I had read two reviews on this film before I saw it: one review highly recommended it and another criticized the lack of kicking from Hwang Jang Lee, the Korean super-kicker. I found myself agreeing with the former. I thought it was a really good martial arts film in the Drunken Master vein. The acrobatics performed by the leads are excellent. The choreography is very complex, but never too slow. Hwang gets to show off his excellent legwork, more so than I was led to believe. He does some great kicks in the long finale. There were some violent moments that I didn't care for. Overall, a fine kung fu movie.
6 Reviews
Hell wind's staff
coltras3530 November 2022
Kung Fu super villain, Hwang Jang-li (known among fans as "Silver Fox,") is the main attraction in this kung fu tale which was reportedly adapted from a comic book. Impudent but likeable kung fu students Tiger Wong (Meng Yuen Man) and Stone Dragon (Meng Hoi) have the potential to be great fighters but seem more interested in driving their teachers to distraction. Unfortunately, the death of their loved ones help them amend their ways and take their training seriously so they can get revenge...
Hwang Jang Lee is a total force to be reckon in this lively kung fu actioner - he fights on a different level, putting his legs and staff to brutal effect. It feels like he really intends to "incapacitate" whatever or whoever he hits. The first half has the usual Kung fu comedy shenanigans from the two students, but as predicted it gets serious in the second half, morphing into a revenge tale. The fight scenes can be quite intense, especially at the end where one of students called Dragon goes ga-ga and the villain dies in an absurdly brutal fashion. Can be a bit violent, though. It's overall an entertaining film with the intensity, humour and detailed character choreography boosting this one above average.
Hwang Jang Lee is a total force to be reckon in this lively kung fu actioner - he fights on a different level, putting his legs and staff to brutal effect. It feels like he really intends to "incapacitate" whatever or whoever he hits. The first half has the usual Kung fu comedy shenanigans from the two students, but as predicted it gets serious in the second half, morphing into a revenge tale. The fight scenes can be quite intense, especially at the end where one of students called Dragon goes ga-ga and the villain dies in an absurdly brutal fashion. Can be a bit violent, though. It's overall an entertaining film with the intensity, humour and detailed character choreography boosting this one above average.
Hwang Jang Lee, burning up the screen as always
Leofwine_draca19 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the outlandish title, HELL'Z WINDSTAFF is very much a typical DRUNKEN MASTER clone and even features Hwang Jang Lee duelling out in his stock 'master villain' type role. It's a star vehicle for the gently unassuming Hoi Mang, one of those actors who looks anything but a hero but whose endearing character and solid acting gradually wins you over; perhaps that's why he's so effective.
The plot really is nothing special here and involves plenty of knockabout comedy and the expected training sequences. Shaw Brothers performer Jason Pai Piao plays in support and various characters show up to betray and fight each other while Hwang Jang Lee lurks in the background looking menacing. Once all the master/teacher stuff is dispensed with, the film climaxes with an incredible, eye-popping, three on one fight climax in the woods which is masterful stuff and features an unexpectedly vicious end for Hwang Jang himself. The Korean bootmaster doesn't get to do much of his famed kicking here but as always he's the best thing about the production.
The plot really is nothing special here and involves plenty of knockabout comedy and the expected training sequences. Shaw Brothers performer Jason Pai Piao plays in support and various characters show up to betray and fight each other while Hwang Jang Lee lurks in the background looking menacing. Once all the master/teacher stuff is dispensed with, the film climaxes with an incredible, eye-popping, three on one fight climax in the woods which is masterful stuff and features an unexpectedly vicious end for Hwang Jang himself. The Korean bootmaster doesn't get to do much of his famed kicking here but as always he's the best thing about the production.
This one seems to be vastly under-rated
suzanne-244 August 2003
I have just finished Hell'z Windstaff and I am just blown away. I have wanted to see this film since I became a big fan of Hwang Jang Lee and I am not disappointed.
This film has a lot to offer. If you like your kung fu movie with a lot of Szechuan spice then this one is for you. It's quite violent in places but it is tempered with a lot of humour.
I do not believe in telling the whole story here but as you can probably guess it is a film about good triumphing over evil. But in order to do so, most of the cast is bumped off by sticks. And the evil is delightfully provided by Master Hwang. He is just so devastating but, oh wait, every so often I saw someone doing his stunts for him. The stunts were mainly of a spinning acrobatic nature. Rest assured all those kicks and manoevers with the Devil Sticks are all his own doing.
