Donnie Yen unleashes the tiger's fury in 'Tiger Cage II'.

Plot: Dragon Yau, an ex-cop and Mandy Chang, an attorney, are about to have a really bad day. After Mandy finishes a settlement in which Dragon’s wife is divorcing him, armed men enter her law office and attempt to gun down a man from the states who works for her boss Waise Chow. Mandy accuses Dragon of being a co-conspirator after he attempts to stop the gunmen and when Mandy goes to see her coworker Petty Lee to tell her what happened, she’s confronted by hot-headed Dragon. However, Petty has been viciously murdered moments before their arrival and the couple is forced to go on the lam when H.K. authorities attempt to detain them for her death. As things begin to get out of hand, the duo find an unlikely ally in a mystery man named David who reveals why they were set up: the man who was killed at Mandy’s office was a colleague of David’s helping him to launder dirty money for a criminal outfit back in the States and Petty was killed by Mandy’s boss Waise because she found out about his dirty dealings. Now with the truth out in the open, the trio must find the money together so they can clear Dragon and Mandy’s names and help David expose Waise for the double-crossing snake that he is. But it won’t be easy because in addition to avoiding the law, they must deal with Waise’s henchmen who are determined to retrieve the money and silence anyone who knows about Waise’s betrayal…

David, Dragon and Mandy, the Unlikely Trio.

Thoughts on the Movie: Around the late 80s and early 90s, Yuen Wo Ping protégé Donnie Yen was really starting to turn heads, especially after doing Tiger Cage & In the Line of Duty IV and I was thoroughly impressed with his high-kicking, hard-hitting fighting prowess that he displayed in both films. I decided to check out Tiger Cage II based on a recommendation from a friend and this movie did not disappoint at all. The film doesn’t let up for a moment and there’s loads of fight sequences put together by Donnie himself with assistance from Phillip Kwok and Yuen Cheung-Yan. The movie has a good late 80s feel to it and everyone gets an opportunity to shine playing their respective characters, but Donnie is pretty much the main attraction throughout the entire picture.

Donnie Yen...the People's Choice!

Was it Funny?: Given that it’s a modern-day action flick from Hong Kong, Yuen Wo Ping manages to squeeze in a few moments of comedy whenever Donnie isn’t throwing down with someone. Rosamund Kwan’s character Mandy is pretty much the comedy relief for the entire film, so Tiger Cage II has breaks in the action for a few laughs so the audience will remember not to try to take the film too seriously.

How was the Action?: Though Yuen Wo Ping didn’t choreograph the fight sequences this time, Donnie Yen got to take the helm as fight choreographer with Phillip Kwok and Yuen Cheung-Yan assisting him. The fights are fast and furious, showcasing Donnie Yen’s trademark wushu/kickboxing style technique that he is famous for and that battle sequences are astonishing, along with some very outrageous stunts too. There’s a fight on a moving bus, plenty of gunplay in a parking garage and Donnie has a fight sequence with fellow wushu stylist John Salvitti. All and all, Yen, Kwok and Yan were like three chefs who cooked up a recipe for action in this masterpiece and it delivered the goods as expected.

Tiger Cage II delivers high-kicking action!

Donnie Yen squares off with fellow wushu stylist John Salvitti.

Standout Performances: Donnie Yen is pretty much the main attraction for this modern-day actioner and there’s a reason why: his physical prowess coupled with his character’s ‘never back down’ attitude is partly why Tiger Cage II is so much fun to watch. Though the character Dragon Yau is a surly guy with a bad attitude, he still has a good heart and does the right thing when his life or the life of his partner Mandy Chang is in jeopardy.

En garde!

Rosamund Kwan gets to play comedy sidekick and damsel in distress with her portrayal of Mandy Chang. Some people may write Kwan’s character off as slightly annoying and some people wondered why Donnie didn’t just dump her and deal with the bad guys on his own. Personally, I’m glad they didn’t write her character off because Kwan’s character serves as the voice of reason from time to time when Donnie Yen and David Wu’s characters start to fight over her. As cute as Miss Kwan is in this picture, you can’t really blame them for doing that.

