Kid From Kwangtung (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3

The action is the reason that you pick up a film like this. So how does it hold up? Really well. It doesn't hurt to have an action choreographer sit behind the camera. It also proves once again that when you're trained to be an action star, you are much better at the action than the day's popular pop prince or princess. And it doesn't hurt to have proven pedigrees like Hwang Jang Lee in your cast either. I find with Shaw Brothers films that there are two types of action. You can have the action that is so obviously choreographed you swear you can see the actors counting the moves. The other action you get is choreographed but it has cleaner lines and smoother action. The action in Kid From Kwangtung is really good. You can tell that the actors are skilled and are not merely going through the motions hoping not to hit the other guy too hard. The entire cast really holds their own well. I only detected a couple moments in the film when the film was sped up to complement the action. Other than that it is just pure skill. And as the cover depicts, Hi Jiayu does use incense as a weapon. He uses it in the climactic showdown and it is something I cannot recall ever being done before. Yes, his costume does look like he just cut up your grandmother's drapes, but believe me it is a worthy climactic battle.

Kid From Kwangtung is equal parts comedy and action. Predominantly the comedy is played out between Hi Jiayu and the two brothers, Dezhi and Debao. Comedy is culturally relevant, so sometimes yes, what was meant to be funny, though well executed, did not affect this reviewer as it would a Chinese audience. I knew it was supposed to be funny, I just did not find it funny. And that is just cultural. I did find the Weekend at Bernie's bit right at the end of the film a wee bit disturbing mind you. You'll know it when you see it. Its right at the very end of the film before the ending credit pops up. You know how those Shaw Brothers films ended. The villain is defeated and that's it. There is nothing else to say. End the movie already! THE END! Good, now get out of the theatre!

What is amazing about this film is that for the life of me I could not find nearly as much information as I hoped about this film from my mainstream film sources. It is as if the film did not exist. This is a sad fact because how else would the common man know this gem of a martial arts film even existed? Kid From Kwangtung should be part of your collection. It is an action film, starring action actors, directed by an action choreographer. I do wish that Lee Pak Ling's script didn't focus so long on the comedy but beggars cannot be choosers. It is a good action film.

Recommended.

by Mack - Twitchfilm.net