This is one of the great modern kung fu films. A lot of the reviews seem to miss the point that the comedy is based on a quite subtle at times (at other times right in your face) contrast between old and new China. Kara Hui for instance is called a country bumpkin and gets into trouble whenever she tries to adapt to the new but in the end to save her families honour dresses as an old fashioned heroine in contrast to the modern military style of Hsiao Ho. Gordon Liu seems to have played his part for laughs playing off his serious, monk persona with silly wigs and a guitar. The end fight is simply fantastic and ends in a defeat for Johnny Wang rather than death. Kwan Yung Moon should be mentioned for his great playing of a thug with 'invincible armour' - simply terrific. And Kara Hui does some magnificent acting and fighting. A great film.
13 Reviews
She's a dashing "Young Auntie"
dee.reid4 January 2019
Liu Chia-Liang's 1981 martial arts action-comedy is a rather unusual entry in the Shaw Brothers Studio output of kung-fu kick-'em-ups released in the '70s and '80s. "My Young Auntie" has a very strong emphasis on slapstick comedy - which stretches a lot further than I think the material really allows it to - over elaborately staged fighting sequences, which don't really come into play until the film's last half-hour.
Until then, the audience has to sit through a lot of familial comedy, which does not always work, and can make the film a drag. (It's 124 minutes in length, according to the official runtime on the Dragon Dynasty DVD, but it actually clocks in somewhere around 119 minutes.) Even I found the slapstick comedy to bring the film to a halt in some places, which is sometimes alleviated by a well-choreographed, if slapstick, fight scene, which seems more in the vein of Jackie Chan.
But even in the midst of it all, we get one of the very best performances out of its lead actress, who became one of the more noteworthy female martial arts action stars of her era. In the film, Tai-Nan Cheng (Kara Hui, credited here by her birth name, Hui Ying-Hung) is the dedicated servant of a dying elderly patriarch who marries him to prevent his inheritance from falling into the hands of his greedy brother Yu Yung-Sheng (Wang Lung-Wei). And of course, she butts heads with her new in-laws, even as she continually clashes with Yu Yung-Sheng's band of hired martial arts-trained hoodlums.
"My Young Auntie" primarily suffers from an overly long running time, which causes the slapstick comedy bits to wear themselves out pretty quickly and leaves you waiting for the fighting to begin. Perhaps if "My Young Auntie" was shorter, this could have worked. But what keeps you watching, really, is the dashing lead performance of Kara Hui, who had no prior martial arts background (she was a dancer), but relied on her physicality and grace to aid her in the film's fight scenes. And this also means that she is a great actress, too, and is easy on the eyes. In short, Kara Hui really carries this film.
All in all, if you're in the mood for a kung-fu movie that's slightly different from so many of the others, then give "My Young Auntie" a spin - if for nothing else, to watch Kara Hui in action.
7/10
Until then, the audience has to sit through a lot of familial comedy, which does not always work, and can make the film a drag. (It's 124 minutes in length, according to the official runtime on the Dragon Dynasty DVD, but it actually clocks in somewhere around 119 minutes.) Even I found the slapstick comedy to bring the film to a halt in some places, which is sometimes alleviated by a well-choreographed, if slapstick, fight scene, which seems more in the vein of Jackie Chan.
But even in the midst of it all, we get one of the very best performances out of its lead actress, who became one of the more noteworthy female martial arts action stars of her era. In the film, Tai-Nan Cheng (Kara Hui, credited here by her birth name, Hui Ying-Hung) is the dedicated servant of a dying elderly patriarch who marries him to prevent his inheritance from falling into the hands of his greedy brother Yu Yung-Sheng (Wang Lung-Wei). And of course, she butts heads with her new in-laws, even as she continually clashes with Yu Yung-Sheng's band of hired martial arts-trained hoodlums.
