Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster 葉問 2: 宗師傳奇

 Released Year: 2010

Directed by 叶伟信 Wilson Yip

Casted by:

甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 葉問 Ip Man

洪金寶 Sammo Hung as 洪震南 Nam

黃曉明 Huang Xiao Ming as 黃梁 Leung

熊黛林 Lynn Hung as  張永成 Sing

任達華 Simon Yam as 周清泉 Chuen

樊少皇 Louis Fan as 金山找 Chau

鄭則仕 Kent Cheng as 肥波 Fatso

Darren Shahlavi as Taylor Miller "Twister"

Charles Mayer as 華萊士警司 Wallace

 Story: 

Wing Chun master Ip Man and his family move to Hong Kong in the mid-1940s after their escape from Japanese-occupied Foshan. There, Ip desires to open a school to propagate his art, as well as make a living during the difficult times, but he has difficulty attracting students due to his lack of reputation in the city. One day, a young man named Wong Leung appears and promptly challenges Ip to a fight, but is easily defeated. Wong leaves humiliated, only to return with some friends to gang up on him. Ip beats them as well. Stunned and impressed by his skills, Wong and his friends become Ip's first students, bringing more disciples to help the school thrive.

Wong is later caught posting promotional posters for the school by some Hung Ga students. One of them challenges Wong to a fight and loses, but his friends take Wong hostage in revenge and demand a ransom from Ip. Ip goes to the local wet market as directed, but the meeting ends in a confrontation with a growing mob of Hung Ga students. Ip and Wong fight their way outside to meet Jin Shanzhao, a martial artist and former bandit, who comes to their rescue with his own gang. The students' master and head of the coalition of Hong Kong martial arts clubs, Hung Chun-nam, arrives to break up the fight. Ip introduces himself, and Hung informs him that before setting up a school, he needs to attend a special fighting ceremony to test his worth. Ip, Wong and Jin are subsequently arrested by Officer Fatso for disturbing the peace but are later released on bail. Hung and Fatso are then shown to be acting as reluctant collectors for the martial arts schools (including Hung's) as part of a protection racket headed by Superintendent Wallace, a corrupt officer in the Hong Kong police.

Ip attends the ceremony and defeats his first challengers, before striking a draw with the last challenger, Hung. Ip is allowed to keep running his school on the condition that he pay his monthly protection fees, but he declines. Hung thus has his students loiter in front of the Wing Chun School and harass anyone interested, causing a street brawl between them and Ip's disciples. Ip is thus forced to close up and move the school nearer to home. Ip soon confronts Hung, who blames him since he wouldn't pay his protection fees, whereas Ip criticizes Hung's management of his students. Hung insists that he is doing what he must and also insists they finish their fight, but during this encounter, Ip stops Hung from accidentally kicking his son as he suddenly appears, earning respect from him. Ip leaves, and the next day, Hung invites him to a British boxing match he has helped to set up, quietly coming to terms with him.

The boxing competition allows for a demonstration by the various martial arts schools to help promote themselves and their Chinese culture. However, the event's star boxer, Taylor "The Twister" Miller, an arrogant, racist and brutal man, openly insults and attacks the students, causing chaos as the masters try to restore order. Hung accepts Twister's challenge to a fight so that he can defend his culture. Although Hung has the upper hand at first due to his wider range of skills, in the second round he suffers a devastating blow that severely disorientates him. As he fights on, he begins to weaken from his asthma and is eventually beaten to death by Twister, as he refuses to concede and allow the man to insult his culture and people. News of Hung's death rapidly spreads throughout the enraged Chinese populace, causing a scandal that spurs Wallace to hold a press conference where he lies that Hung's death was an accident and that he was a weakling who died after a few punches. Twister announces that in order to clear his name he will accept any challenge from the Chinese to participate in a fair, public boxing match, but proceeds to proclaim that he could kill every Chinese boxer in Hong Kong and that he doubts any of the Chinese are brave enough to fight him. Ip Man has already arrived to challenge Twister to a fight.

