Podcasts about lau kar

Dirty Ho is a 1979 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu and Wong Yue. Prince Master Wang loves himself some wine and jewels. But when Wang takes a trip to the floating brothel he crosses paths with the a troublesome jewel thief, Dirty Ho, and things start getting a little kung-fu crazy. Come get a little dirty with us and listen to this episode of The Clueless Critic and get to know some Dirty Ho.

We have a directors double bill on this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, featuring conversations with two filmmakers who have both released independent martial arts movies in 2023.Froukje Tan is a Dutch filmmaker who specialises in telling family-orientated stories which are accessible to all. Her new film - her first in the directors' chair for over a decade - combines her knowledge of child development and the martial arts, herself being a long-time practitioner of southern style kung fu. Set in her home city of Rotterdam, 'Kung Fu Leeuw' - aka 'Kung Fu Lion' - tells the story of two troubled teenage boys who are brought together by their sifu (played by kung fu movie star Lau Kar-yung) to perform the traditional Chinese lion dance. The film received rave reviews following its release in February 2023 in the Netherlands, and it continues to be screened at film festivals around the world, including the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London, where it received its UK premiere in September. It will also be screened as part of the International Kids Film Festival which runs from 14-30 November across India, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia.Another martial arts film screened at this year's Fighting Spirit Film Festival was 'Walid', a Malaysian action movie focusing on the horrific crime of human trafficking. It is the second directorial effort from filmmaker Areel Abu Bakar, who launched onto the Malaysian martial arts scene in 2019 with his great Silat film, 'The Deed of Death'. The title character of Walid (played by Megat Sharizal) is a kind teacher who transforms into all-out super-killer when one of his pupils - an illiterate immigrant girl - is kidnapped and sold into the child sex trade. Bakar - himself a Silat practitioner - once again calls upon his many training buddies to help deliver punishing, violent action scenes which have been stunning - and surprising - audiences around the world following its world premiere in New York in July 2023. The film is scheduled for a wider online release in December 2023.LINKSFroukje Tan on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1717961/ Froukje Tan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/froukjetan/ Froukje Tan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/froukjetan/ 'Kung Fu Lion' trailer: https://youtu.be/R4TYRYrvB1M 'Kung Fu Lion' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://kungfumovieguide.com/kung-fu-lion-2023/ International Kids Film Festival, 14-30 November: https://www.ikff.in/ 'Steam' short film, directed by Pau Han-kho: https://youtu.be/uRLH8JTbqCs?si=T4xg_82noWilmlqSAreel Abu Bakar on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4702675/ 'Walid' trailer: https://youtu.be/U8DJQDOmhzU 'Walid' page on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filemwalid/'Walid' page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FilemWalidLayar Pictures YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@layarpicturessdnbhd7468'Walid' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://kungfumovieguide.com/walid-2023/'The Deed of Death' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://kungfumovieguide.com/the-deed-of-death-2019/For more details about the 2023 Fighting Spirit Film Festival, visit https://www.fightingspiritfilmfestival.com/.Listen to Ben Johnson on Episode 137 of the SpyHards Podcast, 'Enter the Dragon' special: https://www.spyhards.com/e/137-enter-the-dragon-1973/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Legend of Drunken Master (1994): Movie Review from the Ray Taylor ShowShow topic: Welcome to Ray Taylor's movie review podcast, where we dive deep into the world of cinema and explore the 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film "Drunken Master II." (The Legend of Drunken Master) Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring the legendary Jackie Chan as the iconic Wong Fei-hung, this film combines exhilarating martial arts action with heartwarming comedy.In this episode, join Ray Taylor as he dissects the plot and themes of "Drunken Master II." Set in early 20th century China, the movie follows Wong Fei-hung's journey to recover a valuable Chinese artifact, the Imperial Seal, from the clutches of British smugglers. Amidst dazzling fight scenes and humorous moments, Wong navigates family dynamics, cultural pride, and the power of drunken boxing.Discover the significance of this sequel to Jackie Chan's earlier film, "Drunken Master," and how it stands as a cornerstone in the world of martial arts cinema. From its inclusion in Time magazine's top 100 best films of all time to its recognition by the British Film Institute as one of the ten best action movies, "Drunken Master II" has left an indelible mark on film history.Join Ray Taylor as he breaks down the film's action-packed sequences, explores the themes of cultural heritage and heroism, and delves into the legacy of both Jackie Chan and this beloved classic. If you're a fan of martial arts films, captivating storytelling, and iconic performances, this episode is a must-listen.JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/links Genres: Action - Comedy

