Kung Fu Jungle (2014)

I added this movie to my list on Netflix and finally managed to watch it. Lately I have been really wanting to watch an Asian movie on martial arts, and Kung Fu Killer hit my eye because of the name and because the plot actually seemed more intriguing than what I was expecting for movies of this type.The plot might have been intriguing, but the way it was carried out was closer to some kind of TV show, especially in the start. It developed into something that no TV show could achieve - at least not in one episode. First the killer is introduced and he's very distanced from the viewer, but the more is revealed about him, the more interesting he becomes. The same goes with the main character Hahou Mo, and pretty much every character, who shows more sides of themselves as the story progresses. While the story is simple, it keeps the viewer interested and entertained, and the main characters are more than a tool for the story.Kung Fu Killer is visually astonishing. It's colourful and every shot looks great. The set is well designed, and many of the locales are so detailed I'd just want to go there to have a look around for the details. The fight scenes are well choreographed. They look amazing and differ from each other - especially how the killer searches for masters in different fields: boxing, kicking, weapons, etcetera. Every fight is different, considering the people taking part in it use different styles. It's also easy to see what the fighters are doing. In short, the fights are extremely enjoyable, even though they are of course violent.From the kung fu films I've seen so far, I really like Kung Fu Killer. Of course there are many ways to improve the plot, but the characters, fight scenes and the visual side of the film all work well. It's worth watching, if you like martial arts themed films of course, otherwise you might feel watching this would be a waste of time.

I'm always up for a good old Hong Kong martial arts action film, so when I found the Blu-ray for this movie in my library, I snatched it up. But as I said in my summary line, I found the movie somewhat of a letdown. It's not a BAD movie; it does have some genuine merit. The production values are excellent, from the cinematography to the sets. And the fight sequences, particularly the climatic bout, do have some genuine excitement. But all the same, I felt the fights weren't as good as they could have been. They have the unfortunate trademark of many modern day Hong Kong martial arts movies - quick editing and the camera zoomed in really close. The best Hong Kong martial arts movies step back to see the performers in long takes. Another problem was that I didn't think that there were quite enough action sequences - a couple of more would have helped. This may explain why I often thought the plot to be slow moving, as well as lacking urgency. Die hard fans of Hong Kong martial arts movies might get enough out of this (not just with the many cameos of famous Hong Kong movie figures), but I would not recommend the movie to more casual viewers of Hong Kong filmmaking.

If your a Donnie Yen fan, this film is an absolute must watch. He always delivers in the action scenes, but this movie also has solid characters and an interesting story.Kung Fu Killer (or Kung Fu Jungle) is essentially about the quest of two men to be the best fighter alive. The villain is very overt in their quest of dominance, but the heroes journey is clouded by questions of conscience, family, honor, and pride. This gives each a destiny discovered through a series of fight scenes. The two inevitably end up pitted against one another in a test of skill, strength, and willpower. I really respect the use of the fight scenes to add depth to both characters and story.If your watching this movie, it will be for the action. The martial arts is really well done, and while there certainly is some wire play and superhuman moments - the scenes follow their own stylistic rules which do not stray absurdly far from realism. Each dual features a different style, and the variation of techniques will be appreciated by the seasoned martial arts fan. I am especially fond of the fight highlighting weapons - especially it's introduction, style, and nod to the film industry.The story isn't perfect, and this is what holds this movie back from being a true kung-fu classic. Everything is in the right place - Haunted villain, damaged hero in need of redemption, love interests, and surrounding characters trying to uphold the law. But it takes the viewers imagination to make all the pieces fit perfectly, and while I don't mind this myself, I certainly understand how someone who needs the all the roughed up puzzle pieces perfectly smooth would be left somewhat disappointed trying to fit it all together. I'd like to say the lessons learned make the ending perfectly epic, but really the films moral falls flat in comparison to the action, and the depth of the main two characters.The villains character is especially deep. He overcomes both physical and mental anguish to become a master, but as a result of his life trials, is too damaged to be anything but a killing machine. The hero finds he has a choice in his destiny, which is one of the biggest points the film has to make.Production values are very good. The camera work is especially well done, and the fight scenes gain a lot from this excellence. Always nice to see fight scenes from far enough back to really witness the action unfolding, and minimal edits to watch the actors preform their craft and stunts.If your looking for an excellent martial arts movie with great characters, memorable fight scenes, and a solid story - then by all means, watch Kung Fu Killer.Way above average: 7 out of 10

Donnie Yen is one of the best Chinese action stars working today. He's not as famous in the West as Jackie Chan or Jet Li, but he is in the same ballpark with those gentlemen. He's not a great actor, but his work is solid, and he's an excellent fight choreographer. His films offer consistent quality viewing for action fans."Kung Fu Killer", as it's called in its American release, is one of his better efforts. It's got a decent police procedural plot, borrowing an idea or two from the Kurosawa classic "Stray Dog," but it has very good action scenes. The final fight against the serial killer baddie is a real tour-de-force.The film is clearly intended as an homage to the Hong Kong action film industry. Just about every single surviving performer from the '60's and '70's classics has a cameo here, including Golden Harvest founder Raymond Chow. Be sure to stick around for the closing credits.Recommended for lovers of action cinema.