The Legendary Strike (1978: Tai Seng) Hong Kong commentary by Ric Meyers (2001?)Normal Ric Meyers Intro
Gives akas Fist Too Fast and Iron Maiden
Released Nov. 30, 1978
[throughout the commentary he overdoes biographies of everyone listed; naming off way too many movies per person; however, he is better on correct information here then in earlier commentaries though still makes some snafus which I’ll explain later as well his faux pas style of humour]
Frankie Chan bio: Composer on this film, [I blame him for the irritating sound whenever the pearl shows up], Taekwondo expert [couldn’t verify this] talks about films he has done including directing work with JC on Armour of God [though technically he was Executive Director not co-director]
Huang Feng bio: Director on this film; well respected, states directed first Golden Harvest film The Angry River [the first actually I believe is The Invincible Eight (1971)], states helped make Angela Mao a star [that pretty much is true; while she acted in a few early features, several films directed by Huang did help her popularity out a lot; possibly why she was in this not-so-good movie] This was his last directing job.
Ric corrects a mistake he made in a previous commentary on The Heroes (1980) aka The Shaolin Heroes (Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005NTNG/ where he credited The Himalayan to King Hu instead of Huang Feng.
[quick mention of I believe Graffon Film Co. as being founded by Huang Feng which only did The Victim according to HKMDB and IMDB]
Many, many comments on Cassanova Wong looking like Spock.
“Do you know how many commentaries Tai Seng makes me do in a day? This is our third one out of four?” He will not mention what the others are.
Shaw Brothers have not released DVDs [they would in 2002]
Ocean Shores talk: do no remastering [duh]; hardcore fans like dub and full screens
Theorizes that American directors cut too close to the action because they grew up on Full screen versions of HK MA.
Frank Jang at Tai Seng would translate songs, this was not done in this film; original song was kept.
Chan Sing bio: credited for bring sai to HK; started in 1969 with Return of the One-Armed Swordsman, uses mostly upper body fighting. Started getting fatter in the 80s.
Kam Kong bio: student of Tae Kwon Do. Stereotyped because of tall size.
Talks about womens roles in HK cinema.
“Chang Cheh who wasn’t that into women.” [you had to go there]
Not sure what the Legendary Strike is [I’m not sure what it is either]
Talks about Stoner (film with Angelo Mao) and how she spent most of the film as a dirty boy [this isn’t true; she is dirty in a few scenes, but never a boy and not most of the film]
Talks about George Lazenby. Doing a boneheaded move is called a Lazenby [saying a faux pas in a commentary is called a Ric Meyers]
Paul Chu bio: “Lucked out because of looks”, hasn’t worked since 2000 still hasn’t to my knowledge]
Cassanova Wong: discovered by Sammo Hung, from Korea, Tae Kwon Do, now a film producer in South Korea …
“You career is going down if you appear in a ninja movie or a sexy film.” [for ever several faux pas he makes he has a gem like this]
Carter Wong: “No one can look constipated like Carter Wong.” Says other actors scoffed at his MA abililty.
Mars: not sure why his name is Mars. [HKMDB states it is a take from a stage name he had -- Martian Monster; doesn’t say how he got the stage name]
“Nobody can play a corpse like Mars”
Talks about Deadful Melody commentary.
Does not like Big Trouble in Little China because it is based on and not as good as Zu Warriors (1983) and Bastard Swordsman (1983).
Ends the commentary a bit early.
The Victim (1980) commentary by Ric Meyers and Bobby Samuels (2001)BS: worked with Sammo in 2 features; lived with Sammo 3 years; Sammo helped him in Cantonese and helped with action with camera.
BS: Sammo written with 2 n’s [title has one]
Curious statement from both that this was Sammo’s first directed film [his first credited film is The Iron Fisted Monk (1977)]
BS: had to tone down acting when he got back to States.
BS: states how Sammo got facial scar because of broken bottle in face technique.
RM: compares camera style to Chang Cheh [I don’t see it]
RM/BS: reiterates Sammo/Bruce Lee confrontation story [I wonder who won that one?]