As his wife goes into labor, Ip finishes training and begins his fight with Twister. Ip exchanges blows with the boxer and seems overwhelmed by the westerner's sheer muscle at first, but begins to make a comeback using his more diverse techniques and great speed. He receives an illegal punch from Twister after the second round's bell, and is also told that kicks would not be allowed due to the judges changing the rules during the match. When it looks like the end, Ip remembers Hung's patriotic spirit and is spurred to go on. He changes his strategy and attacks the boxer's arms to disable him. The fight is brought to a climactic finish as Ip Man rains blow after blow into the knocked-down Twister's face, with flashbacks reflecting the latter's killing of Master Hung. While the Chinese celebrate, Wallace is arrested by his superiors for corruption, as Fatso has secretly reported him. Ip then gives a speech to the audience, stating that despite the differences between their race and culture, he wishes for everyone to respect each other regardless of their status. Both the Western and Chinese audience give him a standing ovation while Twister's manager walks away, unhappy at the defeat. Ip goes home and reunites with his family, including his newborn second son, Ip Ching.

A final scene shows Ip being introduced to a boy named Bruce Lee who wishes to study Wing Chun in order to "beat up people [he does not] like". Ip smiles and simply tells the boy to "come back when [he has] grown up".

 L² Scored: 9/10

L² Comment:

Comparing to the first movie, this time the rival change from Asian to Caucasian. Both Karate & Boxing master has loss to the ultimate Wing Chun. Lol, it might be true or it has been make it up, but this definitely has make a strong impression on Bruce Lee, Ip Man's apprentice, and all his movie was toward this kind of storyline.

Hiroyuki Ikeuchi & Gordon Lam are out from this second movie, replacing by strong and good acting Sammo Hung, Huang Xiao Ming & Kent Cheng; while Darren Shahlavi is a British Persian actor who is actually an expert in Judo. *Note: Darren Shahlavi has passed away in 2015 at his age of 42yo by a fatal heart attack, RIP.

Same comment I'm gonna give since the first movie's review, both Simon Yam & Lynn Hung should be out from the picture as their character is useless and I believe paying them are not cheap as well. I can understand Lynn's character is a continuous, but Simon? He appear less than 3 minutes in the whole film, but maybe he is on a guest appearance form, who knows?

Ip Man 葉問

 Released Year: 2008

Directed by 叶伟信 Wilson Yip

Casted by:

甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 葉問 Ip Man

池內博之 Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as 三浦將軍 Miura

任達華 Simon Yam as 周清泉 Chow Ching-chuen

熊黛林 Lynn Hung as 張永成 Cheung Wing-sing

樊少皇 Louis Fan as 金山找 Kam Shan-chu

林家棟 Gordon Lam as 李釗 Li Chiu

釋行宇 Xing Yu as 武痴林 Master Lam

黃又南 Wong You-nam as 沙膽源 Yuan

 Story: 

In the 1930s, Foshan is a hub of Southern Chinese martial arts, where various schools actively recruit disciples and compete against each other. Although the Wing Chun master Ip Man is the most skilled martial artist in Foshan, he is unassuming and keeps a low profile. As an independent wealthy man, he feels no need to accept any disciples and instead spends his days training, meeting with friends, and spending time with his family. However, his wife is often resentful of the time he spends training and discussing martial arts with friends and colleagues. Though not a professional martial artist, Ip is respected in Foshan due to the abilities he displays in friendly, closed-door competitions with local masters. Ip's reputation is further enhanced when he defeats an aggressive, rude, highly skilled Northern Chinese martial arts master, Jin Shanzhao, thus upholding the regional pride of fellow Southern stylists and others in Foshan.

