Master of the Flying Guillotine
| Master of the Flying Guillotine | |||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | Một tay quyền vương đại phá huyết tích tử | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | Một tay quyền vương đại phá huyết tích tử | ||||||||||||||
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| Master of the Flying Guillotine | |||||||||||
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 American theatrical release poster | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | Một tay quyền vương đại phá huyết tích tử | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | Một tay quyền vương đại phá huyết tích tử | ||||||||||
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| Directed by | Jimmy Wang | ||||||||||
| Written by | Jimmy Wang Yu | ||||||||||
| Produced by | Wong Cheuk-hon | ||||||||||
| Starring | Jimmy Wang Yu Kom Kang Doris Lung Lau Kar-wing Philip Kwok | ||||||||||
| Cinematography | Chiu Yao-hu | ||||||||||
| Edited by | Kwok Ting-hung | ||||||||||
| Music by | Frankie Chan | ||||||||||
Production company | First Films (H.K.) & Cheng Ming (H.K.) Film Co.
[1] | ||||||||||
| Distributed by | Epoch Entertainment (Cinema Epoch) & Pathfinder Pictures | ||||||||||
Release date |
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Running time | 93 minutes | ||||||||||
| Country | Hong Kong | ||||||||||
| Languages | Mandarin Cantonese | ||||||||||
Master of the Flying Guillotineis a 1976 Hong Kong[2]wuxiafilm directed, written by and starringJimmy Wang Yu.It is a sequel to Wang's 1972 filmOne-Armed Boxer,and is also known asOne-Armed Boxer 2andThe One-Armed Boxer vs. the Flying Guillotine.[3]
Wang Yu reprises his role as Yu Tien Lung, a skilled one-armedChinese martial artist.InMaster of the Flying Guillotine,Tien Lung must defend himself against various martial artists seeking to end his life–including the title character, a blindlamafromTibetwho seeks revenge for two lamas killed by Tien Lung in the first film and is a master of the deadly "flying guillotine" weapon.
DirectorQuentin Tarantinohas claimedMaster of the Flying Guillotineto be among his favorite films. A prequel titledFatal Flying Guillotinewas released in 1977, without Wang Yu's involvement.
Plot[edit]
The film concerns Wang's one-armed martial arts master being stalked by an imperial assassin, the master of two fighters (the Tibetan lamas) who were killed in the previous film. The title refers to the assassin's weapon, the "flying guillotine", which resembles a hat with a bladed rim attached to a long chain. Upon enveloping one's head, the blades cleanly decapitate the victim with a quick pull of the chain. The Boxer's adversary is the assassin Fung Sheng Wu Chi, who is blind, is an expert user of the Flying Guillotine, and relies on others to identify one-armed men, whom he then kills. When the One-Armed Boxer is invited to attend a martial arts tournament, his efforts to lie low are unsuccessful, and the assassin soon tracks him down with the help of his three subordinates competing in the tournament: aThai boxer,ayogamaster, and akobojutsuuser.
The One-Armed Boxer leaves the tournament and, using a series of traps, defeats the assassin's subordinates. Unable to directly confront the deadly assassin himself, the One-Armed Boxer devises a plan that uses misdirection. Taking advantage of the assassin's blindness by using bamboo poles as a lure, each time the blind assassin throws his weapon, it becomes snagged on one of the bamboo poles effectively removing the inner blades of the assassin's deadly weapon; however, as it still contains a jagged outer edge it is still a formidable weapon. The One-Armed Boxer then proceeds to convert a coffin-maker's shop into an elaborate trap. Once the weapon is finally destroyed, the One-Armed Boxer engages the assassin in a duel and defeats him.
