THE CHINESE STUNTMAN


Year: 1981
AKA: Counter Attack, Counter Strike, The Chieh Boxing Master
Starring: Bruce Li, John Ladalski, Dan Inosanto, Wei Ping-Ao, Yang/Young Kong, Chang Tao
Directed by: Bruce Li
Running time: 85 minutes



This may be one of Bruce Li�s best. With acting and directing credits as real moniker Ho Chung Tao, Bruce shows more of his talent and ability at making an entertaining non-Bruceploitation film. It�s also a buddy film with Chang Wei (Bruce) and his student/buddy John who provides a lot of the humor with lines such as:

"You�re an idiot!"
"HEY, those are the guys who ambushed me!"
Chang Wei, an insurance salesman, has the most aggressive sales pitch ever which includes a funny scene where he ruins a perfectly brand new suit. I was cracking up hearing Bruce describe his mundane day to John during a workout. John serves as Bruce's floating conscience and mostly disagrees with him while dispensing conventional wisdom. I never knew the insurance/stuntman business was so shady. Like the title says, there are lots of stunts in this movie ranging from crashing through walls, a cool car somersault (wait a sec, was that a cut shot?), and lots of prop destruction.

The fights are some of the best I�ve seen in Bruce Li�s films. Thanks to John Ladalski and Dan Inosanto, the move look more polished, refined, and really grab your attention. In one fight, Bruce shows the best way to use a phone! I�ve seen a lot of kung fu training, but nothing like the egg method. Oh did I mention there are ambushes? Every five or ten minutes, Bruce is getting jumped (attack cameo by Lo Lieh!) which keeps the movie rolling along. Add a nunchuk scene and Eskrima courtesy of master Inosanto, Chinese Stuntman is a well-rounded kung fu flick and one of Bruce Li�s best. Man, dig that funky 70s soundtrack!

Reviewed by Lester.



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