The Japanese invasion in 1937 adversely affects the life of everyone in Foshan. Ip's house is claimed by the Japanese and used as their Foshan headquarters. Ip and his family lose their wealth and are forced to move into a decrepit house. Desperate to support his family, Ip accepts work at a coal mine. The Japanese General Miura, who is a Karate master, establishes an arena where Chinese martial artists compete with his military trainees. The Chinese earn a bag of rice for every match they win. Li Zhao, a former police officer and Ip's acquaintance, is now working as a translator for the Japanese and is making the offer to the martial artists working at the coal mine. Ip at first declines to participate in the matches. However, when his friend Lin goes missing, he agrees to take part in order to investigate. Ip arrives to see fellow Foshan martial arts master Liu executed by Miura's lieutenant, Sato, for picking up a bag of rice from a prior victory after conceding in a second match against three karateka. He also comes to understand that Lin was killed in an earlier fight. Barely able to contain his rage, Ip demands a match with ten karateka at once. Despite having not practiced Wing Chun since the invasion began (in order to conserve what little food his family had to survive), he proceeds to mercilessly crush each of them with a brutal barrage of his martial art mastery, showing none of the restraint he exhibited in previous engagements. His skill arouses the interest of Miura, who seeks to learn more about Ip and see him fight again.

Ip later visits his friend Chow Ching-chuen, who owns and runs a cotton mill in Foshan. Chow tells Ip that a bandit gang led by Jin Shanzhao is harassing his workers and trying to extort money from them. Ip trains the workers in Wing Chun for self-defense.

When Ip does not return to the arena, Miura grows impatient and sends Sato along with several soldiers to find him. The lieutenant then gestures at Ip's wife, prompting Ip to incapacitate them. When the bandits return to the cotton mill, the workers fight back using the techniques that Ip taught them. Ip himself arrives midway through the battle to take care of things personally and defeats Jin Shanzhao, warning him never to harass the workers again.

The Japanese soldiers eventually find Ip at the cotton mill. Miura tells Ip that his life will be spared if he agrees to instruct the Japanese soldiers in martial arts. Ip refuses and challenges Miura to a match, which Miura accepts, both because of his love for martial arts and because refusing the challenge would be a humiliation to the Japanese. The match between Ip and Miura is held in public in Foshan's square. At first, the two fighters seem equally matched, but Miura soon finds himself unable to penetrate Ip's impeccable defense and becomes overwhelmed by his relentless and direct blows. He is helpless to defend himself as Ip effortlessly uses him as a wooden dummy, inflicting a severe beating on him and clearly winning.

As the beaten general lies down after his defeat, Ip looks over to the cheering Chinese crowd and spots his wife and child with Chow. Enraged, Sato shoots at Ip, sparking a scuffle between the Chinese audience and the Japanese soldiers. During the scuffle, Li Zhao kills Sato with Sato's own gun. Ip is taken away amidst the chaos. The epilogue reveals that he survives and escapes to Hong Kong with his family with the help of Chow Ching-chuen. There, Ip establishes a Wing Chun school, where his students come to learn martial arts from him, including Bruce Lee.

 L² Scored: 8.5/10

L² Comment:

Sorry to all Ip Man's fans, but seriously this is only the first time ever I watch this movie :p This series of movie never really attracted me previously even though later on Mike Tyson was invited to play a role in the 3rd movie as well. But surprisingly this movie is not bad, as I thought i would have fall asleep half way through the movie but I did not... 

Few of the characters in this film which i think is overspend on the budget especially Simon Yam & Lynn Hung, i mean, the movie doesn't need to pay so much for them to be in the film as the character is not really important at all. The one whom is really good, I have to say is Gordon Lam, he really acted well in here; Ikeuchi is another surprise for me, as this actor doesn't have much movies or dramas on him, he might be choosy in selecting his character & film, but i think he definitely loves his part here as he is a Judo black belt master :)

Hero 英雄

 Released Year: 2002

Directed by 张艺谋 Zhang Yi Mou

Casted by:

