You know that this unconnected sequel to a Bruce Lee flick is going to be a piece of trash when you notice the names of the "unholy trio" appearing when the credits role - I'm talking about Godfrey Ho, Joseph Lai and Tomas Tang, three men responsible for bringing some of the cheapest, tackiest martial arts action to cinema screens. From the opening wannabe tragic scenes to the cheeky message "see you again" at the film's close - and we sure would see them again, thanks to the dozens of ninja movies they made that flooded the world's market in the mid '80s - Big Boss 2 is one big, fantastic spectacle.
It doesn't start off too well, with an oh-so-predictable plot line to bore you. A boy's parents are brutally murdered, so as an adult he plans to revenge himself on the villain responsible. He goes in but is badly beaten by the enemy and barely escapes with his life - so enlisting the help of a teacher, he learns the true art of kung fu and returns for a fight to the death. Yadda yadda yadda. Sure, the first half hour of this flick is predictable and uninteresting... but then things start to get good. Events build up to the final half hour, one big long section of martial arts mayhem combining all kinds of fantastic elements to make things stranger and thus more entertaining. This is one of those films where fighters can fly up to stand in tree branches and train themselves by carrying buckets up hills and kicking out candles with their feet.
Casanova Wong (GAME OF DEATH) is astonishing as the lead, utilising the length of his legs for some incredible high-kicking action towards the end. My favourite move sees him jump on to two men's shoulders, kicking them in the face and then jump-kicking a third guy, all in one quick fluid take. When some of his kicks are slowed down you realise just how good the guy is, and he's very good. Which is essential because the villains are really sneaky here - they hide in the floor and attack him with really nasty weapons - flails, poles, metal claws on chains, you name it. It may not be pure art, but this film sure is entertainingly trashy and its a hoot for fight flick fans.
It doesn't start off too well, with an oh-so-predictable plot line to bore you. A boy's parents are brutally murdered, so as an adult he plans to revenge himself on the villain responsible. He goes in but is badly beaten by the enemy and barely escapes with his life - so enlisting the help of a teacher, he learns the true art of kung fu and returns for a fight to the death. Yadda yadda yadda. Sure, the first half hour of this flick is predictable and uninteresting... but then things start to get good. Events build up to the final half hour, one big long section of martial arts mayhem combining all kinds of fantastic elements to make things stranger and thus more entertaining. This is one of those films where fighters can fly up to stand in tree branches and train themselves by carrying buckets up hills and kicking out candles with their feet.
Casanova Wong (GAME OF DEATH) is astonishing as the lead, utilising the length of his legs for some incredible high-kicking action towards the end. My favourite move sees him jump on to two men's shoulders, kicking them in the face and then jump-kicking a third guy, all in one quick fluid take. When some of his kicks are slowed down you realise just how good the guy is, and he's very good. Which is essential because the villains are really sneaky here - they hide in the floor and attack him with really nasty weapons - flails, poles, metal claws on chains, you name it. It may not be pure art, but this film sure is entertainingly trashy and its a hoot for fight flick fans.