"My Young Auntie" primarily suffers from an overly long running time, which causes the slapstick comedy bits to wear themselves out pretty quickly and leaves you waiting for the fighting to begin. Perhaps if "My Young Auntie" was shorter, this could have worked. But what keeps you watching, really, is the dashing lead performance of Kara Hui, who had no prior martial arts background (she was a dancer), but relied on her physicality and grace to aid her in the film's fight scenes. And this also means that she is a great actress, too, and is easy on the eyes. In short, Kara Hui really carries this film.
All in all, if you're in the mood for a kung-fu movie that's slightly different from so many of the others, then give "My Young Auntie" a spin - if for nothing else, to watch Kara Hui in action.
7/10
A disappointed romantic comedy meets a bit boring kung-fu movie !
elshikh414 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Sure we're accustomed to the American movies, and their formulas. In the same time, it isn't a problem to be accustomed to other formulas, as long as they proved themselves solid. This time, I think it didn't.
At its start, the movie puts a story with a great basis. A widow grand auntie, who is less than 20 year old, hides her youth, and suppresses her rebellion under so serious looks, and old fashioned clothes. Now she meets someone of her age, who's totally the opposite, so love must be in the air by now. Le alone that there is also an evil antagonist who chases both, and wants to steal and destroy them.
So, it's some romantic comedy about clinging to the past, while not living the present (the girl represents the past of Hong Kung, while the boy is the present with all the recent inventions, modern culture,.. etc), and it's a kung-fu movie in which fights must solve a big conflict, and beat a very wily relative who has such an incredible booby-trapped house, and unbeatable henchmen.
The thing is the romance wasn't completed. I don't know is it inappropriate, in the Hong Kung's culture, for the guy to marry the girl at last?! And the climactic sequences went on and on, like it's forever. True that bringing the 4 old men into the battle was a good move that should attract the older audience, giving Chia-Liang Liu, who played the character of Yu Ching-Chuen, and wrote / directed the movie, the time of his life as well. But I felt so board, especially with not changing the place.
The movie has a sense of difference for the Shaw Brothers movies at the time. I mean we have the 20th century's start, automobiles, masquerades, singing, dancing, being so far away from the Shaolin Monastery and the bald monks! Though, in terms of the movie's undertone substance, I believe that progress isn't about learning dancing, getting more sexual, or forgetting decency. Tending to certain western values, while disengaging from your eastern roots, isn't always a winning.
Save the last 20 minutes, still this movie is so watchable. Kara Hui is the jewel of it as the auntie. She proves that her acting is as perfect as her martial arts. It's fascinating how she was turning from a staid statue into just a teen girl with all the natural astonishment. Her amazed looks to a new colorful world, which she didn't experience before, waking up her youth inside, assured how a gifted actress she is. Fair enough to win the Best Actress honors at the first annual Hong Kong Film Awards for that performance.
Chia-Liang Liu wasn't less powerful himself, making such a nice character. And I believe by writing that end, he kind of implied that the new generation can't have victory only by itself; they need the older generation to really overpower.
Hou Hsiao, as the son Ah Tao, was the least interesting cast-member, doing well in the fighting scenes and the comic ones, while lacking the charisma of everyone around. The cameo of the legendary Chia Hui Liu (aka: Gordon Liu) as the friend James was odd, he didn't do much as if that was a rest role for him, and he looked extremely ridiculous in that big blond wig too!
My Young Auntie is enjoyable. I liked most of its story, comedy, and action. This time, the Shaw Brothers films proved that they could do something else pure martial arts. However, the third act ruined the taste of the final product. Whether it was a movie from Hong Kong, or Hollywood, it needed more balanced climax. Sometimes, breaking some rules isn't for the sake of its breakers.
At its start, the movie puts a story with a great basis. A widow grand auntie, who is less than 20 year old, hides her youth, and suppresses her rebellion under so serious looks, and old fashioned clothes. Now she meets someone of her age, who's totally the opposite, so love must be in the air by now. Le alone that there is also an evil antagonist who chases both, and wants to steal and destroy them.
