Nonureva Really Surprised!

AutCuddly Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Aubrey Hackett While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

bob the moo The film opens with Pai Mei using his retracting groin skills (no – seriously) to defeat a Shaolin master Zhishan, scattering his students. Pai Mei sends his Governor Kao Tsinchung and his soldiers after the students and, while leader Tung Chinchin makes a heroic stand, Hung Hsikuan leads the rest to safety, vowing to return and avenge his master and Tung. Hiding out as a traveling opera company, Hsikuan is leading the students as a master of tiger style when he meets performer Ying Chun, a master of the crane style. The two fall in love and will eventually have a child called Wending, although as the decades pass and Hsikuan trains, both he and Chun know that he must return to face the white wispy haired danger of Pai Mei.Just like the martial arts which Wending will grow up developing, this film is a real mix of things that don't always seem like they should work but generally do. The plot is straightforward "avenge your master" stuff but it is spread over decades and involve several confrontations to good effect. The central villain should be comically silly with his ability to essentially lift his genitals back into his body, but aside from it looking a bit silly, it doesn't affect the tone of the film. At the same time we also have the romance between Hsikuan and Chun, and lots of comic moments as well as moments of death or loss. All told it is a total mix and it could have been that none of it worked but actually it gels very well and at only 90 minutes doesn't feel too long or that it crams things in.The comedy is genuinely cheerful and funny while the romance between the two leads actually works and is quite sweet. The fight sequences are frequent and impressive, with a brutal tone to much of the film which keeps you interested. Chen Kuantai is very good in the lead – a likable type even if he doesn't age particularly convincingly. Li Lily works very well with him – I liked her as I have in other things and the two have a good chemistry. Gordon Liu is a nice find (I get the reference now) and makes a good villain despite the slightly daft special power he has. Chiang Tao is a decent presence but I particularly liked Wong Yue as the oldest version of Wending – he was fun and fitted well into the family of the leads. The sets and direction are roundly good and the film has an enjoyable pace to it which is consistent no matter what is happening.With such a mix of content, it is impressive that it all gels so well and in the end, Hong Xi Guan is a very enjoyable film with lots to enjoy.

ebiros2 This to me is one of the two great kung-fu movies starring Chen Kuan Tai. Other being the Flying Guillotines. As a fan of Chen Kuan Tai's movies, this is one of my favorite kung-fu movie as well.As you can see from the ratings, Chen Kuan Tai gets high ratings on most of his early movies. His elegant move and style is unlike typical kung-fu stars of this period or since. I'm sure there are still many Chen Kuan Tai fans out there in the world.The story is about a battle where son succeeds where father lost, but it's not the usual vengeance or grudge match but somewhat of a quest and coming of an age story for the son.This movie truly is one of the best classic kung-fu action movie. It starts off rather slow, but it starts to pick up after the son is born.Watch it, and you won't be disappointed.

jamieandadell I first seen this movie in the early 80's when I was about 9 or 10. It aired on a Sunday afternoon during a kung fu marathon. It stuck in my memory as one of my favorite "old" kung fu flicks for MANY years. Of course no such luck of catching it on TV ever again, or especially finding it on video. In 2004 as I was watching Kill Bill Vol.2 I was astounded to see one of the characters from "Executioners" in the film. Looked perfect. And the actor was also a character from "Executioners". WOW. That inspired me to put the internet to use and with some research found that EFS was indeed available on DVD! So of course I now own it and unlike many films you see and love as a child then see as an adult and you're like "why did I like that movie" EFS still kicks butt. Want to see an awesome modern day kung fu film? How about an "executioners from shaolin" remake with maybe a little plot tweeking. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Hung Hsi Kuan....Jet Li (Hero, Unleashed) Wan Yung-Chun....Maggie Cheung (Hero) Hung Wen-Ding....Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior) Priest Pai Mei...Gordon Liu (Kill Bill Vol.2) Tung Tien Chin...Jackie Chan

veganflimgeek Executioners from Shoalin This is a great Shaw brothers epic that has some of the best martial arts fights of the seventies. Just one year before Lau Kar Leung unleashed the 36th chamber was on the world this classic of Shoalin martial arts is a must have for true Kung Fu movie geeks. Forget that dubbed c**p. If you have a region 3(or all region) DVD you must see the new re-mastered original language re-issue from the awesome Celestial pictures series. The Celestial series is the best way to see Shaw bros. movies. This movie is the epic tale of a man who vows to avenge his master who was killed by a white browed monk who is referred to only as `white brow'. White seems invincible and what follows is a movie that follows years of training and a whole family working together to make the vengeance happen. Great film. Anytime A big time Holly wood filmmaker pays tribute to lesser know classics they become more known for the tribute factor. Kill Bill Vol.2 quotes this movie and when people see it now they are going to know the monk grabbing the foot when kicked in the balls and crushing the foot. That fact is QT has good taste in kung fu movies.