And just to tease you all, you simply have to see the end of this film. One of the two pesky boys does a little piece de resistance; something out of the ordinary with Master Hwang before finally doing him in. I nearly did my own backward somersault flip when I saw it.
This film has a lot to offer. If you like your kung fu movie with a lot of Szechuan spice then this one is for you. It's quite violent in places but it is tempered with a lot of humour.
I do not believe in telling the whole story here but as you can probably guess it is a film about good triumphing over evil. But in order to do so, most of the cast is bumped off by sticks. And the evil is delightfully provided by Master Hwang. He is just so devastating but, oh wait, every so often I saw someone doing his stunts for him. The stunts were mainly of a spinning acrobatic nature. Rest assured all those kicks and manoevers with the Devil Sticks are all his own doing.
And just to tease you all, you simply have to see the end of this film. One of the two pesky boys does a little piece de resistance; something out of the ordinary with Master Hwang before finally doing him in. I nearly did my own backward somersault flip when I saw it.
The Lord of the Leg does it again!
sujesh8031 January 2004
I don't know why this movie has such a low score, it's got good fighting scenes. Superkicker Hwang Jang Lee delivers great kicks and we get to see him use the bo (stick). The kung fu twins display great acrobatics. The movie also has humor, but it's not too corny. Just like drunken master, this movie features aaaaa looooot of fighting scenes and training sequences. Almost every scene acts as a setup to a fight or training scene (meaning that the talking in the movie is kept to a minimum). Just as any excellent kung fu movie should be.
The fights ARE the story
ckormos117 September 2016
!979 was a prolific year (if not the most prolific) in the history of martial arts movies. It is always difficult to rate these movies into some kind of Top Ten for many reasons. Yet, for me there is no doubt this is one of the best movies of 1979.
These movies sometimes get criticized for having no story yet in the best of these movies the fights ARE the story. Good fight choreography tells the story and advances the plot. The stuff in between the fights could actually be removed and the fights alone would still tell the story. For example a fight where two buddies are clowning around should look totally different from a fight where a student is challenging the skill of a master. Plus a fight where a student is challenging the skill of a master should look totally different when the student is the good guy compared to when the student is the bad guy. If the fight is choreographed well the viewer should be able to skip to the fight and tell exactly what is going on in the story.
This movie does all of that plus a side of fries. I was not surprised to see the Yuen clan credits as fight choreographers. Every fight in this movie tells a different part of the story and because of that every fight is unique. It has the expected training sequence with the physical torture and more. The martial arts moves shown during the training sequence are repeated in the final fight to show that they actually have a fighting application.
I was unsure of the comedy in the final fight. At first it seemed the final fight should be totally serious and comedy had no place there. The Yuen brothers got it right. There had to be comedy in the final fight. Actually the ridiculous part where Hwang Jang-Lee gets his comeuppance is pure genius.
I rate this as mandatory viewing for fans. It is an educational experience in fight choreography in addition to pure entertainment. I rate it as 9 out of 10 and I only gave out one 10 ever.
These movies sometimes get criticized for having no story yet in the best of these movies the fights ARE the story. Good fight choreography tells the story and advances the plot. The stuff in between the fights could actually be removed and the fights alone would still tell the story. For example a fight where two buddies are clowning around should look totally different from a fight where a student is challenging the skill of a master. Plus a fight where a student is challenging the skill of a master should look totally different when the student is the good guy compared to when the student is the bad guy. If the fight is choreographed well the viewer should be able to skip to the fight and tell exactly what is going on in the story.
This movie does all of that plus a side of fries. I was not surprised to see the Yuen clan credits as fight choreographers. Every fight in this movie tells a different part of the story and because of that every fight is unique. It has the expected training sequence with the physical torture and more. The martial arts moves shown during the training sequence are repeated in the final fight to show that they actually have a fighting application.
I was unsure of the comedy in the final fight. At first it seemed the final fight should be totally serious and comedy had no place there. The Yuen brothers got it right. There had to be comedy in the final fight. Actually the ridiculous part where Hwang Jang-Lee gets his comeuppance is pure genius.
I rate this as mandatory viewing for fans. It is an educational experience in fight choreography in addition to pure entertainment. I rate it as 9 out of 10 and I only gave out one 10 ever.
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