The Legend of Drunken Master (1994): Movie Review from the Ray Taylor ShowShow topic: Welcome to Ray Taylor's movie review podcast, where we dive deep into the world of cinema and explore the 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film "Drunken Master II." (The Legend of Drunken Master) Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring the legendary Jackie Chan as the iconic Wong Fei-hung, this film combines exhilarating martial arts action with heartwarming comedy.In this episode, join Ray Taylor as he dissects the plot and themes of "Drunken Master II." Set in early 20th century China, the movie follows Wong Fei-hung's journey to recover a valuable Chinese artifact, the Imperial Seal, from the clutches of British smugglers. Amidst dazzling fight scenes and humorous moments, Wong navigates family dynamics, cultural pride, and the power of drunken boxing.Discover the significance of this sequel to Jackie Chan's earlier film, "Drunken Master," and how it stands as a cornerstone in the world of martial arts cinema. From its inclusion in Time magazine's top 100 best films of all time to its recognition by the British Film Institute as one of the ten best action movies, "Drunken Master II" has left an indelible mark on film history.Join Ray Taylor as he breaks down the film's action-packed sequences, explores the themes of cultural heritage and heroism, and delves into the legacy of both Jackie Chan and this beloved classic. If you're a fan of martial arts films, captivating storytelling, and iconic performances, this episode is a must-listen.JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/links Genres: Action - Comedy

The Legend of Drunken Master (1994): Movie Review from the Ray Taylor ShowShow topic: Welcome to Ray Taylor's movie review podcast, where we dive deep into the world of cinema and explore the 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film "Drunken Master II." (The Legend of Drunken Master) Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring the legendary Jackie Chan as the iconic Wong Fei-hung, this film combines exhilarating martial arts action with heartwarming comedy.In this episode, join Ray Taylor as he dissects the plot and themes of "Drunken Master II." Set in early 20th century China, the movie follows Wong Fei-hung's journey to recover a valuable Chinese artifact, the Imperial Seal, from the clutches of British smugglers. Amidst dazzling fight scenes and humorous moments, Wong navigates family dynamics, cultural pride, and the power of drunken boxing.Discover the significance of this sequel to Jackie Chan's earlier film, "Drunken Master," and how it stands as a cornerstone in the world of martial arts cinema. From its inclusion in Time magazine's top 100 best films of all time to its recognition by the British Film Institute as one of the ten best action movies, "Drunken Master II" has left an indelible mark on film history.Join Ray Taylor as he breaks down the film's action-packed sequences, explores the themes of cultural heritage and heroism, and delves into the legacy of both Jackie Chan and this beloved classic. If you're a fan of martial arts films, captivating storytelling, and iconic performances, this episode is a must-listen.JOIN Inspired Disorder +PLUS Today! InspiredDisorder.com/plus Membership Includes:Ray Taylor Show - Full Week Ad Free (Audio+Video)Live Painting ArchiveEarly Access to The Many FacesMember Only Discounts and DealsPodcast Back Catalogue (14 Shows - 618 Episodes)Ray Taylor's Personal BlogCreative WritingAsk Me AnythingDaily Podcast: Ray Taylor Show - InspiredDisorder.com/rts Daily Painting: The Many Faces - InspiredDisorder.com/tmf ALL links: InspiredDisorder.com/links Genres: Action - Comedy