So, it's some romantic comedy about clinging to the past, while not living the present (the girl represents the past of Hong Kung, while the boy is the present with all the recent inventions, modern culture,.. etc), and it's a kung-fu movie in which fights must solve a big conflict, and beat a very wily relative who has such an incredible booby-trapped house, and unbeatable henchmen.
The thing is the romance wasn't completed. I don't know is it inappropriate, in the Hong Kung's culture, for the guy to marry the girl at last?! And the climactic sequences went on and on, like it's forever. True that bringing the 4 old men into the battle was a good move that should attract the older audience, giving Chia-Liang Liu, who played the character of Yu Ching-Chuen, and wrote / directed the movie, the time of his life as well. But I felt so board, especially with not changing the place.
The movie has a sense of difference for the Shaw Brothers movies at the time. I mean we have the 20th century's start, automobiles, masquerades, singing, dancing, being so far away from the Shaolin Monastery and the bald monks! Though, in terms of the movie's undertone substance, I believe that progress isn't about learning dancing, getting more sexual, or forgetting decency. Tending to certain western values, while disengaging from your eastern roots, isn't always a winning.
Save the last 20 minutes, still this movie is so watchable. Kara Hui is the jewel of it as the auntie. She proves that her acting is as perfect as her martial arts. It's fascinating how she was turning from a staid statue into just a teen girl with all the natural astonishment. Her amazed looks to a new colorful world, which she didn't experience before, waking up her youth inside, assured how a gifted actress she is. Fair enough to win the Best Actress honors at the first annual Hong Kong Film Awards for that performance.
Chia-Liang Liu wasn't less powerful himself, making such a nice character. And I believe by writing that end, he kind of implied that the new generation can't have victory only by itself; they need the older generation to really overpower.
Hou Hsiao, as the son Ah Tao, was the least interesting cast-member, doing well in the fighting scenes and the comic ones, while lacking the charisma of everyone around. The cameo of the legendary Chia Hui Liu (aka: Gordon Liu) as the friend James was odd, he didn't do much as if that was a rest role for him, and he looked extremely ridiculous in that big blond wig too!
My Young Auntie is enjoyable. I liked most of its story, comedy, and action. This time, the Shaw Brothers films proved that they could do something else pure martial arts. However, the third act ruined the taste of the final product. Whether it was a movie from Hong Kong, or Hollywood, it needed more balanced climax. Sometimes, breaking some rules isn't for the sake of its breakers.
Comic kung fu with the lovely Kara Hui Ying Hung
BrianDanaCamp11 May 2001
MY YOUNG AUNTIE (1981) is a clever Hong Kong comedy incorporating kung fu battles, starring and directed by master kung fu director Lau Kar Leung (aka Liu Chia Liang), who takes a break here from more intense kung fu fests like THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN and EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN. The story, set in the early 20th century, involves a dispute over family property after Lau is visited by the very pretty young widow (Kara Hui Ying Hung) of his aged uncle. Because of her status as the wife of the eldest family member, she's considered the senior member and the others defer to her. (She also knows kung fu.) When another, greedier relative, played by perennial villain Wang Lung Wei, disputes the will, this leads to a major kung fu battle between Lau and Wang. Appearing in a comic supporting role as a guitar-strumming college boy is Gordon Liu.
Much of the comedy arises from country bumpkin-in-the-big city-type gags as the young widow, newly arrived from the rural countryside, tries to fit in. At one point, she buys a whole new outfit, overdressing in a fancy white gown, high heels and jewelry, but she winds up getting into a kung fu fight anyway. At one point the college boys stage a costume ball: Kara goes as Marie Antoinette, while her great nephew, played by Hsiao Hou, who's the same age as her, goes as Robin Hood. Gordon Liu is one of the Three Musketeers and gets into a sword fight with a couple of thugs dressed as musketeers also. It's all a lot of fun, as long as you don't mind the comedy upstaging the kung fu for a change.
