Motives
"Mr Ching, here's to a long life ..."
"He's working for us now, who knows who he'll be working for next?
Killers have no sense of loyalty......"
- The Hot, The Cool, & The Vicious
Killers have no sense of loyalty......"
- The Hot, The Cool, & The Vicious
Killer with a conscious - (they don't live long)
Watch out for Strangers in town
Watch out for Strangers in town
"3 people can keep a secret, if 2 of them are dead...."
"It's the ones closest to you, that can inflict the most damage...!!"
"Sometimes, one trusts an enemy, more than a friend...."
While, there is an abundance of fighting in these films, there also has to be a reason Why things happen the way that they do. These are the Motives of the villain(s) and they put into motion, the chain of events that a film would take. While, a person can have a total look of peace, the way they think, is a whole different story. Their motives are what set them apart from everyone else and what bonds them to the hero. If it wasn't for this type of thinking, the villain and the hero may never meet.
The plots and schemes that the villain devises, is what drives the film. Everyone's life would move at the same familiar pace, if there wasn't some type of impedance, that stopped the normal flow. One motive, can lead to a number of plots and schemes, not just by the villain, but, by anyone, trying to capitalize off of the initial plot.
Criminal Intent
The Flashback
(To his murderous Deeds)
This is the part of a film, that puts the motives of Hero and Villain, into perspective. It is here, that we learn Why the events leading up to this point, are crucial to the story. Usually, told from the hero's point-of-view, it is often, the tale of how someone in his family has been murdered (and why he seeks vengeance). We, also, learn about the Villain's fighting prowess and what the hero has to learn, in order to defeat him. Most flashbacks are for events that (often) happened years ago, in some cases, when the hero was still a child. The constant rememberance of living without their loved ones (and the vicious way that they died), has kept this hatred the driving-force in their life and redemption, their only answer.
Something About That Woman
("Do-It-Yourself" Jobs)
Many films start out as a way for the villain to steal the hero's girlfriend away from him. They become so infatuated with a woman, that they don't care what it takes (or who they kill), they must have her. Ironically, the woman never really wants to be bothered by them or can't stand the sight of them. This only makes the chase more intense and the body count more excessive. Often, it's the friend, who becomes obsessed with his best friend's girl, that he'll set him up for a crime.
While his buddy is in jail, he'd be the "shoulder" for his girl to cry on, all the while, just scheming to make he his. If it doesn't happen right away, he'll force her (rape), knowing that she won't be able to face her real love. Other films deal with men in Power, who pay to have the husband/boyfriend removed (killed), so that they can get want they want from the woman. Afterwards, she's so traumatized (scared), that she won't leave him, mainly, for her own safety.
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Professional Assassins
When those with money, who want to eliminate an adversary (without getting their own hands dirty or risk being implicated), often, call in a Contracted killer. These men (and sometimes women), are Paid Assassins, who are only interested in the payment for their services and nothing more. Many people used them, because, they were discreet and got the job done, without asking any questions. They rarely (if ever), even meet the person who has hired them for the specific job. They often work through a Middleman, which helped to insure the employer's identity even more. The other reason they were used to kill people, was their "Code of Ethics" - they'd [usually] never reveal their source (who hired them to do the job), even on their deathbed.
Some (after having their job completed), will try to swindle or blackmail the assassin. This turns out to be a bad move (on their part), as now, the killer has to go after their "Employer" (in order to get paid for the job they did). Crossing a killer, usually, meant that a person had to hire another assassin, to eliminate the first one he hired like in the western (Invitation To A Gunfighter (1964)) !! In 2 Assassins Of The Darknes (1977), two assassins are hired for the same job, then, one is hired to kill the other (not knowing that they were trained by the same man).
After a job was completed, the assassin (unless he was truly feared), had to watch his own back. Most assassins knew this and this was why they merely disappeared from town after a job. In this way, they could stay steps ahead of those who wanted to kill them. This also helped to spread their name as a professional killer. All that people would know about them, was that they did their jobs well and for the right price, would kill indiscriminately. Anyone who could kill a top killer, would (themselves) be in greater demand.
"To be a Killer, death is far better than failure..."
Yet, the person that the assassin had to really worry about in the end, was the one who employed them for the job. This was because, all roads leading back to the employer, had to be carefully erased, thus eliminating him from being associated with the death of his adversary. Jobs that were done "Quick and Clean", helped to ensure that the assassin and his employer never had to meet face to face, for what could possibly spell doom for either man.
One thing that wasn't acceptable in their trade was to not complete a job. This meant that the killer, himself, had to be silenced. He knew too much and the information that he had on his employer, could be damning. He couldn't be hired again, because, no one could trust him. There are those rare moments, when a killer is about to reveal their Benefactor (employer), when they are suddenly silenced, with a knife (that seems to come out of nowhere).
