Review of Drunken Master (1978) by Tyler R — 01 Oct 2008

Surprisingly good flick, although it was made back in 1978, not 2000. It's a good exhibition of Jackie Chan's skill in martial arts, once again, which U.S. audiences are less likely to see in modern films because of 1. His age, 2. Film producers simply don't LET HIM, which is sad because he is amazing.

The problem with this film is, even when you try and watch it in the original Cantonese... it may have had some dubbing problems when either when it was digitally remastered it or when the production company was cutting the film. The result is ends up sounding even goofier than it already is to begin with and randomly jumps back and forth between English and Cantonese without warning. The soundtrack sounds like something from a "Looney Tunes" cartoon, as if they asked the soundtrack composer to illustrate the film with the score. It sort of adds to the charm and exaggerates the slapstick, amid the actual plot of Wong Fei-Hung, who is attempting to learn the style of the Drunken Fist while acting like a buffoonish clown, honestly.

Anyone who likes martial arts flicks with a mild appreciation for "The Three Stooges" will get a kick out of this. Hearing the English reminds me of "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist.".