 ... |
AVENGING
EAGLE (1978)
Ground
Zero Entertainment
90 Minutes
Directed by Sun Chung
Produced by Mona Fong
Written by I Kuang
Music by Chen Yang Yu
Fight Choreography by Tang Chia
Cast: Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, Ku Feng, Shih Szu, Wang Lung Wei, Eddie
Ko, Dick Wei, Yue Wing, Peter Chan, Yuen Ban, Lam Fai Wong, Tong Yen Sa
Video:
Full Frame (1.33.1)
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono 2.0
Subtitles: None
Packaging:
Keepcase
Chapter Stops: 6
Director Sun Chung worked for the Shaw
Brothers studio during the early 1970s. He was mainly involved in the
filming of gangland thrillers and a police dramas such as THE BLOODY
ESCAPE (1974), THE DRUG CONNECTION (1976), and BIG BAD SIS (1976).
However, Sun Chung had longed to follow in the footsteps of this mentor,
Chang Cheh, and graduate to the studio’s bigger budgeted period martial
arts productions. His big break came with the 1978 production AVENGING
EAGLE, which thanks to the multi-tiered script and high profile cast
became a genre classic to match the success of THE FIVE DEADLY VENOMS
(1978). Even as the career of the Godfather of Kung Fu began to wind down
in 1980’s, the baton was passed (so to speak) and Sun Chung was
responsible for the success of THE KUNG FU INSTRUCTOR (1979), KID WITH A
TATTOO (1980), RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH (1981) and the stark HUMAN SKIN
LANTERNS (1982). The Shaw Brothers executives committed some of their 
biggest
talents to AVENGING EAGLE, ensuring the film would be an international
success. When the script called for a multi-faceted actor for the
mercenary-turned-hero lead character, someone with depth was needed, so
the producers signed the immortal Ti Lung, star of countless Shaw Brothers
epics. For the co-starring lead role, they needed someone with charisma
(and comic timing) so Alexander Fu Sheng was brought aboard. Fu Sheng
began his career in the early 1970s efforts, MEN FROM THE MONASTARY
(1974), FIVE SHAOLIN MASTERS (1975), and the original SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS
(1976). He graduated to superstardom with his breakthrough role in THE
CHINATOWN KID (1977), then became a member of Chang Cheh’s stable and
starred in movies like MAGNIFICENT WANDERERS (1977), TEN TIGERS OF
KWANTUNG (1979), and the BRAVE ARCHER series. Fu Sheng was poised to
become the next Jackie Chan when he was sadly killed in a car accident
(driven by his brother) during the shooting of INVINCIBLE POLE FIGHTER
(1983). Ku Feng is to China what Toshiro Mifune is to Japan. In short,
Feng is one of Asia’s most respected actors. He appeared in some of the
best martial arts movies of all time, and also achieved critical acclaim
in contemporary efforts as well. Ku Feng started his career with the Shaw
Brothers studio, specializing in their epic costume dramas like TWIN
SWORDS (1965), TEMPLE OF THE RED LOTUS (1965), and Chang Cheh’s original
ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN (1967), which forever changed the face of the costume
drama as we know it. Ku Feng became a regular in Chang Cheh’s stable of
actors and acted alongside the likes of Ti Lung and David Chiang in THE
HEROIC ONES (1970), THE DEADLY DUO (1971), and SEVEN BLOWS OF THE DRAGON
(1972).
