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THE VALIANT ONES (1975) Mostly business as usual coming from King Hu and friends. Grand scenery and costumes but Sammo Hung elevates and gets King Hu’s style up to an equivalent of modern times. Swordplay and kung-fu has never looked as powerful in a King Hu film as it does here.

MAD MONKEY KUNG FU (1979) - Lau Kar-Leung would be the right person to respond to the kung fu comedy-trend and make a Master-pupil story. We've got incredible choreography, Hsiao Ho is wonderful but less so when goofing off on his own. 115 minutes tests your patience as well.

Great episode. And what Mike said on here about China or even Tsui Hark can’t do movies like this no more is something that has grieved me for years, I just can’t reconcile this. HK cinema at it’s best was so alive, driven, a dream of cinema & of people, of progress, so sad.

A true legend. Choreographer Tong Kai helped shape Hong Kong action cinema alongside Lau Kar-leung and Chang Cheh, setting the gold standard for screen fighting. He died at 88, reportedly by suicide, heartbroken over his wife Suet Nei’s illness. orientaldaily.com.my/news/entertain…

Rewatch of the Singapore cut. This time on the 88 Films blu ray. One of the early Hong Kong dvds that offered up multiple cuts so this wasn't the first time I watched the crime doesn't pay conclusion.

FOUR RIDERS (1972) leans into a post–Korean War story and bloody brotherhood but fumbles its Four Horsemen metaphor. The gymnasium brawl is visceral, the scalp-ripping is special, but it’s ultimately just another watchable product from the team and the Shaw Brothers film factory.

Pour one out for legendary composer Lalo Schifrin, who has passed away at 93. youtu.be/0uNR_4UdfxA?si…

Soy in hand, snacks at the ready? Because you'd want to be as cool as Andy. Settle in for part 1 of our deep dive into the life and films of Lee Rock. Now streaming at podcastonfire.com, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

A tight, efficient one from Chang Cheh. MARCO POLO isn’t a heavy history lesson, despite the setting. Richard Harrison plays the famed explorer, but it’s really about rebels, awesome training montages, and Gordon Liu as a villain (!). Familiar structure, but it still plays well.

Guess what we’ve done, and what Shout! Studios ARE doing. Physical is coming and while you wait, there is a hefty, deep discussion all things Peking Opera Blues on the Podcast On Fire Network. Almost like a non-screen specific commentary 😇

Finally watching this bad boy. I was intrigued since I saw it was an early 88 Films Ltd. 4k, but I really realized it was must watch territory while listening to an old episode of Podcast On Fire while stuck in Atlanta traffic today. It seems like my type of film #FTW

Part 1 of our Lee Rock special is out now! Hong Kong’s most iconic corruption saga starring Andy Lau. This is our last show before the summer break, but we’ve got a bonus episode coming soon. 🎧 Listen on podcastonfire.com, Apple, Spotify & more.

BOXER REBELLION (1976) blends patriotic spectacle with martial arts drama. But despite its scale and Chang Cheh’s restored full cut, it buckles under the weight. Ambitious in scope, but not affecting enough to land. Chi Kuan-Chun leads with quiet strength. Fu Sheng struggles.

Elegant design, and sparse but well-placed musical numbers carry The Story of Sue San. King Hu balances melodrama with restraint, delivering a polished, emotionally grounded Huangmei opera that’s easy to sit through and easy to admire.

It’s a mess, brought on by Woo and Tsui Hark pulling in different directions, reeks off mad scramble for sequel ideas and you have to kind of love the audacity. But in some areas: oof. But then the iconic and insane action finale hits. Essential, but oof :)

Director Taylor Wong has reportedly passed away. A former TV director who transitioned into film, Wong leaves behind a significant mark on Hong Kong cinema. His credits include Buddha’s Palm, Rich and Famous, Tragic Hero, Triads: The Inside Story, Sentenced to Hang.

Musical fantasy, robot chaos, split-screen comedy, and a touch of class tension. Kuei Chih-Hung may be playing by studio rules here, but he’s already bending tone and style with a grin. You can feel the leash loosening, and he’s having fun with it.

A set of Sammo Hung films are coming to The Criterion Channel, including Pedicab Driver. What that means in terms of possible physical, time will tell.

Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get podcasts: Podcast On Fire Network Bonus Episode 61: The Lake House Korea’s Il Mare gets the Hollywood remake treatment as The Lake House. Kenny B and Paul Quinn compare the two. See ya after our summer break!

THE HOUSE OF 72 TENANTS (1973, dir. Chor Yuen) Still a tough nut to fully crack for a non-Cantonese speaker, but as a landmark film, the starter pistol for the Cantonese revival, its cultural weight makes it essential viewing. Despite that local specificity.