李连杰 Jet Li as 无名 Nameless

陈道明 Chen Dao Ming as 秦王政 King of Qin

梁朝伟 Tony Leung as 残剑 Broken Sword

张曼玉 Maggie Cheung as 飞雪 Flying Snow

章子怡 Zhang Zi Yi as 如月 Moon

甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 长空 Long Sky

 Story: 

In ancient China during the Warring States period, Nameless, a Qin prefect, arrives at the Qin capital city to meet the king of Qin, who had survived an attempt on his life by the assassins Long Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword. As a result, the king has implemented extreme security measures: no visitors are to approach the king within 100 paces. Nameless claims that he has slain the three assassins and he displays their weapons before the king, who allows the former to approach and tell him his story.

Nameless recounts first killing Long Sky, before traveling to meet Flying Snow and Broken Sword, who had taken refuge at a calligraphy school in the Zhao state. He tells Sword that he is there to commission a calligraphy scroll with the character for "Sword" (劍), secretly seeking to learn Sword's skill through his calligraphy. Nameless also learns that Snow and Sword, who are lovers, had gradually grown distant. Once the scroll is complete, Nameless reveals his identity and challenges both Snow and Sword to a duel the next day. Sword, who knows that the scroll has revealed his weaknesses to Nameless, makes love to his pupil Moon, but is seen by Snow. In revenge, Snow kills Sword, followed by Moon when she attempted to seek revenge for her master. The next day, Nameless kills the emotionally unstable Snow before the Qin army, and claims her sword. As the tale concludes, the king expresses disbelief and accuses Nameless of staging the duels with the assassins, as in the previous assassination attempt he had perceived Sword as an honourable man who would not stoop so low as to cheat on Snow. The king then suggests that what really happened was that the assassins volunteered their lives so that Nameless could gain the king's trust, which would allow Nameless to get close enough to the king to kill him. He then narrates his guess at what really happened.

In the king's version of the story Nameless had sought out Snow and Sword after staging the battle with Sky, telling them that he had acquired a special technique that would allow him to kill any target that is within 10 paces. Nameless explains that he can use this technique to kill the king, but to get close enough he must present Snow's and Sword's weapons to the king. He further explains that he only needs to kill one of them in public to "prove" that he has killed both of them. Snow and Sword argue over who should be the one to die, which results in a short fight in which Snow is quicker and manages to injure Sword. Snow then proceeds to meet Nameless before the Qin army while Sword, still recovering from his wound, watches helplessly as Snow is defeated. Moon then gives Nameless her master's sword, telling him that the swords of Snow and Sword should remain together in death as they had in life.

Nameless admits that he does indeed possess the special technique the king alluded to. However he states that the King had underestimated Sword, and tells the true story. Nameless says that the special technique, while deadly, can also be used to deal a seemingly-fatal blow that nonetheless misses all the victim's vital organs. He had used this technique on Sky, and now asked Snow and Sword to cooperate by faking a duel with him as well. He demonstrates the technique by showing that it is highly accurate as well as deadly. Snow agrees to the plan, but Sword refuses. Snow angrily accuses Sword of ruining the opportunity they had three years ago, when they had broken into the Qin palace yet Sword had refused to kill the king. She then attacks Sword, and manages to wound him with Nameless's help. The next day, Nameless "kills" Snow in front of the Qin army. Sword sends Nameless off to the Qin capital, writing the words Tianxia in the sand before leaving. Sword had not killed the king 3 years ago because he desired a unified, peaceful state, and only the king of Qin could achieve that vision.

The king, touched by the tale and by Sword's understanding of his dream to unify China, ceases to fear Nameless. He tosses his sword to Nameless and examines the scroll drawn by Sword. The king understands that it describes the ideal warrior, who, paradoxically, should have no desire to kill. When Nameless realizes the wisdom of these words, he abandons his mission and spares the king.