BS: Sammo lived next to Leung Kar-yan for years; helped him get into acting; states story that Leung did not know martial arts at all [would repeat this throughout commentary]
States The Postman Strikes Back was Chow Yun-fat’s only MA role until Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
BS: says you need to have 3 prolific stunt directors sign for you for stuntmen card.
BS: Sammo idolized Bruce Lee.
RM: notes Sammo’s obsession for nudity as well as Jackie Chan. BS says this is because they grew up together nude so it was more normal; RM points out scenes where it goes beyond normal.
BS: was directed by Yuen Wo-ping in Red Wolf. Has great things to say about him. Says he is cigarette guy and that many smoked too much. Says only individual choreographer that has complete control of his vision.
Many actresses from pageants.
Chan Lung’s nickname ma goo; won’t state what it means [no idea; if anyone has the characters for his nickname please PM me]. He had problems, was institutionalized.
[Dark Was mentioned as this year; puts the commentary around 2001]
RM: states that Sammo’s career started with 1971 Angry River [not even close; actually his math gets a little weird when he states that sammo had worked for 32 years and Beardy at 26 years]
BS: was not happy about Lee Hoi-sang being in blackface in Enter The Fat Dragon; Sammo could have hired a black actor. Says he could write a book about racism in the industry. He talks about difficult sequence in Don’t Give A Damn until RM breaks him off [on purpose] [this was getting interesting; I have not seen that film, but reviews do not paint it kindly; he later seems to still be upset with Sammo about particular issues dealing with race]
RM: Sammo likes to fill his films with interesting looking characters; hypothesizes because Sammo is scarred and overweight.
BS: Says Chang Yi is one of his favorite villains; from Indonesia [according to HKMDB he is from Huizhou, Guangdong Province], real martial artist.
RM: white is not color of wedding it is color of death; red is color of wedding; BS agrees
RM: Sammo knows how to move camera, says Sammo has hand on camera.
BS: Sammo told him camera was third arm.
BS says he has seen this about 50 times; RM says about six.
Both talk about possible doubling including use of Chung Faat, Sammo possibly being doubled and later use of Yuen Biao [which is very obvious doubling for Wilson Tong Wai-shing].
BS: favorite scene is Sammo versus Leung.
RM: filmed completely on location; “worst things happen to chickens”
BS: Sammo well over 200 pounds; Yuen Wo-ping is godfather of two of Sammo’s sons, Jackie Chan is godfather to younger son.
RM: says fans started to turn on Sammo after Lucky Stars Go Places (1986) [I don’t quite agree with this because Eastern Condors and that film both made over 20m HK; now he didn’t direct for a few years as EC and Millionaire’s Express was a real hit unlike what he states]
RM: started to have sexist, racist mysogonist streak [umm; has RM not seen his first directed film The Iron Fisted Monk (1977) which is very mysognositic]
BS: Sammo well known for his gambling [Bobby definitely is still a little angry with Sammo]
RM: pole stands up to sword, not possible [actually this is funny if you think about it]
BS: not happy with sister (Yuet Yee) not showing emotion after her brother’s death; RM tries to explain why then gives up.
BS: got to work with Lam Ching-ying before he died [not sure when]
RM/BS: could not find other roles for girlfriend played by Fanny Wang [reason why she’s in four films: Fame of Chess (1977), The Victim (1980), All’s Well, End’s Well ’97 (1997) and A Decade of Love (2008) and I’m not even sure about Fame of Chess or A Decade of Love
]
BS: Sammo love American films.
Both: terrible scene ghost/Dracula sequence; RM: where did he get the tux? “Sammo Size” “Enter the Fat Vampire”
RM: What year is this supposed to be? [?]
RM: plot issue; get Mom out of room [actually this is funny] “pillage then burn, not burn than pillage”
BS: Sammo wanted Martial Law to go on longer.
RM: says took out Sammo from fighting in second season; took out humor, was top 20 show, TV Guide award; almost as if they wanted it to fail. [Interesting article here:
http://kungfuqigong.com/ezine/article.php?article=216 ]
BS: most difficult when you fight multiple people [unless you are Fezzik]
[RM confuses MA audience with mainstream audience]
BS: Sammo spoke English at end of film [can’t tell with this dub]
Home
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