I've seen some poor excuses for fighting but I think this is probably the worst.
The main character, Mr. Ho, marries a beautiful Japanese woman. Their honeymoon isn't even over before he's assailed with some tribalism from her as she touts how superior Japanese fighting is to Chinese fighting. Not to be outdone, he sees her tribalism and raises her one sexism as he claims the superiority of Chinese fighting and the fact Chinese women are more ladylike when they fight. Her brutish style of fighting along with her loose fitting ghee made her both masculine and immodest at the same time.
If the movie wasn't tribal enough it got even more jingoistic when a Japanese group of fighters stomped their way into China to defend the honor of Japan. It was really childish. Mr. Ho had written a letter to his wife that was insulting to Japanese fighting all in order to get under her skin. Her teacher read the letter, was thoroughly offended, and took a delegation to China to settle the debate. It was ever so juvenile.
The childlike adults commenced to fighting with some of the most ineffective fighting I've ever seen. Kung fu movies have always had more than a little superfluous movements to favor style over effectiveness but this movie took that to the next level. I'd say 90% of the kicks, punches, swipes, lunges, swings, and clutches were strictly for show. And how many times can you fight your enemy with your back turned to him?
I know that what I'm complaining about is the very nature of the kung fu movie but this one happened to be so much worse than others.
The main character, Mr. Ho, marries a beautiful Japanese woman. Their honeymoon isn't even over before he's assailed with some tribalism from her as she touts how superior Japanese fighting is to Chinese fighting. Not to be outdone, he sees her tribalism and raises her one sexism as he claims the superiority of Chinese fighting and the fact Chinese women are more ladylike when they fight. Her brutish style of fighting along with her loose fitting ghee made her both masculine and immodest at the same time.
If the movie wasn't tribal enough it got even more jingoistic when a Japanese group of fighters stomped their way into China to defend the honor of Japan. It was really childish. Mr. Ho had written a letter to his wife that was insulting to Japanese fighting all in order to get under her skin. Her teacher read the letter, was thoroughly offended, and took a delegation to China to settle the debate. It was ever so juvenile.
The childlike adults commenced to fighting with some of the most ineffective fighting I've ever seen. Kung fu movies have always had more than a little superfluous movements to favor style over effectiveness but this movie took that to the next level. I'd say 90% of the kicks, punches, swipes, lunges, swings, and clutches were strictly for show. And how many times can you fight your enemy with your back turned to him?
I know that what I'm complaining about is the very nature of the kung fu movie but this one happened to be so much worse than others.