Ian reaches the penultimate film in his ShawScope marathon for a tail of young love, culture clash and drunken kung fuHeroes of the East (1978). Directed by Lau Kar-lueng. Written by Ni Kuang. Starring Gordon Liu and Yuka Mizuno

7-Man Army (1976) / Odd Couple (1979) This week everybody's kung-fu fighting as we defend the great wall with Chang Cheh and duel with a double dose of Lau Kar-wing and Sammo Hung

Stephen and Jack sit down and talk about one of the most popular kung fu movies ever made, Lau Kar-leung's The 36th Chamber of Shaolin! A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government. We talk about Gordon Liu, the restraint of the narrative at play, the Shaw Brothers, and which of the chambers Stephen could manage. For more great podcasts and cinema snippets, head over to our Patreon page! (It's good, folks! Promise!) Follow Jack on everything Follow Stephen on everything Keeeeeep STACKing! x

This week on the Talk Without Rhythm Podcast I'm diving back into Shaw Bros with two films from the legendary Lau Kar-leung: 1976's Challenge of the Masters and 1977's Executioners from Shaolin. [00:00] INTRO [01:33] Chin Stroker vs Punter Promo [02:40] RANDOM CONVERSATION [23:06] Challenge of the Masters (1976) [45:39] Executioners from Shaolin (1977) [01:11:28] FEEDBACK [01:16:42] ENDING MUSIC: Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit by Wu-Tang Clan Buy Challenge of the Masters (1976) Buy Executioners from Shaolin (1977) Support TWoRP Contact Us talkwithoutrhythm@gmail.com

Nathaniel's first pick introduces us to a screen legend with Lau Kar-leung's 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film DRUNKEN MASTER II Starring Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Ti Lung, Lau Kar-leung, and Andy Lau

A couple unite - she is fluent in Crane style kung fu, he is in Tiger style. They have a son, but the boy's father is killed by the evil eunuch Pai Mei. Disguised as a girl, his mom trains him in Crane style while he secretly learns Tiger style to ultimately avenge his father's death.Starring Chen Kuan-tai, Lo Lieh, Lily Li, Wong Yue, Cheng Kang-Yeh, Gordon Liu, Chiang Tao, Tien Ching, and many more.Music by Chen Yung-Yu.Cinematography by Lo Yun-Cheng.Choreography Lau Kar-leung.Written by Ni Kuang.Directed by Lau Kar-leung.

Constantly bullied, and a father who refuses to teach him kung fu, a young Wong Fei Hung must train under Luk Ah Choy to avenge the disrepect being shown by rival schools.Starring Gordon Liu, Chen Kuan-tai, Lily Li, Lau Kar-leung, Lau Kar-wing, Chiang Yang, Shih Chung-Tien, Liu Chia-Yung, Chiang Tao, Cheng Kang-Yeh, Fung Hark-On, Billy Chan, and many more.Cinematography by Wang Tien-Yu.Choreography by Lau Kar-leung.Written by Ni Kaung.Directed by Lau Kar-leung.

Episode 147: The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)Find us around the web and subscribe on your favorite podcast player! Directed by: Lau Kar-leung & Jackie ChanWritten by: Edward Tang, Tong Man-ming & Yuen Chieh-chiScore by: William HuBudget: $10 millionGross: $34 millionCast: Jackie Chan as Wong Fei-hungTi Lung as Wong Kei-ying Anita Mui as LingFelix Wong as Fishmonger TsangLau Kar-Leung as Fu Wen-chiTalking Points: What are your overall non-spoiler thoughts on The Legend of Drunken Master?Spoilers What were some of your favorite moments?How does this compare to the others movies we've discussed this month?Final thoughts.Next Episode: Ip Man (2008)

