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From John Woo, the director of Hong Kong movie classics including Bullet in the Head and The Killer, comes Hand of Death; his unique take on the period martial arts movie genre.
This is probably the first and last time you'll ever see a film directed by John Woo that features kung fu legends Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao! There foe is none other than formidable James tien (Game of Death) Who wants to wipe all Shaolin men from the face of China.
Leading the charge is Tan Tao-Liang as Yun Fei in a fascinating movie filled with extensive fights using voted disciplines it's an early showcase for all the performers (in particular Jackie Chan) and a chance to rediscover an early star of the scene: the super-kicking Tan Tao-Liang in a great performance that shows just why his nickname was 'Flash Legs'.
Special Features:
- Digitally re-mastered and restored DVD transfer
- Super bitrate encoding for optimum visual presentation
- Feature length audio commentary with Bey Logan
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Hand of Death aka Countdown in Kung Fu/Shao Lin Men didn't make much of an impression in 1976 but it's become something of a historical curio as it unites the Three Brothers, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao under the direction of John Woo at the beginning of their careers. Woo even plays a supporting role. However, don't expect to see them teamed up along similar lines to later efforts like Dragons Forever or the Lucky Stars series: Sammo Hung is the villain's buck-toothed sidekick, Jackie Chan the hero's sidekick and Biao odd bit parts and a lot of stunt doubling. Instead the lead is taken by Dorian Tan, a nondescript and one-note but inoffensive lead who's better at the kicks than the acting, though Chang Chung's swordsman, the first of Woo's tragic fatalistic professional killers, compensates so admirably in that department that it's a shame his career never took off. The film is slightly above average for its time, a decidedly formulaic but more than competently staged period piece that sees yet another Manchurian despot decide to wipe out the Shaolin temple and Tan's survivor teaming up with Chan and Chung to guide a revolutionary scholar (Woo) to safety and have their revenge on James Tien's traitor. But as usual, the plot's just an excuse for a string of action sequences, here choreographed by Sammo Hung, and while they may be a long way from the Bruce Lee level they're entertaining enough to more than hold your interest en route to the grand finale battle. It's not a deathless classic but it's easily one of the best of Chan's pre-stardom movies, filling an hour-and-a-half excitingly enough without outstaying its welcome.
Unfortunately while Hong Kong Legends' DVD boasts an impressive widescreen transfer, infuriatingly, as with many of their releases, it also has subtitles that aren't widescreen TV friendly.
Unfortunately while Hong Kong Legends' DVD boasts an impressive widescreen transfer, infuriatingly, as with many of their releases, it also has subtitles that aren't widescreen TV friendly.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Jackie Chan is more of a co star in this period kung-fu flick from the mid-1970's. I have no idea how this film came about because I'm sure that at the time of filming that Jackie was contracted to the films of director Lo Wei, who was very keen on keeping Jackie all to himself and pretty much forcing him to churn out inferior movies. This movie however is GREAT! The actual star of the pic, is a guy called Tan Tao Liang a.k.a "Flash Legs" so nicknamed because whilst this guy might not be able to act, he kicks like a god!
Hong Kong action movie fans like will also delight in watching this because it is an early John Woo movie, and it is interesting to see signs of the stylistic film-making that made him famous and allowed him to become one of Hollywoods finest action directors with movies like "Hard Target" and of course "Face Off". Of course there is no leaping around with guns and slow-mo explosions here, but look hard enough and you will see what I mean. John Woo also appears in the movie, I wont say where!
Also, did I mention that Sammo Hung plays a bad guy?
Hong Kong action movie fans like will also delight in watching this because it is an early John Woo movie, and it is interesting to see signs of the stylistic film-making that made him famous and allowed him to become one of Hollywoods finest action directors with movies like "Hard Target" and of course "Face Off". Of course there is no leaping around with guns and slow-mo explosions here, but look hard enough and you will see what I mean. John Woo also appears in the movie, I wont say where!
Also, did I mention that Sammo Hung plays a bad guy?
Format:DVD
I had never heard of this movie until a few years ago even though ever since my childhood I have been a fan of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung's 1980s films such as Wheels on Meals, Project A and Dragons Forever. It was interesting that before John Woo ventured into directing many Chow-Yun Fat action films in the 1980s he had directed martial arts films and Hand of Death was his first and only collaboration with Chan and Hung. First thing fans must know is even though the Hong Kong legends dvd has Jackie Chan on the cover and makes it seem like he is the star of the film, he only plays a supporting role in the film.
The leading role is played by another actor. (his name i cant remember). That's not to say Chan isnt given much screentime. He appears throughout the film on and off and in the climax has a great fight scene using a spear. Sammo Hung plays a buck-toothed villain in the film and the main villain is played by James Tien who is better known for appearing in Bruce Lee's The Big Boss and Fist of Fury. He later went onto appear with Chan in Dragon Fist and Heart of the Dragon among others. Whilst one wishes Chan and Sammo had a scene together or even better, a fight scene in the film it is still good to see them in the years before they shot to stardom.
While the film is not on par with Chan's breakthrough films Snake in Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, it is far better than many of Chan's other films he made during this period like New Fist of Fury.
Recommended for Chan and Sammo Hung fans.
The leading role is played by another actor. (his name i cant remember). That's not to say Chan isnt given much screentime. He appears throughout the film on and off and in the climax has a great fight scene using a spear. Sammo Hung plays a buck-toothed villain in the film and the main villain is played by James Tien who is better known for appearing in Bruce Lee's The Big Boss and Fist of Fury. He later went onto appear with Chan in Dragon Fist and Heart of the Dragon among others. Whilst one wishes Chan and Sammo had a scene together or even better, a fight scene in the film it is still good to see them in the years before they shot to stardom.
While the film is not on par with Chan's breakthrough films Snake in Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, it is far better than many of Chan's other films he made during this period like New Fist of Fury.
Recommended for Chan and Sammo Hung fans.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Masterpiece
I have watched A LOT of KungFu in my time and this film rocks..... not quite as good as The Drunken Master or The Young Master but still totally worth watching and for a couple of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by R2D2
good
Hand Of Death (DVD) [1975]
really good fights in this one
really good fights in this one
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by Mr. A. L. Frost
Hands of Death
I really wasnt expecting much when I first put this on but after the first few minutes i was hooked. The story is nothing special (but in these kind of films are they ever? Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2009 by A. J. Harrison
An average early attempt from John Woo
After his directorial debut 'The Young Dragons', now-legendary action maestro John Woo directed this seminal kung fu flick, as well as giving Jackie Chan his first credited... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2008 by S. Yaqub
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