The lovely Rosamund Kwan as damsel Mandy Chang.

David Wu gets some time to shine as a mystery man who comes to Donnie and Rosamund’s aid in helping them clear their names. David has a few good fight scenes in this film and he moves just like Donnie Yen in this film. I’m guessing he must’ve had some extra practice time when they were rehearsing the fight sequences because the guy moves with the speed of a leopard. With his skills, he should’ve became a big action star like Donnie did.

David Lai ready to rumble.

Before he became Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat, Robin Shou was doing films in Hong Kong and in Tiger Cage II, he truly gets to show is evil side with his portrayal of Waise Chow, a crooked attorney who has no qualms about setting up or killing his colleagues should they get in the way or attempt to expose him as a traitor to the organization that he works for. Robin gets to go toe-to-toe with Donnie as well as David at some point in the film but for the moments he’s onscreen, his character is extremely ruthless. There was even a part where Donnie was being tortured and he slapped poor Rosamund around when she was defiant to him during their capture. Needless to say, Robin did an excellent job with his portrayal of Waise Chow.

Robin shows he's not to be messed with.

Michael Woods and John Salvitti, Donnie’s sparring partners from the U.S. get to go head to head with their friend in this film with their portrayal of two mafia henchmen. Salvitti plays a battle-scarred swordsman who has a great sword fight sequence with Yen’s character and it almost reminds me of the Highlander series and one has to wonder why Donnie wasn’t hired to do the sword sequences for that series. Michael shows off sheer power and lightning sharp reflexes when he and Donnie have a rematch that’s almost as good as their fight from In the Line of Duty IV. Michael shows that a guy with his physique can be swift as a thunderbolt when he and Donnie square off with each other; he’s the first African-American stuntman that I’ve seen who can do H.K. fight choreography and his skills are very impressive.

John Salvitti and Michael Woods, ladies and gentlemen.

And while I want to say Cynthia Khan’s performance is a standout, she’s really not in the movie long enough to actually say that. She plays police inspector Madam Yeung (not sure if this is any relation to her character from the In the Line of Duty series) who is investigating the murders and though she has a few good fights, she’s not really given much screen time. Her character does play a part in the end of the movie, depending on which version the viewer has as this film has two alternate end sequences.

Gorgeous Cynthia Khan as police inspector Madam Yeung.

Reasons to Buy or Pass

1.   Buy if you’re a fan of Donnie Yen.

2.   Buy if you’re a fan of Yuen Wo Ping’s modern day action work.

3.   Buy if you like the lovely Rosamund Kwan.

4.   Pass if you prefer Donnie Yen doing old school kung fu period pieces.

5.   Pass if you don’t like seeing Robin Shou playing a villain.

6.   Buy if you like a lot of action but don’t care much for story.

Notes and Final Thoughts: The production crew from D&B Films really put their best foot forward with this action masterpiece and it ranks right up top with Wo Ping’s other masterpiece In the Line of Duty IV. Donnie Yen and company created a work of art that is true to the modern day action genre that Hong Kong cinema has always been known for over the years and it’s a shame that you don’t see this kind of heart and soul put into most of the new age films that come out now from Hong Kong. Tiger Cage II is high on action, simplistic in terms of plot and doesn’t fail to entertain. A classic like this is worth owning in one’s DVD collection and I highly encourage fans alike to purchase this film…the adrenaline rush it gives off will have you on the edge of your seat.

Final Score for this Adrenaline Rush: 5 and up!

Prepare to feel the sting of the 'Scorpion King'.

Plot: Yushu is a daydreaming adolescent who spends his free-time drawing comics, when he should be paying attention in class and when his fantasizing gets him in trouble with his teacher, Yushu is expelled from school. He has dreams of becoming a crime-fighter who uses martial arts to protect the small and the meek from the rich and corrupt and pretty soon Yushu gets his opportunity to be a champion of justice when he and his grumpy father rescue a slave-girl named Jade from the lustful advances of the wealthy and sleazy Mr. Wang. After hiding out at the restaurant of pacifist noodle chef Master Yee, Yushu decides to take a stand against corruption and to learn martial arts to help the greater good. Seeing potential in Yushu, Master Yee takes him on as his student and after much arduous training, the duo is finally ready to take the fight back to the enemy. Yushu himself will need every skill he has at his disposal when he must face off against Sonny Wang, Mr. Wang’s only son and bodyguard who is a master of the notorious ‘Scorpion Technique’ of kung fu. Will Yushu and Master Yee prevail in their battle to end slavery and corruption in their village? Or will they too fall victim to the awesome kicking power of the dreaded Scorpion King?