Hosts Josh and Jamie and special returning guest Rob Franco discuss the stylistically subversive 90s gangster existentialism of Abel Ferrara and Christopher Walken in KING OF NEW YORK (1990) and THE FUNERAL (1996). Next week's bonus episode is a patron-exclusive bonus episode on Lau Kar-leung's THE 36th CHAMER OF SHAOLIN (1978) and THE 8 DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER (1984), you can get access to that episode (and all past + future bonus episodes) by subscribing to our $5 tier on patreon: www.patreon.com/sleazoidspodcast Intro // 00:00-15:25 KING OF NEW YORK // 15:25-1:23:13 THE FUNERAL // 1:23:13-2:22:41 Outro // 2:22:41-2:27:20 MERCH: www.teepublic.com/stores/sleazoids?ref_id=17667 WEBSITE: www.sleazoidspodcast.com/ Pod Twitter: twitter.com/sleazoidspod Pod Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/SLEAZOIDS/ Josh's Twitter: twitter.com/thejoshl Josh's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/thejoshl/ Jamie's Twitter: twitter.com/jamiemilleracas Jamie's Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/jamiemiller/

We discuss the work of director/action choreographer/stuntman and actor Lau Kar-leung by focusing on his directorial efforts THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, LEGENDARY WEAPONS OF CHINA and TIGER ON THE BEAT. Listen to exclusive episodes at www.patreon.com/theimportantcinemaclub Check out Justin's other podcast THE BAY STREET VIDEO PODCAST (@thebaystreetvideopodcast) and NO SUCH THING AS A BAD MOVIE (@nosuchthingasabadmovie) as well as Will's other podcast MICHAEL AND US (@michael-and-us) Follow the Podcast: twitter.com/ImprtCinemaClub Follow Will: twitter.com/WillSloanESQ Follow Justin: twitter.com/DeclouxJ

This is Blacklisted Cinema, where you are encouraged to talk during the movie. The movie this episode is The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter a 1984 Hong Kong film by Shaw Brothers, directed by Lau Kar-leung, starring Gordon Liu & Alexander Fu in his final film appearance. It was released as Invincible Pole Fighter in North America. The Yang family was the loyal strong-arm of the Imperial army. But a jealous General betrays the Eilte Spearman and their father to the opposing Mongol army. After an ambush of a battle, only two of the seven sons survive. One remains hidden by the family while the other lives on the run. The traitorous general must find them and silence them before either of them can testify to the Emperor of his treachery. Subscribe to us on itunes rate 5* @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/blacklisted-podcast/id1058504075?mt=2 PodOmatic http://blacklisted.podomatic.com/ Stitcher http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/blacklisted?refid=stpr Google Play https://play.google.com/music/m/Imonfnjs7535svy3wtwdx7rhbpa?t%3DBlacklisted_Podcast IHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-blacklisted-podcast-30972563/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/01L8OZCsaKQZrN2Lm2vb22 Amazon Music or wherever you steal your free podcast

In this episode, we present a conversation with RZA, hip-hop producer, director and leader of legendary group, The Wu-Tang Clan.Born Robert Diggs, RZA was inspired by kung fu classics at a young age, and he and his fellow Clan members would later incorporate them into their iconic debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang, and since then RZA has, while remaining loyal to hip-hop, moved into the film world. After scoring a number of films, he wrote and directed his own: The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) and the upcoming Cutthroat City.In this Creator Talk recorded at the 2018 Vancouver International Film Festival, RZA joined Calum Marsh, staff writer at the National Post, on stage to discuss Wu-Tang's beginnings, his master-apprentice relationship with Quentin Tarantino and what happened to the four-hour cut of The Man With The Iron Fists.Following the conversation, RZA went on to demonstrate his prowess in musical storytelling, with a special VIFF Live event – a live-score to the Kung-fu flick that’s been one of his biggest influences: Lau Kar-leung’s martial arts classic The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.We've taken our VIFF Talks events online with a series of virtual Creator Talks lined up over the coming weeks. Register now for our Creator Talk with Graeme Manson, the Showrunner behind the latest Snowpiercer adaptation (Netflix/TNT). Happening June 4, 5PM PST. Tickets: goviff.org/graeme-masonVIFF is currently running a virtual cinema, showcasing a program of compelling films for you to stream from the comfort of your home. View what's streaming over on viff.orgYou can show your love of cinema by making a tax-deductible gift to VIFF goviff.org/donateGet VIFF in your inbox to stay up to date with Festival news and upcoming VIFF Talks goviff.org/SubscribeNow

