SEVEN GRANDMASTERS: Jack Long gives his most memorable role to date in this outstanding display of true skill. Whilst lacking the requisite facial expressions which would normally help to flesh out such a pivotal character, the film succeeds by indulging the audience with an eclectic range of styles and blistering fight choreography provided by the sporadically astounding Corey Yuen Kwai. Lee Yi Min is perfectly cast, and director Joseph Kuo makes the most of the rural environment of Taiwan. Rating: 4 / 5 . SHAOLIN WOODEN MEN: Shaw-brothers’ styling lifts this otherwise unremarkable Jackie Chan vehicle. The main draw of the film is watching the young hero battle his way through a chamber of deadly wooden mannequins in order to graduate from the Shaolin Temple. This sequence is done with aplomb, but leaves the rest of the film trailing behind and merely tying up lose ends. Thus, this promising kung fu flick becomes a simple tale of revenge, albeit an above-average one. Rating: 2 ½ / 5 . THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE: The slick fluidity of mainland wushu arts are brought to the very fore in this perfect vehicle for action legend in-waiting Jet Li. Never has the unparalleled talent of the lead been captured with such cinematic purity; the extended seasons training sequence is a jaw-dropping display. The story borrows heavily from Lau Kar Leung’s Shaolin films, but provides the audience with a new flavour of dynamism to savour. The cast was lured back for a number of familiar sequels, but this remains arguably the greatest mainland action film of all time. Rating: 4 ½ / 5 . SNAKE AND CRANE ARTS OF SHAOLIN: This fan-favourite is probably Chan’s most satisfying film released whilst working under ubiquitous director Lo Wei. The lead clearly relishes the chance to display his exemplary skills in both traditional animal styles and classical weapons, whilst the narrative provides more than enough opportunities for outstanding fight sequences, albeit in familiar settings. Rating: 4 / 5 . SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW: One of the most influential and revolutionary martial arts films of all time, this classic twisted the genre inside-out, catapulted it forward and laughed all the way to the box office back in 1978. Jackie Chan, in career-defining form, gives his all as the country bumpkin with nothing to lose and a murderous super-kicker to take on (Hwang Jang Lee). Yuen Siu Tien rings every last comic drip from his role as the tramp with a snake up his sleeve, and Yuen Woo Ping directs and action-directs with solid reliability. The phenomenal ‘Drunken Master’ followed this. Rating: 5 / 5 . SPIRITUAL KUNG FU: Despite being frequently shunned by fans and even Chan himself, ‘Spiritual Kung Fu’ is a successful mixture of bargain-basement humour and intricate fight choreography, including some of Jackie’s best weapon work to date. The ghosts are hilarious creations on every level, and the five animal styles are pulled off particularly well by the star. James Tien turns in another villainous role hot from the equally impressive ‘Dragon Fist’, which was shot the same year. Rating: 4 / 5 .
