The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

The mid Sung Dynasty (Bei Sung) was haunted by foreign intrusions and Liao the most aggressive country of all conquered mainland China. The ruling power of Sung was too fatuous to encounter the repeated invasions led by the emperor of Liao Ye Iv-lian (Wong Lung-wai). With the protection of General Yang Ji-ye, China, however, could barely survive. But China was still harassed by internal trouble as Pan Ren-mei and Guan Gui-ji were jealous of the accomplishments made by the Yang family. Pan and Guan then became traitors to collude with the country Liao. In the battle of Jia Sha Beach, the Yang family suffered from a nearly complete annihilation leaving only their fifth- (Gordon Lau Ka-fai) and sixth-son (Alexander Fu Sheng) alive. In spite of severe injury, the fifth-son flees to the Qing Liang Temple where he beccomes a monk. Bearing the pangs of losing his family and his country, he diligently practices Eight Diagram Pole Fighting. The day to avenge the insult finally comes when Pang commits treason again and besieges Mountain Wu Tai together with the troops of Liao. The Eight Diagram Pole Fighting drill eventually pays off for the fifth-son when he manages to repulse the invaders. Afterwards, he chooses to live his life in peace wandering around the world and promoting Buddhism.

Directed by the kung fu master Liu Jia-liang and co-written by Ni Kuang, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter is sadly the posthumous work of the acclaimed martial arts star Alexander Fu Sheng. The tragic death of Fu in the middle of the production, however, did not stop the filmmaking passion of Liu. Instead, his mourning over Fu turned into an extraordinary power to finish this movie making it one of Liu's kung fu masterpieces. As a director, martial arts choreographer and actor, Liu is the inheritor of an orthodox Kung Fu school called Hong Quan. Despite the Bruce Lee fever that gave rise to down to earth fighting sequences, Liu insisted on featuring the traditional Chinese fighting styles such as Shao Lin Quan and Hong Quan in his movies. The manipulation of the three-section cudgel in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is one beautiful example exemplifying the power of Hong Quan. In The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter Liu continues to add glory to his school by offering masterful Eight Diagram Pole fighting performances.

Source: City Entertainment- Home Entertainment DVD

Translated by Holly (Hong Kong)