Much of the comedy arises from country bumpkin-in-the-big city-type gags as the young widow, newly arrived from the rural countryside, tries to fit in. At one point, she buys a whole new outfit, overdressing in a fancy white gown, high heels and jewelry, but she winds up getting into a kung fu fight anyway. At one point the college boys stage a costume ball: Kara goes as Marie Antoinette, while her great nephew, played by Hsiao Hou, who's the same age as her, goes as Robin Hood. Gordon Liu is one of the Three Musketeers and gets into a sword fight with a couple of thugs dressed as musketeers also. It's all a lot of fun, as long as you don't mind the comedy upstaging the kung fu for a change.
114 minutes are too many for a movie without a script
gridoon202411 August 2008
"My Young Auntie" seems to be considered a minor kung fu classic by some people, and indeed it has a lot to admire: Kara Hui is a marvel to watch in action (with each new film I see her in, I become more and more convinced that she must be one of the 5 greatest female fighters in movie history; she is also underrated in terms of beauty), Hsiao Hou makes a very compatible and playful partner / rival for her, and old-school kung fu fans are sure to get a kick out of the final fight between Liu Chia Liang and his "evil" relative. The problem is that the film barely has enough story for 14 minutes, and yet it goes on for 114! Needless to say, it feels overlong. The last half hour is non-stop fighting: this may sound good in theory, but in this case it becomes repetitive, perhaps even exhausting. Also, it's a little weird that the central character, the Auntie of the title, is almost completely written off the action during the finale. (**1/2)
My Dear Auntie
BandSAboutMovies4 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Directed by Lau Kar Leung, My Young Auntie introduces us to Cheng Tai-nun (Kara Hui), who has married her master, an elderly landownerm so that the old man could keep his estate from ending up in the greedy hands of his brother Yung-Sheng (Wang Lung Wei) and instead go to his favorite nephew Yu Cheng-chuan (Lau Kar Leung) and his son Yu Tao (Hsiao Ho).
Everyone Cheng Tai-nun meets expects her - an auntie, as the title says - to be an old woman and she's continually upset by the rudeness of modern China, rudeness that she returns in kind by beating grown men into whimpering pulps. Because this auntie is also a martial arts champion, or course.
The centerpiece of this film is a costume party in which Cheng Tai-nun fights an entire room full of evildoers while dressed in the finest of clothes, using swords, kicks and near-dance like moves to easily best numerous men. It's like a musical sequence with violence and such a thrill.
Kara Hui is really wonderful in this. She had trained as a dancer, which will be obvious when you watch it, as she's incredibly graceful even when she's brutalizing dudes. It's also kind of awesome to see a Shaw Brothers movie where the entire story revolves around the modern world and how the China of the past must come up to speed with it, including redefining the role of what had been seen as the weaker sex. That said, it's not a boring message movie. Instead, it's totally fun.
Everyone Cheng Tai-nun meets expects her - an auntie, as the title says - to be an old woman and she's continually upset by the rudeness of modern China, rudeness that she returns in kind by beating grown men into whimpering pulps. Because this auntie is also a martial arts champion, or course.
The centerpiece of this film is a costume party in which Cheng Tai-nun fights an entire room full of evildoers while dressed in the finest of clothes, using swords, kicks and near-dance like moves to easily best numerous men. It's like a musical sequence with violence and such a thrill.
Kara Hui is really wonderful in this. She had trained as a dancer, which will be obvious when you watch it, as she's incredibly graceful even when she's brutalizing dudes. It's also kind of awesome to see a Shaw Brothers movie where the entire story revolves around the modern world and how the China of the past must come up to speed with it, including redefining the role of what had been seen as the weaker sex. That said, it's not a boring message movie. Instead, it's totally fun.
along the lines of a Hollywood-style musical
winner5527 July 2006
Some martial-arts purists think that comedy was the worst thing that could have happened to the old-school kung-fu flick; and it is true that the introduction of comedy into the genre signaled the end of the "chop-socky" period in Hong Kong film. But the fact is, one can only carry-on a primarily physical exhibition of prowess for just so long, then everyone gets bored with it. And that's really why the chop-socky died and how the Hong Kong "New Wave" action film was born: the producers, the actors, the directors all just got bored with hitting people for ninety-minutes straight.
