The Young Master (1980)

You won't be disappointed!

Truly Dreadful Film

So much average

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is another under the radar gem from Jackie Chan I really like. Yeah, it's not quite one of my favorites from him but I like it all the same. This was another one of the first films that really got his career going and at this point Jackie truly was on the right track.There really isn't much to say for the plot line it's kinda a typical martial arts plot which really just by it's nature a byline for the action and comedy which this film delivers plenty of and well.The action in this film is great but it's the comedic tone and energy along with it that just turn the action up and make in all the more enjoyable which I'm moving with the punches but laughing my head off at the same time.I like that ceremonial dragon battle which was solid as we see both different Dragon teams are playing a game of "American Gladiators" Joust as their trying to knock each other off the platform.But the two battles that stand out the most to me are the fight with the police inspector which was a lot of fun and cracks me up. The police inspector is swinging with the sword but during the fight Jackie picks up some sort of valuable relic which looks like some sort of marijuana pipe or something. And then the inspector is still swing the sword in places but never making contact with Jackie and the pipe as it seems to as the inspector can't bear to have it destroyed.And the final battle which is hilarious as Jackie continues to fight he of course is getting his butt kicked and constantly in need of water. Yeah one on one fights can be thirst work. It's not until what happens near the end when Jackie drinks something that isn't water, and in the words of an old commercial "That's Brisk baby!" So overall if your a Jackie Chan fan, this is a forgotten gem worth checking out.Rating: 3 stars

First, if you like Comedy Kung Fu movies and Jackie Chan, then this is a must see for you. Second, if you expect very good acting or a serious plot (By serious I do not mean a Plot that is not a comedy, but a plot that...well is a real plot and makes sense, then this movie is not for you.Now that we said those things, I can start the review of the Young Master. The Young Master is a Kung Fy Comedy, Jackie Can style. It has lot of action and funny moments.The story has to do with Jackie taking part in a lion dance against an other school. The one who was supposed to be the lead, was Jackie's brother (Tiger), but he faked an injury so he could fight for the other school. This leads to Tiger's exile.Tiger meanwhile joins the other schools and helps them free a criminal who is a very good Kung Fu fighter. Tiger freed the criminal using his White Fan.Back in Jackie's school, after a dramatic scene where all students blame Jackie for all the trouble and he thanks his master, his master allows him to search for his brother. Jackie Chan also has a White Fan like his brother, which makes the police think that he is the one who freed the criminal and so Jackie must fight the police and at the same time to try to find his brother................While the first half an hour makes you think that this is a dramatic film and has a good plot, the rest of the movie is a comedy with almost no plot. The plot seems to serve the role of connecting the Action and Comedy scenes. The fights are very well done. The last fight lasts 15 minutes, the longest in any Kung Fu movie and Jackie is beaten again and again. The comedy scenes are awesome and make you laugh hard. The acting is very good (For Kung Fu standards, of course).Hwang In-Sik is awesome as the criminal while Shih Kien is very good at the role of the policeman.Now the rating: Plot: 2/5 Comedy: 5/5 Kung Fu scenes: 4/5 Scenery: 3/5 Acting: 4/5 So this is rated 8/10. It is an awesome movie and everyone should see it.

Golden Harvest has been working on fresh ideas that while done in classic kung fu movie format, had elements that made their movies more modern and entertaining. This is one of their greatest movie starring Jackie Chan.Two kung fu schools competes in a lion dance contest. It's a very unusual lion dance with lots of amazing acrobatics. School Jackie Chan's in loses, and his brother takes the blame, and is dismissed from the school. The opponent school bullies Jackie's school, and the teacher takes it out on the students. Jackie is an orphan with his brother who's been raised by the school's master. He apologizes, and decides to leave but asks the master to not to take it out on the other students. Jackie then goes on a journey to search for his brother, and meets other experts that helps him to grow into a new master.Mixtures of story and kung fu is superb in this movie. It's old school, but there's also Jackie Chan element in it. He's showing the type of techniques that became signature Jackie Chan fight sequences. The quality is definitely higher because of Jackie Chan's involvement. If anyone else did this, this movie would have been just another kung fu movie.Defining Jackie Chan movie along with the "Drunken Master" that established him as the super star.

Jackie Chan is such a joy to watch, especially in his early raw Hong Kong martial arts features and his first solo directorial effort "The Young Master" goes on to show the talent he bestowed in front of the camera. The upbeat tempo and dazzling stunt work is breathtakingly executed, as when they get hit they go flying across the screen and in no time after copping a lot of blows they're back on their feet to go again. This entry does feel like a riveting collection of journey set-pieces (which are sensationally staged with creativity) to simply make up a minor narrative consisting of mishaps that leads to redemption, as it mainly plays for laughs with its goofy comic flair… however it seems to suit Chan's charming persona and flamboyant energy. Never does it loose sight of its destination, as it keeps a fast and exhilarating rhythm throughout with its spectacularly rich and dramatic music score adding another dimension. All of the performances are quite enjoyable with the likes of Lily Li, Pai Wei, Kien Shih, Biao Yuen and Kang-Yeh Cheng. Amazingly fun, light-headed kung-fu antics.