Diagonaldi Very well executed

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Leofwine_draca MONKEY KUNG FU is a typical Hong Kong outing in the Jackie Chan mould, heavily derived from the success of Jackie Chan's incredibly influential double bill, SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW and DRUNKEN MASTER. Now, there were literally hundreds of Chan imitations being churned out in the years between 1979 and 1984, so films of this ilk have to have something really special about them in order for them to stand out.Thankfully, MONKEY KUNG FU does have something: it was made by Shaw Brothers, so the production values are much better than expected for this sub-genre. This is a fine looking film with all of the action taking place outside in a mixture of location shooting and the famous Shaw sets so beloved by fans. The plot is extremely slight and characters come and go according to plot contrivance; the bad guys, for example, helpfully disappear for a while to give our hero the chance to train up his skills. In addition, there's a real lack of momentum so that this isn't a particularly exciting picture in terms of narrative drive.However, the good news is that the action choreography is strong and the fights are fast-paced and wacky. The opening prison brawl between the hero and the old master is very well portrayed and then there's plenty of mileage in a brief chained-together plot. I loved the bit with the Bolo-alike blacksmith and his sledgehammer. Later, things get bogged down in the hunt for an old manuscript, but pick up again for some great training sequences that have a really vicious streak. The final fight boasts a beautiful backdrop and some typically skilled and furious fighting styles. Overall, this is far from the best that Shaw made, but as a light action comedy with decent choreography, it's difficult to dislike.

wanderingstar Ching is an cocky, under-achieving crook that ends up in prison, where he meets an old man who schools him in a prison kung fu duel. However the old man is sufficiently impressed with Ching as to give him half of a wooden amulet. The other half is possessed by a fellow inmate, and the two go off on a rollicking kung fu adventure to find an ancient scroll.Monkey Kung Fu delivers fast paced action in a variety of backdrops - courtyards, mountain meadows, and tea houses where the furniture is predictably, and satisfyingly, reduced to firewood. And the brothel full of kung fu prostitutes was pretty fun. While most of the comedy is cheesy, there are so good one-liners ("Are you tired yet"? "No, I have a date with your sister tonight!"), and it keeps the movie light and entertaining.The fight choreography starts off not too good in my opinion - moves kind of choppy and slow - but by the 38 minute mark, during the fight in a courtyard, it improves vastly. By the end, with a frenetic fight to the death in the mountains with a skilled bo (staff) master, it is some of the best in the genre. Very much recommended.

aadams2279 This is a fun movie starring Ching Siu Tung, Hau Chou Sheng, Kuan Feng, Chang Cheng, Wong Mei Mei, Yun Fat, Lin Hui Huang. The fights are great. The fights are choreographed by Ching Siu Tung and Hau Chao Sheng. There is one amazing fight over a chair between Ching and the one eyed prisoner that was great. Hou Chao Sheng( Super Power, 5 Superfighters) is an exciting fighter. He has a certain style which is entertaining. He can really do the Monkey style. This man is very fluid with his moves and is really fast.Chning Siu Tung is an acrobat. He probably came form the opera troupe. His father is directer Cheng Kang( 12 Gold Medallions, Kidnap, Killers 5, Sword of Swords). He has great acrobatics which was shown it the training sequences and last fight with villain Kuan Feng( 5 Superfighters, Boxer From The Temple, Spearman, A Deadly Secret) Kuan Feng is awesome! Especially with that pole. Which he was bruising both of our heroes. There is also a woman who Ching Siu Tung fought before the last fight. Her name is Wong Mei Mei( 5 Superfighters, Boxer From The Temple, Iron Chain Assassin, The Master Strikes) . She is nasty. She uses her legs well. Watch her in 5 Superfighters where she was great. Also watch her in Iron Chain Assassin give Ti Lung a hard time. The beginning of the movie is great with that setting and that music which was in The HEROIC ONES, 4 REAL FRIENDS, HEROES OF SHAOLIN. I love that music. All in all a kung fu movie which I can watch over and over again. It is one of my favorite Shaw flicks. The movie is in 1979 and directed by Lo Mar( 5 Superfighters, Boxer From Temple, Bruce Lee: His Last Days, His last Nights) I really recommend this movie.

daniel_westerberg_1979 The story is as always not important in these old kungfu movies, but it's about a young boy that's being bullied and eventually learns the secret of monkey style kungfu so he can face the bad guy of the movie.It has some fun spots, and overall it's a good movie if you like the old kungfu stuff :)My version of the movie was dubbed to English, but the dub was alright. Actually some of these movies are better when they are dubbed, comments like "My Tiger will eat your snake" before they start to fight can make me laugh so my stomach hurts.The opening credits had one of the funniest music tunes i've heard, combine this with two men playing monkeys and you have a great opening of a funny movie about monkey kungfu :)