When Snow learns that Sword had convinced Nameless to forgo the assassination, she furiously attacks Sword and unintentionally kills him when he chooses not to defend himself so that she would understand his feelings for her. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Snow commits suicide. Urged by his court, the king reluctantly orders Nameless to be executed at the Qin palace. He understands that in order to unify the nation, he must enforce the law and use Nameless as an example. As the film ends, Nameless receives a hero's funeral and a closing text identifies the king as Qin Shi Huang.

 L² Scored: 7/10

L² Comment:

Well, if you are looking for some serious martial arts kinda fighting film, please do not proceed to watch this film or you will only get yourself disappointed. Zhang Yi Mou is not the kind of director who will be shooting action film but this movie does involved a little bit of action especially at Donnie Yen's part, coz his acting skill is sucks. Basically this is about the history of "Jing Ke" who try to kill the King of Qin, the movie has been beautified by the way of Zhang Yi Mou's way of directing which I think is kind of different and cool. But of course, its not a kind of film that you will wanna re-watch after a short while, and p/s: watch it after you have enough sleep~

The Monkey King 西遊記之大鬧天宮

 Released Year: 2014

Directed by 鄭保瑞 Cheang Poh Sui

Casted by:

甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 孫悟空 Sun Wu Kong

郭富城 Aaron Kwok as 牛魔王 The Bull Demon

周潤發 Chow Yun Fatt as 玉皇大帝 Heaven Emperor

何潤東 Peter Ho as 杨戬二郎神 Er Lang Shen

夏梓桐 Xia Zhi Tong as 九尾狐 Nine Tails Vixen

陈乔恩 Joe Chen as 铁扇公主 Princess Iron Fan

 Story: 

The Bull Demon attacked the heaven with his army of hell, but was defeated by the emperor of heaven. When he almost get vanished, sister of the emperor of heaven, Princess Iron Fan beg her brother to let him go and willing to follow The Bull Demon away and never return back to the heaven. Even though the war has settled, but it also ruined a lot of the Heaven's structure. NuWa goddess uses her diamond stone to cure the ruined part but one of the stone drop into the earth and created a monkey evil in it.

The Monkey evil get to know a nine tails vixen when he was stuck in it, but after that the nine tail vixen has gone by saving from the Bull Demon as his apprentice. GuanYin Buddha informed Subhuti that this monkey evil need to be train and control his evilness. Subhuti trained monkey evil and named him as Sun Wu Kong. But Sun Wu Kong is too arrogant and went back to his Hua Guo Shan to live with his monkey fellow. The Bull Demon wished to attack heaven again and try his best to influence Sun Wu Kong to attack Tian Nan Men. Before that the Bull Demon has plotted Nine Tail Vixen beside Wu Kong as a spy. Wu Kong also went to Shui Jing Palace to steal his weapon Jing Gang Bang and caused a lot of life to die.

The Bull Demon went to Hua Guo Shan when Wu Kong is doing his work duty in the heaven. The Bull Demon's army of hell has killed all the monkey at there together with the nine tail vixen. Wu Kong believed The Bull Demon's lie and attack the heaven with the army of hell. Even Er Lang Shen & Emperor of Heaven can't stop him. But on a twisted moment, Wu Kong suddenly realize the Bull Demon is behind all this and turn back to fight against the Bull Demon...

 L² Scored: 2/10

L² Comment:

I never watched this movie in the cinema back in 2 years ago because everyone keep on told me its not worth to; after watching this movie yesterday, I finally agreed with everyone. Not only that the whole movie has twisted the original story of the fiction, it also sounds kinda ridiculous to me as well. No doubt the graphic and effect is welly done, but the story appeared to be empty and the most important is, this is not the Journey To The West that we have all known...

