Magnificent Bodyguards
| Magnificent Bodyguards | |
|---|---|
 UK DVD cover | |
| Traditional | 飛渡捲雲山 |
| Simplified | 飞渡捲云山 |
| Mandarin | Fēi Dù Juǎn Yún Shān |
| Cantonese | Fei1 Dou6 Gyun2 Wan4 Saan1 |
| Directed by | Lo Wei |
| Produced by | Lo Wei |
| Screenplay by | Gu Long |
| Starring |
Jackie Chan James Tien Leung Siu-lung |
| Music by | Frankie Chan |
| Cinematography | Chen Yung-shu |
| Edited by | Vincent Leung |
Production company |
Lo Wei Motion Picture Company |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Box office | HK$775,522 |
Magnificent Bodyguards is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action film starring Jackie Chan and directed by Lo Wei.[1] Chan, along with Luk Chuen also worked as stunt coordinators. This film was well received in Hong Kong, but Chan himself doesn't like it. He puts it down to Lo Wei not giving him any creative freedom. This was the first film in Hong Kong to be filmed using 3-D technology, and it features music from Star Wars.[1]
Plot
Lord Ting Chung is hired to escort a women's sick brother to the doctor, but he does it for free. To get there they must pass through "Stormy Hills", an area of Ancient China controlled by criminals. Then the sick man turns out to be the king of the criminals and is not really sick; he is just trying to reclaim his throne from an imposter. The king had previously murdered Ting Chung's father, and now Ting Chung has to fight for his life to get out and also to avenge his father.
Cast
- Jackie Chan as Lord Ting Chung
- James Tien as Tsang / Chang Wu-yi
- Leung Siu-lung as Chang
- Wang Ping as Lady Nan
- Lau Ming as Old Lady of Ma Por Inn
- Lee Man-tai as Bearded Shaolin Abbot
- Luk Chuen as King
- Fang Fang as Liu Chin-lien
- Ko Keung as Wen Liang-yu
Media
- The Japanese Laserdisc is said to be the only version containing the 3D version. However, it's all in Japanese with no other language options and it's missing 10 minutes of footage.
- On 22 March 2002, Eastern Heroes released it on DVD cropped from 2:35:1 to 1:78:1 and an English dub (edited to remove Star Wars music) with no other language options.
- On 28 October 2005, Universal Japan released their DVD in 2:35:1. However, it has no English subtitles.
- On 5 March 2007, Hong Kong Legends released their DVD in 2:35:1 in Cantonese with newly translated English subtitles. However, the Cantonese "mono" is a downmix from the 5.1 remix. Mandarin is the correct language.
Reception
J. C. Macek III of PopMatters rated it 5/10 stars and called it a "cartoonish comedy" that helped to establish Chan as an early heir to Bruce Lee's legacy.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Maçek III, J.C. (2 October 2013). "It's Pure Kung Fu Theatre and Somehow, 'Star Wars' in 'Jackie Chan Beginnings'". PopMatters. Retrieved 17 July 2014.