Alexander Fu Sheng would have celebrated his 65th birthday on 20 October 2019. A poster-boy for Shaw Brothers' unique brand of high-octane martial arts action films throughout the 1970s and early 80s, Fu Sheng died tragically young at the age of 28 in a car crash on his way to a night-shoot. Like Bruce Lee before him, his young death immortalised him as another tragic martial arts film star, taken too young at the height of his powers. However, unlike Lee, Fu Sheng is largely unknown outside of his native Hong Kong, with many subsequence kung fu stars taking his place and becoming household names; people like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen and so on. This is partly due to the limited international distribution of many of his films. However, through the excellent work of Chinese distributor, Celestial Pictures, Fu Sheng's movies can now be enjoyed in pristine quality through DVD and streaming services - particularly Netflix and Amazon Prime, where the glory of his many classic kung fu pictures can be enjoyed by a whole new generation of fans. In this special commemorative episode, we talk to Fu Sheng's biographer, Terrence J. Brady, about the life and career of the much-loved film star. He made 43 complete films in only 11 years as a hard-working contract actor at the Shaw Brothers studio, quickly rising in the ranks to become one of its highest paid stars. We speak about his many iconic film roles, to working with Shaw Brothers legends like Chang Cheh and Lau Kar-leung, to his marriage to the superstar singer, Jenny Tseng, as well as detailing the events leading up to that fateful night on 7 July 1983. Terrence's book is the first English-language biography of Alexander Fu Sheng and a must-read for any Shaw Brothers movie fan. LINKS Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Fu-Sheng-Biography-Chinatown/dp/1717363679/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1539829233&sr=8-10 More information: http://www.teako170.com/fushengbio.html Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1203346679706951 Jenny Tseng and Alexander Fu Sheng singing 'You Don't Have to Be a Star To Be in My Show' live on TVB: https://youtu.be/t51dhR6CRKg Alexander Fu Sheng profile: http://bit.ly/ProfileAlexanderFuSheng

We talk about Alexander Fu Sheng's final movie: Eight Diagram Pole Fighter. Directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Gordon Liu, Kara Hui, Alexander Fu Sheng and Lily Li, it is based on the Generals of the Yang Family.  Here is the interview where Kara Hui mentions Eight Diagram Pole Fighter as her favorite role: HERE Check out Distressor's "Just Breathe", they generously allowed us to use their music in our introduction.  Support us on Patreon   

Welcome to Episode 26 of Heroes Three! This week we close our first look at the work of Lau Kar-leung with a bang as we discuss the magical, mysterious, and of course action packed Legendary Weapons of China from 1982! Download Episode Here

Welcome to Episode 25 of Heroes Three! This week we return to Peking Opera in the light Lau Kar-leung film Martial Club (1981) starring Gordon Liu and Kara Hui.Download Episode HereFull cast and credits at HKMDBSpecial New Years Lion Dance from Martial Club

Welcome to Episode 24 of Heroes Three. This week is about one of the most influential kung fu films ever made, Lau Kar-leung's The 36th Chamber of Shaolin!Download the Episode here!Full cast and credits at HKMDBInterview with the RZA from the Dragon Dynasty DVDFollow Alex on Twitter - @Diatron5

Welcome to Episode 23 of Heroes Three! This week we take on the kung fu-y-est movie so far, Shaw Brothers and Lau Kar-leung present, Executioners from Shaolin (1977).Download EpisodeFull cast and credits at HK CinemagicWu-Tang Clan Aint Nuthing ta F' Wit

Cowboys! Drugs! Corruption! And a new way to drink alcohol? The final directorial effort from the legendary Lau Kar-leung blends some impressive wirework-fu with some slightly cheesy 2003 era comedy (take a bow Wu Jing) and a rare showing from the underrated Shannon Yao. Does the Shaw Brothers first Kung Fu flick in 20 years cut the mustard or should it be thrown in the lake like a bunch of bananas? Tune in to find out!