Given that, and given the fact that Liu Chia Liang is a professional director with a considerable list of films in his resume, this film has to be seen as something other than just another kung-fu comedy. Rather, it is a comic film within the martial-arts genre, and in fact one of the best ever made.
What Liu has done with this film is really a pleasant surprise: he has taken a martial-arts plot and re-constructed it along the lines of a Hollywood-style musical! Complete with episodes of singing and dancing! It was around the time of the making of this film that some film-makers and film fans began to recognize that the cinematic performance of martial-arts (really derived from the acrobatics of the Chinese opera) has more in common with dance than with fighting. (I will continue to point out this connection until most Americans realize what they are actually supposed to look for when watching a martial arts film - well-choreographed body movements, using the plot of an action film as an excuse for their performance.) At any rate, quite clearly Liu Chia Liang made this connection and decided he would explore it close to its limits.
The result is an incredibly charming entertainment, filled with marvelously human characters attempting miraculous kung-fu (and tripping over their own shoelaces as often as not when they do so). and the film being set at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, allows Liu the opportunity to explore the nature of the Westernization and Modernization of China that contributed so greatly to the making of the China we know today. So the film has considerable historical import as well.
Also, fans of Stephen Chow's recent Kung Fu Hustle should really watch this movie carefully, as Chow clearly learned from it before the making of his own film.
A very amusing, well-made film. Oh, yes, and the kung fu in it is really, really good.
Purists won't admit it, but this is probably director Liu's best film.
Given that, and given the fact that Liu Chia Liang is a professional director with a considerable list of films in his resume, this film has to be seen as something other than just another kung-fu comedy. Rather, it is a comic film within the martial-arts genre, and in fact one of the best ever made.
What Liu has done with this film is really a pleasant surprise: he has taken a martial-arts plot and re-constructed it along the lines of a Hollywood-style musical! Complete with episodes of singing and dancing! It was around the time of the making of this film that some film-makers and film fans began to recognize that the cinematic performance of martial-arts (really derived from the acrobatics of the Chinese opera) has more in common with dance than with fighting. (I will continue to point out this connection until most Americans realize what they are actually supposed to look for when watching a martial arts film - well-choreographed body movements, using the plot of an action film as an excuse for their performance.) At any rate, quite clearly Liu Chia Liang made this connection and decided he would explore it close to its limits.
The result is an incredibly charming entertainment, filled with marvelously human characters attempting miraculous kung-fu (and tripping over their own shoelaces as often as not when they do so). and the film being set at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, allows Liu the opportunity to explore the nature of the Westernization and Modernization of China that contributed so greatly to the making of the China we know today. So the film has considerable historical import as well.
Also, fans of Stephen Chow's recent Kung Fu Hustle should really watch this movie carefully, as Chow clearly learned from it before the making of his own film.
A very amusing, well-made film. Oh, yes, and the kung fu in it is really, really good.
Purists won't admit it, but this is probably director Liu's best film.
Comedy, music, and action from the Shaw Brothers studio
Leofwine_draca11 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
MY YOUNG AUNTIE offers something a little different to the usual Shaw Brothers film. This one goes down the comedy musical route and it's something of an overlong piece at two hours, but it still manages to pack in all of the fight action that you expect from Shaw; it's simply that the rest of the film is unlike the majority of the studio's action output.
The main thrust of the story concerns the lovely Kara Hui and the unusual situation in which she finds herself: married to an elderly chap who dies, she is now the senior woman of the family, the titular character, to whom others must defer to despite her youth and beauty. Thus this is a fish-out-of-water comedy, with a lot of slapstick and knockabout humour arising from Hui's relationship with the bratty youth played by Hsiao Hou.
