Louis Cha Leung Yung casts a huge shadow over the wuxia. Better known by the pen name Jin Yong, he would not only co-founded the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, his wuxia novels would become essential reading and influence the genre on the large and small screen alike to this day (this despite the fact that he officially retired in 1972), he is also considered one of the three legs of the wuxia tripod, along with Gu Long and Liang Yusheng.
Shaw Brothers really made their name with Jin Yong adaptations such as the Alexander Fu Sheng star vehicle The Brave Archer series, Sword Stained with Royal Blood and Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, along with other studios wanting to get involved in that Jin Yong money, such as Golden Harvest, which brings us nicely to the 1993 film Kung Fu Cult Master.
Originally set to be a multi film series, Wong Jing went about trying to bring in the best talent around to cash in on the popular Wire Fu/Wuxia Pian of the time (films such as Yuen Woo Ping’s Iron Monkey and Ching Siu-Tung’s Swordsman II… which also starred Jet Li), who better to turn to than one of the most popular writers in wuxia hostory – well, that was the plan, anyway. The problem was (as is the case with many a Wong Jing production) that Wong Jing could not make what was on the page infront of him, no, he had to make changes to make it what he considers worthwhile… and that’s usually dick jokes, and Kung Fu Cult Master is of no different. Based on the novel The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (the third entry in the Condor Heroes series), Wong Jing took it upon himself to change a number of characters traits as well as insert a whole load of dick jokes, making Kung Fu Cult Master a bit of a mess… but what a crazy beautiful mess it is.
Kung Fu Cult Master struggles to keep the audience in the loop, leading to far too many leaps in logic. But hot damn, that action is awesome.
The standout moments are when our cast are flying around the screen on wires, shouting out their moves as they perform them and being chivalrous. Whilst many of you will be thinking “Of course it is, it’s a Kung Fu movie” I just need to state that this is Wire Fu at the height of its popularity. New Dragon Gate Inn, the two Fong Sai Yuk movies, the A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy, Deadful Melody… the list is endless, but the quality of them were unprecedented. So to say that the action is every bit as thrilling as every other film mentioned above is not something that is said lightly. This is Sammo Hung at his creative best, being allowed to do what he does best and it is glorious.
The biggest problem here is the story – it’s a mess. Considering this is based on a book by one of the most popular authors in Hong Kong history, you wouldn’t think it would be that difficult an adaptation… but leaps in the internal logic of the world in which it is set, characters being allies then enemies again without any explaination, cults changing leaders and loyalties, Kung Fu Cult Master struggles to keep the audience in the loop, leading to far too many leaps in logic. But hot damn, that action is awesome.
Without wishing to spoil anything, Kung Fu Cult Master was supposed to have a sequel, but due to the box office failure that this film became, the second film was never put into production. The reason why this is important is because Kung Fu Cult Master is an incomplete story. It leaves the audience without a conclusion with a promise of what is to come next, one that was never fulfilled.
Whilst a little light on the extras this time around, Eureka Entertainment once again provide a beautiful presentation and includes both the subbed and subbed versions along with a commentary track from Frank Djeng. There are also a few trailers and a legacy interview with Sammo Hung, but the main selling point is the presentation of the film itself, and as someone that has bought this film multiple times on various formats, this is by far and away the best it has ever looked.
Certainly an odd title to be released, especially in light of so many other great Hong Kong films are yet to receive the Blu treatment, Kung Fu Cult Master is an oddity in many ways, but the reason you’ll keep coming back is for the fights, and they really are worth many, many rewatches.
Kung Fu Cult Master is out now on Eureka Entertainment Blu-Ray
Ben’s Archive – Kung Fu Cult Master
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