The
beautiful Shih Szu rounds out the cast; in a non-fighting capacity. Shi
Szu was a true Kung Fu Goddess, but she often got over-shadowed by the
likes of Angela Mao and Lily Li. She also starred as Ti Lung’s love
interest in many pictures, and they shared great screen chemistry
together. Szu starred in LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES (1974), MARCO
POLO (1975), and THE FLYING GIULLOTINE PART 2 (1976). Several of Hong Kong’s
brightest martial artists portray the Eagle killers. The always-reliable
Wang Lung Wei stars as the lead Eagle that opposes Ti Lung. Eddy Ko is
another character actor who achieved a measure of stardom for his
performances in MONKEY FIST, FLOATING SNAKE (1979), THUNDERING MANTIS
(1980), and SLEEPING FIST (1979). Dick Wei was a villain specialist as
evidenced by his turns in THE BRAVE ARCHER (1977), INVINCIBLE SHAOLIN
(1978), and THE KUNG FU INSTRUCTOR (1979). Other actors who round out the
13 Eagles include Peter Chan (CHALLENGE OF THE MASTERS (1976), HE HAS
NOTHING BUT KUNG FU (1977), and LEGENDARY STRIKE (1979), Lam Fai Wong
(MAGNIFICENT WANDERERS (1977), THE FIVE VENOMS (1978), and MONKEY KUNG FU
(1979), and Tong Yen San (SNAKE SHADOW, LAMA FIST (1976), FIVE SHAOLIN
MASTERS (1974), and ABBOT OF SHAOLIN (1979). AVENGING EAGLE has never
secured a decent home video release until Ground Zero distributed it in
2001.
Chi
Ming Sing (Ti Lung) was kidnapped as a child by the master of Iron Boat
Clan, Hung Yu Tse (Ku Feng), and forced to learn Kung Fu with other
abducted children. Hung Yu Tse broke their will through torture and
transformed the reluctant recruits into blood-thirsty martial arts
warriors, called the 13 Eagles. The corrupt father figure of the 13 Eagles
would send his brain-washed warriors to rob and/or kill his enemies. On
one such raid against a worthy rival clan, Chi Ming Sing is mortally
wounded and left for dead by his Eagle brothers. The rival Clan leader’s
daughter takes an interest in Chi Ming Sing and nurses him back to health.
Her affections and the peaceful disposition of her family convince him
that there is more to life than raping and pillaging. Chi Ming Sing
realizes how evil Hung Yu Tse truly is and returns to the palace of the
Iron Boat Clan hoping to get close enough to kill his former leader. Upon
returning, Hung Yu Tse suspects something is amiss with Chi Ming Sing, and
orders him to kill a pregnant woman in cold blood to prove his loyalty. To
keep up his charade, Chi Ming Sing is forced to carry out the evil deed to
cast off suspicion. Chi Ming Sing is determined to do what it takes to
eliminate Hung Yu Tse but it won’t be easy because his Eagle brothers
protect their master. That’s when Chi Ming Sing meets Tso Yi Fan (Fu
Sheng), another driven man who wants to destroy the Iron Boat Clan. The
two men forge a respect and friendship for one another even though Tso Yi
Fan is obviously hiding some deep skeletons in his closet. When Hung Yu
Tse learns that Chi Ming Sing has regained his mindset, he orders the
other 12 Eagles to hunt down and destroy their former comrade. Chi Ming
Sing and Tso Yi Fan are two amazing warriors who must pit their skills in
combat against the 12 Eagles and their evil master.
AVENGING
EAGLE is Sun Chung’s best film. His style is very similar to the
Godfather of Kung Fu, in many respects, only with more experimental
techniques and less reliance on the power zoom. As the career of Chang
Cheh winded down during the initial Venoms run, Sun Chung showed great
promise and was poised to become Cheh’s sucessor. Unfortunately, the end
of the era we call Old School (in 1984-85) pretty much put the brakes on
his career. Sun Chung masterfully controls the flashback sequences as this
film is presented non-chronologically. He also manipulates the action
sequences with flair, and never makes the mistake of allowing the fights
to overshadow the story or performances. Though he deserves the praise,
the guy is only human and AVENGING EAGLE has two major weak spots: the
haphazard editing and the experimental tracking shots. Chung employs lots
of kinetic camera movement which foreshadows the spinning digital
manipulation seen in THE MATRIX fights. Only Chung’s is all analog and
blurry, serving no purpose except to increase the cheese level.
Screenwriter I Kuang creates another story with depth, emotion, intrigue,
and plenty of surprises. Sun Chung realizes Kuang script and insures
AVENGING EAGLE is balanced and energetic.
