Release Year: 1983

Perhaps Billy Chong’s most polished and constantly entertaining film, ‘A Fistful Of Talons’ takes a well-used storyline and turns it into something much more original.

The formula that made the original so successful has naturally remained untampered, but the scope of effects and stunts clearly expanded.

Despite the weakness of its central performance, ‘All The Wrong Spies’ does incorporate the zest of the Cinema City films that dominated the early 80s.

This is a hugely entertaining film that undoubtedly ranks as one of the best that the swordplay genre has to offer.

Mainstream Hong Kong cinema has often embraced the bizarre and the baffling, but ‘Demon Of The Lute’ may be a step too far for many.

‘Duel To The Death’ is ostentatious proof director Ching Siu Tung is not someone merely told where to put the camera.

‘Fantasy Mission Force’ is a ridiculous film, but if you think you’ve seen every curio that Eastern cinema has to offer, this is worth watching.

While ‘Fast Fingers’ may be seen as a combination of kung-fu and comedy, it is more memorable for being an amalgam of the sublime and the ridiculous.

‘Golgo 13: The Professional’ is a truly genre-defining anime classic that is as exciting today as it was back in the 1980s.

This is not a comic masterpiece and doesn’t amuse in quite the manner that it imagines it does, but with a leading man of Fu Sheng’s calibre this is almost to be forgiven.

There’s no doubt that much is wrong with ‘Papa, Can You Hear Me Sing?’, but there’s also an undeniable power of never quite knowing how the narrative will turn out.

Using the conventions of the 30’s Hollywood swashbucklers mixed with his insane stunts and sublime fight action, Chan produced one of his best ever films.

It may be a routine swordplay flick that ambles along with little revolutionary, but ‘Roving Swordsman’ is nonetheless watchable enough to warrant a purchase.

‘Shaolin Intruders’ doesn’t offer any of the genre-defining moments that leap out of the true masterpieces of the genre.

‘Shaolin Vs. Lama’ is a notch above most Taiwanese chop sockies simply because Lee Tso-Nam knows how to keep it interesting.

The fight scenes are about the film’s only saving grace but even they aren’t enough to make it a worthwhile watch.

By the time the end credits start to run, there is the definite feeling that strong potential has been wasted.

Often unfairly nudged aside when the career of kung-fu auteur Liu Chia-Liang is considered, ‘The Lady is the Boss’ is a fun action comedy that came near the end of the Shaw Brothers’ hegemony in Hong Kong.

‘Winners And Sinners’ may disappoint viewers if they’re expecting to see a Jackie Chan film, but if you appreciate the talents of any of the main actors involved then you are definitely in for a treat.

While those unfamiliar with its history may find fault with the now-dated effects, it remains a credit to everyone involved that ‘Zu’ still looks fresh almost 20 years after it was first conceived.