Drunken Master (Zui quan, 1979)
The classic Jackie Chan kung fu comedy wherein he plays a totally mischevous Wong Fei Hung (or "Freddy" in the hysterically bad English dub). When his father finds he can't control Freddy, he calls in his uncle, Sam Seed, to train the boy. Sam looks like an old drunken bum, but he's actually the master of the 8 Drunken Immortal style of kung fu. Through a long, torturous training process, Freddy learns Sam's secret style--just in time, of course, to beat up an evil kung fu master and his gang.
It's entirely juvenile, filled with fart, stinky feet, and cow-pie jokes. Yet it's also filled with amazing fight sequences, choreographed by the great Yuen Woo Ping (who everyone these days knows for his work on The Matrix). My favorite is simply the extended sequence of Jackie alone, demonstrating each of the different forms of the drunken style. Just beautiful to watch.
So, if you're in the mood for some crazy kung fu and don't mind some South Park-level humor, check it out. If you're looking for something with the polish and style of Jackie's Drunken Master II, though, you'll likely be disappointed.
(Oh, and don't miss The Drunken Master Mix, I mean it!)
SUMMARY:
Overall rating: A- It's definitely a classic and must-see for Jackie fans. Others may find it too crude and silly.
Droolworthiness: B+ Jackie spends plenty of time topless, and even stripped down to a pair of white shorts for significant portions of time (even prompting Sam to wonder, "Why so sexy?")
Slashiness: F I didn't see any. I mean, I think the only way you could go would be Sam/Freddy, and I SO don't want to go there!
Action: A Kung Fu fans should be in heaven.
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