Chin Kar Lok and Kim Won Jin prepare for a showdown.

Thoughts on the Movie: This is yet another movie that fell into my list of collectibles after hearing recommendations from stuntman Eric Jacobus (from the Stuntpeople action team). He gave this movie such high praise from his reviews and I decided to purchase a copy based on what he described on his website. Needless to say, Eric knows his martial arts films because The Scorpion King (a.k.a. Operation Scorpio) was a treat to behold. The story was so-so and it gave interesting themes about standing up for what’s right and how one person can make a difference given the proper training and wisdom from their peers. Scorpion King has a lot going for it and the fight choreography definitely moves the story along and I found myself rooting for the good guys in this film from start to finish (although I rooted for the main villain of the story a little bit too because he had some outrageous fighting skills in this flick).

Yushu: Champion of Justice, Defender of the innocent.

Was it Funny?: Operation Scorpio does have some light-humored moments in it, but the movie borders more along the lines of adventure-drama than comedy.

How was the Action?: The action was splendid. Although, there were moments in the movie where wire-fu was used but the good thing is that the choreographer and stunt coordinators didn’t rely solely on wires alone. They allowed the martial artists to showcase what they knew on their own without wires and that alone made the movie all the more enjoyable to watch. Some of the fights in this movie have to be seen to believe as words alone can’t describe just how good some of the stage combat was in this movie. There’s also a moment in the movie where Chin Kar Lok and Liu Chia Liang’s characters are cooking noodles together and the writers of the story show that martial arts exist in everything we do whether it’s cooking, cleaning or getting ready to go to work or getting ready for bed. Kung Fu is everywhere…we just have to look hard enough to see it.

Master Yee and Yushu prepare for training.

Standout Performance: I’m guessing Hong Kong stuntman Chin Kar Lok wanted a breakout role to be in as he usually gets the part of stunt coordinatior or fight choreographer for some films. Here though, he gets top billing playing Yushu, the good-natured artist who spends more time drawing and daydreaming than he does focusing in class. I don’t really think this role fit him too well and Chin Kar doesn’t really get to fight much until later in the movie, instead bonding with his costar May Lo who plays slave-girl Jade. Chin Kar’s portrayal of Yushu was very heartwarming and he really put a lot of effort into playing the character, but there were times that his character came off rather bland. None the less, he gave it his all and he definitely deserves an ‘A’ for effort but gets a ‘C+’ for execution.

Stuntman Chin Kar Lok as Yushu

The late Liu Chia-Liang gets to showcase some of his Hung Gar skills in this movie playing pacifist noodle chef Master Yee. Liu’s portrayal of Master Yee was interesting as his character is a pacifist who despises violence but at the same time can’t stand to see innocents suffer. When the bad guys push their luck too far though, Liu’s character steps up to the plate and prepares to strike back with his apprentice Yushu and Yushu himself learns a secret about who his master really is and why the enemy shouldn’t press their luck with him. Liu’s character is a wise man with a willingness to help anybody who gets into trouble and the way he and Chin Kar Lok bond in this movie is magical.

The Late Liu Chia Liang as Master Yee prepares for combat.

But truth be told, the real standout performance in Operation Scorpio is Korean taekwondo stylist and wushu practitioner Kim Won Jin with his portrayal of Sonny Wang. Honest to God, Kim does things in this movie that will make your jaw drop to the floor. His acrobatics are astonishing and coupled with his kicking ability, the casting directors made a great choice in putting him in the role of Sonny the Scorpion King. Sonny is a nasty character when someone messes with his disabled father and he’ll kick the head off of anyone who harms his dear old dad. At times, I found it hard not to root for Sonny because he was a villain but the way he fights in this film is truly phenomenal! Kim was like…one part Yuen Biao and one part Hwang Jang Lee in this picture. Many people like myself all said that Kim should have had the part of Yushu more than Chin Kar Lok because when you see the way Kim fights in this story, you start to wonder why he didn’t get the part of the protagonist. It’s really a shame that Kim didn’t become a major star after his performance in Operation Scorpio but to this day, his portrayal of Sonny Wang is the most talked about character when brought up for discussion.