For episode three of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, I have a nice chat with the Australian blogger Meredith Lewis, who runs the rather excellent kung fu movie blog, Dangerous Meredith's Fu Thoughts. I spent time with Meredith over Google Hangouts just before a talk she was doing at a Melbourne festival on the topic of Monkey - the popular Japanese TV show from the 1970s, known to international audiences as Monkey Magic. She afforded me a bit of time during her research to talk about the show's origins, which is based on a 16th century Chinese novel, Journey to the West, and tells the story of the mythological figure Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King. There are many films, animations and stories featuring the Monkey King, and countless variations on the Journey to the West story, and we discuss some of our favourite adaptions in this podcast. Meredith is also an ex-dancer and choreographer, so we discuss our favourite action directors and performers - people like Yuen Woo-ping and Lau Kar-leung, who as well as being martial arts masters, were also able to capture great sequences of intricate movement, much like a musical or dance number. We also discuss the role of women in martial arts films, particularly in wuxia literature and cinema, and we look at why we have both turned to blogging as a way of sharing our mutual passion for the genre.

In this episode, we take a look at a Wong Fei Hung origin story that's also closer to the origins of Lau Kar-leung's directing career. You'll find out during our review of 1976's Challenge Of The Masters if Lau the filmmaker has evolved. Also, a look back on the Stephen Chow shaolin soccer comedy hit […]

In this episode, we take a look at a Wong Fei Hung origin story that’s also closer to the origins of Lau Kar-leung’s directing career. You’ll find out during our review of 1976’s Challenge Of The Masters if Lau the filmmaker has evolved. Also, a look back on the Stephen Chow shaolin soccer comedy hit […]

During this episode, we reivew another duo of Alan Tam flicks and see if we're willing spokespersons for Team Tam this time around. They come in the form of Lau Kar-wing's 1988 gangster actioner The Dragon Family starring everyone and Alan Tam. And in the second half we take a look at a movie that many […]

When you decide to watch Tsui Hark's new film, "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon," don't be fooled by its title. The word "detective" doesn't guarantee a detective story, but a crime-action film packed with magnificent action scenes with the aid of upgraded filming gadgets and technique. In his latest outing, the Hong Kong director presents a prequel to his 2010 box office hit, "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame". The story traces the footstep of Tang Dynasty official, Dee Renjie, as he starts his political career in the capital city of Luoyang. His arrival coincides with a devastating attack on the empire's naval fleet: an entire armada is allegedly annihilated by a sea dragon. Dee's boss, Yuchi, is charged to root out the attackers. He will need the help of Dee and many others to solve the case and uncover a conspiracy against the empire. Just like many other contemporary detective films, for example the new Sherlock Holmes series starring Robert Downey. Jr., "Rise of the Sea Dragon" doesn't offer a satisfactory detective story. The audience would most likely have an idea of what the story is all about after they've seen a quarter of the narrative, so there is no room for any kind of suspension at all. Perhaps, the directors of today are less willing to risk challenging the viewers' intellect. I guess we'll just have to keep paying for mediocre stories, unless enough of us decided to otherwise make a difference. Fortunately, Tsui Hark is the kind of director that likes to try new things. Tsui is previously known for his work involving the world of martial arts, or Wuxia, but in recent years, he's been seeking new ways to present his world. In 2011, he adopted IMAX filming techniques when making "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate." This time, in "Rise of the Sea Dragon," he pushes himself further by filming 3D underwater scenes. His efforts were not un-rewarded, as many of the magnificent action scenes were reminiscent of "Pirates of Caribbean"--only better. Tsui's enterprising spirit is also show in his selection of cast members. Apart from Lau Kar-ling, who plays the Tang Empress, all major characters are portrayed by younger generation actors and actresses. The new blood brings vitality to the cast, but also weakens the characterization. Throughout his career, Tsui Hark has created many distinctive characters, but during his experiment with "Rise of the Sea Dragon," the director traded story and character development for greater visual spectacles, a stronger sense of modernity and better box office returns. For the audience, the visuals alone may be satisfactory enough, but is it really a good trade? Tsui Hark himself will be the judge of that. On a scale of one to 10, I give "Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon" a seven.