Hou doesn't often get the chance to shine in the films but he makes a big impact here, and is funny and a great fighter to boot. Presiding over things (he wrote and directed, as well as co-starring) is Liu Chia-Liang with a strong role that dominates the action at the climax. In support are Wang Lung Wei playing his usual stock mega-villain, Gordon Liu in an amusing cameo as a westernised Chinese, and Yuen Tak, one of the least known of the famous 'Seven Yuens' which included Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. The musical scenes are surprisingly a lot of fun and the comedy works well too. The highlight is undoubtedly the sight of seeing Hui kung fu-fighting in a dress that shows off her lovely figure; she's a real star in this one.
The main thrust of the story concerns the lovely Kara Hui and the unusual situation in which she finds herself: married to an elderly chap who dies, she is now the senior woman of the family, the titular character, to whom others must defer to despite her youth and beauty. Thus this is a fish-out-of-water comedy, with a lot of slapstick and knockabout humour arising from Hui's relationship with the bratty youth played by Hsiao Hou.
Hou doesn't often get the chance to shine in the films but he makes a big impact here, and is funny and a great fighter to boot. Presiding over things (he wrote and directed, as well as co-starring) is Liu Chia-Liang with a strong role that dominates the action at the climax. In support are Wang Lung Wei playing his usual stock mega-villain, Gordon Liu in an amusing cameo as a westernised Chinese, and Yuen Tak, one of the least known of the famous 'Seven Yuens' which included Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. The musical scenes are surprisingly a lot of fun and the comedy works well too. The highlight is undoubtedly the sight of seeing Hui kung fu-fighting in a dress that shows off her lovely figure; she's a real star in this one.
Charming Tale of an Odd Generational Gap
zacelmenreich9 September 2009
If you're looking for a kung-fu action movie, look elsewhere. While there are fighting scenes, the film revolves around its provincial protagonist, who struggles to find her way in Americanized Canton. Unlike most "kung-fu comedies," the action scenes are used to reinforce the comedy, instead of the other way around.
Cheung Booi is a statement about the farcical nature of kung-fu movies, where the stars always seem to find some reason to fight. Instead of some grand drama about honor and respect, minor misunderstandings cause the characters to yell at each other and start beating each other up.
My Young Auntie, as it's known in the West, is the story of Cheng Tai-nun, played by Kara Hui, who is a young woman who marries an elderly landowner to keep his holdings from falling into the hands of his greedy and corrupt brother. After he dies, she moves to Canton to live with her nephew, played by director Lau Kar Leung, and his son Ah Tao, played by Hsiao Ho.
The basis of the irony is that although Cheng is the same age as Ah Tao, her manner is more akin to her status as his step-great-aunt. While Ah Tao speaks English (extremely poorly), plays the guitar and goes to costume parties, Cheng utterly fails when she tries to adapt to her lifestyle in Canton, complete with makeup, revealing gowns, high heels and dance scenes.
What makes this movie great is its realization. Lau Kar Leung is perhaps one of the greatest, if not the greatest director of his generation in Hong Kong, and Kara Hui won "Best Actress" at the first Hong Kong Film Awards in 1982. Also, this is arguably Hsiao Ho's finest performance. His chemistry with Hui is remarkable, and although he went on to have a storied career in kung-fu comedies, often working alongside Sammo Hung, he has the perfect combination of athleticism and comedy. As the romantic tension and intrigue build in the second half of the movie, his entire countenance changes. No longer does he easily jaunt through life without a care in the world. He becomes the straight man and his cohorts the Kramer, Elaine and George.
My one complaint is how suddenly the comedic aspects of the film die off during the conclusion. The film transitions from outright farce to dramatic intrigue with little but a change in incidental music. But there is a certain symmetry in it. The film begins focused on the intrigue, focused more on Lau Kar Leung's character, and it ends that way, too. But the final scene returns to the movie's comedic roots, giving conclusion to both aspects of the film.
Cheung Booi is a statement about the farcical nature of kung-fu movies, where the stars always seem to find some reason to fight. Instead of some grand drama about honor and respect, minor misunderstandings cause the characters to yell at each other and start beating each other up.