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Tricks: A Woman
(Whores Never Change)
From the beginning of time, men have always had a soft-spot for women and it was usually this weakness, that proved to be their downfall. If the Hero showed any inclination towards a woman, the villain would hire these women (or a number of them) to seduce or drug him so that they could get the upper-hand. The easiest women to control, were Prostitutes.
Their whole profession thrived on (2) things - Money and Emotional Detachment. As long as they were paid (and thoroughly threatened), they did whatever they were told. Every opportunity to make some extra money was never passed up. The other reason prostitutes were chosen for such jobs, was because, if they were caught and killed, they were easily replaceable. For them, the rewards always outweighed the consequences. The only thing that they cherished more than life itself, was money.
In the film Last Hurrah For Chivalry (1979), a groom is double-crossed by his bride, on their wedding day!! It seems that he had bought her from the local Brothel for 1,000 taels, because she was the best looking female there. Yet, when he asks her why she betrayed him (as she's holding a knife in his gut), she replies, he (the villain) paid me more money. The villain appears and states - "You pay 1,000 taels for her and I paid her 2,000 taels to kill you". Laughing, he tells his enemy, "Whores, never change".
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Tricks: Fake Rape Charges
Heroes are made to look bad in the public's eyes, by a number of means and the allegations of Rape, could (sometimes) be more damaging than murder. If the town looks up to him, to be accused of such a crime wwill travel fast and everyone who has put their trust in him, will be wondering, if they had been decived by him, all along. This ploy had more to do with turning the town against him and taking away the the people's trust in him. This way, they would not help or hide him (if he needed it) and could possibly, be used to help trap him.
The women who are used in this trick, do so, because they've been paid. If they stay in the area too long, they become targets of the people who hired them in the first place. They feel (if pressed), the woman night have a change of heart and confess to the ruse, so they'll have her silenced. Yet, in most cases, after the hero has been defamed, the repercussions could be most severe. He has to clear his name and restore his honor, if he is to ever live amongst the townspeople again.
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Trap-1: The Kidnapped Female
Villains would usually capture or kidnap the girl that the hero fancies and hold her hostage, in hopes that he will try and save her. In the midst of his attempt to rescue her, he is either captured or possibly killed. They use his human emotions against him in order to meet their own needs. It's because of his feelings for the woman, that he allows himself to fall into such a trap.
In about 60% of these films, the girlfriend is usually raped, humiliated, and/or killed in their attempt to trap him. But, by merely kidnapping her, the villain hopes to get his way by manipulating the hero's emotional attachment to the woman. By rescuing her, he feels that he can save her from any shameful act his foes have in store for her. The female may even kill herself, in order to spare the hero the pain, he might go through, while trying to save her.
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Traps-2: The Dinner Invitation
In the guise of a friendly gesture, the hero is invited to dinner, only to be met with knives, axes, clubs, weilded by a number of men, just waiting to kill him. This premise was used in a number of films, probably, because, an invitation to a meal, is about as nice a gesture as anyone could ever receive. Most didn't refuse, because, it was (often) used as a "Peace Offering" - a way for people to settle their differences and become friends. This was one of the ultimate ways to kill off an adversary.
It was used to bring the his guard down, hoping to catch him in a peaceful mood, far removed from thoughts of fighting or confrontations. This made it easier to poison or drug him, and take advantage of the situation, therefore, overpowering him and/or possibly killing him. In this relaxed state, his enemies took it upon themselves, to make their chances of success, even greater.
This, usually, came in the form of a Surprise-attack. Workers in the restaurant were switched with the Boss' men, waiting for the signal to attack. There were numerous ways to catch him in a moment of helplessness. A knife or hatchet thrown into his back, scolding his hands with hot water (from a steaming tea-kettle), or from a distance with an arrow or some form of projectile weapon.
Knowing most excellent fighters also use their legs, his foes might, also, attack those with short sticks (usually tucked in the waistbands or sleeves). By beating his shins with these weapons, each time he took a step, the pain surged, making his movements minimal. By not being able to walk or move with any kind of agility, only ensured that his foes stood a better chance of capturing or killing him. The object was to make sure that they could control him (to their advantage) and only when this wasn't possible, did they decide to set him up, to be killed.
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The Double/Triple-Cross
"The most difficult enemy in the world, is a Traitor"... - Killer Clans (1976)
Trying to outwit the hero, a villain might use others to help to trap or kill him. For their help, they're usually promised payment in silver or gold. Yet, when it comes time for these Helpers to receive their payment, they find out that they have been tricked and are killed by their employer - "Double-Cross ".
Sometimes, they are spared, in order to help trap and kill another person (usually, promised the same thing). This third person, may even be a friend or commarade of both men, but that won't matter. In helping to kill this person, the second one hopes to get a bigger share of the money, but, they too, are killed (Triple-cross).
The "Triple-Cross" usually occurs, when there is a group of thieves. In order to get more of the loot they've stolen, they start turning against one another, eventually, killing each other off. This is done with the hopes, of not having to share the money with anyone else. When it comes to the "Triple-Cross", women get involved and further help to confuse the scheme of things. It's won't become known until, almost, the end of the film, if the female was being sincere or conniving in her motives.