Sonny 'the Scorpion' Wang, played with ruthless perfection by Kim Won Jin!

Reasons to buy or pass 

 1.  Buy if you’re a fan of Chin Kar Lok or Liu Chia Liang.

 2.  Buy if you’re a fan of the great Kim Won Jin.

 3.  Buy if you like a kung fu story about fighting to end injustice.

 4.   Pass if you don’t like a story with sappy drama (some people may not like the times when the movie

  gets dramatic).

 5. Pass if you think Chin Kar Lok does better doing stunts than playing the lead.

 6. Pass if period martial arts pieces aren’t your thing.

Notes and Final Thoughts: The Scorpion King was a fun adventure-drama and the producers really pushed their creativity to the limits in this one. Kim Won Jin is probably the only real reason to buy this movie or rent it, but I think everyone else did a decent job also. Though the film has its cons, it’s still enjoyable if you focus more on the pros and try not to take it too seriously. If you like Kim Won Jin though, this movie is worthy of keeping in your collection.

Adrenaline rating for this flick: 4.5

Beware the wrath...of the Scorpion King!

Yuen Biao shows he's no 'Prodigal Son' when it comes to Wing Chun.

Plot: Leung Jan is a spoiled but good-natured rich kid who foolishly believes that he’s the ‘Kung Fu King’ of the martial arts world. Unbeknownst to Leung Jan, his opponents have lost to him on purpose at the behest of his father, who fears that Leung Jan will get hurt if he participates in real fights as Jan is the only male heir to their family’s position. When Leung Jan has an encounter with Peking Opera performer Leung Yee Tai, Jan is instantly awakened to the truth that he has no real martial arts abilities. Humiliated and honorless upon learning this painful revelation, Leung Jan is determined to be a real kung fu expert and he needs Yee Tai’s help to do so. Yee Tai however is reluctant to take Leung Yan on as his student as he feels the boy has no humility, yet Leung Jan is determined to become his pupil no matter what. When Ngai Fei, another wealthy but fierce fighter challenges Yee Tai to a duel, Yee Tai may have to consider taking Leung Jan on as his pupil…especially when Ngai Fei’s guards have been given orders to kill any of his opponents should they display better skills than him. Now it’s up to the Prodigal Son and his new found master to teach these adversaries what real kung fu is!

Thoughts on the Movie: When I started collecting digitally remastered movies from 20^th Century Fox, this movie fell into my list of treasures to purchase after reading a couple of reviews online. I had heard lots of wonderful things about Yuen Biao’s fighting expertise and after seeing him perform a little bit in ‘My Lucky Stars’ I was intrigued to know more about him. I gotta say, I couldn’t stop grinning at this comical kung fu tale as it was just phenomenal. Everything about this movie hit right on point: the filming locations and cinematography was beautiful, the actors all played their position and they played it extremely well with their performances and the fight scenes were breathtaking. There’s lots of good philosophy mixed in with the fighting elements as director Sammo Hung shows us the roots and elements to what makes the style of Wing Chun such an efficient and wonderful martial art. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if Ip Man and Leung Jan ever met at the same time in a film like this. The possibilities would be endless.

Was it Funny?: You better believe it was funny! There’s so many funny moments in this movie, your sides will be aching with laughter. After all, this movie stars one of the 7 Little Fortunes (Yuen Biao) and is directed by one of the 7 Little Fortunes (Sammo Hung). That in itself makes Prodigal Son a comical masterpiece to behold.

