Prodigal Son [DVD]

The story centres around Leung Jaan (Yuen Biao), who believes he is the best fighter in town. However, an encounter with a homosexual Chinese Opera performer named Leung Yee-Tai (played by the late great Lam Ching-Ying) soon has him thinking differently, as Yee-Tai's Wing Chun mastery far outclasses the 'talent' Jaan possesses. It is then that Jaan learns the truth: his dad had been paying his previous opponents to lose so that Jaan wouldn't lose face (ironic, considering the guy who had supposedly been considered the town's champion brawler has just been duffed up with the greatest of ease in front of a whole Opera troupe!).

Jaan tries many desperate measures (including his father purchasing Yee-Tai's whole opera troupe) to get Yee-Tai to take Jaan as a Wing Chun student, but after having seen Jaan's cocky nature, constantly refuses. It is only after an attempt on Yee-Tai's life (in which Jaan intervenes to allow him to escape), not to mention a fight challenge from the best fighter of another town — Lord Ngai, played very well by Frankie Chan — where Yee-Tai has a sudden asthma attack, that he may have to consider passing on his knowledge to a willing student in case he is suddenly slain and his knowledge lost forever...

This movie is an absolute classic, and anyone who's into action movies and/or martial arts in general must have a look. Brilliant acting (especially by Lam Ching-Ying), masterfully-choreographed fight scenes (especially in the Yee-Tai ninja assassination attempt where you get to see single shots containing several people attacking Lam Ching-Ying at once that contain well over ten techniques — choreographer Sammo is excellent at this sort of thing. The duel between Lam Ching-Ying and Frankie Chan is also a fan favourite), and a calligraphy display from Sammo Hung (who plays Leung Yee-Tai's brother) that contains some amazing physical prowess and will have you looking at it again and again (admittedly Sammo was doubled by Yuen Biao for some of the more-gymnastic stuff).

The usual Hong Kong Legends extras such as trailers, the choice between dubbed and subtitled versions are here, as is the now-expected audio commentary from Bey Logan, who is still as informative and entertaining as ever. Interviews with Yuen Biao, Sammo Hung and Frankie Chan (the latter two speaking English) also exist, as does a text file paying tribute to Lam Ching-Ying (1952-1997), but the real gem of the extras is a documentary about Wing Chun containing some demonstrations from experts (namely Sifu Guy Lai and Sifu Austin Goh) and showing how Sammo had to make some changes for the film to stop the style from looking limp on screen whilst retaining the traditions and still being recognisable as Wing Chun.

The film also stars Lee Hoi-San (Sammo's nemesis in 'Magnificent Butcher'), Chong Fat (the friendly Taoist priest in 'Encounters Of The Spooky Kind', and Weird Cat in 'Magnificent Butcher') and Dick Wei (San-po in 'Project A').

Check this out! Comedy, action, Chinese Opera and some of the most amazing fights on celluloid make this a winner.

The film has a great story. Our hero Leung Chang (Yeun Biao -Once upon a time in China, Project A )is the son of a rich man in Fats Shun. He believes he is the greatest fighter in all of Fat-Shun, however the truth is a little different.
His opponents are payed to lose, because his mother and father are afraid of him getting hurt. Chang soon finds out when his cousins upset the leading lady at the local opera. This opera star turns out to be a man, a Wing-Chun expert called Leung Yee-Tai (Ching-Ying Lam - Game of Death, Iron Fisted Monk).
Upon this revelation, Leung Chang decides to ask Yee-Tai to become his master. Yee-Tai refuses outright, so using the help of his rich father, Leung Chang purchases the Opera Troupe. Yee-Tai still refuses to teach Leung Chang, buts makes use of Leung Chang by having him perform in the opera. Leung Chang is mistaken for someone else and has to fight back stage. The battle spills out onto the stage where Yee-Tai is performing in the opera, being watched by Lord Ngai (Frankie Chan - Armour of God, Operation Condor)He is on a mission to spar with skilled Kung-Fu experts. His father is a very powerful lord and has sent two bodygaurds with Ngai, with orders to kill Ngai's oppenents without Ngai knowing. Yee-Tai helps Leung Chang fight his opponents and Yee-Tai's skill is shown to Lord Ngai. Ngai challenges Yee-Tai at a dinner and during the battle Yee-Tai suffers an asthma attack and cant continue. Ngai then challenges Yee-Tai when he is feeling better.
Without spoiling the plot that follows, you can expect stunning perfomances from Sammo Hung as Wong wah Bo and James Tein as a one armed Wing-Chun expert.

Produced by the legendary Raymond Chow, producer of The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, This fil has it all. Action, Comedy, Traged, you name it. Directed by one of the stars, Sammo Hung, The Prodigal Son is simply stunning in so many aspects it puts most films made now to shame. Not bad for a 21 year old film.

This has so much style that it should be an essential to any Martial arts fan.

The DVD come with The original Catonese version and the very funny dubbed version. It also come with a commentary by Hong Kong Legends expert Bey Logan. Other extras include Interviews and trailers and is all greatly presented.

Amazing