Martial arts expert Donnie Yen, in one of his best movies, plays a down-and-out Kung Fu teacher recruited to help police capture a serial killer of Kung Fu experts. This film is one of the finest martial arts movies to appear in recent years. It combines all the elements that a great work of this genre should have: a hero with super-awesome Kung Fu moves (Yen), great action choreography, excellent production values and editing, a multi-dimensional antagonist, a solid story, clever surprises, and a supporting cast of martial art masters. It also has the unique approach of exploring and highlighting, one by one, all the different facets of Kung Fu such as grappling and sword-fighting. I actually learned a thing or two about Kung Fu from this movie. “Kung Fu Killer” is a blast, and you shouldn’t miss it if you enjoy action movies. Even if you don’t like martial arts movies, you’ll like this one.

Not For Kids
Cantonese with English subtitles

Extras:

• This movie is a parade of former stars of martial arts cinema, and the film treats their characters with as much care as the hero. It’s loads of fun to see each do their own thing.
• I vote for Donnie Yen as best all-time martial arts movie star, beating Bruce Lee, Jet Li and yes, even Jackie Chan (who comes a close second). Bruce Lee must have been a truly lethal weapon and perhaps could have, in real life, beat any of the others to a pulp, but his movies just weren’t very good, and his image didn’t project much more than being lethal. Yen brings a unique blend of gentleness, humility and charisma as well as Kung Fu mastery, and even the lesser of his movies tend to be a cut above those from all the others. And his best films, like “Kung Fu Killer,” can be amazing. (But yes, Jackie Chan is really cool as a martial arts version of Charlie Chaplin.)
• Donnie Yen is getting close to the age where he can’t do those amazing stunts anymore. Who’s going to replace him in the movies? There’s nobody out there right now with his level of skill and charisma.