Dirty Ho (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

The film begins with both of these men battling for the attentions of the beautiful women populating a local brothel. Their comic game of one-upmanship is soon interrupted, however, when the cops show up, looking for some stolen jewels. Guilty as charged, Ho is taken away as the culprit, but Wang is able to keep the young punk out of serious trouble by subtly flashing his royal ID. Of course, Ho doesn't realize that Wang has done him a great favor and later returns to the brothel to seek some measure of revenge. Their next encounter leaves Ho defeated and bearing a nasty cut on his head via a poisoned-tipped sword. Ho retreats into the night, but later finds that the cut simply refuses to heal.

To Ho's relief, Wang claims to know how to cure the wound, but his terms prove to be awfully steep for the extremely proud Ho Chih. Believing that he can reform the young man through training, Wang creates a situation in which Ho becomes his disciple. In order for him to receive the antidote, Ho must kowtow to Wang and call him master, a price Ho grudgingly agrees to pay. And by choosing to only administer the antidote in small doses every few days, Wang is able to keep Ho around long enough to impart some sage-like knowledge to the young scamp.

But while these two are getting to know each other, it seems that Wang's elder brother, the evil fourth prince, is seeking to wipe out all other potential heirs to the crown before the Emperor announces his successor. Wang's interest in wine, women, and song means nothing to the fourth prince, who orders the powerful General Liang (Lo Lieh) to assassinate him. Liang sends several different hired killers (including two played by Johnny Wong Long Wai and Hsiao Ho), each trying and ultimately failing to defeat the formidable Wang Qinqin.

But during one fateful melee, Wang ends up getting stabbed in the leg, and it's up to Ho to help his master get to safety. With Wang's true identity revealed, Ho dedicates himself to a series of grueling training exercises in order to help his master overcome the deadly assassination plot. With Wang now wheelchair-bound and a pack of skilled archers hot on their tail, Ho and his master have a lot to deal with on their journey to the Emperor's palace. Soon, they realize it's only through their combined strength that they can overcome General Liang and his forces.

From its wonderfully stylized, backstory-filled opening credit sequence to its thrilling, amazingly choreographed finale, Dirty Ho amounts to one of the best kung fu comedies ever made. While it succeeds as a straightforward martial arts film, Dirty Ho possesses a delightful sense of humor, often taking the time to send up various clichés prevalent in the martial arts genre. The hilarious, blood-gushing Crippled Avengers parody featuring "The Four Handicapped Devils" is a real treat, as is the confrontation between the heroes and the strangely fey "Seven Bitters of the East River."

Of course, a kung fu film is nothing without action. And although the fighting is perhaps not as speedy as most post-Police Story era martial arts flicks, the action set pieces in Dirty Ho are so elaborate and intricately choreographed—and often shot in a single take, you can't help but be impressed by the work that went into each scene. Certainly, old school kung fu films won't be to everyone's taste, especially for generations weaned on Fong Sai Yuk and Drunken Master II. But even so, Dirty Ho is the kind of film that still retains a timeless charm few martial arts fans could ignore.

By Calvin McMillin - LoveHKFilm.com