Clan of the White Lotus (1980)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Once again KING BOXER Lo Lieh's FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH are on display as the Evil Twin of the Evil Bai Mei (see EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN). As author Craig Reid points out in his excellent book THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES OF THE 1970s, the opening of CLAN OF THE WHITE LOTUS (an "unofficial sequel" to EXECUTIONERS FROM SHAOLIN) is at odds with the ending of the "prequel." Ah-Piao (Lin Hui-hang) falls to Bai Mei II (hereafter referred to as "Priest White Lotus") and Hung Wen-Ding (Gordon Liu) after we see Ah and Hung defeat Bai Mei I. Liu escapes with Mei (Hui Ying-hong), sister of the mangy Ah-Ching. Director Lo Lieh follows the proper form(s) as Liu combines tiger and crane kung fu in preparation for another showdown with White Lotus. Hung fights his way into the White Lotus palace using his new kung fu combo, but Priest White Lotus has mastered the art of Air Displacement (as good a name for it as any, I guess): he's able to use one's Chi or Momentum or Air Pockets or something to avoid blows. Liu bolts, as would anyone with a lick of sense in such a situation. (Remember the last of the unfortunate guards to face "Bolo" in ENTER THE DRAGON? The guy, having seen his companions brutally slain one by one, opts to turn and run...) Mei gives birth, then shows Liu how to attack paper dummies without disturbing the air around them. "It's a special woman's style," she tells him- so he learns to babysit and knit... (Sew many styles, so little time...) He weaves the knitting moves into his threadbare routine. (He's now in touch with both his Yin and his Yang sides...) Yet again, he sets off to do battle with the White Lotus Clan. Will his crazy-quilt kung fu work, or will danger still loom over his every move...? Only Time (and acupuncture) will tell...

Another churned out Hong Kong production by the Shaw brothers in what can be seen as a Kung Fu cult classic starring the likes of Gordon Liu and Leih Lo as the priest white lotus in colourful performances. The story follows that Shaolin students being released from prison, to only be hunted down by members of the white lotus clan. Survivor Hong Wen-Ting seeks revenge against the priest white lotus for killing his best friend and his fiancé For me there's something nostalgic about the sub-genre, which always brings a smile. Fun, brash and exciting all rolled into one. "Clan of the White Lotus" spends a lot of time either on the masterfully shot and heart racing choreographed martial arts involving the many attempts to take the priest white lotus' life and that of Hong Wen-Ting constantly training to change and strengthen his fighting style to do so. While frequently violent and bloody, it stays rather comical. These tend to be around the training and the constantly amusing charades involving the White Lotus and Hong Wen-Ting. Lieh Lo also directs; crafting out eccentric set-pieces with precision and impressionable images clocking in with creative slow-motion and detailed backdrops. The only thing is that a uniformity pattern starts to work its way in.

I've just finished watching Fists of the White Lotus for about the 12th time. Finally, I decided to check the web for information on the actor who played Priest White Lotus (sadly, he has been dead several years, now). Yet, I find that there has been a continuing saga on the role of Pai Mei, once who tried to destroy student Hong Wen-tin, played by Gordon Liu, who ends up playing the evil priest decades later in Kill Bill II. ***SPOILERS CONTAINED*** So here's this white- haired priest, shown with these almost supernatural powers of being invincible. At some point in the film, he even seems like a magnet, repelling the force of attempted blows. The harder the protagonists punch, the more difficult it is to actually hit him. It seems just too much to fathom, if the viewer watches the film as simply a martial arts fan. But there may be some truth to the story... ***END SPOILERS***With Pai Mei's popularity spanning decades, I found through several search engines about how much influence Pai Mei (known as the very real Taoist priest Bak Mei) has on the martial arts world. All the references to Tiger style kung fu actually originate with Bak Mei, and there are many schools now calling themselves various forms of "White Eyebrow School" for kung fu. It turns out that the basic story of Pai Mei's vengeance being taken out on the Shaolin temple and its monks and followers in this film is followed in many forms. And when I discovered that the real Bak Mei had so trained and practiced his "White Eyebrow" style so proficiently that blows to his body made by punches or weapons barely had any affect on him, I had to return to view Fists of the White Lotus again. So now, it seems to me that these almost incredible films on such legends are perhaps loosely based on the lives and deaths of real people who made significant contributions to the history of Chinese culture.FOWL is a ride through the early days of interjecting some form of humor to break up the endless and tiring mass production of the basic storyline of Hong Kong kung fu films: Character kills another. someone gets angry, seeking revenge. Someone else is just as angry, revenges trade and escalate until the two dueling characters duke it out. Sometimes the humor in FOWL is a bit dull or bland, or simply not funny. But the action sequences still are terrific! It seems like director Lo Lieh (who is also the lead antagonist) filmed everything in normal speed for many of the sequences, and the mastery of Lo and Gordon Liu are incredible. Add a splash of super slow motion with a continual flow of groovy music, and you have a decent HK action flick for the lover of the martial arts flicks from the late 70's and early 80's. Shaw Brothers classic, to say the least, and it delivers you with a solid- hitting palm technique. It's not the best one out there, but should be in the DVD library of Gordon Liu and Shaw Bros. fans.

Wow, Gordon Liu, Lung Wei Wang, directed by Lieh Lo. What more can you ask for?It was fun seeing Liu in a non Shaolin monk role. You gotta love his determination as he tries to win the fight again and again. Plus, White Lotus is a GREAT villain...sinister laughs, impressive fighting, boasting during battle, and that neat weightless effect!! This guy is so good, he pushes his own bodyguards aside so that he can fight his opponent head on!!Plus, Kara Hui's training with Gordon to teach him a "new" style is priceless!! Do see this one!!