Country: Hong Kong

While the narrative and tone get a little muddled and the pace dips here and there, ‘Fire of Conscience’ is still a good tough-as-nails cop thriller with some brutal action.

The main problem of the film is the lack of development for the romance; the actual feelings between the two lacks genuine heart and therefore undermines any chemistry.

‘First Option’ is definitely a high scorer on the cheese scale, but luckily it’s also loaded with some original action scenes that make it worth your while.

Vitally, ‘First Strike’ is still full of the energy and invention that leaves so many other action films pale in comparison.

‘Fist From Shaolin’ really stands out with its powerful choreography which, even after numerous other fine new-wave productions, remains very impressive.

In all, this is the definitive martial arts movie. An all time classic which is as good as an all round film as it as a Kung Fu flick.

In my opinion, this is Jet Li’s best work as he carries the film well, performing brilliantly in the films numerous fight sequences.

‘Fist Power’ is a very thin framework onto which a few interesting action scenes are hung and should not be treated as a classic of the genre.

The plot and characterisation are very weak but there’s enough about the fights to keep a kung fu fan watching till the end.

This is, in all honestly, a very bad film. However, if it were purely being judged on the action, then it would easily gain 3 stars.

With ‘Five Shaolin Masters’, there is a definite impression that the great director’s inspirational ideas of brotherhood and honour are somehow diluted.

The generally undemanding nature of the film make this a definite thumbs up for genre-lovers.