Twelve Deadly Coins (1969)
An escort team was on a perilous journey to transport some gold taels. When they fell into the ambush set up by a gang of thieves and their gold shipment was robbed, a formidable student of the escort agency set off to the bandits’ hideout to retrieve the goods…
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a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Released in a superb new print by Celestial this is not a bad film but probably over dramatic, especially towards the end. Lo Lieh carries the lead role well as the poor son trained by the master (Tien Feng) of the twelve deadly coins who falls in love with his daughter (Jeng Man Jing) but thinks he is not good enough for her and wants to step aside for the master's arrogant, misguided son (played well by Ho Ming Chung). During a major robbery Lo Lieh spares the life of the robber's daughter. A good role for Cheng Li but is defeated by her father (Fang Mien) who has a grudge against Tien Feng. Lo Lieh is captured, tortured, but saved by Cheng Li and both are condemned to be drowned together where they declare their mutual love. They escape, of course, and Lo Lieh has to prove his loyalty to his teacher (in dramatic fashion) and leads him, his son and Chiu Hung (in a good role) back to the fortress of Fang Mien. In an interesting fight in the rain the two masters (of the deadly coins and iron thorns) battle but mainly talk but manage to kill those they love in the process. This is not a happy ending but everyone seems to accept their sacrifices and the females are left to mourn them and to go off into the sunset like a B movie western. I enjoyed this film but it is not a classic with few good fights and too many clichéd scenes.