My Young Auntie, as it's known in the West, is the story of Cheng Tai-nun, played by Kara Hui, who is a young woman who marries an elderly landowner to keep his holdings from falling into the hands of his greedy and corrupt brother. After he dies, she moves to Canton to live with her nephew, played by director Lau Kar Leung, and his son Ah Tao, played by Hsiao Ho.
The basis of the irony is that although Cheng is the same age as Ah Tao, her manner is more akin to her status as his step-great-aunt. While Ah Tao speaks English (extremely poorly), plays the guitar and goes to costume parties, Cheng utterly fails when she tries to adapt to her lifestyle in Canton, complete with makeup, revealing gowns, high heels and dance scenes.
What makes this movie great is its realization. Lau Kar Leung is perhaps one of the greatest, if not the greatest director of his generation in Hong Kong, and Kara Hui won "Best Actress" at the first Hong Kong Film Awards in 1982. Also, this is arguably Hsiao Ho's finest performance. His chemistry with Hui is remarkable, and although he went on to have a storied career in kung-fu comedies, often working alongside Sammo Hung, he has the perfect combination of athleticism and comedy. As the romantic tension and intrigue build in the second half of the movie, his entire countenance changes. No longer does he easily jaunt through life without a care in the world. He becomes the straight man and his cohorts the Kramer, Elaine and George.
My one complaint is how suddenly the comedic aspects of the film die off during the conclusion. The film transitions from outright farce to dramatic intrigue with little but a change in incidental music. But there is a certain symmetry in it. The film begins focused on the intrigue, focused more on Lau Kar Leung's character, and it ends that way, too. But the final scene returns to the movie's comedic roots, giving conclusion to both aspects of the film.
It lacks Jackie Chan (or Sammo Hung) badly...
AndreiPavlov17 February 2016
...and these words are NOT from a Jackie/Sammo fan. The point is that, for instance, Mr Jackie Chan is able to give us a perfect mixture of comedy and drama (well, not always of course) and here the young actor ("Student") can deliver neither comedy nor drama, at least he cannot do it properly (but mostly in a nauseating, even repulsive way). "Auntie" is very impressive as the movie starts but further on she gets more and more manipulative, becoming a kind of rag doll who gets in corny situations. Some parts of the flick are too prolonged, stupid and simply awful (like "the musketeers masquerade fight" - it's so bad that my urge was to shut the whole cinema down, or "the serenade dance" in front of "Auntie" - the Chinese actors were pathetic and it was painful to watch this dancing-singing schlock).
The story had sucked me in to watch this one and the beginning looked promising, but soon it all turned out to be a mediocre kung-fu flick of a dubious quality. The funny moments are very scanty and the fights (tons of them here, but... in vain) don't feel impressive to me (because the director failed to build up the story and the characters). It's very sad that the leading actress, being so beautiful and knowing how to kick some rear, falls flat because of poor direction and because her overacting colleague ("student") looks and sounds embarrassing. Besides, the main villain's character is very underdeveloped. What do we know about him apart from wanting to get the property and having a bunch of henchmen?
Just a 3 out of 10 for this third rate flick from the past (the IMDb rating here was absolutely misleading to me, and these Chinese actors ruined my evening when my plan had been to enjoy a kung-fu cinema of good quality). Thanks for attention.
The story had sucked me in to watch this one and the beginning looked promising, but soon it all turned out to be a mediocre kung-fu flick of a dubious quality. The funny moments are very scanty and the fights (tons of them here, but... in vain) don't feel impressive to me (because the director failed to build up the story and the characters). It's very sad that the leading actress, being so beautiful and knowing how to kick some rear, falls flat because of poor direction and because her overacting colleague ("student") looks and sounds embarrassing. Besides, the main villain's character is very underdeveloped. What do we know about him apart from wanting to get the property and having a bunch of henchmen?
