The Boxer from Shantung

A generally underwhelming kung-fu gangster movie, with the most ridiculously overwrought final fight ever. The fake blood in Shaw Brothers movies was always crappy, but in this one there's so much of it, and the actors are so awful at pretending to die, it's simply embarrassing.

Sets itself apart from the stable of Shaw bros movies by having a antihero as protagonist. Running 2h and 15 min it is also way longer than most kung fu movies, but thanks to a brisk pace and lots of action it doesn't feel too long. Kuan Tai Chen carries the movie with ease with his immense charisma. Piece de resistance is of course the final fight in which our protagonists fights a pavilion full of baddies with an axe in his groin, cause this is a Cheh Chang movie after all.

This has an average story, standard plot, and mediocre acting but it also has some great fight scenes. However, the movie as a whole is about 30 minutes too long.

Hongkong version of Scarface with more Kung Fu fights and less protagonist being a dick. :P But just as badass, as it turns out. Felt kinda long, though, but was totally worth it. Maybe, because every scene that contains some sort of action actually adds more to the narrative than the ones with just dialogue. And I loved the use and interplay of stunt choreography and storytelling/dramaturgy (and acting), especially in the last scene. Also the editing was kinda weird sometimes. :>