Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) is a cheeky young student who knows how to fight and stand up for himself. But after a public situation goes poorly, his father punishes him. Wong will now be trained and disciplined by a man named Beggar So (Siu Tin Yuen). Beggar So is a master of “Drunken Martial Arts,” and Beggar begins to train Wong in a way he believes will correct Wong’s path in life.
I have always been a huge fan of Jackie Chan films (especially from the ’90s). I recently discovered this film had been remastered (thanks to Umbrella Entertainment), and I must personally confess that this film has been on my watch list for many years.
As a plot, I enjoyed this movie as it follows a simple formula. Our leading character, Wong (Jackie Chan), will generally start a conversation or some trouble, and shortly after, the situation will result in humorous fight scenes (aka Kung Fu). The method of storytelling is A, B, A, B until the credits roll.
The biggest highlight of this film is Jackie Chan’s action. The style and humour of Jackie Chan are something I can’t say I’ve seen in cinema before, even in today’s films. The stunts and action here are real. This film was also completed before the actors started using wires or visual effects. I found myself countless times during this film feeling impressed by Jackie Chan’s ability as an actor and fighter and to deliver funny jokes along the way. It’s no wonder the film managed to return with a sequel in 1994.
Overall, this would have to be one of my top five favourite Jackie Chan films. Drunken Master delivered a new style of kung fu, which is excellent to see remastered on Bluray. Many elements are present here, including action, humour, and a straightforward plot, but its biggest drawcard is naturally the incredibly entertaining fight scenes. As the credits rolled, all I could say was, “Wow, Jackie Chan is such a legend.”
8.7/10
15th March 2019
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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