As an action-packed kung fu offering which works as a visual spectacle and nothing else, FATAL FLYING GUILLOTINE is a perfect's evening entertainment. From the opening fight scene against a horde of martial arts monks to the nihilistic finale against the guillotine-slinging master of evil, this film is all about action, action, and more action, with little in the way of plot or character to get in its way. The basic storyline involves some rival emperors cheating each other and a mad old man living in a field who wields a mean pair of flying guillotines and those fool enough to challenge him. Yes, the old plot contrivance is back in the air again, although sadly not so colourful or over-the-top here.
Carter Wong is the square-jawed hero who begins the film seeking a cure for his dying mother. Said cure is written inside a holy book belonging to a horde of secretive monks - to borrow the book, he must defeat the leader in unarmed combat. I'm glad I don't have to go through that routine at my local library! After plenty of well-choreographed martial arts action, Wong secures the book only to discover that it has been swapped by a nefarious baddie, resulting in the death of his mother. He goes on a rampage of revenge to find the man responsible.
Meanwhile, a couple of armies keep sending their best men into the "Valley of Doom", where the Guillotine Master resides. Before reaching him they must traverse a cave labyrinth beset with hidden traps and killer evils. Finally after tons more fighting, where everybody ends up killing everyone else, Wong finds himself up against the guillotine master himself in a finale that tops everything that has come before it. Utilising some cheap but highly imaginative - not to mention effective - forms of camera trickery, we see close-ups of the guillotines as they circle through the air, only to clamp down and slice the heads off the unsuspecting victims. Forget SLEEPY HOLLOW - for a real frenzy of decapitation and bouncing bonces, check out this movie first.
The wooden Wong has always made for a strangely appealing hero character and he acquits himself well with the material here. His fighting is strong and very physical and he doesn't have to say much, either. Chen Sing gloats evilly and wears a fake wig and beard as the vengeful bad guy, also proving his worth in the kung fu field with some very fierce fighting. The fights are colourful and well-choreographed, there are flying people for no reason (great stuff) and the film as a whole is well-directed and entertaining. Just don't go in expecting a classic, because you won't get one. Instead this is old-school period action as it was meant to be.
Carter Wong is the square-jawed hero who begins the film seeking a cure for his dying mother. Said cure is written inside a holy book belonging to a horde of secretive monks - to borrow the book, he must defeat the leader in unarmed combat. I'm glad I don't have to go through that routine at my local library! After plenty of well-choreographed martial arts action, Wong secures the book only to discover that it has been swapped by a nefarious baddie, resulting in the death of his mother. He goes on a rampage of revenge to find the man responsible.
Meanwhile, a couple of armies keep sending their best men into the "Valley of Doom", where the Guillotine Master resides. Before reaching him they must traverse a cave labyrinth beset with hidden traps and killer evils. Finally after tons more fighting, where everybody ends up killing everyone else, Wong finds himself up against the guillotine master himself in a finale that tops everything that has come before it. Utilising some cheap but highly imaginative - not to mention effective - forms of camera trickery, we see close-ups of the guillotines as they circle through the air, only to clamp down and slice the heads off the unsuspecting victims. Forget SLEEPY HOLLOW - for a real frenzy of decapitation and bouncing bonces, check out this movie first.
The wooden Wong has always made for a strangely appealing hero character and he acquits himself well with the material here. His fighting is strong and very physical and he doesn't have to say much, either. Chen Sing gloats evilly and wears a fake wig and beard as the vengeful bad guy, also proving his worth in the kung fu field with some very fierce fighting. The fights are colourful and well-choreographed, there are flying people for no reason (great stuff) and the film as a whole is well-directed and entertaining. Just don't go in expecting a classic, because you won't get one. Instead this is old-school period action as it was meant to be.