How was the Action?: The action in this martial arts masterpiece was splendid. No, I take that back…the action was wild. No, I take that back…the action was crazy fun! *sigh* I don’t know if there are any words that can really describe just how astounding the fight scenes in this movie were. Since it’s partly based around the story of Leung Jan learning Wing Chun, we get an inside look at how Leung Jan goes from ‘zero to hero’ through the wise teachings of Leung Yee Tai and later on Wong Wa Po, played by Sammo Hung himself. We have fights at a restaurant, at the opera troupe theatre…there’s even a scene where Sammo is doing all kinds of crazy acrobatics while doing calligraphy. And Frankie Chan shows he’s not to be messed with when he breaks out his Eagle Claw technique on any challenger that he comes across. If you don’t believe me, just check out the fight between him and James Tien earlier in the movie and you’ll agree that Frankie is the real deal…like Holyfield.

Standout Performance: This is Yuen Biao’s flick all the way. He’s the main attraction, the star of the silver screen with his portrayal of Leung Jan the Prodigal Son who is determined to be a real kung fu king. The scenes where Yee Tai constantly tries to test his patience to see if he’ll quit bugging him to be his master is priceless and Leung Jan keeps pushing forward no matter what kinds of humiliation he has to endure.

Yuen Biao as Leung Jan, master of the Wing Chun style.

The late Lam Ching Ying gives a fantastic performance as Yee Tai, the feminine-acting Peking opera performer who shows that he’s more than just an actor. Yee Tai is very adept at the art of Wing Chun and he shows that he knows how to hold his own. Biao’s character and many others underestimated Yee Tai earlier on, but Yee Tai certainly shows that he’s no fool. There’s even a time in the movie where he actually lightens up on Leung Jan and the two eventually begin a student-teacher bond that makes them inseparable like father and son. This man will be greatly missed.

The late Lam Ching Ying as Master Yee Tai (R.I.P. honorable master)

Sammo Hung gets in on the act too with his portrayal of Wong Wa Po, Yee Tai’s loud-mouthed swearing elder brother who also doesn’t take a liking to Leung Jan when the two of them meet, especially when he thinks that Leung Jan is trying to hit on his plump daughter Twiggy (Ho Wai-Han). Sammo doesn’t spend all of his time behind the scenes directing the cast, he shows that he can act too and the fight sequences that he, Biao and Lam Ching Ying worked on together in this film are astonishing.

Sammo 'Law' Hung as Sifu Wong Wa Po.

Last but not least there’s Frankie Chan, a well-known fight choreographer and stuntman who had lots of recognition during the modern day action crazed of the 80s and 90s. Many people know Frankie from films such as Outlaw Brothers and even Burning Ambition, but his portrayal of Ngai Fei in Prodigal Son is one that a lot of fans remember him for the most. Ngai Fei is not a villain in any way, shape or form…he’s just a guy who enjoys a good fight. Though Fei tends to go over the top and injure his opponents when they don’t live up to his expectations, he’s still an honorable man. He won’t fight opponents if they’re sick or not feeling well and he’s not interested in killing. Ngai Fei just wants to test his limits and see how far he can push himself in personal combat, so when he see Yee Tai’s abilities, he just can’t resist challenging him to a duel. Frankie played this part to perfection and his character stands out well just like Yuen Biao.

Frankie Chan striking a pose as royal duke Ngai Fei

Reasons to Buy or Pass

1. Buy if you’re a fan of Sammo Hung’s earlier works. 

2.Buy if you love period martial arts pieces like this one.

3.Buy if you’re a major fan of Yuen Biao (God knows I am now.)

4.Buy if you like martial arts stories about the wonderful art of Wing Chun.

5.Pass if period pieces like this aren’t your thing. (You're missing out if you do)

6. Buy if you love the mixture of comedy and kung fu in your movies.

 Final Thoughts and Notes

The Prodigal Son is a treasure that every martial arts movie collector should have in their possession. This film is like gold to me…a treasure that shows that the years of kung fu classics have not died and are still being preserved for everyone’s enjoyment. This movie isn’t just worth a rent…it’s worth purchasing. Buy it today and I guarantee you’ll never let it out of your possession.

Final Score for this Adrenaline Rush: 5 All the Way!

Duel of the young masters...which one will prevail?