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Review
by Kozo: |
Based on a Japanese manga, this fantasy
actioner concerns two split-at-birth monks who reunite to
face off against the King of Hell. Yuen Biao is Peacock, who
was raised in Tibet by Eddy Ko Hung. He journeys to Japan
to find Ashura (Gloria Yip), who’s the daughter of the King
of Hell and the key to the threatened Armageddon. While in
Japan, he meets Lucky Fruit (Hiroshi Mikami), another monk
who has the same mission. Yes, they’re long-lost brothers
who must join forces to stop Ashura. However, Ashura turns
out to be a sweet, nice girl (par for the course where Gloria
Yip is concerned), so they decide to allow her to live.
Sadly, the two brothers also have
to contend with lots of claymation creatures that are supposed
to be minions of hell. They look more like refugees from Beetlejuice,
but they sure are mean critters. HK’s Ray Harryhausen earned
his keep, because the whole thing manages an enjoyable tone
despite the cheapness of the proceedings. It’s nice to see
Yuen Biao in his prime - this is a far cry from the Philippine-funded
dreck he would later make. Ultimately, this is a messy but
entertaining Hong Kong Cinema triumph - by eighties Hong
Kong Cinema standards. (Kozo 1999) |
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