Biography
As an actor at Yangtze Film Company, he was one of the key players, for a number of their martial-arts films. Working with friends such as Pia Piao and Kao Kang, they helped to give the film company legetimacy in its' early years. Films like The Crush, Stranger From Canton, The Invasion, and The Blind Boxer were some of Yangtze's classic hits. Company boss Yeo Ban-Yee promoted him to assistant director for the film Action Tae Kwon Do, this would set the foundation for his body of work behind the camera.
Working at Golden Harvest, he appeared in such films as The Himalayan and Iron-Fisted Monk. He even starred in the Chang Cheh's Marco Polo (as a Wrestler) and Bruce Lee - His Last Days and had appeared in a number of parts, before wanting to make a change in his career. In later years he would return to Shaw Brothers as a director on such films as The 3 Evil Masters, Ambitious Kung Fu Girl, The Bastard Swordsman, Secret Service Of The Imperial Court, and Holy Flame of the Martial World. He was really more interested in making Comedies, as a number of his films had this element. It (also) may have had something to do with the year he began directing, as the "Kung Fu Comedy" genre was in full effect.
While, I like some of the films he's directed, a most of them leave a lot to be desired (in the believablity department. Most of his films were Fantasy-based and had a lot of "Flying" and wire-work in them. Plus the action (often) moved so quickly, it looked more "Cartoonish" than a Donnie Yen movie. It's one thing to like a fast-action Wu-xia film, but the rate at which people usually are moving in his films, borderlined the ridiculous. The film, Lady Assassin is a prime example of this. I think I'm more of a fan of his earlier work, especially where he is an actor, as he was quite good. My favorite film that he was associated with, would have to be - Crazy Horse, Intelligent Monkey. This was the perfect blend of kung-fu and comedy.
Working at Golden Harvest, he appeared in such films as The Himalayan and Iron-Fisted Monk. He even starred in the Chang Cheh's Marco Polo (as a Wrestler) and Bruce Lee - His Last Days and had appeared in a number of parts, before wanting to make a change in his career. In later years he would return to Shaw Brothers as a director on such films as The 3 Evil Masters, Ambitious Kung Fu Girl, The Bastard Swordsman, Secret Service Of The Imperial Court, and Holy Flame of the Martial World. He was really more interested in making Comedies, as a number of his films had this element. It (also) may have had something to do with the year he began directing, as the "Kung Fu Comedy" genre was in full effect.
While, I like some of the films he's directed, a most of them leave a lot to be desired (in the believablity department. Most of his films were Fantasy-based and had a lot of "Flying" and wire-work in them. Plus the action (often) moved so quickly, it looked more "Cartoonish" than a Donnie Yen movie. It's one thing to like a fast-action Wu-xia film, but the rate at which people usually are moving in his films, borderlined the ridiculous. The film, Lady Assassin is a prime example of this. I think I'm more of a fan of his earlier work, especially where he is an actor, as he was quite good. My favorite film that he was associated with, would have to be - Crazy Horse, Intelligent Monkey. This was the perfect blend of kung-fu and comedy.
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My Favorite Films
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