Opium and the Kung Fu Master (1984)

Just Say No to Drugs!

Just say no to drugs--even if you are a kung fu master!

While Opium and the Kung Fu Master follows the standard kung fu movie formula it does deviate by interjecting a real story with real consequences in between fights. Master Tie Qiao San (Ti Lung), one of the famous Ten Tigers of Kwantung, protects the village where his school is located from evil doers. Robert Mak as Lu Gua Si is his protégé, a good-hearted if not completely proficient fighter. Chen Kuan Tai's Rong Feng is an opium dealer who joins forces with the opposing school's leader, Zheng Hong, played by Lee Hoi Sang. The bad guys set up an opium den and one by one the village men begin to succumb to the siren call of the opium, forgetting their jobs and families. Master Tie San is not immune and falls victim to it as well, losing his kung fu abilities. His addiction gives the Big Bads run of the town and in the process Tie San loses loved ones because of his inaction.

The acting was about average for a kung fu film. Ti Lung was adept with his kung fu skills and projecting the calm, skilled martial arts master, but stumbled at times as a recovering addict. Chen Kuan Tai seemed to relish playing the Bad Guy, all he needed was a long mustache to twirl. Robert Mak pleasantly fulfilled his assignment of playing the earnest young fighter who tried to wake his master and the villagers from their stupor before it was too late. Overall, the acting was sufficient in this one, though there were a few deaths which made me giggle with their abruptness.

This was Tang Chia's third and last film as a director, he was better known for his work as a martial arts director. It's a shame he didn't helm more kung fu movies as he did a good job with this one.

The fights and choreography were fast, fluid and involved fists, kicks, and various weapons. The main actors were all proficient in martial arts and made the fights believable. No dancing around and posing in this movie. Though there were deaths, the gore was kept to a minimum.

Even if Opium and the Kung Fu Master isn't perfect, it's not a bad way to spend 85 minutes if you enjoy old kung fu movies. Just say no to drugs, but yes to this movie or at least maybe.

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