Before we get any deeper, it appears that in 1979, Shaw Brothers released Monkey Kung Fu and Mad Monkey Kung Fu so you might be confused about the ape action. The films weren’t connected. You might have seen one and thought it was the other. Perhaps the guy putting up the marquee got confused and put up “Monkey Kung Fu” instead of “Mad Monkey Kung Fu” to save on letters. It happens. The Blu-ray being reviewed here is Monkey Kung Fu or “Sane” Monkey Kung Fu. The movie was also titled Stroke of Death to avoid a little of the confusion although it still has a lot of monkey kung fu on the screen.
Wei Chung (Snake Shadow Lama Fist‘s Siu-Tung Ching) has been sentenced to prison for killing a man. Even behind bars, he’s a bit cocky. He gets into a mess with an older inmate who fights him in the cell using monkey kung fu techniques. The old man takes a bit of kindness on his sparring partner. He gives Wei half of a medallion that should lead them to a treasure if they can locate the other half. The old man is executed, A new guy shows up in the cell. Wei gets along with Zhou (Snake in the Monkey’s Shadow‘s Chiu-Sing Hau). While they are out on a rock pile, Zhou and Wei overwhelm the guards and make a run for it. The duo promises to split up once they bust the chain that connects them, but they can’t avoid each other. They discover that owners of the other half of the medallion are looking for them. These shady characters don’t want to share the booty. Wei and Zhou are on the run from the law and the outlaws. The best part is they are running in the direction of the mysterious treasure.
Monkey Kung Fu has a bit of adventure mixed into the fight scenes. The fact that neither Wei or Zhou knows what a complete medallion will lead them to adds to the desire to see the film to the end. What could the old guy in the prison be protecting? The fights are top notch with fists and bodies flying all over the screen. Chiu-Sing Hau and Siu-Tung Ching are a dynamic duo when kicking in tandem. During a slapstick scene where they attempt to entice a muscular farmer to bust their connecting chain, the duo works well off each other. It’s a shame the duo didn’t get brought back to make Even Madder Monkey Kung Fu. Monkey Kung Fu is a minor gem from the Shaw Brothers vault that dazzles as the action builds.
The video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The 1080p transfer brings out the beauty of the locations as the duo flee cross country. The audio is 2.0 DTS-HD MA English Soundtrack. The English soundtrack has a bit of an echo in parts so it’s almost better to watch the film in Cantonese with the English subtitles. So much of the film is action so there’s not much reading.
Audio commentary by Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon of the Podcast On Fire Network gives the details on the cast and crew.
Stunting Around (14:46) is an Interview with Choreographer Tony Leung Siu-hung. He talks about being trained by his brother to be a stuntman. He talks about the industry post-Bruce Lee. He has gone on to be a director.
Original Trailer (3:57) is full of fighting.
88 Films presents Monkey Kung Fu. Directed by Mar Lo. Screenplay by Mar Lo & On Szeto. Starring Siu-Tung Ching, Chiu-Sing Hau, Feng Kuan, Hui-Huang Lin, Siu-Hung Leung, Cheng Chiang, Fat Wan & Ping Fong. Running Time: 93 minutes. Rated: Not Rated. Release Date: March 22, 2022.
