Typically all it takes is a superb villain to make a movie unbelievable. That is the case with a number of old-school kung fu motion pictures, with many boasting some actually unforgettable antagonists. High-notch struggle choreography, campy motion, and tales set in historic China had been staples of this martial arts subgenre, which gave the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties an extended record of noteworthy movies.
After all, a lot of them doubtfully would have been the cult classics that they’re immediately with out the foes chosen to menace the heroes. Because of the likes of Lo Lieh, Wang Lung Wei, Hwang Jang Lee, and Ku Feng, the villains have been an enormous a part of the allure present in old-school kung fu motion pictures.
Whether or not it is due to their fearsome personas and mind-blowing abilities in kung fu, a few of these characters are so compelling that their motion pictures need to be seen if for no different purpose than to see the actors in motion.
Clan Of The White Lotus
Made by Shaw Brothers in 1980, Clan of the White Lotus is definitely one in all Gordon Liu’s finest motion pictures, however one of the best a part of it is not the star, however Lo Lieh. Within the film, Lo Lieh performs Priest Pai Mai, an outdated, white-haired kung fu grasp. Straight away, Pai Mai demonstrates that he is a drive to be reckoned with by cruising to victory in opposition to the hero and his brother – establishing a quest for revenge on the finish.
His conceited and menacing demeanor does nicely to again up his combating prowess; Pai Mai is proven to be so highly effective that he solely has one weak spot on his total physique. Bringing his pure charisma to the position, Lo Lieh performs the half completely, underscoring why famed Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino labeled him “the best actor” within the martial arts style.
The One-Armed Boxer
A big portion of the solid in Jimmy Wang Yu’s The One-Armed Boxer is made up of villains, every of which being an murderer that represents a particular martial arts model in Asia. All of them have an important campy really feel, however none steal the present extra usually than the chief, Wong Fei-lung’s Erh Ku Da Leung.
Wong Fei-lung’s character is a wild addition to The One-Armed Boxer, along with his vampire-like look going a great distance towards making him a standout villain. Apparently, his onscreen antics match his over-the-top appears to be like, as evidenced by the scene when he cuts off the principle character’s with a well-placed karate chop.
Grasp Of The Flying Guillotine
The One-Armed Boxer’s director and author, Jimmy Wang Yu, illustrated how efficient he was at creating nice villains when he developed one other all-time nice kung fu film antagonist for the sequel, Grasp of the Flying Guillotine. Within the 1976 movie, Kam Kong steps into the position of Fung Sheng Wu Chi, a blind murderer who poses as a Buddhist monk and wields “the flying guillotine,” a weapon designed to take away heads from afar.
Grasp of the Flying Guillotine provides quite a lot of display screen time to the non-public journey of Fung Sheng Wu Chi, as he works to search out and kill the One-Armed Boxer, slicing off the heads of any one-armed males he comes throughout within the meantime. Grasp of the Flying Guillotine successfully performs to the lethal and sinister nature of the character, even going so far as to primarily give him his personal theme that accompanies his grand entrances.
Thriller Of Chess Boxing
Launched in 1979 and directed by Joseph Kuo, Thriller of Chess Boxing has emerged as a cult favourite regardless of being a low-budget kung fu movie from Hong Kong. A lot of its status stems from its depiciton of the Ghost Confronted Killer, who has an uncommon position in the case of the expectations for a kung fu film villain.
Many kung fu motion pictures have villains who’re virtually laughable of their black-and-white devotion to commiting evil acts. Thriller of Chess Boxing provides one thing far more nuanced by way of the Ghost Confronted Killer, who has a legitimately good purpose to be indignant on the folks on his enemies record: they tried to homicide him years in the past.
It isn’t usually that you just discover a sympathetic villain in an old-school kung fu film, however that is precisely what occurs whenever you perceive the surprisingly compelling backstory of the now-iconic Ghost Confronted Killer.
Problem Of The Masters
Problem of the Masters is one in all numerous fictionalized tales in regards to the story of real-life kung fu grasp Wong Fei-hung. To get the hero (Gordon Liu) on that path, Problem of the Masters kills off his friends to immediate a journey of coaching and revenge. The catalyst for all that is Yuan Zhen, an evil martial arts grasp performed by none aside from Lau Kar-leung.
One of many best motion pictures within the filmography of martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung, Problem of the Masters stands out as a movie the place the gifted kung fu knowledgeable will get to place his abilities to make use of as a villain. Whether or not he is choreographing the motion himself or just performing the fights, Lau Kar-leung reliably places collectively thrilling and superbly crafted struggle scenes.
That experience is utilized to the good thing about Problem of the Masters’ villain, as the choice to have Lau play the character ensures that he appears to be like each bit as expert because the viewers is supposed to suppose he’s. Lau Kar-leung excels right here, simply outshining fellow martial arts stars Chen Kuan-tai and Gordon Liu.
The Avenging Eagle
The Avenging Eagle is a 1978 martial arts movie from Shaw Brothers that options three of the studio’s most recognizable stars, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, and Ku Feng. In a uncommon instance of a kung fu movie the place the storytelling is on par with the motion, The Avenging Eagle creates a pair of memorable protagonists for Ti Lung and Fu Sheng, however its best character is definitely its villain, performed by Ku Feng.
Full with a cartoonishly evil snort, merciless stare, a brutally efficient combating model, a devious thoughts, and a white beard, Ku Feng’s portrayal of Yoh Xi-hung is the epitome of the kung fu film villain. Ku Feng chews up the surroundings each time he is on the display screen, seemingly relishing the chance to play an unapologetic villain.