Cast Member: Roy Chiao

The over-the-top style that is often associated with this sub-genre of comedy may not be to everyone’s taste, but it remains entertaining and raises the odd chuckle.

Its gritty, truthful tone and flawless cast manage to take a sub-genre fraught with cliché and melodrama and give it a provocative resonance that is so very precious.

If, like me, you loved the 80’s action style of people like Yuen Kwai then this is a good purchase, as the fights stand up to repeat viewings even if the rest does not.

Despite a slow and at times wearisome first half of the film, it eventually blossoms into a distinguished genre work that is recommended to any fan of the Jade Screen.

Even a lesser Michael Hui film is worth watching and there are still enough comic moments to keep most viewers happy.

The Hong Kong version features watchable new action that is worth tracking down for Chan purists, but as a whole, the film remains on Chan’s ‘avoid list’.

‘The Valiant Ones’ really does deliver on its promise of a group of gifted fighters going after a never-ending swarm of rampaging pirates and fighting them all to the death.

This fun, frothy and occasionally full on violent concoction mashes so many genres together its surprising ‘Treasure Hunt’ turned out this well made, coherent and well, entertaining.