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一身是胆 (1972)
The Gallant


Reviewed by: Gaijin84
Date: 11/13/2005
Summary: Wang Yu shreds the screen with fury

I'd like to know the story of how "The Gallant" came about to be made, but suffice to say that it is a very different type of movie. It consists of three seperate half hour shorts, all starring Jimmy Wang Yu, set in three different time periods. They all have a simple, straight-foward plot and showcase Wang Yu taking on twenty or thirty guys at a time and beating them senseless with a lethal combination of chops, elbows, knees and kicks. However repetitive that sounds, Wang Yu's charisma and ferociousness completely carries each part and makes them more than watchable. Rarely has there been an actor that can pack as much emotion and power into a performance as Wang Yu. An additonal mention should be made to the fight choreography of Cheung Yee Kwai. Although a fair amount of credit has to go to Wang Yu, Cheung delivers fast, bloody and extremely violent fights through hands and feet as well as various weapons. At the time this review was written, Celestial Pictures had not released a remastered version of this film, but I for one hope they consider this minor gem for a dusting off.

7/10

Reviewer Score: 7

Reviewed by: STSH
Date: 08/02/2003
Summary: Another Jimmy-fest

Three separate stories, each designed to make Jimmy look good. Not that it's unusual, as many of his (and plenty of other fu stars) other movies are jigged the same way.

The first story is pretty silly and rather hard to believe, but the fight choreography (Jimmy kicking the living daylights out of a couple of dozens thugs) is nicely done, and is more like a dance number than a fight.

I quite enjoyed the second story, perhaps mainly because it doesn't completely rely on fisticuffs and has Jimmy as a kind of underdog. The scheming of Jimmy's character is quite absorbing.

The quality of the third story lies somewhere between the first two. The leering good looks of Chen Hung Lieh adds a certain zest.

The overall effect is pretty good. Moderately recommended.

Reviewer Score: 6