There are so many films that come out every week let alone every year, aren’t there? We can get so caught up with trying to keep up with the latest awards contenders, box office hits, and culturally relevant pieces that we just don’t have enough time to turn back the clock and check out films from the past. But it is so important to expand our horizons and experience the art that has set the stage for today’s cinema. You might need to find the time, so it is important to make wise choices with what you spend that time watching. Whether we head back 10 years, 50 years, or even 100 years, there is great cinema throughout the years. But let’s rewind the clock and here are some reasons why you should check out… The Mystery of Chess Boxing (1979)
| Directed by Joseph Kuo Starring: Jack Long, Yi-Min Li, Kuan-Wu Lung |
FUN
Let’s get this out of the way…this is not The Godfather of martial arts films. But is it important to be worthy of your time? You don’t always need to be going into a film hoping for Citizen Kane. Something that I would compare it to from my childhood was watching 1995’s Mortal Kombat. Is that a masterpiece? Haha…no. But is it fun? ABSOLUTELY. It knows it too. The Mystery of Chess Boxing knows exactly what it is and how outrageous of a film it is. Kuo leans on basic beats and tropes of hero’s journeys to bring this to life but the elements that bring you joy, and a great time are going to be the things that stay with you. I am still thinking about how much fun this was the next day as I write this, and I already want to watch it again.
The Campy Tone
What makes this martial arts adventure so much fun? The campy nature. Kuo knows exactly the film that he is making here. This is not a Kurosawa film. This is not an Ang Lee film either. This one leans into the absurd approach to the action. The sound effects are EXTREME. If this was playing in a theater, you could probably hear all the strikes from all the neighboring screens around it. The audio doesn’t always line up either. But it is all done in a tongue—in—cheek way where we know how absurd it all is…and so does the film. The acting is silly and over the top. The action is framed in an obnoxiously epic way. This crazy ride will not be for everyone but if you are ready for a campy martial arts romp, you will be so pleasantly surprised by this one.
The Action
What else are you looking for? The acting? The story? The themes and ideas? No! We are here for martial arts action and that is exactly what we get. We care enough about our protagonists to get behind but once those fists and feet start flying, that is where the real joy of the film is at. The choreography is so impressive as the performance does a dance between insane moves that are there to impress and slapstick sequences to ratchet up the laughs. My jaw dropped quite a few times looking at the impressive work that these artists were performing. You can see the impressive amount of control and focus needed to deliver action that looks real and feels real to the audience. If you are a fan of action and martial arts films, this is an essential campy romp.
