"Return of the Tiger" US Betamax Cover
Director: Jimmy Shaw
Writer: Wang Cheong, Chang Shun Yee
Producer: Jimmy Shaw, R.P. Shah
Cast: Bruce Li (aka Ho Chung Tao, James Ho), Paul Smith, Chang Yi, Angela Mao, Lung Fei, Hsieh Hsing, Cheng Fu-Hsiung, Hsueh Han, Wu Chia-Hsiang, Wang Yung-Hseng, Wang Fei, Ko Shou-Liang, Cheng Tien Chi
Running Time: 92 min.
By Perkele
This amusing film begins perfecly with a big kung fu brawl, which has Angela Mao challenging a whole martial arts school of male fighters. The Commodores’ “Brick House” bassline accompanies Angela as she throws her beautifully executed kicks to knock fown at least 20 opponents. When a few guys try to throw knives at her, she suddenly jumps high in the air (with very cheesy looking wire trick, only adding to the entertainment) to catch the knives! This is some neat shit (I still can’t believe that the same dude who directed this is responsible for “Fist of Fury II”, the worst HK movie ever!).
The film cuts to a scene, which might be the worse lip-sync ever, where a Chinese dude “sings” Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” at some night club. Meet Bruce Li, a vengeful fighter whose father has been murdered by crime boss, Paul Smith. Li is at his best, looking extremely cool in his 70’s clothes; Actually, he’s dressed pretty much in today’s fashion with his denim jacket, three-striped Adidas shoes & shirt (that goes to Angela, too). What’s more; he isn’t imitating Bruce Lee! That’s right, though he somewhat looks and fights like him, a first-time Bruce Li viewer wouldn’t guess he’s an imitator if it wasn’t for his name!
The first half of the film moves swifly as the plot builds up and Li beats the crap out of Paul Smith’s assistants in a few excellent bouts; When the second half of the movie begins, the pacing slows down. There’s a dull 20 minutes without any action scenes, and the next one (the motorcycle fight) is stupid and unexciting. From then on, we are waiting for the big final showdown, which ends up being a let-down; Mostly due the fact that the main villain, Paul Smith, can’t fight worth a shit; He’s the stupid Goliath-type – big, strong Westerner who doesn’t even notice when someone hits him in the head with a bench.
Another annoying thing is that the martial arts expertise of Chang Yi isn’t showed at all! He has only one very lame fight with that roaring gorilla, Paul Smith. The scenes which DOES NOT include Smith are good, but the actual end-fight is boring. It’s a shame because this flick could’ve really been something!
Perkele’s Rating: 5.5/10