When Fu Sheng’s identity in the film is revealed, it adds an unexpected twist to the plot structure. Something that Ku Feng quickly utilizes to his advantage in the finale. Speaking of Feng, he is awesome here—contorting his face and using body language to bring his character to life. Besides being a real cold bastard to the people who oppose him, Feng is equally caring to those in his regime. He displays the expressions and emotions of a true surrogate father. And when Ti Lung betrays his trust, there is a look of disappointment that only a true father would exhibit. So disturbed is Feng that he orders his 12 remaining ‘sons’ to hunt down and kill Ti Lung. He unwittingly sends his minions to their in their doom, because Ti Lung swings a mean set of triple-irons, and Fu Sheng employs razor-sharp blades that slash their opponents to bits. Ku Feng’s no slouch though, and has his own set of steel Eagle claws which he uses on our heroes. Ti Lung gives a superb performance as a man trying to atone for his sins. He wants to destroy the Iron Boat Clan by removing the problem at the source. He must get close enough to Ku Feng without being suspected or seen by others. So he has to bide his time and wait for the right opportunity. He also has to make sacrifices and obey the one he hates the most. I won’t reveal Alexander Fu Sheng’s motivation in the film because that would ruin it for a lot of viewers. Yet Fu Sheng really steals a lot of thunder from Ti Lung. When he uses those blades of his, it’s hard not to be impressed. Wang Lung Wei, Eddie Ko, and Dick Wei portray the evil Eagle brothers. It’s really funny because Wang Lung Wei is bald (not really though; just a really fake looking skull cap).
SIGHT
The
original theatrical ratio for AVENGING EAGLE is 2.35.1. The packaging
states that this DVD is in ShawScope, but this is really a full frame
presentation. The moderate production values and radical fight
choreography is severely hampered in the frame. This transfer is really
faded and colorless. At times it’s murky and dark. At other times the
red hues oversaturate the picture. The source print exhibits loads of
scratches, blemishes, dirt, and grain. At least the black levels are
properly calibrated. The opening title sequence is completely unreadable.
However, AVENGING EAGLE is such a kick-ass flick that these things can be
overlooked. Nuff said.
SOUND
At least the sound is cleaned up for this DVD. AVENGING EAGLE is minus the analog hiss, crackling, and drop-outs that plague VHS versions of this movie. The sound is Dolby Digital Mono 2.0, with pleasing fidelity that possesses a variable range of frequencies. This soundtrack is English language only, naturally, with the dubbed dialog emanating cleanly from the center channel and without distortion. Its worth mentioning that the translation and actual lip synchronization are some of the best I’ve ever seen. The movie is full of the typical overdone foley effects that make these films so much fun. You’ll hear cracking bones, clanging weapons, rushing flips, and chiseling chops. Although Chen Yung Yu is credited with AVENGING EAGLE’s score, most of it is uninteresting library music that radio DJs or sports announcers talk over. Technically, the music is capably integrated in the mix.
FEATURES
None.
CONCLUSION
AVENGING EAGLE is a movie that hits on all cylinders. The story and characterizations are superb. The lead actors give memorable performances and have great chemistry. The movie has a truly great lead villain that you won’t forget. The fighting scenes never overwhelm the actors and plot, and the choreography contains some truly outstanding weapons work (though not as numerous as a Venoms film). The sometimes awkward editing techniques can’t ruin the positives of AVENGING EAGLE. Sadly, the VHS caliber transfer is lacking and kind of bursts our bubble. So far, of the announced films on year 1 of Celestial Pictures release schedule does not include AVENGING EAGLE. It could be years before this is released so you may want to snap up a copy today.
AVENGING EAGLE is available from HKFlix.com
-- Tony Mustafa
| Movie: |
4.5 |
| Video: |
2.5 |
| Audio: |
3.0 |
| Extras: |
0.0 |
| Overall: |
4.0 |
BACK TO