Za ma (1978) User Reviews

The "Return of the Gooseboxer" plus a beggar buddy makes good viewing

[ckormos1 · 7/10 · 6 March 2016]

It starts with "Who are these people and why are they fighting?" which is a popular opening for these movies plus some wear masks. Then cut to town where dead bodies are displayed as a warning – don't cross Mr. Shu! On the street is our hero from "Gooseboxer", Charles Heung. He accepts a challenge and defeats the whole school. Fan Mei-Sheng is in the crowd and he cons Charles out of his money. They buddy up.

Charles plays the same dimwit country bumpkin he plays in "Gooseboxer" and it works for him. In that movie another imaginary animal style was added to kung fu. In this movie three more styles are added, shrimp, crab and the most lethal of all - I call it cow dung style.

Overall this is above average in every way and I highly recommend it.

Great little film

[fluffchop · 7/10 · 25 May 2022]

Very enjoyable viewing. Classic Kung Fu movie with lots of action and some training and a showdown. Subplot of Second Master fighting an opium war in a one man operation. It's a great little film that is sure to please.

Mysterious footwork of Kung fu

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 9 December 2022]

Chan Wai Man plays the super-assassin, with a penchant for over engineered weapons and causing grief and mayhem wherever he and his assistants, Crab & Shrimp go. A young kung fu fanatic is taught by a beggar and a grumpy old Shaolin monk so that he can beat the killers and restore peace to the region.

The hero - Charles Heung - is so simple-minded here, and that's where the comic aspects slips in, but his Kung fu is really good and flows more in movement when compared to other actors in a likeminded film. It's a standard Kung fu film, but quite enjoyable, especially where it comes to the fight scenes, which are robust and above average. The hero can be a bit annoying, though, with his dimwittedness; he's totally thick.

Routine kung fu vehicle with a couple of good actors in support

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 16 January 2017]

MYSTERIOUS FOOTWORKS OF KUNG FU is a very generic production in the SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW mould. It has a few good performers involved but everything in the story plays out in an average way, with plenty of broad comedy and a few fights here and there which are okay to watch but hardly impressive. The main hero is a Jackie Chan clone played by Charles Heung who doesn't really have much going for him until he's taught kung fu by a beggar and a monk.

At this point he becomes a challenge for the film's super villain, played by real-life Triad Chan Wai-Man. There's some interest involving some crab and shrimp styles (!) but for the most part this is routine indeed which begins and follows through to the most obvious and well-choreographed ending ever. Wai-Man is great value as the villain (although my favourite villainous turn from him would be in FIVE ELEMENT NINJAS) while the larger-than-life Fan Mei Sheng is a delight as the beggar, but as for everything else, you've seen it all before.