Cast Member: Tsai Hung

‘Beach of the War Gods’ is a fantastic vehicle for its star and his supporting cast to showcase heaps of wickedly staged old-school fight action.

With ‘Five Shaolin Masters’, there is a definite impression that the great director’s inspirational ideas of brotherhood and honour are somehow diluted.

‘One-Armed Boxer’, while a little rough around the edges, has lost none of its crazy energy and still packs an almighty bloody punch with its almost non-stop 90 minutes of martial arts fight action.

‘Shaolin Kung Fu’ is really just a series of weak fight sequences strung together by a paper thin plot.

‘Shaolin Temple’ is still a major achievement by a film-maker who was one of the true creators of the genre. There is, therefore, plenty to put this near the top of your viewing list.

It can not be regarded as a classic of the genre, but can be hailed as a valiant attempt at faithfully adapting difficult source material.

Though the comedy is perhaps too obtrusive at times and does little to advance the film, there is lots to offer fans of the genre.

‘Whiplash’ may not be a particularly well known film, but with such a skilful blend of characterisation and robust fight scenes it really should be.