Golden Chicken 3 金雞SSS

 Released Year: 2014

Directed by 鄒凱光 Matt Chow

Casted by:

吳君如 Sandra Ng as 阿金 Kam

張家輝 Nick Cheung as 哥頓 Gordon

王菀之 Ivana Wong as 吳璐 Lu

陳奕迅 Eason Chen as Jackie

詩雅 Michelle Wai as 阿花 Fa

 Story: 

Nowadays, Kam has become mamasan and lead her girls towards to become a better hooker. She lead Lu who acted as china girl and Fa who can do anything to be the greatest. Kam met her man who was released from the jail Gordon. Gordon still acted the same and wanted his gang Jackie to serve him always. Kam tried to educate Gordon that the time has changed and finally she managed to change his mindset and they were happily ever after...

L² Scored: 5/10

L² Comment: 

 For me, this is not as good as the 1st 2 movie. There's no main point of the whole storyline and the worst is, i even feel Sandra Ng's acting skill has gone bad... The whole movie focus on her extra big boobs and Nick Cheung is definitely outshine her in the movie and even Ivana is better than her... 

All's Well, End's Well 2012 八星抱喜 2012

 Released Year: 2012

Directed by 陳慶嘉 Chan Heng Ka & 秦小珍 Qin Xiao Zhen

Casted by:

甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 譚冠榮 Rong
吳君如 Sandra Ng as 宋秋波 Bo
古天樂 Louis Koo as 彭堅 Kin
陳慧琳 Kelly Chen as Julie Sun

黃百鳴 Raymond Wong as 陳李張 Zheung
楊冪 Mini Yang as 陳思思 Si
杜汶澤 Chapman To as 華一聲 Sheng
熊黛林 Lynn Xiong as 談笑 Xiao

 Story:

The movie breaks into 4 parts, part one is about both Rong & Bo who are the old time singer and when they met together and Rong help to pretend as Bo's boyfriend so that Bo's ex partner will not laugh at her. Part two is about photographer Julie wanted to find inspiration on her photo shoot, therefore she pretend and let the model Kin to fall in love with her so that she can take a nice pictures. Third part is Zheung pretend to be Si's father and help her to deliberate which guy is suitable to be her husband. Last part is Sheng a romance novelist who wanted to fall in love, he found a blind pretty woman Xiao and pretend he is a good looking man who is meant for her.

L² Scored: 2/10

L² Comment:

Oh Lord, all these well i have been a fans of "All's Well, End's Well" series, but definitely not the 2012 version. The 2 marks i gave is for Sandra Ng & Kristal Tin. Both of them are good in their part and they are the only one who makes me laugh. 

Donnie Yen is definitely making a big fool of himself in this movie; Kelly Chen as usual - bad in her acting; Lynn Xiong not much of a blame - model really can't act!!!; Louis Koo, oh please, i'm gonna write him off from my idol list soon; Chapman To, pathetic!!! As for Raymond Wong, i really hope he stop producing all these rubbish movie!!! Where has all his good movie gone? !!!! I'm frustrated now :(

Wu Xia 武侠

Released Year: 2011
Directed by 陳可辛 Peter Chan

Casted by:
甄子丹 Donnie Yen as 劉金喜 / 唐龙 Xi / Long
湯唯 Tang Wei as 阿玉 Ayu
金城武 Takeshi Kaneshiro as 徐百九 Jiu
王羽 Jimmy Wang as 七十二地煞教主 The Master
惠英紅 Kara Hui as 十三娘 13 Niang / Knife Fighter
Story:

Liu Jinxi and his wife, Ayu are an ordinary couple with two sons, Fang Zheng and Xiaotian, living in the Liu village. One day, two bandits enter the village and attempt to rob a paper shop. Jinxi happens to be in the shop and while trying to save the shopkeeper, kills both of them. During autopsy, constable Xu Baijiu discovers that one of the dead bandits was the Government's top ten most wanted, Yan Dongsheng. The local magistrate was overjoyed and the villagers regarded Jinxi as a hero.

