY OF NOT TRAINING BECAUSE OF HIS OPIUM ADDICTION.ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY HE DID NOT LOOSE THE FIGHT THE OTHER MASTER HUMILIATES HIM IN PUBLIC BY SAYING HE WONT FIGHTING IN THESE CONDITIONS SO HE WILL NOT LEAVE DOUBGHT THAT HES THE BETTER MASTER AND THAT LUNG TI MUST BOW DOWN AND ADMIT IT.THE RESULT IS LUNG TI LEAVES TARNISHED AND HUMILIATED,BUT NOT FOR LONG HE GOES INTO ISOLATION TO BRAKE THE OPIUM HABIT WITH THE HELP OF HIS BELOVED STUDENTS WHO STAND BY HIM NO MATER WHAT THEN HE SERIOUS TRAINING PAYS OFF, AT THE END HE CHALLENGES THEM AGAIN THE FINAL BATTLE IS EPIC AND ONE OF THE BEST EVER.IN THIS MOVIE HE IS A MASTER INSTRUCTOR (A ROLE HE PLAYED ON MANY MOVIES) SPECIALICES IN POLE TECHNIQUE .THE FIGHTS ARE EPICTHE ENDING FIGHT IS AWESOME.A MUST SEE AND HAVE FOR SERIOUS FU NUTS LIKE MY SELF. ENJOY

If you are looking for a lot of martial arts action that is well choreographed, it's worth spending the money to get this relatively inexpensive blu ray. I'd never heard of this movie until I read the review on bluray.com and since the price was so reasonable on Amazon, I decided to buy it.The plot is predictable and laughingly melodramatic - my wife and I sat there cracking up at the cheesy acting - but the fight scenes are very well executed. And there are plenty of fight scenes, starting up at the slightest provocation.The picture quality in blu ray is excellent, especially considering the age of the movie. Sound quality is okay, about as good as you can expect. The sound effects of things like swords clinking against each other are pretty repetitive, just the same effect used over and over no matter what part of the swords hit each other.If you want a good martial arts action flick and aren't looking for something deep, plus you want good picture quality, this movie would be a good choice.

For a Ti Lung Shaw brother movie that I have never seen before it was pretty good. The transfer does have a few grain issues but overall it looks really good.To me this was just not one of the better of the Shaw Brothers movies.It deals with the Opium issues that China went thru during the western invasion. However, I just did not feel for the characters. I also thought there was not enough KF action.Ti Lung always gives a good performance, however, this is not one of his better movies.

Tang Chia directed 3 films for Shaw Brothers (Shaolin Prince,Shaolin Intruders and Opium and the kung fu master).In my view this has to be his best film,the story opens with Ti Lung's character master Tie confronting some robbers who were trying to escape.The robbers work for master Rong Feng (Chen Kuan Tai) who runs an opium den in town.As Ti Lung's students get into a dispute with Rong Feng's students following a lion dance contest master Tie finds himself getting sucked into the dispute.Ultimately master Tie face's off against master Rong Feng,but due to his opium addiction he loses the fight.He decides to seek his mentor's help to detox at a Buddhist temple.When he cleans up he challenges Rong Feng and his cohorts once again.Although the film is packed with some stunning set piece's throughout it also has a serious message about addiction and the affect it has on people.Ti Lung is outstanding as master Tie and he's ably supported by a strong cast which includes Chen Kuan Tai,Lee Hoi San and Philip Ko Fei.One of the last great films from the legendary Shaw Brothers studio,this is a must see film.Thanks for reading and I hope that you enjoy the film.

This is a brillant shaw brothers movie exellent cast and brillant plot make this a must have. On bluray this is out standing the picture qulity is so clear for this age movie and the sound is also very good. buy this if you find one at good price as I am very happy with my bluray of this. The bluray is region 1 but there is a way to play it in your region B player. At the begining of the film you will see not right region on screen press top menu or disc menu button on your remote and way you go it will let you go to movie menu and you can choice as normal from there. I hope this helped most people as this is must buy.

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