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Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Knockout Drugs
Usually, used to subdue someone who's a much too powerful fighter, to chance defeat or the loss of men. Women chose this method to deal with over-bearing men or those they were paid to trick into submission. Ironically, this was the drug used by men when trying to rape an unwilling female. One minute, they'd be having a chat and the next thing they knew, they were working in a brothel. Used against someone that would, normally, be hard to beat (the hero), this was how many got the upper-hand.
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Lime
(Calcium Oxide)
This is the White Powder substance often thrown into the hero's eyes, in order to give others the upper-hand. It was usually hidden in a basket by some unsuspecting person (kid or an old lady) and thrown in his eyes, while he's tying to help them. It is a white, caustic and alkaline crystalline solid (caustic means to burn or burning). Caustic substances are usually used in drain cleaners. Ingested, large doses could prove fatal and prolonged exposure on the Skin, meant irritation and possible burns.
The eyes had to be immediately flushed with water, for at least (15) minutes (occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids). This made it virtually impossible, for a fighter to defeat those trying to kill him. What made it even worse, was that the victim could not rub his eyes or keep them closed, as they would burn uncontrollably. Rinsing the eyes with water could reduce the burning, but couldn't stop the blurring sensation (at least, right away). This is what his opponents counted on, as they attacked him.
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Poison
One of the quickiest ways to get rid of an adversary (that you couldn't beat), was to Poison him. By the time he found out that he was poisoned, he'd be grabbing his throat or stomach, in vain, as death quickly followed. Like Knockout Drugs, poison was frequently used by women, when dealing with a much stronger opponent (men). But, when it came to to killing, it made no difference, what the gender was. Most never notice that the server (of the the poison), never drinks his drink.
In countless films, we find the villain using poison to get rid of anyone who might stand in his way. He might have a female accomplice poison the wine or food of those he's trying to get rid of. When food is poisoned in a restaurant, the servants almost, always, are nervous and shaking. They're doing this, because they want the person about to be poisoned to know, this was out of their control, and that they were forced to carry such orders out. Yet, it's movements like these, the end up saving the hero's life.
Poison was one of the only ways to kill Royalty (Emperors, Princes, etc.), as they were always heavily guarded, stopping most attempts on their life. One would have to get through a number of armed guards, at various levels of Command, before even getting to see the additional guards at the Emperor's chambers. Yet, there was one thing never changed, whether he was a King or an Emperor, - Sooner or later, he had to eat. Regardless, to how well he was guarded, his meals were prepared by trusted servants who knew they'd lose their heads (as well as those of their families), if they even considered such a thought.
Yet, they had to buy their supplies from others, who would be no where in sight, if (and when) the Emperor came up dead. After such a death, they started having servants taste the food, to check for poisons. This is where (in kung-fu films), when someone is served a drink, that they might suspect as being poisoned, that the host (or person serving it), drink the 1st cupful. In basically all kung-fu films, when a person is poisoned, they'll clutch their throats, Blood will be shown dripping from the corner of their mouth, and then, they (usually) die with their eyes open.
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Family Matters
Family Feuds
Some of the most interesting stories come from within some families, as their struggles aren't just with outsiders, but their own flesh and blood. One theme that has been reworked countless times is where an outsider, somehow adopts a son or daughter and bring raise them with the intent of killing their true parent / sibling. The outsider had some ongoing conflict with the family and use this opportunity to plot his revenge.
In most cases, "Sibling Rivalry" has more to do with jealousy or greed, than anything else. And, once it gets the better of them, their emotions take over and they (somehow) forget, that these people are related to them. One of the most intriguing films was Vengeance Is A Golden Blade, where a wife turns against her husband and sides with his rival (her lover). She turns their daughter against the father and (later) tries to sell their own daughter to a brothel !!
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Using One Relative To Kill Another
Films that showcase this
+ Using The Son, To Kill The Father +
+ Using The Son, To Kill The Father +
- Snake's Deadly Act
- 10 Magnificent Killers
- Shaolin Handlock
- A Deadly Secret - Father buries his daughter alive +
The Eyes Have It
This showed the other side of martial-arts fighting. This vicious techniques was often employed to cripple and to humiliate a fighter. Though he may survive the attack, he will think about using his martial-arts less (if, at all). For the rest of his life, he will have to depend on the kindness of others, just to make it through each day. In most cases, blinding someone, was a last resort (or an evil plan), as most fighters wanted to prove themselves against someone who was just as "Able-bodied" as they were (as most contests weren't about crippling a foe).
Pai Ying, has a thing for EYES. He's had his eyes put out in Deep Thrust (1972) and The Condemned (1976) - and has put others
eyes out - The Blood Fight (1971) with Alan Tang and Stormy Sun (1973).
eyes out - The Blood Fight (1971) with Alan Tang and Stormy Sun (1973).
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