Cast Member: Wu Ma

Martial arts, magic and bizarre creatures are blended together seamlessly, with expert direction.

The description for ‘Fighting Ace’ doesn’t exactly make it jump off the page, but it proves to be a better than average effort.

This action comedy is undoubtedly at its best when Jet Li is given centre stage and allowed to show off his smooth physical moves.

‘Hong Kong 1941’ is a powerful and moving study of the effects of war on the ordinary person and the strains of such pressure on any friendship.

It doesn’t rank up there with the best of any genre but for a lightweight action-comedy it is worth a watch.

‘I Love Hong Kong’ doesn’t steer too far away from the usual New Year hi-jinks – it is an entertaining 2011 release, but will probably not be remembered come 2012.

Budget restraints are sometimes apparent, but this doesn’t detract from another quality Yuen Biao vehicle.

‘Kung Fu of Eight Drunkards’ is interchangeable with most of the other independent productions of the time, the same strengths and weaknesses again apparent.

There is much to enjoy about this film, and the ingenuity shown in many scenes is typical of HK, proving that it can offer a lot more than found in Hollywood no-brainers.

Newcomers will enjoy the fight action, the slightly more experienced will also appreciate the comedy and the veteran viewer will be entertained by the great cast.

Jackie openly admits that this film was intended to answer the critics who saw him as just an action star/director. What an answer it proved to be!

This is the definitive comedy horror, which coupled with Sammo Hung’s own ‘Encounter Of The Spooky Kind’ provide the two greatest examples of the genre, and therefore should not be missed.