Shaw also tried his hand at producing American films in the late 70s and early 80s, including 1982 sci-fi classic "Blade Runner" and 1979 disaster thriller "Meteor." The influence of Shaw's movies spans vast distances. When talking about his preparation for the action film "Kill Bill", American movie director Quentin Tarantino told the press he had watched one old Shaw Brothers movie a day for a year, if not three. Tarantino also paid tribute to Shaw by beginning the film with the Shaw Brothers scallop and trumpet fanfare. As a shrewd businessman, even in his heyday, Shaw was able to sense the future would be in television. In 1967, Shaw co-founded TVB, which remains Hong Kong's dominant TV station. TVB has now grown into a multi-billion dollar TV empire with channels broadcast in 30 markets including the U.S., Canada and Taiwan. For TV audiences, TVB is the symbol of many classic television series of which only the slightest hint would send people into nostalgic daydreams. At the top of the list of classic shows is of course "the Bund", a love story between gangster boss Hui Man-Keung and Fung Ching-ching, daughter of a wealthy tycoon. And "Looking Back in Anger", a retrospective on business tycoon Ding Yau Kin's life. Another memorable classic was the 1983 martial art TV series "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". With its ever sought-after TV series, TVB has seen a considerable amount of talented individuals rise to stardom internationally. Actor Chow Yun-fat, actress Maggie Cheung, singers Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui and director Wong Kar-wai all started out at TVB. Chow Yun-fat attributes his success to Shaw. "He started TVB with his bare hands all by himself. He trained many talented stars like me. May he rest in peace." Shaw set up the TVB Talent Training Course and the beauty contest Miss Hong Kong Pageant in order to produce future stars for his TV station. One thing he probably would never have imagined is that many of the stars that the two programs cultivated, such as Tony Leung, Lau Kar-ling and Michele Monique Reis, later became the pillars of the Chinese showbiz industry. In 2011, Shaw retired from his position as chairman of TVB at the age of 104 after more than 40 years of service. However, what made Shaw more of an enduring influence is perhaps his philanthropy. He made billions in film and television and gave back nearly as much to society. Since 1985, he donated about 4.75 billion Hong Kong dollars on educational programs across the Chinese mainland. On a map recently provided by one of China's largest search engines, buildings adorned with Shaw's name are visible in clusters across the country. And in Hong Kong, it seems as if half of the public buildings have his name on them. Shaw also established "The Shaw Prize" in 2002, later widely regarded as the "Nobel of the East"; an annual award honoring those who made significant contributions to academic and scientific research or application. And on occasions of disaster relief, he was often among the top donors. Leung Chun-ying, chief executive of Hong Kong spoke out on Shaw's contributions to society. "Shaw has made great philanthropic contributions in Hong Kong, to education in both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland and to scientific research globally. He is a venerable father figure to us." Run Run Shaw was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. China's Purple Mountain Observatory discovered an asteroid in 1964 and named it 2899 Runrun Shaw in honor of him. Across 107 years, Run Run Shaw became a guiding light that will illuminate generations for years to come.

Along with guest Mike Maley, Kenny B and Tom K-W pay tribute to the late, great Lau Kar-leung by reviewing one of his most iconic classics The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin as well as the old school tribute/redemption story Gallants from 2010. Contact the show via email at podcastonfire at googlemail.com, on our Facebook page […]

Back on schedule this week as we review a couple films from legendary Hong Kong martial arts filmmaker/actor/fight choreographer Lau Kar-leung who passed away on June 25, 2013. We decided on two better known films, slightly different from one another but both showcasing his incredible talent at putting martial arts on the screen. First we […] The post Episode 98: RIP Lau Kar-leung appeared first on Silva and Gold.