However, Baijiu is suspicious as Dongsheng, a skilled martial fighter, could not be easily killed by Jinxi, a mere paper worker. From evidence in the shop and the events described by Jinxi, in addition to his extensive knowledge on physiology, he is able to deduce that Jinxi is also a highly skilled martial fighter and the actual events during the fight after noting signs of brain hemorrhaging due to injury to the Vagus nerve. From subsequent observation, investigation and tests, and information from his partner, Baijiu discovers that Jinxi is actually the second lord of the 72 Dragons triads, Tang Long. Xu immediately set off to the local province to obtain an arrest warrant for Tang Long.

However, the local magistrate delayed issuing the warrent, citing lack of evidence while actually soliciting for a bribe from Baijiu. Eventually, he is able to obtain the bribe money from his estranged wife, who blames him for the death of her father. After issuing the warrent, the local magistrate informed the Master of the 72 triads, the father of Tang Long, of Tang Long's location for a reward. The Master, offended by the magistrate, kills the local magistrate instead by severing his Vagus nerve.

Throughout the movie, Xu's motives for arresting Tang Long is called into question as it is believed that he has been reformed and poses no harm to anyone. It is revealed that he had once sympathized with a thief as he was a young boy, sending him home instead of reporting him. However, that boy wound up poisoning his parents and nearly killing Baijiu. As a result, Baijiu is forced to suppress the poison via acupuncture. This spawns his objective view that only physiology and the law can be trusted. He had exposed his own father-in-law for selling fake medicine, driving him to suicide. Subsequently, his wife severed all ties with him. Similarly, Tang Long's past is explored, showing how he had fled the 72 Dragons due to the inhumane activities they partook in, particularly the slaughtering of a butcher's family, including his children.

The Master sends his people to Liu Village to kill Tang Long and torch the place. While Baijiu and his constables were on the way to Liu Village, two of the Master's henchmen reach the village and attempt to out and kill Tang Long. They kill a civilian and Jinxi is forced to expose himself, battling with and killing the two assailants. The remaining villagers are forced to hide in a fortress in order to protect themselves from the 72 Dragons, Baijiu and Tang Long staying behind.

Baijiu and Tang Long devise a plan to fake his death in order to get close to the gang, again utilizing Baijiu's extensive knowledge of physiology. It works and Tang Long severs his own left arm, declaring that he severs all ties with the 72 Dragons. The gang declares that Tang Long is dead, but tells him to go home and meet with the Master. Arriving home, he finds the Master had managed to take his family hostage, awaiting his arrival. After a tense encounter, the Master declares that he will let Tang Long go but will take his son Xiaotian with him, enraging him. Tang Long begins attacking the Master with a sword to no avail, the blade unable to penetrate his skin.

Baijiu is able to infiltrate the house through a hatch and during the battle, is able to weaken the Master by piercing his heel with an acupuncture needle from underneath the floor, making his skin less impervious to Tang Long's sword. However, he is soon incapacitated by the Master. Tang Long continues fighting but is quickly overpowered by the Master. As he prepares to kill Tang Long, Baijiu notices the needle still stuck in his heel and takes him by surprise, planting another one in his neck. Unfazed, the Master mortally wounds Baijiu. The top needle acts as a lightning rod and, in combination with the bottom needle acting as an earthing wire, the Master is charred by a lightning strike, killing him for good. Baijiu, in his dying breath, declares the case closed. The last scene of the film shows Tang Long, who's left with one arm, continuing to live an ordinary life with his family.

L² Scored: 8/10

L² Comment:

Well, its been a long time i didn't watch a good martial arts movie. Donnie Yen + Peter Chan is a blast~ a bit of comedy of here and there fresh up the whole movie, and make it not so boring if only martial arts are presented.

I really adore Jimmy Wang who is a 68 years old & Kara Hui who is 51 years old. Both of them are born from the martial arts family and they really show how good they are although they are old now. The way they fight and expression is really superb, especially when Donnie Yen is the director of martial arts in this movie.

As for Kaneshiro & Tang Wei, both of them really do show they are a good actor/actress though they do not involve in any fighting scene. This is really a movie you should never miss :)