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Lion Vs Lion (1981)
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Directors - Hsu Hsia, Chien Yueh-sheng
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DVD
Released by : Celestial Pictures |
Player
reviewed with :Citizen JDVD 3820
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Receiver reviewed with
: N/A |
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Features: |
Cantonese/Mandarin Dolby Digital
5.1 Soundtrack |
English, Chinese, Bahasa
Malaysia, and Bahasa Indonesia Subtitles |
Enhanced for 16 x 9
TVs |
New Trailer |
Behind the scenes, New Releases,
Colour Stills, Original Poster, Biography and Filmography |
Running Time : 104
mins. |
Region 3 |
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The Qing (Ching)
Emperor is displeased when his Manchurian champion is defeated by a Han
kung-fu boxer during a martial arts match. Determined to annihilate the
Han rebels of the Heaven Earth Society, the child Emperor makes an interesting
declaration. Those who may have wondered why the Chinese adopted the long
braid during the Qing dynasty may be surprised by the answer here. Lion
Vs Lion (aka Roar of the Lion) is a breath of fresh air. Eschewing the typical
fight for revenge, fight for honour, or fight to be the best plot of most
kung fu films, this is a story about something more practical, how to make
a living.
Lo Meng in a surprising lead role plays the upright
and honest officer Yue. Too honest in fact. He bungles an attempted bribery
meant for his corrupt Qing judge. Passed over for promotion as a Han,
Yue is quickly framed and fired. Returning home in shame he bumps into
(literally) Ah Cun played by Wang Yu, a clever con man out to make a fast
buck (not unlike the character he plays in Challenge of the Gamesters).
After fleecing his boss, Cun's next target is poor Yue. Hoping to take
advantage of Yue's honest nature, Cun masquerades as local celebrity,
but Yue may be brighter than he looks. And so begins one of the more interesting
buddy partnerships seen in a martial arts flick.
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Eventually, they find themselves caught up between Imperial
spies and Heaven Earth rebels. Perhaps taking a break from playing the
bad guy (Return to the 36th Chamber, the Master) Wang Lung-wei gives strong
support as Bill Zhu, the respectable master of a kung-fu school, but secretly
a liaison for Han revolutionaries such as beautiful TV star Yang Pan-pan,
perfect as the enigmatic and calculating Red Lady. Set against a backdrop
of espionage and revolution, Lion Vs Lion has all the trappings of an
epic, but aside from some intrigue concerning the search for the Hero
Chart by the Red Lady, Bill Zhu, and masked assassin Chien Yueh-sheng,
very little political conspiracy is seen. This is really about two simple
men trying to make their way in a difficult world.
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One way to make money as a martial artist is to win the
Taipin Strip. This is the title match between the little seen Northern
Lion and the more common Southern style Lion. Those who are new to lion
dancing sequences are in for a real treat. Although some have commented
that it is a bit long, there is only the one lion dance fight in the whole
film and it very well done. The action is fun to watch and easy to follow,
but what really shines through is the performance and artistry of the
lions themselves. The skilled hand and footwork is impressive, but rarely
have the lions been given such character and comic expressiveness. Far
more believable than most rubber movie monsters, the lions are so enchanting
that one truly understands why the Chinese culture has adored them for
so long.
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The other fights in the film are
just as enjoyable. The old-school choreography moves fairly fast and Lo
Meng is athletic and muscular. Battling mostly against groups, he moves
with authority and really sends those bodies flying. There is more than
one brawl in tea house to look forward to and keep an eye open for a humourous
fight with a giant shaver. Yang Pan-pan doesn't fight a lot, but she looks
decent enough when she makes her own moves. Veterans Wang Lung-wei and Chien
Yueh-sheng have a great match-up with some nice weapon exchanges near the
end, rounding out the on-screen mischief. |
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Those familiar with Shaw releases
from Celestial have already come to expect a bright picture with a digitally
clean print. Contrast is fine and colours are vibrant, but sharpness and
detail has sometimes been an issue. Initial releases were letterboxed, and
then later switched to anamorphic, but the limited resolution of Celestial's
restorations resulted in a softer picture. Recent releases however have
dramatically improved and Lion Vs lion looks markedly better. Although not
as good as a newer Hollywood film, this anamorphic transfer is still excellent
with no compression problems and a sharp and detailed picture. |
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Choose between Cantonese
or Mandarin Dolby digital 5.1 soundtracks. The Cantonese mix is fine with
clear dialogue and no distortion or noise. Liberal use of Shaw library effects
and adequate music, the action is a little punchy, but unremarkable overall.
Player generated subtitles are timed well and easy to read.
The English is good and although not everything written on-screen is translated,
most plot related signs are translated.
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Standard set of extras from Celestial of late: a new trailer,
other releases, photos and poster art, and some somewhat informative biographies
for all the main players.
Directed, written by and starring Chien Yueh-sheng, and co-directed with
Hsu Hsia, they have come up another great Shaw picture. Terrific martial
arts combined with a story that's dramatic and funny, the film even toys
with the clichés of honour and brotherhood. If you expect a typical
ending, you'll be surprised. This is the first time I've seen it since
1981 and till this day, the final image and lesson learned is still something
that sticks with me. A genuine unsung classic.
-Leon Ho
Reviewed 01/15/2003
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