Opium The Kung-Fu Master

IF YOU ARE 55 AND OLDER AND LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL KUNG FU MOVIES,THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.LUNG TI CREATED A NAME AS ONE LEADING EXPONENT OF THE SHAW BROTHERS STABLE OF TALENTED ACTORS.IN THIS CLASSIC HE IS A WELL ESTABISHED INSTRUCTOR WITH A REPUTATION OF HAVING AN INVINCIBLE POLE TECHNIQUE.HE IS WELL LOVED AND RESPECTED AND STANDS FOR VIRTUE AND GOODNESS,YET HE SUCUMS TO TEMPTATION WHEN AN OLD FRIEND INTRODUCES HIM TO THE USE OF SMOKING OPIUM,BEING A MASTER HE TRULY BELIEVES IT WONT AFFECT HIM LIKE IT DOES TO ALL WHO USE IT AND THAT HE CAN QUIT THE USE WHEN EVER HE WANTS.HE TRIES TO ACT NORMAL AND HIDE THE FACT THAT HE IS SLOWLY BECOMING AN OPIUM ADICT HIS STUDENTS START TO NOTICE AND TRY TO WARN HIM HE WILL NOT HAVE A STUDENT PASS JUDGEMENT OVER HIM BECAUSE HE IS IN DENIEL BUT ITS NOT TILL THE GREEDY ELDORS OF THE VILLAGE START BACKING A MALLICIOUS GANG OF GAMBLERS. THAT END UP KILLING ONE OF HIS BEST STUDENT THAT STANDS UP TO THE GANG,WHEN THE MASTER FINDS OUT HE TRIES TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT CHALLENGING THE LEADERS AND THE ELDERS WHO IN THIS TOWN ARE NOW SPLIT IN TWO AND THE GOOD TOWN PEOPLE ONLY HAVE THE MASTER STANDING INBETWEEN TOTAL CORRUPTION OF THE TOWN.TI LUNG DOES NOT REALIZE HIS MASTERY OF THE MARTIAL ARTS IS AFFECTED UNTIL HE ENGAGES IN ONE TO ONE DUEL WITH A TWO SPEAR SPECIALST ASSASIN HIRED TO CONFRONT HIM.THE DUAL IS GOING LUNG TI WAYS UNTIL HIS STAMINA STARTS WARERING DOWN DUE TO THE INACTIVITY OF NOT TRAINING BECAUSE OF HIS OPIUM ADDICTION.ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY HE DID NOT LOOSE THE FIGHT THE OTHER MASTER HUMILIATES HIM IN PUBLIC BY SAYING HE WONT FIGHTING IN THESE CONDITIONS SO HE WILL NOT LEAVE DOUBGHT THAT HES THE BETTER MASTER AND THAT LUNG TI MUST BOW DOWN AND ADMIT IT.THE RESULT IS LUNG TI LEAVES TARNISHED AND HUMILIATED,BUT NOT FOR LONG HE GOES INTO ISOLATION TO BRAKE THE OPIUM HABIT WITH THE HELP OF HIS BELOVED STUDENTS WHO STAND BY HIM NO MATER WHAT THEN HE SERIOUS TRAINING PAYS OFF, AT THE END HE CHALLENGES THEM AGAIN THE FINAL BATTLE IS EPIC AND ONE OF THE BEST EVER.IN THIS MOVIE HE IS A MASTER INSTRUCTOR (A ROLE HE PLAYED ON MANY MOVIES) SPECIALICES IN POLE TECHNIQUE .THE FIGHTS ARE EPICTHE ENDING FIGHT IS AWESOME.A MUST SEE AND HAVE FOR SERIOUS FU NUTS LIKE MY SELF. ENJOY

Great Shaw bros Film released by a great company! It combined great fighting sequences with the tale of how opium ruined china. Can the hero kick the habit? Will he bring those who use the drugs to exploit the people (including himself) to justice? Find out!

Ti Lung and Chen Kuan Tai star in this movie about the opium problem in China during the 1800's. The choreography and fight sequences were good as well as the storyline.

Although the build up is slower than most movies in the Genre, Chen Kuan Tai fans will love this movie. Great fight in the end.

A must have to complete any Shaw Bros. Collection and a hard find at that. Celestial Pictures did a fantastic job with the film transfer as well. Worth every penny!

It is difficult for me to see Chen Kuen Tai as the bad guy but I really liked the. Movie.. Shows that anyone can fall. Very timely.

Grest kung fu action in this movie.

This movie had a lot going for it, but got so tedious that I bailed on it half-way through. Picture and sound quality of this version is excellent. Good/skilled stars, and what appears to be an interesting concept (good guy character gets slowly hooked on drugs after the movie starts). A couple neat scenes, but they can't save the film in the end.Although I own about 25 Shaw Bros, I only consider a handful to be "bad", and this one the only I could not finish despite how much I anticipated getting it. For completists only, and if you can pick it up cheap (I unfortunately did not). If you are just starting your collection, there are many better ones to start with.

Tang Chia directed 3 films for Shaw Brothers (Shaolin Prince,Shaolin Intruders and Opium and the kung fu master).In my view this has to be his best film,the story opens with Ti Lung's character master Tie confronting some robbers who were trying to escape.The robbers work for master Rong Feng (Chen Kuan Tai) who runs an opium den in town.As Ti Lung's students get into a dispute with Rong Feng's students following a lion dance contest master Tie finds himself getting sucked into the dispute.Ultimately master Tie face's off against master Rong Feng,but due to his opium addiction he loses the fight.He decides to seek his mentor's help to detox at a Buddhist temple.When he cleans up he challenges Rong Feng and his cohorts once again.Although the film is packed with some stunning set piece's throughout it also has a serious message about addiction and the affect it has on people.Ti Lung is outstanding as master Tie and he's ably supported by a strong cast which includes Chen Kuan Tai,Lee Hoi San and Philip Ko Fei.One of the last great films from the legendary Shaw Brothers studio,this is a must see film.Thanks for reading and I hope that you enjoy the film.