Cast[edit]
- Jimmy Wang Yuas Yu Tien Lung, known as the One-Armed Boxer
- Kam Kong as Fung Sheng Wu Chi
- Doris Lung as Wu Shao Tieh, a daughter of Wu Chang Sang
- Sham Chin-bo as Nai Men, theThai boxer
- Lung Fei as Yakuma
- Wong Wing-sang as Yogi Tro Le Soung, known asIndian Fighter(The film gives him the name Yogi Tro Le Soung)
- Sit Hon as Tournament Referee
- Lau Kar-wingas Chang Chia Yu, known as fighter with a three-section staff
- Wong Fei-lung as One-armed boxer's student
- Yu Chung-chiu as Wu Chang Sang
- Shan Mao as bamboo cutter
- Wang Tai-lang as Ma Wu Kung, Monkey stylist
- Shih Ting-ken as One-armed boxer's student
- Lung Sai-ga as Wang Jiang
- Philip Kwokas Ho Po Wei
- Lung Fong as Lee Kun Man, known as Tiger Fists / Nose-Picking fight
- Sun Jung-chi as Daredevil Lee San
- Wong Lik as Tornado Knives Lei Kung
- Hau Pak-wai as Cheung Shung, known as fighter with a long braid
- Ho Wai-hung as Tieh Cheng
- Chi Fu-Chiang as Iron Skin Niu Sze
- Ma Chin-Ku as So Leong
- Chin Lung as Flying Rope Chao Wu
- Tang Tak-Cheung as Tung Erh, known as Praying Mantis
- Hsieh Hsing as One Armed Snake Fist Hsieh Hsing
Reception[edit]
Rotten Tomatoes,areview aggregator,reports that 90% of 20 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating was 6.9/10.[4]Metacriticrated the film 57/100 based on eleven reviews.[5]Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Timescalled it "near-great" and "a venerable example of the kung fu genre".[6]Kevin Thomas of theLos Angeles Timeswrote, "Master of the Flying Guillotinehas been called the Holy Grail of the Hong Kong martial arts movies of the '70s, and now that it has been lovingly restored and given a regular theatrical release, it's easy to see why. "[3]Joey O'Bryan ofThe Austin Chroniclerated it 2/5 stars and called it "a mess" that fails to live up to the epic brawl promised by the alternate title.[7]Nathan Rabin ofThe A.V. Clubcalled it "a delirious kung-fu saga" that is "wild even by the genre's lenient standards". Rabin concludes, "Goofy Z-movie fun of the highest order,Master Of The Flying Guillotineneeds to be seen to be believed, and even then defies belief. "[8]Phil Hall ofFilm Threatrated it 1.5/5 stars and wrote, "[T]his silly production stands as a dinky reminder of why martial arts film fell out of favor during the mid-1970s".[9]J. Doyle Wallis ofDVD Talkrated it 4/5 stars and called it "a complete guilty pleasure that leaves you feeling high off its empty b-movie fun".[10]Mike Pinsky ofDVD Verdictwrote that the film toys with and subverts many martial arts film cliches, which makes it surprising and entertaining.[11]
Soundtrack[edit]
Most of the music in the film is taken fromKrautrockbands,[10]and includes: "Super" (Opening theme) and "Super 16" (Master Fung's theme) fromNeu!'s second studio album,Neu! 2;"Rubycon, Part One" (The One-Armed Boxer's theme) fromTangerine Dream's sixth studio album,Rubycon,and "Mitternacht" (Suspense theme), "Morgenspaziergang" (courtyard music) and "Kometenmelodie 2" (End credits) fromKraftwerk's fourth studio album,Autobahn.
The soundtrack has been referenced and sampled extensively, including the use of "Super 16" in Tarantino'sKill Bill.[6]
Legacy[edit]
Quentin Tarantinohas cited the film as "one of my favorite movies of all time."[12]The characterDhalsimfrom theStreet Fightervideo game serieshas been compared to the Indian assassin in the film.[13]InThe Boondocksepisode "Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy",the Hateocracy member, Lord Rufus Crabmiser, used a flying guillotine disguised as alobster trapto attack the Freeman family and ultimately killBushido Brown.[14]
Prequel[edit]
In 1977, a prequel titledFatal Flying Guillotinewas made by Hong Kong director Raymond Liu.[15]
References[edit]
- ^"Master of the Flying Guillotine".hkmdb.Retrieved23 May2020.
- ^"Master of the Flying Guillotine Production Companies".hkmdb.Retrieved23 May2020.
- ^abThomas, Kevin (24 May 2002)."A 'Master' of Style in Martial Arts".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved23 December2010.
- ^"Master of the Flying Guillotine".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved25 March2012.
- ^"Master of the Flying Guillotine (re-release)".Metacritic.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^abMitchell, Elvis (31 May 2002)."FILM REVIEW; An Avenger Rampages, and Chop! Chop! Heads Roll (or Rather, Fly)".The New York Times.Retrieved31 January2011.
- ^O'Bryan, Joey (20 October 1995)."Master of the Flying Guillotine".The Austin Chronicle.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^Rabin, Nathan (16 September 2002)."Master Of The Flying Guillotine".The A.V. Club.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^Hall, Phil (6 June 2001)."MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE | Film Threat".Film Threat.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^abWallis, J. Doyle (15 September 2002)."Master of the Flying Guillotine".DVD Talk.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^Pinsky, Mike (27 January 2005)."Master Of The Flying Guillotine: Two-Disc Anniversary Deluxe Edition".DVD Verdict.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^Gibalevich, Don (1998). Peary, Gerald (ed.).Quentin Tarantino: Interviews.University Press of Mississippi.p. 176.ISBN9781578060511.
- ^Ciolek, Todd; Bricken, Rob (30 April 2008)."The 10 Most Ridiculously Stereotyped Fighting Game Characters".Topless Robot.The Village Voice.Retrieved11 March2010.
- ^Pierce, Leonard (31 May 2010)."The Boondocks:" Stinkmeaner 3: The Hateocracy "".The A.V. Club.Retrieved14 July2014.
- ^"Fatal Flying Guillotine".The Portland Mercury.Retrieved14 July2014.