Just a 3 out of 10 for this third rate flick from the past (the IMDb rating here was absolutely misleading to me, and these Chinese actors ruined my evening when my plan had been to enjoy a kung-fu cinema of good quality). Thanks for attention.
Ahhhh yes, another hit from the Shaw Bros.
Masta_Ruthless30 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
My Young Auntie is unique in a lot of ways. First this is Hui Ya-Hung's (Kara Hui) first action film. Second She was actually doing the fight scenes after having a surgery done to her a few days before filming. Third this movie is off the chain.
The movie starts out with Wang Lung Wei trying to take the inheritance from his brother. His brother then has Kara to marry him so Wang can't take the treasure. The story is pretty good leading everything to it's rightful place.
In comes the action, what can I say that hasn't already been said for movies like this, or Disciples of the 36th Chambers, The Victim, or even the Magnificent Butcher. The fight scenes are what sales movie, and this one won't have any problem doing so. Liu Chia Liang and Wang Lung Wei engaged in a fight that you have to see to believe. Why have these two men not fought each other more is beyond me.
I don't want to spoil anything really, but you have to see My Young Auntie to get the full blast of excitement. My only gripe is that Yuen Tak was not used as broad as he was used in 3 Evil Masters, or even Invincible Pole Fighter (8 Diagram Pole Fighter) to excellent must see movies. 9.2/10
The movie starts out with Wang Lung Wei trying to take the inheritance from his brother. His brother then has Kara to marry him so Wang can't take the treasure. The story is pretty good leading everything to it's rightful place.
In comes the action, what can I say that hasn't already been said for movies like this, or Disciples of the 36th Chambers, The Victim, or even the Magnificent Butcher. The fight scenes are what sales movie, and this one won't have any problem doing so. Liu Chia Liang and Wang Lung Wei engaged in a fight that you have to see to believe. Why have these two men not fought each other more is beyond me.
I don't want to spoil anything really, but you have to see My Young Auntie to get the full blast of excitement. My only gripe is that Yuen Tak was not used as broad as he was used in 3 Evil Masters, or even Invincible Pole Fighter (8 Diagram Pole Fighter) to excellent must see movies. 9.2/10
Horrible Movie
andressolf16 July 2013
I am a Shaw Brothers fan, but they made some standout great movies, and some crappy waste of time movies. I had to force myself to log on to IMDb after watching this garbage trash of a film just to not make the mistake of watching it again by accident. If I remember the title of this movie 10 years from now it would only be because of how bad it is.
Challenge of the Masters is another one I remember but being a waste of time.
My favorite SB movies so far are:
Mad Monkey Kung-Fu Return to the 36th Chamber Clan of the White Lotus Legendary Weapons of China Heroes of the East Executioners from Shaolin
Any one of those movies if you have not seen them already is worth watching over this one because they have more substance and better fight scenes. This one movie is purely about fighting (as are some other SB films I don't like- and the fighting is unrealistic and has dislikable choreographed fights)
Challenge of the Masters is another one I remember but being a waste of time.
My favorite SB movies so far are:
Mad Monkey Kung-Fu Return to the 36th Chamber Clan of the White Lotus Legendary Weapons of China Heroes of the East Executioners from Shaolin
Any one of those movies if you have not seen them already is worth watching over this one because they have more substance and better fight scenes. This one movie is purely about fighting (as are some other SB films I don't like- and the fighting is unrealistic and has dislikable choreographed fights)
One of the Best
carn723864 March 2008
This film is a fine example of why the Shaw Brothers are among the finest directors (probably the best in the Kung Fu category). The movie is well paced, the story is excellent and intriguing, and while the humor may not be in your face, it is nested within the character interactions. Once the story builds up, and the characters begin to assess the situation does the whole tower come crashing down in one of the best fight scenes (tiger, crane and crab Hung Gar are very present). There is even a scene that mocks 18th century Western social events, and ends with clever and entertaining fighting. The movie ends with a sudden, cheesy moment, but if you are a fan of the Shaw Brothers, you'll understand that the cheese is just a topping, and not the main course of the movie.
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